Not a smoker, never was

That is blazing bike speed either up or down. I allow gravity to pull me down hill, very rarely do I give a pedal stroke to enhance my speed. Going uphill, well I do the pedaling against the former friend, gravity, until I run out of wind.

Wed AM I left the great camp spot above Trail Creek driving N to Adams Gulch TH. Today’s ride is an out and back on Eve’s Gulch and maybe the flow trail back down. A dog shelter was conducting their weekly dog walk program. Lots of happy dogs. I petted either Waylon or Willie, but none of the boys, a mix lab and pug. I miss not having a dog but not badly enough to bring one into my life. I ran into Kyle coming down who encouraged me to ride to thetop and ride the flow down. Today I rode the new reroute sections of the trail making a better climb. In and out of the burn of 2007.I stuck with it to the top onto a ridge.

results of a hot fire
results of a hot fire

At the ridge a section of unburned forest exists between a burn on either side.

I turned down. A trail of less than 10% is normally sustainable, operative word: NORMALLY. It climbs w/ pleasant exertion and descends w/ glee.  All alone. I found the entrance to the flow trail felt like a filter that functioned to keep lesser skilled riders out. I was a skinny handbuilt narrow bench cut crossing numerous patches of loose like shale rock.  Then onto the flow trail that was machine cut w/ huge amounts of dirt relocation to create a downhill pump track. Big dips topped by kickers at the top. Steeply banked berms rocketing around the corner. Really got after it. I held my speed in check. And then I was at the bottom. I like riding downhill on the up track as it would have taken more time and been a different ride. None the less back @ crowded TH then drive to Y for a shower then down to Hailey to Chip’s to service my fork.

Fork serviced which made it more spingy. And I received socialization.

I drove out to camp spot for the night. Thurs plans were becoming clear as I accomplished each one in a well orchestrated sequence. I did my wash in the AM then drove up river to Galena Lodge to meet for Sun Summit South ( Chip’s shop) shop ride. I stopped @ The Perch to visit. I told Kyle what the ride plan was and he said I would not like it. I called Chip expressing my reservations. He said I would like it, come on. I stopped briefly @ lodge to say Hi to manager Don one of the original Hugh Ass race team from back @ Davis, WVA.

I heeded Chip and drove to the lodge. Chip would be driving from Hailey leaving after shop closure at 5:00. I figured if I started riding up the highway to almost Galena Summit I could get there ahead of the pack.  It worked. I raised my seat maybe 1/8 inch that really helped my pedaling. Just that much shorter my legs would blow up. Climbed to 8650′ Elevation is taxing. The trail to Titus Lake shows signs of years of hard hiking. Refreshment after the climb lured Mose in for a dip.

Mose in Titus

Our trail dropped down Titus Creek back to the lodge. Several creek crossings wetted my lower half. Joy for seat dropper.

Jamie on the down
Jamie on the down

Back @ the lodge dinner was waiting. Pleasant visiting w/ the riders and Don. Don suggested a camp spot nearby that became my home just after dark. At 10:15 it was 40 degrees outside. I shuffled blankets to put back on the down blanket. I looked forward to a chilly sleep. Except the van slowly gave off the day’s heat. I awoke in sweat. I shuffled blankets for the summer weight. and went back to sleep. About 4:30 chill woke me. I gutted the chill w/ the light weight blanket. I turned the heater on b4 getting out of bed just after 7. Great view of prolly Gladiator peak and alpine.

I drove back to the lodge. My ride plan is the Galena Grinder race course. I rode this back early on and I distinctly remembering the loose tread that robbed forward progress and energy as I walked pieces. It was hard. I’m here and I will make 1 lap. When the trail turned upward my breathing faded. I walked more this year than last time. Today’s ride more of the same.The downhill rewarded.

Trail stayed above the avalanche track
Trail stayed above the avalanche track

8000′ elevation left me short of breath. I was good for 1 lap.  9.47 miles climbing 1794′ in 1 hr 18 mins. I loaded up and drove back down valley to Ketchum Y for a shower. Clean feels good.

I stopped @ Club Ride to check out the newer version of my exiting shorts to learn if the waist is smaller. Mike helped me compare then and now and both were of same waist size. No go as the waist is too big for me.

I stopped @ Backcountry where Brain works. I parked street side and started walking to door. 3 guys loading mtn biking stuff into a car. One guy locks onto me saying that we met in Bend years before. They just completed a 5 day Western Spirit guided trip and were smiling and showing wear of excitement. We chatted for a bit then I walked into the shop. Brian was at the desk in front of a large window to the street below. The guys’ car would not start. I watched 2 push while 1 steered to coast a short shallow hill. No start. I walked down to then to see if I could help. They said the battery was drained from leaving the headlights on, a jump is golden. I offered my help then drove nose to nose. Varooom.

My refrigerator has ice build up in the freezer and the low temp was about 40, up 5 degrees. My thinking is it needs to be defrosted. I drove to Chip’s and asked to use his parking lot and a bit of electricity for the process. Granted he said. I loosened the ice w/ a pot of 160 degree water. I connected the electric cord to a shop cord and started the fridge back up. AC is more efficient than the propane. I needed to get the temp low quickly. No go. Fridge won’t run on AC. I am sitting in the shade of what I will call box elder letting the propane burner work. The shade is better than the sunny 87 degrees in the shade temp.

Off to dinner then drive out to democrat for tomorrow morning’s ride.

 

 

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