Today I tracked the UPS shipment from PUSH who shipped it 2 day air. Status is out for delivery by end of business day. I did chores here @ camp then drove into town. Pulled into Chip’s shop and walked thru the front door. I spied a cardboard box that looked like a fork size and then read PUSH. I now knew that I can ride today and beyond. I visited awhile then drove down to Bellvue to Steve’s house to put my bike back together. Steve visited for awhile during which I learned that I am not good @ a mechanical tasks and concentrating on a conversation. Steve left for work leaving me to focus. B4 I tore the bike apart I took a pic on my cell phone of the spacer stack. I called it up then stacked the loose spacers correctly. I bolted on the factory bled Formula T1 brake. Checked and checked again. I pedaled in Steve’s gravel lot. I cautiously squeezed the front brake lever. Shit: the wheel stopped and the fork compressed elevating the rear wheel off the ground. Sweet.
Bike back on the back of the van the way it should be… unless I am riding. Drove to Greenhorn Gulch to ride the gulch up then over and down Imperial. I wanted a challenging ride but not so much to beat me as a welcome back. Sweet handling bike: the fork is so supple and under control. The front brake stopped the front wheel on a dime and returned change. The pads squeal. Horses have beaten Imperial as it is baked by the sun and no rain has fallen in almost the entire month I have been here. I continue to beat myself w/ high heart rates on the climbs. My ride time compared to 3 weeks ago was slower but I did not set out to better the best time. The fork was so sweet, i used about 3.25″ of travel leaving what 1.75 to the full 150mm travel. Only when the fork turned to shit did I notice the lack of travel. What happens gradually to a breaking point: Accept the norm as is or call in the troops. I sent the fork back to PUSH.
I shook the front tire checking the STANS slosh and heard nothing. Hmmm, stuff evaporated or congealed. I set about to inject sealant into the front tire. I use a supplied large syringe screwed onto the presta valve stem after I remove the valve core. I removed the plunger then filled the bore w/ Stans then pushed in the plunger. Resistance (not Good). Pushed harder until the flexible clear hose was forced off the syringe. Stans squirted all over my left leg. Then it congealed like inside a tire. I rolled it off my leg hairs.
Tried another drinking & dining establishment @ Muleshoe on Main st. Still hard to beat burritos @ KBs.
Enjoyable ride, pleasant evening, good buzz on. Now 2 more episodes of Justified.