Scored favorite spot as the mud has firmed up. My tracks are cast in the ground, I sure slithered around. Other rigs have been back in adding their marks. Clean body from a a late shower @ the Bean. A dinner treat from Vinnie after a ride around the Hogs. A lazy mid morning hang @ the Bean. Nice sleep @ Beaverhead overlook. Then Friday will be remembered later.

Today @ the Bean I hung prior to a ride plan that was being formulated. I want to ride more new to me 2015 trails. Vinnie from Friday hit the shop then later he asked to ride w/ me. Off we went. Trails ridden were: Bell Rock, Llama, Little Horse, (Chicken point reference), Broken Arrow, High on the Hogs, Twin Buttes, Broken Arrow, Hog Wash, Peccary, Mistic, Little Horse, HT, Breezy, Templeton, coconino, and Shades down, all for just 13.07 miles. in just under 2 hours. On the dirt there were very few feet of smooth dirt between something to step up, roll down, and just pedal on the flat as traction and torque reign supreme. On yesterday’s ride Duff showed us some 2 step ladders above my riding ability roll downs. I remembered a challenging roll down for me over by Baby Bell, at the end of my 2014 stay I convinced myself that I had sufficient skill applied and courage that I let it roll. Today reaffirmed my confidence. I will continue to toot the beenfit of the I-9 wheels. Perhaps others are out there to compare to which I only know King hub and J spokes. The instant engagement and rigidity is like skiing shaped skis. I am aware that I am able to climb harder stuff that the wheels enable but I bail out at same place as the former wheels. Courage.

 

Last year I started making this step up every time. Vinnie’s rear tire is about to hit the leading step up and he stalls. My skill is a front wheel loft at the first rock, I am riding in 2:2 gear on a 2X10 drive train which gives some torque that I can push, oh, and the wheels. Loft the front wheel over the rock than rock forward to lighten the rear wheel all the while putting power on the pedals. Vinnie is watching his front wheel hit every rock, he later will raise his eyes up the pitch. On Llama.

Llama T’d into Little Horse up to Chicken Point. Pink Jeep fares were everywhere. Broken Arrow snaked up, down, and around tillthe High on the Hogs junction, this is where the technical w/ exposure starts.

The Crux move on Hogs as the camera captured it:

Two eyes put depth perception into the feature, Mine never show fear while I down friction climb.

Twin Buttes takes off just below the climb to the pass on Hogs, built just last year drops down to join Broken Arrow.

OK, may my trail and route narrative be sufficient as I will move on.

Vinnie bought be dinner on a 2 for the price of 1 up in Sedona. He drove and I rode in his BMW coupe. Sweet.

Back to Friday. I spent Thurs. night in Danny’s side yard. Fri. @ 8:30 AM I had my MD DR appointment in West Sedona. Logistics worked out to a leisurely start. I just needed a physical therapy referral for my shoulder, elbow, and knee but I received more care. He reviewed my medical info. He scheduled me for a bone density X-ray because of my age and non weight bearing exercise. Another on my elbow that has a bad hurt from the fall @ Hurricane a month ago. He wrote the scripts for PT that starts next week as I previously made an appointment.  I received an unsolicited digit finger that felt my prostate firmed than it should be. Suggested a grooved saddle. Drew blood for PSA.

Shop ride @ the Bean @ 3 became my focus. At 2:45 there was nobody gathered. Then the parking lot sucked in 20 something riders. Groups split off according to desire. Duff left earlier w/a slower group that I should have left w/. I had no desire to join either of the other groups as they would be way faster that I could do but slower. Jimmy got Duff on the phone and made a rendezvous for me and off I pedaled to join them. We rode east of 179. Enough written.

We joined others @ the Bean for beer and pizza. There might have been 30 people there visiting. Tonight the visitors over ran the locals.

Sedona is an attraction to riders whose home trails are in winter. Come ride the dry, warm, and sunny desert. It definitely has a feel of its own.

I slept out @ the overlook.

Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, the NPR News Quiz Show: 9:00 AM Sat.

Zags won today. No TV coverage. Game started during the ride, I stopped several time and caught an update from my smart phone. They are ranked number 3 in the Div l schools, an impressive program. Zags are Gonzaga Bulldogs in Spokane, WA. Home town basketball team is special and so is Spokane’s embracing the program. Just a bummer not being able to watch their games. Last year almost every game was on and I watched @ PJs.

Weather forecast is for 60s and evening 40s. Mud is drying up. All I got to do is ride my bike. Last year I compared riding in Sedona to skiing 6″ of fresh powder. Skiing is a shuttle to the top of the downhill. Sedona is about pedaling for the thrills skiing gives plus an elevated heart rate. Fresh pow every night means that you can skip a day and still be treated. I’m saying that is the same w/ Sedona trails: the next day will be just as good. I ain’t taking any chances, however, for I will ride again tomorrow for sixth day in a row.

Today is day number 20 here and I have connected w/ a local from past visits every day. Some days there are more than 1.

 

Radio programs are not what inspire me to arise to listen to, hence sleeping late. Furnace produces sleepable heat and I have tuned out the fan noise. peace w/ good and bad of furnace.

I drove out to rd that leads to favorite spot to check it out. Immediately I was seeable face to face of an SUV slithering out. I backed out and informed of firmnesss of the mud. Another night on pavement.

Back @ BnB I hung out allowing the day to warm and puddles to return to the sky. Geared up and rode away. Ride is to be Red Rock pathway, single track bypass, Llama, HT, Breezy to upper end, finishing downhill on Shades. And that’s what I rode. I was gathering knowledge of trail conditions to feed to Jimmy. Just a few small puddles, passes to ride. Nice and firm and not too slippery on the slick rock.

Last year while here I rode a Rockshox Pike which improved bike handling. Since being away I added Industry 9 Enduro wheelset, a 2X10, and 32inch handle bar. What a better handling bike I attribute to the wheels. On the ride there are several mental fear blocks so I don’t ride them still. Today however, what I chose to ride was sheer prowess. Performance and improved ability should overcome fear. The Turner 5 Spot frame holds it together. Amazing, slight pedal pressure rockets us forward. Lofting the front wheel just happens.

Very little mud to wash off my bike. Showered myself. Tonight is VVCC board meeting I am attending, I am driving Jimmy, who is now on the board,  up to it.

Forecast is for dry sunny, and in the 60s. The hours I sat in the sun @ BLT did not darked my skin.

Sunday night I drove out to my favorite spot off Beaverhead rd. The mud was firm rutted dirt. The drive back in goes over exposed rocks that the van rolls over and shudders. There are choices on what rocks to miss or hit to the slightly sloped site that requires leveling blocks. I turn around here to leave and have another crack at the rocks. The ground is firm recently saturated as sinking mud gumming up tires to eliminate the tire tread required to slither over. I gambled on the 50% probability of showers that I would drive out on firm mud. I heard rain drops before bed. Showers is what I would accept. I slept thru the rest of the showers. I looked outside after light and saw some small puddles. Sunshine. Firm mud is now mud and gummy. I wanted to leave, I was able to stay a day to dry out. I made the choice to leave. I backed out of spot almost blindly over the rocks as I had no line. A spur intersection offered firm gravel to jockey to face forward. Next up was the straight shot to the hard road except on a slight outslope into a slight gulley parallel  to the lane. My front wheels started sliding immediately almost resisting counter steering to avoid the gulley. Mud is flying and I’m slithering ever closer to the road but loosing momentum. And the engine was not responding to my foot pressure. Posi-traction. I pushed to rocker switch on the console and the engine revs rocketed up. One wheel driving and gaining momentum, the hard road appears obtainable. Yes, I made it out. I suspect the mud comes from the cold temps not allowing the water to sink or evaporate. Trails are too wet to ride.

I drove to west sedona early for the trail planning meeting. I stopped by Peace of Mind wood shop owned by Steven. 2 years ago I met him and he built 2 new drawers to replace 2 original crapped out drawers. All last year I wanted to stop in to order new drawers but didn’t. This year I have a list of things I want to do while I’m here and I’m working them down. Drawer is checked off. Steven is fun.

Curiosity pulled me out to look at the Deer Pass camping spot west of sedona. One rig in the TH parking lot; however at the spot where I stay was packed. weekday, bad weather; packed.

I washed the mud off the van @ the coin car wash. Tenacious shit.

I attended a trail planning session called for by Jennifer of the USFS. Purpose is to generate trail proposals out in the Western Civ area. Prolly 22 people, all mtn bikers, I knew 18. Again I reconnected w/ past local contacts. Dean. I told him there is a guy in Hurricane area that looks just like him. I was watching Ohio State vs OR game on my smart phone. Meeting adjourned just after start of halftime. Several of us crashed on the bar @ Picazzos to watch the game @ $6.00 pints. game was over after 10, past the 9:00 closing. She kept the bar open for all to watch the finish.

I spent the night in Danny’s side yard, not on his property but we poached the neighbor piece. The property was occupied by infrequently by company persons. No parking issues. Now the house is owned and occupied by another owner. Don’t know about future sleep nights there.

Today I dropped off the drawer. I emptied the contents into 2 full size paper grocery bags that I paw thru to find whatever. The drawer will be done when finished. Till then my floor remains cluttered.

Next was Red Rock Precision auto for an electrical check up. I perceived that the battery check light remained on too long after starting and I needed knowledge for peace of mind. They checked it out and the electrics are fine. One less worry source.

Back down to VOC. Sunshine. Several riders were reworking the pump track behind the shop. They took turns riding it. I finally took a go. Momentum is obtained by pumping you and the bike over and down the rollers then into a big banked turn that you can really lean into. A real work out after just several laps.

The hot air duct from the furnace comes up thru the floor and into the bed pedestal cubby. One night I pulled the drawer being replaced off the slides and looked into the cubby. I put my hand on the duct which felt warm indicating heat loss. Today I slathered 1/2″ insulation around it. I gave the furnace a fighting chance. In the cubby is the uninsulated wheel well.

Tonight I pulled onto the lane leading back to my spot a short ways while still on firm ground to check the mud firmness. I decided it appeared too soft which was confirmed when my tires hit the hard road and shed mud on the firm ground. I am camping at the paved overlook again. Forecast was 10% showers. The 10% has been spitting on me which would make the mud less firm. Safe call.

Tomorrow should be able to ride.