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.