Whoa…. never said that. maybe I did. This time it applies to my KS Lev seat dropper post. And what an annoyance a failing dropper post is. Friday while riding Maston I noticed that after I actuated the lowering command and asked the post to return the saddle to end of range length it returned but upon continued sitting upon the saddle I noticed it wasn’t keeping up. Web Cyclery cleaned things up a bit and told me to go ride; however, if the post dropped on its own that a factory installed cartridge would be required. Hope springs eternal from a returning spring. Did a big ride on Sat and I learned that my seat dropped after pedaling a few strokes. The cleaning fix, while perhaps being needed (ever seen my bike), did not cure the flacidness. My riding does not stimulate the dropper. I bailed on the ride to save my knees.
Friday I rode Maston again. Nobody to share trails with. Fun riding playing w/ bike and body to carve turns and climb over rocks. My shoulder tells me afterwards that all is not happy. The deal is the tendons are attached but the muscles that run between the tendons are not firing either because they have been asleep for so long or that there was never enough muscle to work with. The humerus rattles around like a BB in a beer can.
Sat I bought a shoulder brace with expectations that I could mechanically force the humerus into its socket thus reducing pain and damage. I need help to properly adjust the brace, my first use might have helped but my right arm pit was chaffed.
Sat afternoon I received a text from friend Randy from Spokane. He and wife Lisa were returning home passing thru Bend. Randy taught me how to send my location to his phone and that Google maps would give him driving instructions. I gave him my Phils spot. He rolled in about 11:00PM. We stayed up for a short while talking before the heavy eyelids called us to our beds. In the morning Randy shared a sweet melon and I brewed him a cup of cowboy coffee. I have known Randy for long years from back in Spokane, Lisa not so long but still a connection from what I used to be. Old friends are special because we have such history, more than from a lengthy road visit making new friends. Old friends know historical events like a child being added to the family to my loosing my dog.
So, riding Maston is mostly flat but sand when the trails tread is broken up. My confidence is improving. Solution is power to the pedal. returned to Bend for a shower before my 10 Barrel social soiree.
Sat my plan was to return to China Hat and ride the big outer loop. I made the TH and pedaled away. Big 28 mile loop. Somewhere during the climb the post would drop on its own. OhOh. Lower seat height equals squashed knees. I could pedal a few strokes and feel my knees work towards my chest. I’d flick the lever and the post would jump to max length but then settle once my climbing weight was on the saddle. Bummer. I chose the short middle trail to return to my van and save my knees. I called Sunnyside Bikes, one of my go to shops, and learned that the post will need factory service. Bummer. Once ridden a dropper you never want to ride a fixed post again.
Today was a rest day which also prevented deep breathing of smoke filled air. I removed my dropper post and gave it to Sunnyside to send to factory. I installed my retained Thomson rigid post.
Professional time consumer I visited at a second hand bookstore downtown. We talked about The Cartel and places that lead the conversation. I moved on to Crows feet Commons in downtown. The Mariners were playing which pulled me to 10 Barrels to watch the game. Soccer and Little League baseball were televised. Place was crowded causing me to not ask for a station change.
At Crows feet I ran into the woman who interviewed me for the TV show. I learned that the new season starts the end of September for the likes of my interview. To me she has this wonderful opportunity to ask questions and learn stuff from whom she interviews. I asked for, and she accepted, an opportunity for me to interview her.
where I stay:
Behind the camera:
My lower back still has stiffness issues making standing up and walking a different position. Tomorrow I make another massage appointment to finish off what he started.
Again, just so amazing that there are no fires started by man and no lightning strikes. So dry. Yesterday after I finished my ride up on China Hat road a brisk breeze was blowing hardly any humidity air drying fuels out if there is more moisture to loose. Years ago a guy started a big fire in Spokane cty by dropping a red hot piece of metal from a welding torch onto dry grass. So many people here and so many opportunities for a mistake. Be safe.
I discovered that La Pine on the average receives 81″ of snow and 21″ of rain. Quite a few cloudy days. I’m 4 properties away from the Deschutes NF. XC ski touring. Not planning on spending a winter.
Mountain bike wheels might over cumulative passings pack the dirt down to a hard surface that rolls so sweetly. Horses, cloven hoofs, and people break up the crust turning the tread into a sand beach. Why separate trails are needed and each user plays on their own trail.
Both pics are from Maston w/in less than 1/2 mile of each other. W/o separate trails and the adherence to same we riders would be wallowing in the sand instead of floating on top hard packed tread.
Finished The Cartel. Good riddance to such violence caused by market demand. Next is to finish …. Watchman.