Most nights before I ride I think about the ride while laying in bed before falling to sleep. My planned ride was Funner etc which is up towards Bachelor and is a step up in both conditioning and technical challenges. Up and at ’em after 7:30AM, oatmeal, toast, coffee, and V8 consumed and cleaned up I drove up to the TH. 4 rigs in the lot. Weekday mid day. No crowds or other riders. Pedaled up and away on connector trail to Storm King going over to the junction of Funner. Climbed Funner to snowpark then jumped on Tiddlywinks ti Kiawa Butte trail dropping down to join Tyler’s Traverse bike acrobatics to Larsens winding around back to Storm King back to van. What a splendid day it was. What makes a favorite ride was the weather today: sunshine what I could see thru the canopy, no wind, mid 60s and dry but too much so. I am smiling typing this. And more days will follow unfortunately no rian is forecast.
Tylers traverse is a most fav trail. Seat dropper down like a free ride park w/ little human intervention. Jumps, man made bermed turns and ridden in berms, flying. Mostly downhill, trail is classic Bend in the turnies thru the trees. I will study the trail map to see if it can be ridden w/o the uphill effort I put in. Worth doing more times.
Part of Funner uses a reclaimed logging road taking a straight line and making it funner:
I am gaining more confidence in carving turns as Bend trails offer that opportunity in spades. I have a conti trail King 2.4 on the front at 24psi and a 2.2 25psi same tire on back. 30 1/2″ bar and short stem. I cranked down the release setting on my Time pedals. My seat height is at correct leg extension. I drop the height, what, 6″ and sit down and surf or stand up and squat in the dicey stuff. Then raise the seat back to full height and I feel that I am way too tall. A bunch of pedal strokes re calibrates my senses. I do like the seat down when going downhill. Such a ride changer. You owe yourself a present of a dropper post to vastly improve your riding enjoyment.
Shower at Snap then headed out on tasks. My pants made into knickers are ready for pick up. I bought the last size 30 Speedo at Dicks. Wool knickers w/ black silk braces.
Social visit at 10 Barrels. Most nights sitting at the bar I engage in a conversation. Tonight 2 women sat next to me. Much time passed w/ them girl talking then one of them showed a mtn bike rider pic. It was of one of the women cleaning the nasty trail around Clear Lake above McKenzie river trail. Well, doors opened as we talked mtn biking. They just came from Oakridge and Derrick’s name came up as they met him at the Pub. Just fun. Jason tapped me on the shoulder and introduced me to his wife. I finally left for dinner of Halibut enchilada at Long Board Louies. Out at fav spot at Phils.
First day of fall. Suunto’s algorithm says 6:39 sunup, 6:43 sundown. I drive out to camp spot after dark now. Some oak tree leaves along Mt Washington have turned colors, some bright red. Bend on the west side is very pretty because of all the vegetation. Urban gardening.
Received Smartwool cardigan merino wool sweater to replace tattered Pisgah jersey. I found a hole in a cubby where I might bury the jersey.
Tomorrow is laundry and a rest day.
Going to try on my new Speedo and knickers w/ braces and sweater. Stylin’.