Bike parts that is. My shoulder continues to allow me to ride.
On Friday I rode from the upper JEM TH where I sleep. Down towards the bottom of the JEM the tread is broken sharp edge bedrock like steps. I attempt to loft the rear wheel over the edge. Several times I landed on on an edge as evidenced by a sharp sound from the rear wheel hitting that edge. On Thursday I miscalculated and apparently hit hard enough to cause air to escape from the tire. I detected the sound of a soft tire further down the trail. I stopped and checked out the rear wheel. Air was escaping. I spun the tire to slosh the Orange sealant to put it at the leak. No success. I attached my pump to the air stem and pumped. Air still leaked and I had not found the leak. I removed the valve core to allow all the air pressure the pump would generate to perhaps reseat the bead. No success. I pumped and hoped then pumped some more. No stopping the leak. Next operation was to convert to a tube tire. I carry a slimed tube as a backup. The tube worked. I pedaled a main gravel road back up to the junction w/ Dead Ringer, a climbing single track that would take me back to the van. Back at the van I tried a CO2 cartridge fill believing that the burst of pressure would pop the bead back. Not happening. I drove down to OTE where we tried w/ shop air to seal. No luck. Jordan, son of Troy, and I checked out the wheel. we discovered a slight ding on the rim at the leak. Turns out the small ding cut the bead of the tire which is where the air was escaping. New Continental Trail King 2.2 now on the rear. Actually the second tire I have destroyed down here in the SW. 700 miles on tire which showed well worn knobs.
Saturday I walked my bike quite a lot during a shop ride on Grafton Mesa while watching better skilled riders nail the tech chunk. I did ride a bit. I chose caution over adrenaline rush for longevity of career. Quinton has such skill.
Road back to where we started is the same one leading to Gooseberry road. Way beat up, no way will I drive my van on it. I ride these mesas at the grace of another driver.
My new Formula T1 brake arrived Sat. I installed it outside the shop. The hose is longer than I needed which needs to be shortened. I just made a long road to reach the brake lever displacing the extra length. I rode in the street bedding in the brake pads. Brake works like it should: 1 finger wheel lock up.
Sunday at the Upper JEM where I sleep I rode some more bedding the pads. The KS LEV dropper post is usually slow the first several cycles requiring pulling up the saddle. Today I pulled it up and the thing collapsed, ultimate failure. Ah, life favors the prepared. I pulled out the repaired Reverb post from my storage box and installed it. I was able to ride w/ a dropper post. The Reverb doesn’t raise as fast as the LEV but it works. On this ride I rode gently over the rocks that caused me previous damage successfully. Quite a few riders on the trails w/ no conflicts. Beautiful day
Cows are grazing leaving behind their presence: manure, fresh hoof depressions as well as legacy cast in depressions.
I started researching dropper posts. I will send the LEV back to Sunnyside in Bend who dealt w/ a repair shop. OTE likes the Thomson post.
I will send the Formula brake in for factory service.
Today Kevin and I will ride up here at JEM. Kevin was a Rider who Inspires per MBA. He and his wife Pam own Main street Cafe near the bike shop. I have Bfast there sometimes.
Abe, so much for your cat and dog fight. I won’t make it down for your christmas rides. I do plan on hanging at Sedona and make road trips from there. Keep me posted to rides say in Jan and Feb that I might make. On our last ride together a lone rider joined our group. He is a smoke jumper. We met again this summer in Oakridge.
Got to get ready to ride.
Weather here forecast is calling for 60 degrees but possible rain on Thursday. Wet activates the clay rendering some trails unrideable.