Guacamole and fall and Turner RFX purchase

Right to the good stuff: Today the Over the Edge shop ride was on Guacamole. The riders are regulars all 4 or 5 of them. Quentin drove us all in the Old Fart’s truck up Dalton Wash road. Road is in great shape per the locals, way better than the Smithsonian road out to Grafton Mesa. Chilly and very windy. Frost still covered the ground in the shade. We popped out on top of the mesa in full sun and full on wind. Mesa rides here are just patches of sandstone and a creative way to ride over, down, or around. Lots of step ups that exceed my ability to commit to attempt.

Ride is right on boundary of Zion NP.

So we zigged and zagged around the mesa.

Quentin worked with me encouraging my effort.

My fall: I rolled a steep side slope to a roll out maybe 4 feet of it. My front wheel hit the dirt at the bottom, I apparently turned my wheel to the left in preparation of a tight turn and the wheel stalled sending me not over the bars but I landed on both knees on bedrock, it appears that my hands never left the handlebar. I never loaded my upper body sparing my shoulder. I broke a second computer mount. My knees hurt. I continued the ride. At the van there still was no complaining from my shoulder. I escaped.

Beautiful day.

Winter is coming as snow is forecasted for Monday and night temps in the teens for the week. Will freeze thaw mud arise?

I’m staying behind the Main Street Cafe, Kevin and Pam’s place, plugged into their electric. I learned from the Interstate battery guy that my alternator is only giving a surface charge to my batteries. He suggested charging my batteries for a deep charge. Yesterday during my rest day I shopped for a charger at NAPA, get the good stuff. I bought a like 1 AMP charger that the guy said would be better for the deep charging. It has a bridle that I attached to the battery terminals and ran out from under the passenger seat. A quick connect joins the charger wiring that I plugged into my shore power outlet that is plugged into shore power. I switched the fridge over to electric. Sleeping in town with the front of the van plumb into the back of the building.

Yesterday morning I caught part of a very red sunrise. Forecast also called for rain. I saw a rainbow down wind. Conditions bode rain. I decided not to ride as getting caught in the rain could turn the dust into gloppy mud. Later in the morning rain  fell in town.

I visited the local Verizon store to understand my high byte consumption. Guy helped me work connections which might help. I bought a larger data plan. I asked about my phone up grade. He advised responding to my questions as I was trying to learn why I needed a new phone. I believe I had sufficient data to make a decision so I bought a Samsung Note 4, last year’s model. By the time the rebates come back they paid me to take the phone. I upgraded my Jetpack also. I spent last night learning the phone which has way more features than my old phone. This one is wider and longer giving a bigger screen. It sure fills my pocket.

Several days ago I emailed Turner asking about drilling a hole in the frame for stealth cable routing for a seat post. He responded w/ the methodology. Conversation continued as I asked about the Burner. He said that with the intro of the redesigned RFX on 27 1/2″ carbon frame is way better than the Burner and it it not over biking me. The Spot is a 26″ wheel w/ 5″ rear wheel travel. The RFX is 6″ travel on bigger wheels. I will buy a 160mm Pike. I am hoping that IBIS carbon rims will lace to my I9 Torch hubs. Quentin says carbon wide rims are super as the tire spreads out more and no rim bead to pinch flat the bead which allows even lower pressure. Quentin hammers on 22 and 21 psi. Lacing a wide stiff rim with I9 straight pull aluminum spokes to the 3 degree engagement hub makes for super responsive wheel. The bike is on order with delivery in late Dec or early Jan. I will bring all the parts together for buildup in Sedona.

OTE shop has attractive items. I bought a new Giro Montaro helmet. It is the first helmet in a long time that is actually comfortable, the shape matches my skull. Has nips function.

Thursday I helped build trail that will climb from the valley up to above the big H on the hill. Steep and rocky. I tested my shoulder more than I should have but no lasting damage.

Tomorrow Kevin and me are going down to Santa Clara to ride.

Battery charger is not keeping up w/ my usage drain.

New Freehub magazine is on the newstand. I wrote a short column on finding a camp spot. Article is titled: I stay where I choose.

I have been listening to the Zags UCLA basketball game. Zags are up by 2 at half. Attention distorted.