The Sedona Mountain Bike Festival started Friday and ended this afternoon. Most of the visitors have left. Festival was located at Posse Grounds. Many big name bike companies, component mfgrs, beer, clothing, FS information booth, and marketing for Urgent Care. Add some other bike related vendors. I worked a shift on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the VVCC booth working the front end of purchasing beer. I organized a process flow to standardize our effort. I performed the ID check and stamped ticket purchasers that I verified their legal consumption age. One ticket bought 1 beer from one of the 4 local breweries. A liquor license was not required for this function. Our license was required in case we were needed to help pour if the demand exceeded the brewer’s capacity. I finally got to pour 2 beers late this afternoon.
Thursday I drove up to west Sedona to do my wash then go for a ride. Clean clothes and sheets clean from nore bleed blood. I parked at Sunset park where there is ample parking. At the recycle center I jumped on Old Post riding the new piece I helped build. New trail Skywalker kicks off going over towards the high school. Skywalker has Sedona style trail in that it hand built, full bench cut, skinny, with short exposure. Trail is dusty because tread is sand and is dried out. At the HS I took Scorpion. Today I was not overly committed to the ride which caused me to let several of the basalt moves stymie me. At the bottom I juked over to Ramshead. I GPS my rides. I seek out trails I have not tracked. Old Post climb up was one of the non data trails. I let several of the step ups persuade me not to attempt. The issue is the step ups are on uphills when I am most taxed for energy. I don’t have the omph to pedal up. I continued Old Post back to pavement. Back at the van I rolled out the blue foam pad and did stretches.
I showered at snap then drove up to the festival to get a lay of the land and maybe find Dave Turner. I found him backing his truck into a parking space. I knew him and he remembered me. He introduced me to his wife, Christine. We chatted a short while as they wanted to go for a ride before dark. I lacked the energy to go ride w/ them.
I spent the night out off 89B on the flat spot. I picked a spot that is sort of like on a cul d sac where there are 2 other fingers going off. the Piece is maybe 50′ in diameter. Just b4 dark a new Ford sprinter type rig drove right into my little spot then backed into a finger about 20′ off my rear bumper. Other spots were open elsewhere where a slight separation would give an element of privacy. New rig I figured that they were rookies to dispersed camping. we ignored each other for the night. I left in the morning before they rolled out.
Friday AM was another PT shoulder session.
Friday at 4 was my volunteer shift. I arrived at the festival well before report time and walked the grounds checking it out. Industry Nine, SRAM, PUSH, Club Ride, and Turner Bikes were the exhibitors I had history with. I connected w/ those people. I reconnected w/ people that our paths have crossed. I met people from places I had been and connected. Here I am a local, where I met them I was the touron. I got face time w/ Dave about Turner bikes. He no longer makes aluminum framed bikes because no American fabricator wants to weld his frames or make his tubing. Composite bikes only made overseas.
I9 told me they would check my wheels out if I wanted. SRAM said he would check my bike out. My wheels are almost as true as they were the day of the first ride back in June of 2014. SRAM tweaked things and said that the drive train is still strong as is the 6 year old Monarch shock and 2 yo Pike fork. I rolled it over to Turner who was demoing his carbon bikes, 65B and 29 wheels. I offered him my aluminum frame 26″ wheel Spot to demo for a taste of that was then and this is now. The Spot was spurned.
PJ, the new owner of Bike and Bean threw a grand opening party Friday after the shop ride. I caught parts of the tail.
Sat my shift ended before dark. I bought a salad bar dinner at Whole Foods then drove out to 89B which turned out to be packed. I found a spot up against the fence where Lime Kiln trail crosses the road. I was parked in the open about 40′ from a large camping trailer. Space tonight was tight causing bending of social distance.
Rain fell after dark, about 10 mins of light splatters. Doug reported that his rain gauge measured .02″ of rain.
I drove to the festival and cruised for a parking space. Today skies were sort of overcast, winds picked up causing chilly conditions.
I preordered a Turner RFX as I have written about. Dave was demoing them. I did not ride one because I am waiting for my own that I get to keep. I am drooling for mine. Riders returning from their rides were very pleased with the RFX’s performance.
I gave Dave my Life Style Rider sticker that he immediately stuck to the tailgate of their trailer.
Late in the afternoon I finally captured Anthony and Krista, the other Tuner riders, and Dave for a pic. Slow internet speed to share more fun. This works. I didn’t get to do my reverse Mohawk.
Sat night the Zags conference championship game didn’t start till 10:30. I crawled between the sheets, laid back, and listened to the game. I fell asleep before halftime. They handled Portland allowing my early check out time.
Tonight I am back off Beaverhead. Wind is strong enough to rock my van causing mishit keys.
Anthony tunes suspensions. He has a custom piece for the Pike fork which improves its performance significantly. I met him years ago in Durango where he was working in a bike shop. He told me about taking Dave on the Whole Enchilada in Moab which has some really nasty stuff. Anthony was riding the light weight XC race bike Flux and Dave was on a Spot. Anthony’s riding on a light weight bike in a heavy hit world so impressed Dave he gave Anthony a Spot.
Friday I drove down to the Cowboy shop to buy a new warm weather hat. The owner spent maybe a half hour telling me about hats and their care and selection. Lots of details. I ordered a blank palm hat that he will shape to my liking.
I bought a Linderette dropper post thingy which attaches to the handlebar that creates a stubby branch on the bar that allows for attachment of a dropper post lever positioning it a a nature thumb throw motion. Friend Steve turned me on to it. Their booth was right beside the VVCC booth. I showed it to several riders including Dave. I told the Linderette person what I did and he told me that Dave told him I showed it to him.
Forecast was calling for possible showers that are so needed. I will ride tomorrow on dusty trails.
The FS trail crew found a FS volunteer pin still in its wrapper and gave it to me. I display it on my leather vest.