Tuesday UPS delivered on their delivery commitment delivering my RFX to the Bean. I stopped at Fat Tire after my ride to turn out the spokes from the hub. Dave told me to come by the shop today after 11 and the wheels would be done. Not so, he’s working the sticky boiled linsene(?) oil out of the the threads.

Wed Cody built the bike up which is now blocking my hall way. It lacks wheels that are needed to allow putting it on the bike rack.

I saw this yucca doing a bloom? Abe, please tell us what is happening:

The remodeled Whole Foods is attracting huge crowds. I asked an old time checker about the customers. She said about 20% are local enough for her to recognize. Place is doing a booming business. I graze their salad/ food bars for dinner. Killer food that i believe is healthy to me going in.

Today I rode my last ride on my Spot out on Last Frontier Girdner loop for 16.19 miles. Tread is either slick rock, loose broken chunks of red sandstone of various sizes, or now sand. The trail dropping down to Dry Creek from the Cultural Center was littered w/ tire rolled rocks caused by all the riders from the festival. Ran into local Erin. Almost all by myself. I rode 8781 miles on 644 rides on the frame. 2 wheelsets, 3 forks, lots of drivetrains and tires, but the original Monarch shock PUSH tuned. Good bye.

I dropped my wheels, IBIS rims and I9 spokes at Fat Tire for Dave to build the wheels. UPS pegged the arrival date of today for delivery. The Bean was closed when I arrived at 5:30. Tomorrow I will open the box and hug my very own RFX. I will transfer parts from the Spot to the RFX. Dave is to have the wheels done on Thurs morn.

Monday I rode my Llama Breezy loop. I encountered 2 women riders at a trail junction. Conversation ensued. They are from Sun Valley and we know a slew of the same people including Steve and Mia. I did not ask their names as I am prone to forget. Sandy tread.

Monday night was the Banff film festival sold out 750 seats. Great films of people really pushing the edges. I drove out to 89B for the night.

I am learning that a stout pedal push and a slight rearward weight shift causes the front end to lift easily. And properly applied power will get me up and over stuff.

No longer am I moving the 650B rims from the front passenger seat to the back of the bus and back again, and back again.

But it ain’t working.

Sunday was the Old Mans ride, again diluted by 50 year olds. It was Jimmy, Ian, and I later joined by Dave and Duane. We rode out Turkey Creek area that sees little bike travel. We encountered 4 hikers and no bikers. The trails were mostly horseback ridden in as a result they are narrow and brushy. Lots of chunder. I walked a bit. Ian waited for me at the trail choices keeping me found.

Friday was a PT session. Eric’s protocol is to break up old muscle patterns to adjust to the new norm. He is pleased w/ his effort so far. I have great mobility w/ some strength and weakness in other moves. It is what it is, I am in better shape now than when I was when we started 6 weeks ago. Sessions are tapering off.

Two years ago I would park at the library which is adjacent to PT then ride Dry Creek rd to Chuck Wagon trail to do a loop then road ride back to the library. This year I am eliminating the pavement and parking right where Chuck Wagon crosses the road. I rode Chuck Wagon to Aerie to Cockscomb to Rupp to follow a horse trail down to Girdner, taking AZ Cypress joining back w/ Girdner finishing on short piece of Chuck Wagon back to my van. I am riding better on what I choose to ride but the past what I won’t ride remain I won’t commit to. 17.33 miles climbing 1643′ pedaling 2 hrs 28 mins. I was worked.  Dry creek was being its namesake

Several years ago I crossed here hopping from rock to rock above a very running wash.

So, Sunday night out at almost preferred spot off Beaverhead Flats road. Dinner was at Mileys for their turkey dinner.

Tomorrow is Banff film festival films in W. Sedona

I am fortunate that I am permitted to ride w/ some locals who allow my slowness because of age and less technical skills. It’s an important part of a sense of belonging. I have a sense of connection here in Sedona area.

UPS tracking says new RFX arrives at the Bean on Tuesday. I’ll ride W. Sedona on Tuesday afterwards drop my wheels off at Fat Tire for Dave to build my new wheels on Wed. Maybe I wait till he has finished wheel building then drive down to the Bean to build the bike up. Would save a round trip. This week I will be riding a technologically improved bike.