Diaz Suspension Design brings out the best the bike can give

Anthony Diaz, creator and owner of DSD, tunes suspensions. He is also a Turner rider racing Enduros. We chatted several times while in Sedona. He’s in Durango. I made my way to Durango to look him up and for him to tune my suspension. His shop is right behind Durango bikes(?) shop where I met him years ago. I caught him when he was in and I made an appointment for his magic. He worked on the fork and the shock late Wed evening. He can provide details of his tune and I am not going to try to write about how suspensions work and what his work did. I picked up my bike Wed night and rode it back to John’s house where I was staying. The first curb I dropped off I felt a much more supple squish. I put the bike back on my van looking forward to my ride today. His contact info is phone 713 806 4278, his voice mail is waiting.

Lost days getting caught up.

Monday I drove to Aztec arriving in the afternoon then I drove out to new trailhead for Alien run. BLM land w/ invite to spend the night. Driving down from the Zunis I prolly bottomed out the Spinter’s suspension on a cattle guard. A good shaker. I turned on the furnace before going to bed. I woke several times chilly but the furnace was running. Air was moving but it wasn’t heated. Furnace not working. I was able to start the infra red heater giving warmth till the sun took over. Check under the van after the ride.

Alien Run is one of IMBA / BLM backyard to back country rides. I rode here on the TNT Spot. Today it was the RFXs turn. The system is a narrow loop. The first 5 miles are trending uphill, the last 11 miles trend downward. The uphill tread had many sections and feet of loose round cobble. The DW anti squat suspension allowed me to pedal w/o spinning out, quite a feat. Nasty rubble.  Land is populated w/ oil extraction and transportation equipment. The trail gives view sheds. What a hard ride leaving me in a different zone afterwards. 16.21 miles climbing 1599′ pedaling 2 hrs 10 mins. Punchy up and downs never allow to just straight climbing.

Back at the van I crawled underneath to search for the furnace problem. I discovered one of the ducts was no longer attached. I slipped it into place then laid a round of 100 mile per hour tape. The left rear shock was right in my face: it was wet from a blown shock. Replacement of all shocks now areal need. I googled shocks in Durango, I found Tire Factory. I called and I scored service on Wed, the next day. The service guy said 30 min job.

John in Durango invited me to look him up during a Sedona conversation. I met him and several of his older friends at an Old Man’s night out several years ago. I drove into town and parked on the street at a meter. No free parking downtown. I walked Main Ave to Anthony’s shop. I saw a dispensary sign, a green cross. I climbed the steep steps to the second floor store. Decisions. I added to my stash. Downtown buildings are historic and well preserved. I spend time admiring the architecture. I met John at a brew pub for beer and dinner. I planned on staying at Junction Creek XG but it was closed. Street camping is aggressively discouraged. John let me sleep in his driveway. We visited till his bedtime and I walked the short distance to my house.

Wed at 10 was the shock appointment, the location was just 2 blocks from John’s. The shop took my van right away. I walked downtown whiling my wait time away. The shop called me to tell me they were moving stuff from my libray in the right wheel well. I walked back to the shop where work was still being performed. Turns out the shop made a mistake in understanding the replacement work. They stood by their quote. I paid and drove away. I noticed that teh engine control light lit up. WTF? I googled Sprinter repair finding only one. I called,  they don’t, she gave me a suggestion, I called them, no, they don’t, closest shop is back at Farmington, NM. Rats, broken van requiring immediate fix and my bike work getting done. I stopped at Anthony’s explaining my situation, he said he would work on my stuff that night and maybe have it done before my early drive to Farmington. I wondered if during the shock work a wire might have been disconnected so I drove back to the shop. I said hello and shortly the wrench who did the work all but ran to my van. He disconnected the air cleaner and sensor to get at the shock which turned out not to be the way to get at it and he forgot to reconnect the stuff. He attached the stuff then volunteered to plug in a computer to check error codes then clear them. Codes cleared, light unlit. I drove to Anthony’s to tell him that he had more time for the work.

Back at John’s happy hour in the back yard. John hurt his right hand damaging connective tissue such that he doesn’t ride. I did not have a local to lead me around. Anthony called saying my bike was ready. Cool, I walked the maybe 6 blocks in the dark to his shop. I carefully pedaled and coasted back to John’s.

Mountains above Durango still have a snow mantle, too early to ride up high and too wet down below to ride.

Today I bid John goodbye then drove to a nearby laundromat because today is Thursday.

Clean dry clothes folded and put away and the wet ones hung up to dry.

I drove west to Cortez, CO to ride Phil’s world trails, another IMBA / BLM project.

I pedaled away on the newly tuned suspension. Right away the ride was vastly improved lighting up my smile even more. Early miles of the system were smooth and fast. The bike just flies, I lifted both wheels into the air several times. The tuning worked. The trails are one way, at every intersection turn left to go w/ the direction. Ribcage is a flow trail, lots of g-outs and kickers. Smoking. 18.05 miles climbing 1682′ pedaling 2 hrs 10 mins.

Afterwards I drove to Cortez community rec center for a Silver Sneakers shower. Winds picked up coming at my left front quarter making for a skittish drive to US 191 heading north w/ the wind at my back mostly. Moab is hopping. I stopped for water then drove up the CO river to Goose Island XG where I had stayed, it’s the first BLM XG from town. Wow, XG full. I continued to the next XG which was also full. I turned around and drove out to Willow Springs road where I have stayed also. Place is packed. I found a spot out in the open. Forecast called for high winds which blow sand around and precip, both makes this spot not desirable. I’m parked almost broadside to the wind which rocks my house.

Forecast calls for wet till Monday. Might stay here all day hunkered down.