When I struggle pedaling uphill my breathing sounds like huff and puff, my breath is short enough just to say huff,
Friend Steve from Sun Valley arrived on Monday from Sedona. He joined me out here on Willow Springs rd and we went for a short spin on the Klonzo trail system. He initiated me on Gravitron trail which descends for the most part on a sustainable tread that is challenging. In places it is like a flow trail using the sides of a wash dropping in then out then turn again to drop back down again. Bench cut hand built. When I ride behind Steve I exert less, he is my speed governor. When I lead I ride at my pace which blows me up. Steve beats me on the long continuous climbs.
Cattle guard is so simple hence cheap to build
Last night as I was writing this the computer threw a hissy that I finally solved tonight, Saturday.
We rode back to my camp spot that I scored which is a rocky open spot right up against the slick rock. About 100′ off the road and mostly upwind of the dust stirred up. This is my most favorite spot on this road.
Steve drove back out later w/ his friend Pierre from SV. The 3 of us road Fisher Creek several years ago. Pierre’s rig’s transmission died and had to be replaced. Steve’s Sprinter engine control light came on indicating a cause for loss of power. They hung here till dark. They are staying in a paid XG just outside of town. Place is packed including the private XGs.
Next ride was Navajo Rocks. We parked at Middle Earth which is in the middle of the system and offers a bail point. Pierre is winter no riding condition shape. The scenery affected him such that he became a tourist enjoying the view. Again I rode behind Steve which kept my effort down. Figure 8 route starting down Ramblin crossing the highway to Rockytops to Middle Earth back to vans. Pierre didn’t answer the bell and Steve needed to be in downtown service garage requiring him to manage his time. Hanging in the parking lot before I took off to ride the rest of the system Big Mesa, Big Lonely, Coney Island and finishing on Middle Earth a familiar looking woman approached me and spoke something like you might not remember me but we worked together. I recognized her as she identified herself: Wendy. First time on this odyssey that I knew someone from Boeing and the first that I actually worked with. Wow. I imagine Wendy as the person that would tell the emperor that he is not wearing any clothes. How fun it was.
I pedaled off head down and just worked my loop. With Steve leading my bpm was 113, by myself it was 129.
Before leaving my camping spot I set out my chair and table and strung orange traffic cones in my camp spot. Belief is that the spot will be considered occupied, hence saved for me. And so it was.
Steve and Pierre came out for dinner again. I made Waldorf salad, now 2X this year for Steve,
Wed we decided to meet at the Bar M trailhead as I haven’t ridden it this year and Steve and Pierre never have. Excellent purpose built by hand stacked loop system trails. Pierre chose the shorter was home. Steve and I rode like Rockin A trail which is almost all on slick rock slab w/ lots of twists and turns. Lumpy surface. Get way out there.
We finished up on the Back 40
Afterwards I drove down to town for a shower and supplies then drove out to saved camp spot. My shower is at the Moab Aquatic center. Town is about 15 miles from town. Steve and Pierre brought their bought dinner and I ate something I put together in my van kitchen. They are leaving tomorrow morning. We bid adieu and they left.
Thursday was laundry and rest day, another week of riding 6 out of 7 days. I drove to town to make clean clothes. Temp scooted into 80s. Line dried clothes gave up moisture quickly. I drove back ut to Willow Springs saved spot.
Weather has been some all day sunny and the last several have been cloudy w/ hardly a splatter showers. Windy w/o strong gusts of last week. One night I slept w/ the door open and screen stretched across the opening. The night before ( a spider just lowered itself from above and stopped right in my vision focal plane) I kept the door open after dark working at my desk w/ the light on. I was attached by a large swarm of prolly the smallest flying insects I have ever seen. Several found my eyes.
Trail Doc from Sedona is here. On my Navajo Rocks ride I ran into a bunch of his Sedona riding crowd. He and some of them are camped out past me on Willow Springs. I walked down the road after dark looking for their camp. I chose only to look at rigs parked within eye shot of the road. I didn’t find them meaning they were off on a side track.
Before Friday’s ride I swapped out the Time ATAC pedals for Shimano XT pedals. I had set the release tension to limp celery stick effort. I released on the ride. I stopped and tighten the release which kept me in for the rest of the ride.
Friday I rode from camp to the Klonzo system down the road. Lots of campers back here. I shared the trails w/ less than 10 riders. Weather wanted rain. I drove back to town for supplies. I was planning on going out to Klondike but w/ rain forecast and if enough fell some of the trails would be sticky clay. I learned that there is an Enduro race there today which sealed the no hang here deal for me.
Captain Ahab on Amasa Back was built primarily by Tyson Swazzey whom I met last year in Sedona as he was there to work on a trail proposal. This trail and his other work landed him a position w/ IMBA Trail Solutions building trails. Several years ago Charlie Evans initiated me on this trail. I remember it being a technical handful for my skill set. I decided to ride it today, a Saturday. Rain threatening weather. I drove to the TH. I geared up and pedaled away. The start is on a gravel road climb for a warm up. Single track drops down and crosses Kane Creek. From here the challenge started. A short piece of the jeep road lead to the single track. I rode up Hymasa to the junction of Upper Capt Ahab. This first part was a grunt mixed in w/ some off the bike pushes. This was all single track as will be Capt Ahab. Lots more tech stuff. The ride is on black diamond trails. I walked a bunch. I lack confidence in my ability.
Computer won’t let me insert pictures.
After one of my remounts I was going downhill right over chunky stuff. Maybe before I could clip into my right pedal I was bounced off my feet. My right foot pulled free and my left left pedaled. When I came back down I missed the pedal with my foot but caught it on the back of my calf. Somehow I missed smashing my nuts on the top tube, I took and oblique shot to the crotch. No pain. Finally I joined the jeep road down to the creek crossing. Climb out then a coast on the road back to the van. No rain. Brutal not enjoyable ride for me. 8.50 miles climbing 1496′ taking 1 1/2 hrs of moving time, both pedaling and walking.
Drove into town for a shower etc. then drove back to camp spot still unoccupied.
Last night a RV pulled in behind me for the night. Later a van parked closer to me. Both were gone before I cleaned breakfast up. RV is back tonight.
The desert is alive w/ the smell of mock orange. Sweet.
Weather forecast wants showers and possible t-storms in the less than 30% probability range. Undecided where to ride tomorrow. I really bruised my calf such that it hurts to walk. I might be able to pedal however.
Chilly evening again, doors and windows shut. Double down blanket night.