Forecast called for possible showers later in the day. The light pitter patter on the roof tonight says hero dirt tomorrow. Might be up on mesa on sand as trails down here have clay. Don’t ride when wet, how wet I have yet to learn, it might be really hero dirt.

Last night I iced my injured calf and took 2 Tylenol before bed to manage the pain. I slept right thru. Once out of bed I favored it. My groin area has no sense of pain but I do have discomfort. Dunno, going to allow time to either cure it or cause a medical treatment issue.

Great riding conditions today: mostly overcast low clouds, slight wind, temp in low 60s. I needed to go to town to resupply passing by the Bar M trail head. I wanted to test my calf on a ride I was thinking. I felt pain when walking but maybe pedaling won’t hurt. I’ll try a short piece of less tech trail and review. Before I made the stop to review I pedaled thru, nothing to stop me from my ride. Today I worked all the way out to furthest reaches of the trail system: Long Branch and Bar M. The further away from the TH the trails become more technically difficult. I rode most everything. Again purpose built trails that seem to just go up to go down to do back up. It’s never all of either way, even climbing uphill has recovery flat or downhill. All sustainably constructed and fun. Clouds lowered for discharge of a few sprinkles and that was it. 14.19 miles in 2 hrs 12 mins climbing 1630′

I pulled into the Bar M trail head massive parking lot. I saw a pick up truck parked free form and a guy was out looking at the kids tracks. He came over. It was Scott of Trail Mix, the trail maker happeners. He is a wealth of knowledge. Trail work is still on for this Thurs to work on Chisholm that is on the map but not complete.

My van is almost 5 feet wide by 12′. I am sitting in the drivers seat that swivels around to mate w/ a swing up table. Overhead is an LED light. Listening to XM. Temp doesn’t require a sweater yet. I’m dry, warm and secure. Earlier wind gusts buffeted the van. I stumbled onto a great choice in converting a cargo van into a living space. Driving it requires paying attention which is good but requires work. Winds make for fun driving countering the wind. I would not want to be tent camping like I used to way long time ago. I suppose if I were still tent camping I would be doing less and prolly already settled down under a roof.

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.

 

I spent the last 4 nights up at Horsethief XG in an assigned site w/ space and short sight lines. $7.50 per night w/ a CXT outhouse nearby, no water no internet. I have an XM receiver for radio wave entertainment and stimulation.

Rode 3 rides up on mesa.

Friday I rode Horsethief trails from the XG. Newer trails that I have yet to share w/ another rider. Chisholm from the XG crosses the hwy and continues on Gemini Bridges side of the road. More purpose built trails. Just fun to ride, all seem to be 100′ of vertical climb per mile ridden. The undulations up and down and left and right never allow a set pedal. Trails use slick rock as a tread choice and sand only as there was no rock to incorporate into the trail. Fri I was almost first tracks on hero dirt: the sand was wet and firm. I turned back uphill when I joined 7UP climbing some old jeep road and some single track. Joined Getaway where Bull canyon spur leaves. Lots of riders today, Very few downhill riders yielded to me climbing up Getaway. 10.61 miles climbing 1135′.

Nasty outdoors but snug indoors. I have created a comfortable living environment that I have adjusted to and being able to spend all day inside while being completely amused.

Sat I rode from camp to ride the big Mag 7 ride I call. Chisholm over to Mustang to Getaway to Bull run, to Great Escape to Little Canyon, the low spot which has taken about 1 hr 7 mins of riding to here. Now after robbing Paul to pay Peter riding gravity mostly down it was time to pay Paul back by humping against former friend gravity. I leap frogged a group of 8 riders, I let them go ahead at a stop then pedal after them, they would stop but I pedaled on, sometimes they caught me but I pedaled thru their rest stops. A rider called my name. It was Ted who is a trail builder and above now in Aspen (?) valley. During a visit to Salida I slept in his back yard. Trail building connections. We spent awhile visiting. That group of riders pedaled by. We bid adieu. Ted went first then disappeared from view as he is way stronger than me. Today there was little trail conflict in spite of the sheer quantity of riders out. Parking lots were overflowed. Shuttles dropped off their loads. Lots of riders. All chunky riding, no easy stuff. Amazing to see so many riders. Pedaled back to camp. 25.15 miles climbing 2129′ taking 3 hrs 9 mins. I feel the effort.  Of that time I was anaerobic for 1 hr 20 mins, mostly during the climb out. Again, at the end of the day I did climb back out doing those short burst climb followed by maybe a flat piece or real joy was a slight downhill. Just so well built trails.

Spent the night inside again, this morn the temp was 35.

Today I will leave Horsethief assured camp spot for the wilds of Willow springs. First I drove to Middle Earth trail trailhead. This is pretty close to the middle of Navajo rocks system. It is possible to make 1 great big loop or 2 smaller ones. Purpose built trails using mostly slick rock interspersed w/ now dry sand. Follow the faded paint marks on the rock and stay between the trail borders when present. Elements fade the paint and move the edge markers. Just pay attention and the dots will connect. I dallied in the warmth of the van allowing solar gain to make the long underwear top and long sleeve jersey fell comfortable. Rigs started rolling in. Today I rode down Ramblin to lower end, crossed the road and headed up Rocky Tops. Middle earth trail was at the end of this trail segment. I could make a short loop and call it good or continue for the whole loop. I have ridden these trails seveal times which creates some familiarity that leads to comfort as I know what I can ride and how to reward myself for working uphill. I only pedal because I can’t pump the up. Pay attention to the paint mark to stay on track and better yet to avoid front wheel trap fling over the bars chasm. Weather was overcast and cruddy. My long underwear top kept me toasty especially when the trail exposed me to the wind.

I like riding these trails many times. I am challenged still. Biking is a balance sport much like Telemark skiing is. There is always the question of remaining in balance and staying on top of 2 skittish points of earthly contact. Here there are several punch in the gut climbs up long pitches of slick rock. Because that was the trail solution. I remember when I come to them and just deal with the effort to climb. I am becoming more aggressive in my pedaling up hill as I mix in power mashing. I am mostly successful.

I haven’t retrieved the ride data or pics from today.

After the ride I drove back to town. Mesa elevation is 6,000′, Moab is around 4500′. Getting after it for completing tasks timely then drive out to crowded Willow Springs. Shower at the Aquatic center using my Silver Sneakers benefit. Filled drinking water jug and a stand alone filter ice stand as I believe that the treatment equipment is more effective than the in store ones. I drink this. At Gearheads I fill the water tank for kitchen use. Walk across the street to City Market and grocery shop. All items checked off the list I headed uphill. Crowded Willow Springs in spite of it being Sunday night.

Weather this week is improving with sunshine and warmth. Moab seems to enjoy the same weather dependent Sedona. The place is packed. Lots on mountain bikes on rigs and being ridden. The high country is still under snow. Leaving here heading north will restrict ride choices below snow melt out line. The trails are not crowded or boring, what is hard is the camping spot finding. The paid XG assures my spot but Horsethief is like 20 miles away and no internet. I’ll prolly stay this week.