This issue of MBA contained an article about riding on flats. Piqued my curiosity. researched and found an article Bikejames.com describing why flats are better under maybe non race conditions. Clipless lock our foot in a rigid location, can be more powerful. However, flats allow the foot to locate the ball of the foot well past the center line of the pedal, the foot is only stuck on the pedal which allows for all kinds of foot placement. I bought Spanks Spikes pedals which share similarities w/ pedals made by Dean in Sedona: very thin, axle is thicker than the pedal. 510 sticky shoes.

Thing about flats is the pedal must be weighted and the foot either angled heel up or down which keeps the foot from coming off. Sitting on the saddle w/ flat unweighted feet going over bumpy stuff guaranties a rocket launch off the saddle. The article recommended wearing shin guards till familiarity set in.2 rides w/ feet on the pedals, shin guards not needed. Different pedal stroke, using bigger gears, can see adding more teeth to the chain ring going from a 30 to a 32.

Yesterday was my first ride. I thought about riding as I fell asleep the night before. This ride was to be a short learning curve ride. I pedaled from where I camp right off Catch and Release trail. That lead to Storm King going uphill gaining 1000′ I plan my ride to ride down, this was up. Learned pedal stroke. Came down Pine Drop saving Phils for more practice. I did catch the lower part of Phils then perhaps Voodoo then joined Grand Slam which connected to Storm King back to C&R and the van.24.36n miles on flats  climbing 1847 in just under 3 hours. Dry dusty tread, so sweet I don’t follow anyone.

I’m parked just down a bit on FS road 31. My spot is in front of a locked gate on a crushed red pumice road. Road sign reads 7 miles to town and add on a few more to reach snap and 10 Barrel. Cleaned up, thirst attended to w/ a pint of Sinister at said establishment. The drove back to where I started the day.

Which is today. Last Sunday Simon, Moses, and I attempted this same ride albeit riding from town. Today I drove to Phils TH for my start. I pedaled up Bens to the social trail junction leading out to Skyliner paved road. Cross that and find social single track to the left that drops down to rejoin the road which crosses Tumalo creek then climbs up. At the top Mrazek trails crosses. Turn left and begin to climb up to Farewell trail which is the down trail off the ridge. Drop down to Tumalo creek for some crazy coasting until it goes uphill, I stopped at what was once a camp to check on the spigot for spring cold water. Spigot opened. Sweet. From there Skyliner climbed  to its end. A short climb brought me to the top of Phils and the finale downhill. I stayed on the pedals the entire 31.07 miles climbing 3149 in 3 hrs 45 mins. Burned 2148 cals.Big day.

Monday was a rest day. I had a CT scan in the afternoon of my lower abdomen. To date no info on results.

My parking brake handle raises high enough to engage that it blocks the driver’s seat turning. I stopped at a NAPPA store for new windshield wipers. I asked about referrals to a repair shop. Past diagnosis was brake cable needed to be replaced. I called the first shop. Guy said he’s there till 6, bring it by. I GPS’d his address. He said pull it in. He turned to by removing the rear wheels and freeing up the drum brake and took up slack which allows a lower handle height for full engagement. No more wheel chock stones.

Tuesday I saved myself about 4 miles each way of Storm King by driving up to catch Funner at a higher up closer TH. While doing my dishes 2 riders showed up. One was Woody, the 4th as he is the 4th Bend Woody. They were sort of doing what I was gonna do but they were riding all the way. I drove to the TH and set forth. I rode Funner, Tiddlywinks, Tylers and Larsens. 15.83 miles.Pump the turns.

Afterwards I drove to Webcyclery to pick up my pedals and shoes. I learned some skills about flats. Eager to pedal them.

At 3 was my meeting w/ Michael, the architect to complete the house design. Which we did. We spent about 6 hours total translating my vision to put in a computer model. He will send me images. Next is the structural engineering effort. Gonna be cool. Just 20’X20′.

Today I did my weekly wash.Included was a wool long underwear top needed for a chilly ride. It’s early July. Some days the temp changes 40 degrees. Some mornings I run the furnace.

Saw this custom built mtn bike shuttle trailer.

Old Folks Boogie: The mind makes promises that the body can’t keep. I find that riding while intoxicated on pot that my body perhaps is lulled from the pain relieving benefit that the brain can make bigger promises and the body makes it happen. I learned how to pump the trail corners a ride because of the less fear feedback from the body. I was able more to carve the corner then pump the apex which rockets out of the turn. Trails here are mostly pedal w/ few tech spots, perhaps biggest issue is lining up  my handlebar to fit between 2 trees. Spatial recognition. Some riders miss that

Wide bar and a stem that has no reach as it is so short. Impressive upgrade in handling as it makes the bike incredibly quick, sometimes twitchy. The bike carves.

Mulling over going down to Toketee and ride some of the North Umpqua trail. I spent 2 summers working for the FS from Toketee. down for the weekend.

Very dehydrated from today’s ride. I’m a bit worn down.

Today marks the eighth year anniversary of being home free. That day I handed over the keys to my sold house to the closing attorney then left on a tour around Washington State. I was recovering from a shoulder surgery and not cleared to play. My house sold 10 days earlier than I had planned on. My plan was to give up the house and head out on my odyssey the same day I was released to go play. Today was the moving into the van full time. The 18th marks the first day of the odyssey.

Friend Simon from Sedona is here in Bend. Jimmy shared his phone number allowing me to contact him.I met up w/ him and his family at Pioneer park in town, these parks are like pocket parks as they are small. Chemically maintained lush grass enticed me to shed shoes and socks and wiggle toes. Wonderful. I plan on sodding a small patch of grass at my house just to wiggle my toes in. They are traveling in a big diesel pusher RV. Simon teaches skills. He is a legendary rider in Sedona,steep and deep. We visited for awhile then I headed to 10 Barrel for my third beer of the day. We made plans for me to contact him today at 9 to make a ride plan for today.

Last night I parked at a spot I like just off rd 41, it is only 6 miles out of town. Somebody got it tonight.

Today’s ride plan was to meet at Drake Park downtown right on the Deschutes river. He got there early enough to get curb side parking. I parked nearby also on the street. He invited Moses, a 13 yo son of Simon’s friend to join. We pedaled from town out past Phil’s to take an FS road then ST back to gravel road to gain Mrazek ridge trail. Encountered many riders heading downhill against us w/ everyone yielding to us uphillers.Different crowd than would have been at Phils. Our proposed route would have been maybe 30 miles. We were still over 2 miles to Farewell down trail. reality was it was too big a bite for a 13 yo, better to challenge but not kill and live for another rider. We rode back thru Shevlin park then sidewalks and streets back to our rigs. 26.61 miles climbing 2138′. Mrazek climbs up thru managed Ponderosa pine tree forest before elevation favors Lodgepole pine. We turned around right at edge of lodgepole.

Right where Mrazek crossed the dirt road we were on a man and woman were standing on the far side of the trail. Conversation ensued leading to the guy asking if I was the mtn bike the states guy, I said yes, then he recounted a ride he showed me years ago where we rode all of Storm King then jogged over to finish on the river trail. I remembered and told him that I had ridden it several times.

Friday I drove over to Sisters to ride Pederson Ridge trails. Cloudy skies and infrequent sprinkles. Trail system is like a ladder with connectors forming the rungs. I pedaled up on the right leg and returned on the other leg. Carving swoopy turns thru open forest. Bit more rock to deal with. 16.6 miles climbing 855′, a shallow day. I drove back to Bend and met up w/ Simon per above.

This part of Oregon had an active volcanic past leaving behind pumice dirt and lava, some in huge flows. Down low open P pine tree cover, up higher lodgepole. Dry.

Thurs was weekly wash day.and a rest off the bike because and because its fork was being serviced at Sunnyside, oil change. Earlier in the week I negotiated a work schedule which allowed me to turn in the bike on Wed before closing time and they would be finished Friday morning. I dropped it off after my ride and picked it up Friday AM for my ride. Well done Sunnyside.

Wed I rode this wonderful Storm King loop starting from where I camped. The route allowed me to ride Storm King in its entirety and finish on a flat trail. Worked very well. I pedaled Catch and Release to the end at Bachelor highway and the start of COD which is open thru the logging area. Then I wander around on lateral trails till I hit Ben’s, the uphill trail climbing to rd 300. A short jig on the dirt road to pick up Pine Drop which climbs up to top of Phils and Storm King. From there is is almost all downhill on a grade that can be climbed but more enjoyed going down. 23.93 miles climbing 2269′.

Tuesday I saw my healthcare provider, Heidi, to figure out what is causing my abdominal pain and loose stool. I am concerned that landing on the top tube messed w/ my insides. Blood was drawn and analyzed yielding good stuff, however I seem to be at the lower end of the range on many values. Wearing out? A referral was given for an abdominal CT scan which will be this Monday.

On previous rides while on Catch and Release I noticed camp spots some occupied and many open possibilities in the fuels reduced forest. I found an FS road that is blocked by a locked gate, using level blocks I made the spot home for the night. It’s closer to town and out of the dust than where I was staying above where Storm King crossed the hwy.

I bought an Edge 25 which is way smaller than the 800 which gives basic info plus heart rate. It’s about the size of a 50 cent piece compared to the almost a deck of cards computer.

I have been riding in a higher gear and pushing down on the pedals which slows my cadence and enlists the large muscle fibers, slow twitch, versus higher cadence in lower gear which is rapid twitch which blows me up quickly. As a result of bigger gears I keep my heart rate down and I let my breathing then control my effort meaning I don’t blow up, I just get beat. Looking forward to riding flats.

Off to bed.

Today I drove up to Swampy TH to ride something my mind and body agreed on. I rode out to Swampy Lake then dropped down the South Fork of Tumalo creek which is an incredible deep woods legacy single track. Challenging and sweet as an old trail built for hiking. No bike purpose built flowy stuff. At the bottom I turned up stream climbing up to car packed Tumalo Falls TH. From here bikers are required to hike a bike until the first overlook. Never seen so many people. 2 weeks ago the road was closed requiring about 3 hiked miles each way. Road was opened. Once back on my bike I encountered beaucoup hikers heading down, I stopped for each one and greeted each w/ a pleasant something. One guy complimented me saying I was the first courteous rider to interact w/ him. Trail climbed along North Fork under deep tree cover. Pedal short distance, stop and wait for hikers to pass, clip in, pedal some more, repeat.

I encountered a group of riders heading uphill that we met yesterday. I watched a woman ride a 12″ wide foot bridge then go over the bars at the roll off, she looked down and tapped her front brake. Slow moo action. Her friends treated her for embarrassment. Trail reached Happy Valley up in Lodgepole forest which climbed up to join Mrazek ridge,

Many promo pics use this setting.

The trail entered snowbush elevation, the first part I helped cut back last year maybe, one other volunteer was JoJo, wife of famous trail builder Woody Keene. Our cutting blended in, down lower what we didn’t cut was over grown, then a piece that had just been brushed back being very noticeable. Trail finished in the Tumalo Falls packed TH. I encountered no one as I pedaled down stream past the South fork I descended earlier. I took the next up which after single track it becomes a recently used skidder road having been graded out. Long climb back to Sector 16 then on to Swede ridge connecting w/ Swampy back to the TH.

I am on Swampy and a rider approached. About 25′ away he asks if I want to say Hi to an old friend. We stopped side by side. It was my old 5 Spot being ridden by Scott who bought it sight unseen, he lives in the Bend area. I called out a spot of tape residue still on, he said no, the bike has character and it will be ridden bearing whatever I left. I did wash off the red dust before boxing it up. Just so cool. And even more connected he is friends w/ Turner, Scott is riding a new carbon Flux also. He has a house inn the Pisgah area, we talked about common people. Just so cool.

The smile is genuine.

Big ride of 25.03 miles climbing 3204′ pedaling 3 hrs 19 mins. I am working on pedaling heel down which is what flats permit. Push the pedal away, no using the clipless to pull up. Bike gears powerful makes for powerful legs and spares the lungs.

I drove down to town. Today I rode up to 61xx’ then drove down to town at 36xx’. I took a shower at snap then drove down to 10 Barrel where I scored an empty parking space 1 rig away from the intersection and I sort of parallel parked. In for a slow beer. I walked up street to Longboards for a halibut burrito. Good filling simple dinner for $6.50. I returned to my van catching 2 women exiting a full size SUV parked about 14″ from my bumper as they even overhung the yellow no parking curb. I hailed them and asked if they would help me back out as I had about 4′ in front behind a VW bug. The drive backed up and let me out. I drove back up to above Storm King crossing, just off Funner trail.

Yesterday I rode from where I am camped the night before and tonight. Split the loop and cut out piece of Storm King by starting from camp. Trails are dusty everywhere. Funner is what I climbed to Wanoga TH. The trail parallels the highway. More riders than I have ever shared the trail with. All mostly friendly. At Wanoga I took Tiddlywinks to Kiawa butte trailI encountered the same group of riders I would meet today. No crashes although I watched the same woman who fell today stay upright somehow over what i walk. Both feet down paddling. Watching other riders solve same problems. Next up was Tylers Traverse fun backcountry flow trail over soft dirt. Just before a logging road crossing 4 riders were sitting off the trail. They greeted me as I coasted by, a woman called me by name. It was JoJo. She was riding w/ her husband, Woody. They hail from Pisgah area. Dale Wiggins is from Phoenix, I know him from his trail and mapping info he shares on line.More members of same family. Woody recognized the Pisgah Stage race stage winner jersey Todd, the race promoter gave me.

Finished at the van then drove down to town for a shower, beer, and dinner. Tonight it was at The Lot which is near 10 Barrels. 5 food trucks are parked on The Lot. An open air tap room shares the space for sharing space and time with almost no one you know. Share tables.

While still light I drove back up towards Bachelor where I go to camp about 15 miles from 10 Barrel. Tonight I chose a road to the right just b4 the left I usually take. I passed occupied campspots until I made my own just off a less used dusty dirt logging road.

Mosquitoes are present where I camp, just a few.

Outlaw Country XM radio station. Anybody out there on satellite radio? Steve Earle, channel 60. 10PM PDT.

Yesterday was in mid 80s, forecast drops temps back into pleasant 70s. I ride about 1000′ higher which drops 5 degrees(?), not much but under lots of shade.