Tonight I am camped in a crowded XG in Badlands NP in South Dakota. Back into 80 degree days and elevation of 2467′. Strong internet signal in the park.
Again catching up.
On the 14th rain fell on Bozeman again making another rest day as my back is still unhappy. I slept on the street.
On Thurs I did my wash for the 3rd week at the same laundromat. Then I headed east to Billings, MT. I googled bike shops and picked Spoke Shop in Billings to learn local info. Very giving guy told me about the Back 9 and camping at Acton rec area. I asked about a fav brew pub to learn Uberbeer downtown. I walked in, saw an empty seat at the bar. Next to it sat a man who was wearing clipless shoes. I called him a cowboy because I could tell by his shoes. He called me cowboy because of my dress. He is from near Akron, OH which lead to talking about Ohio and Mohican. I invited him to join me on the Back 9 the next day. We made a rendezvous. I headed out of town to the Acton rec area. I chose this spot because it is BLM land and legal camping. Turned into a 9 mile each way gravel road drive. I arrived at dark. I leveled my van and went to bed.
Friday I got under way in time to arrive at rendezvous spot in plenty of time which I used to get my bike ready. Never heard from the guy. Stiffed. I studied the GPS route in MTBProject. I pedaled away. A guy caught up w/ me. We visited. Local and gave info. Singletrack nomad.com, makes documentary films. Ride out was easy as it was on the flat above the cliffy technical return route. Seems Billings has this cliff face running above town. I strayed from the gps route.
Lots of chunk stuff I walked. Someday I will stay at a feature I walked to work out a riding solution. Someday. Ride went 13.56 miles climbing 1316′. Challenging ride.
I drove back into town to an Anytime right in downtown. Shower cleaned. I headed east out of town. I stopped at Ashland, MT at a FS station seeking a map of camping spots. An FS person exited the closed station. I listened to her recommendations. I found an empty spot at Red Shale XG, free, but no water of garbage service. She said that about a third of their forest burnt.
Sat after bfast and clean up I drove on into Spearfish. I stopped at a bike shop. They sell Trek electric assist bikes. I listened to an employee telling a customer about the bike. He said they were not considered motorized because they lack a throttle. I spoke up saying that yes, they do have a throttle which is your legs: as you pedal the bike motor turns on. I might have pissed him off. Selling a bike that can’t be ridden on heart propelled trails.
I headed out to Tinton road to pick up a piece of the locally famous Dakota 5 0. I remembered riding here back my first year. I parked at a small parking lot just off the busy road being dusted by every rig that went by, seems the faster the vehicle the more dust. My plan was to ride up the trail which parallels the road but quite removed then get over to Dakota Ridge to enjoy a new piece of hand built trail. The first time I rode this I was on my TNT 5 Spot w/ stock Fox fork and shock that had just been tunes by PUSH. I rememeber climbing up and over a root on the trail and the shock allowed squish. This bike is so much better. The trail has been reworked to get it out of the creek bottom with added bridges where required. Big climb. I arrived at Big Hill TH then droipped down a gulch to pick up the start of the ridge trail. Challenging ridge line trail.
Lots of relief. This is in the Black Hills Forest.
16.17 miles climbing 2402. I walked a few pieces as they were too long steep. Nasty razor back ridge riding. Back at the TH I spent the night.
Sunday AM. Amazing self loading logging trucks were hauling. I drove up the road to Big Hill TH for my start. Plan today is to ride a good chunk of the southern end of the Dakota. I put my smart phone on my handlebar so I could follow MTBProject GPS track. Needed the track for route finding. Having the route visible on the bar solved navigation. No ridge riding, just single track winding up and down and around. Mixed in were gravel roads open or closed.
My energy was being depleted. I rode a piece of trail that cut a corner off the race course. I needed the less miles but didn’t enjoy the newly constructed mini ex constructed trail that solved sustainability issues. Not finished. To me you don’t block off an existing trail before the new one is completed. Lots of cows and manure on the trail. I bailed on an open FS road and rode back to the TH. I was beat. 22.51 miles climbing 2959′, topped out at 6,000′. Another riding improvement is to take breaks and eat. I tend to not do either and I run out of steam.
I drove into town and took a shower at the rec center. Next up was a beer at the only brewery.
I left after a mexican dinner heading past Deadwood, SD. Big tourist town, famous for a gold mine(?). I found Roubaix XG a ways down the road. A short rain squall fell during the night , forecast called for only dry days and nights.
Today I drove to the start of Victoria Lake ride, still int he Black Hills near Rapid City. I found the trail in MTBP. Another GPS route following. Again, cows and manure. Mixed in was thinned out forest.
15.73 miles climbing 2224′. Fun trail. I am riding more aggressively trusting my bike. Lots of sharp rocks. I’m now running 19 psi in the rear and 18 on the front. Softer ride and no damage. Fun riding. Enjoyable in that it is all about pedaling, none of that 2hrs of climbing a resource extraction road for a short downhill. Not here. Another worth riding again trail.
I found an Anytime in Rapid City for a shower and nearby grocery store. I headed east on rt 44 to Badlands NP for the night. Packed XG. no trees. 83 degree day.
So, tomorrow I drive the rest of South Dakota into Minnesota.
I am working my flat pedals much better. I am placing my foot with the pedal axle under the arch of my foot which changes the pedal stroke making it so much more powerful than clipless pedals. I am learning where friend Steve’s power comes from.
Thanks all for the birthday wishes. Swammi, I just started another batch of probiotics. Abe, I’ll find a table that I can sit on to follow your advice.
Bed time.