Today was overcast and just in the 50s. I lacked the ummpf to overcome stasis. I drove into the bean and hung for the day.

Tourons and weekenders ride on their free time away from work. Their window is small. For them there might not be another choice.

Me? meh. I just rested. My shoulder hurts but appears to have the same mobility. Disturbing tonight was holding binoculars to my eyes with both arms. My shoulder broke down such that I had to cheat to keep them to my eyes. I can not lift a quart bottle of water to my lips to drink. But that has been the norm.

My Monarch shock was serviced. Scott said that all the replaceable parts were fine because I don’t ride hard enough to heat the oil which breaks down the seals. Only ridden by a little ol man on his way around the country.

Alex is an engineer working on bikes at the bean. He engineered a study on tires and rims. I am running Ibis 741 rims, the 41 is mm outside to outside measurement. I am running an Ardent 2.4 on them. The wide rim changes the tire profile which does not locate the cornering knobs optimally. He said that the 2.5 Minnion DHF is what is needed for my rim size as the cornering lugs present a squarer profile when mounted on my wide rims. I have built a bike for enduro racing and I just ride All mountain: I have an overbuilt bike for my riding. Adding the DHF will allow more aggressive cornering.

Tomorrow’s forecast is for sunny and 68, Thurs is 74 degrees. Good days to ride.

I ordered FiveTen FreeriderPro that have arrived at Fat Tire, I’ll pick them up post ride tomorrow. These shoes have built in toe protection and the sole material is better to grip the pins on the pedals.

Bedtime.

Today is a rest day under overcast skies with temps just in the 50s. I drove in from the desert to VOC for bike service and better internet speed. I’m parked in a small shared parking lot with the county sheriff’s office. I reconnected with one of the deputies while my hands were still free.

Yesterday was sunny and warm for Jimmy’s Sunday drinking ride. 18 riders joined for a big group. He originally called the ride :old Mans’ ride”, didn’t make it superlative as I am the oldest. All the younger people pedal uphill laughing and talking, I listened to them on my wheel as they were saying that this ride is an easy day for them. My pulse rate is anaerobic and I am using all effort to breathe. It is what it is. I’m still pushing the pedals in circles. Our route took us up Old man’s wash, again don’t know about the old man. I discovered that I have yet to learn how to friction the tire side knobs on an off camber climb. This ride I attempted the move. I made a pedal stroke on the rock which broke free what traction I had which spun the rear wheel parallel to gravity and stalled me. I must have grabbed the rear brake which caused the bike to fulcrum around the rear axle and dumped me onto the slick rock. I landed on my right forearm, the destroyed shoulder side, and found some tree material. I took my time standing upright sussing out body damage. My shoulder hurts but still works. My skin has several cuts. All is mostly good. This ride is on local knowledge trails of old school type riding over lots of distance of basalt chunks, some a kids’ heads, others as just loose rolling balls. Takes balance.

The drinking part comes in at the end when we end up at a new brew pub south of the village. Small site which the 18+ riders filled. The courtyard was littered w/ our bikes. Lots of $ hanging around. At a hidden place on the ride is a bottle of tequilla for an offering to the church of rotating mass. At some point that gathering broke up but reformed back at the Bean uphill. I contributed a partially depleted jug of corn and sat back. Well, the social lubricant spun stories. A pizza place shares a common wall with  the bike shop. I slipped in to watch a few minutes of the Superbowl. I prefer to hang at PJs which is a sports pub where customers were into the game. Standing room only. Name recognition put a beer in my hand and I found a piece of floor to watch one of the TVs. A local woman vacated her seat at the bar who grabbed me telling me she was leaving and that I should grab her seat which I did. Another benefit of being a seasonal local. I watched as the Falcons piled on the points and dinner time was sending me messages to m y conscious brain. I drove away stopping at the local IGA for dinner stuff landing at my preferred spot out at Beaverhead for the night. I checked the score on my phone: Patriots pulled a record come from behind win. I ate my home cooked meal and slept where I wanted to be. Today my only hurting body part is my shoulder, others who finished my jug perhaps have a different story.

Sat I drove up to west Sedona to be a trail work volunteer as we worked out of Adante TH. We built new sustainable trail to fix the worn legacy trail. I just use loppers cutting a whole lot of living vegetation.

Today was a nice day to be build trail. Afterwards I set out to reward myself on a ride.

Dry Creek is still wet feet deep which keeps me away from riding from like the cultural park. I again rode the loop facing south draining into Oak Creek. Skywalker is riding real well, Scorpion is melted out and almost completely dry. Sketch is still a grunt of a climb.

Cleaned up at snap then back down to VOC and PJs to watch the Zags game. Spent the night at the cattle tank on Beaverhead. Cows just destroy the environment.

And so it goes. Back out to Beaverhead.

Sunrise is around 7:30. This AM the closed end faced east thus eliminating the sun alarm clock. I made a skillet bigger than an omelet using purposely left over salmon, Yukon potatoes, and broccoli steamed Dutch oven dinner from last night. Mixed in 2 scrambled eggs and 2 pieces of whole wheat toast lubricated by a cup of cold brew coffee, beans from Java Love in town. Cleaned up nicely afterwards. I drove away in time to make my 10:00 appointment for carpet cleaning up in west Sedona. Arrived on time. The guy did what the equipment could do. My carpet has been lived on. Visited Java Love for a latte and conversation. I was biding warm up time. There are still snow patches on the north facing slopes.

I parked at Sunset park which was receiving nice use from a bunch of perhaps preschool kids and parents.

I geared up. Tire pressure check: 17 in front and 18 in the rear.Today the front tire was the one needing air. Ride a bit in the parking lot going thru the mechanical actions. Mental check: now balancing on 2 small contact patches and I had better be with it to keep me on top of the rubber. All by myself. Old Post on town side still had drying mud bogs. Skywalker is mostly south facing on a slope just soaking up solar gain. I ride being aware that I might encounter another human to be prepared to share the trail. Today I turned around a corner to come face to face with a woman head down sort of fast walking. I spoke a greeting and stopped. She had ear buds in thus couldn’t hear me. Menace. Bikers with ear buds are worse. There is one wash crossing that I haven’t mastered. Today as I walked thru it I noticed a rock that had a sizeable collection of dried blood. ouch. Skywalker to Scorpion down. The ice and snow patches had melted leaving a few soft spots.

Zing down and across Pyramid. In places I am starting to keep up with the bike. A wander brought me to Ramshead then the road climb up to Ridge which has a jumbled rock feature that I haven’t made. Turn on to Sketch

Sketch has exposure raising the consequences of a mistake. Today I finally rode 2 of the difficult climbs, just 2 more to master. I just run out of grunt for the move. Sketch joined Ridge which joined Carrol canyon back to the pavement.10.91 miles climbing 1250′ taking 1hr 31 mins. Average heart rate of 126 which is 6 beats less than theoretical threshhold with max of 158. I bust my body.

Visited with Johnny of the former mtn bike heaven gang who invited me on their Sunday ride. Different culture, sort of outlaw.

Drove up the road to snap for a shower. returned the movie and rented another one. Turned out it is another Lionsgate production which generated the same error as the last 2. No tech contact from redbox. Don’t think the trouble went beyond the ill prepared customer service english is second language. Drove out to Deer Pass and parked just off the boulder pile. The FS posted info stating that rehab work is happening on this road and if you are in our way you will be asked to leave. I should plan on not lingering here tomorrow morning.

Wash day tomorrow and a ride prolly out Dry Creek area. Crossing Dry Creek which is still running presents how to stay dry or not decisions. 9PM Zag game at PJs back down at VOC.

60 degrees and sunny today. I have put back on the Bedrock sandals. Staying above freezing at night. Finally seeing the big dipper.