Tuesday I introduced myself for a third time at the bike shop to service my dropper. Later that AM the shop called me telling me that they could not find the special threaded rod to disassemble the post. The guy squirted a more lubricating lube down the shaft which loosened it up.

Nice day going into afternoon. I headed out to Hartman Rocks to ride the MTBproject route. 77xx’ start, elevation is still effecting my effort. I started out with a headache that kept getting worse, cause was from stepping up onto my lowered cutting board smacking my head, lacerating my scalp and jamming my neck. I needed a chiro adjustment. In the AM I worked Google and my phone to seek treatment. The one place that answered my call wanted a $90 evaluation plus the adjustment. Oooo, too much, I said goodbye. The headache squashed my ride desire. I called that office back and scored a 4:45PM appointment. I figured a short route back to my van then drove to be adjusted which alleviated my out of sorts.

Spent night driveway surfing.

Wed AM feeling better I returned to Hartman Rocks for the full ride deal. Big area used by dirt bikes also. Trails are well signed and with mtbp help I stayed on route.

 

This issue of Bike has an article about Hartman Rocks. Lots of ride choices to link all kinds of variations. Lots of tech challenges. I could ride here more days.

Dinner with Bill and Susan and boys.

Thursday I bid adieu heading to do laundry then drive over Monarch pass to Salida and Absolute Bikes to service my dropper. Big climb to pass at 11,312′  then the brakes kept my speed in check dropping down east. Made the shop, spoke with wrench whom I had spoken with on the phone. He agreed with me that he was only to clean and regrease as my problem as explained on a raceface utube video that the balking returning was caused by lack of grease. The work was completed early afternoon. Greased and with min pressure of 20psi it is still shooting pine cones into orbit. Satisfied with the service.

I walked around downtown a bit. Another old western town that has not been abused by popularity. I found the camp spot that Mark told me about from last visit. Full moon last night warm enough to leave the side door open till well after dark.

Today I drove thru town and crossed the rive to a popular TH to ride the local trails. I used mtbp again for a ride which was going to be really big climbing up to ride Cottonwood loop. Encountered an older man and woman learning that he, John, 78 yo was going to ride out to Chicken Dinner which was on my longer ride but I could get to it w/o climbing way to the top. John gets after it. Encountered a couple riding plus bikes. They celebrated their 40th anniversary by buying each other these bikes. He is 70 but I did not learn of his wife’s age. I rode with peers except I was the youngster.

 

Forecast called for strong winds which materialized. The climb at the start was wind blasted while making touchy moves on narrow trail with exposure. Tread here is mostly sharp edge rock but bedded in for the most part. Trails are well cared for and signed. More difficult riding.

Forest cover is high desert of juniper and pinon pine with little aspen. Yellow cottonwoods line the water courses.

Socializing in town tonight. Tomorrow is either another ride here or at Buena Vista just up the road meeting with a couple I met in Arkansas.

Writing Arkansas I learned of the miles required from Denver then to Maob I deemed too much driving. I will hang in CO as long as weather holds then drive to Moab. I will drive west on I70 which access same places I rode on my way east.

 

Name of a ride, not of health care facility.

Last night’s forecast for Doctor Park called for a better than 50% chance of rain perhaps snow. Out plan was to leave Gunnison at 9 to ride or at worst turn around and ride down here. Drive was about 30 mins so there was little investment in case we experienced shitty weather.

About my propane dwindling supply: I ran the furnace on low enough to be snug under my doubled over down blanket. It never got cold enough to see my breath. I burned the stove for breakfast then heated water for dishes. A short drive got me to the napa store that sells propane. Guy hooked the nozzle on and turned on the pump. The pump gauge rapidly increased all the way to shut off at 5.6 gallons which is the 80% capacity that causes feedback to the pump to stop filling me. Skin of my teeth as an expression.

Back at Bill and Susan’s I made the 9AM roll out 2 mins late. We loaded into their Sprinter stopping to pick up Matt who works for them. Snow had fallen well above us and further up canyon. Skies were of low dark clouds. We had a wide open sucker hole. 9 miles solid pedaling brought us to the dry foot management of crossing Spring Creek. We shucked our shoes and socks then waded across immersed in maybe not ice cold but getting close water. My feet have avoided walking barefoot which conditioned me to wince on pointed rocks. This time I just whimpered because of the cold.

Then a grinder of a 4X4 road climb. Younger riders don’t know what us older riders feel but will learn when they get to my age. I walked several steep pieces. Snow flake to tell us its here and perhaps its buddies might join.

Patches of aspen went from recently turning gold to bare trees. Aspen leaves don’t hang around for long. Just bare trunks and shadows for branches.

The road dead into a nasty muddy rooty slimy jeep trail nasty part of the ride. Trail breaks out into open alpine meadow for a traverse above the downhill. I remembered for previous ride the dirt bike whoops which caused me no concern today. Trail pitched down steeply over lots of micro decision makers. Add in wetness caused slipperiness. Sharp end of the rope as climbers say. I have not sung the praises for awhile of this Turner RFX that I have selected the build configuration. Diaz suspension tuning RUNT was wonderful. Heads up attention. Matt rides a fully rigid 29 mid fat bike. I followed him a ways being influenced by his moves which were not what I wanted to do, I backed off a ways to eliminate emulation. The nasty opened up to maybe the Miracle Mile(?) of fast aspen tree cover.

Next came the decent on decomposed granite with broken lines to pick out. Better choice at times was ride the rocks. I remembered what it was about from my previous ride. Today was 18.8 miles climbing 2611′, 9 miles was on initial road climb. Decent was 6.76 miles dropping 2575′, put that on your brake rotors. elevation was 8,220 to 10,924′.

Never rained on us enough to put on rain jacket. Short drive back to town. I drove off for a shower. Rain started falling then continued into the night. we got the goods while the gettin was good. Forecast is for sunny and in 60s. Tomorrow a shop will look at my dropper which needs help getting back up. I hope just service is required at shop level. Sat at High Alpine brew pub bar again. engaged 2 guys into conversation. Connecting with others is important which I keep working at. Sitting at the bar, doing wash in a laundromat, showering not at somebody’s house( which is greatly appreciated). Immerse myself in public.

Back in Bill and Susan’s driveway with a full tank of heat, listening to XM radio. Life.

Back in 2008 I rode Doctor Park by myself without a smart phone. I forgot about the steep rocky first part. I rode past the creek crossing as I declared it too deep and flowing to be the trail. Miles uphill later I finally convinced myself that the map was right and I was wrong.

I will pass on Crested Butte trails as they have new snow, that’s what I am telling myself. My body is not happy with the higher elevations. Acclamation has to be occurring, I just know the uphills are taxing and particular nastys are the short punches uphill after coasting downhill. I do what I can push my body to do.

So off to bed.

 

2 rides at Hartman Rocks, beer at local brewery, and dinner with friends. Sprinkle with dose of rain, chilly nights, vivid lightning flashes, hero dirt, and worked.

Friday Bill and Susan met me at the BLM campsite for a ride. Great hugging the wheel of a local to remove route finding and preferred way to ride trails and a loop. They of better skill and youth showed me around. The pace was brisk. They thanked me for getting them out to ride as they have other things to do in their time off. I thanked them for leading me. No pics were taken. Afterwards I sat in the sunshine sipping a beer that was kept covered. Sun strength has passed.

I drove back into town about 10 miles away for a shower at a gym participating in silver and fit program. Request of shower users is to wipe down the stall. Makes it look like you were the first to use the shower. Local brewery provide libation and a comfortable chair at the bar. Place became packed behind my back. Drove back out to Hartman Rocks for the night.

Again, big eyes and a map planned a ride for yesterday: Aberdeen loop from camp. Riding between 7716′ and 8750′  per Backcountry Navigator. I have been asking my body to make altitude adjustments. Ride was 18 miles long climbing 2670′ incorporating numerous gasp catch my breath. Aberdeen is the furthermost out trails. I encountered 3 other riders. Lots of fun gravity assisted return downhills. Sage desert. I rode similar specs at Bend which worked me way less than here.

Mix of granite and basalt. Area is a large ring dike formation.

back into town for a shower and connect with Bill. He invited me over for visit and a put together dinner. I sharpened 2 of their knives leaving a cutting legacy. I drove back out to camp spot at Hartmans after dark and in the rain. Highway stripe lines don’t pick up headlights. Nature lit up the sky several times with big long flashes. Weather is unsettled, I made today a rest day and drove into town for internet. We are planning to ride Doctor Park tomorrow. Weather forecast there has snow.

I drove down hwy 50 into town looking for a spot to park and do internet. I picked an empty gravel lot belonging to a dispensary which was not opened I figured for the day. They opened at 1 a few minutes ago and the vehicles are filling the lot. Time to disassociate my presence with a pot place.

Chilly nights turn on the furnace that burns propane. The frige feeds from same supply as the variable use of the stove, the frige is top of the feed list to protect stuff needing cold. I log on the day the resupply amount. There is a gauge on the tank. I mentally calculate next refill. This after i got down on all fours and craned my neck to look thru my corrective lenses to read how close to empty the tank is. Ooopps. Today is needed refill to make it thru tonight. I found only 1 store to refill and they closed per their Sunday closing of 2PM. Temp will be in upper 30s. Store opens at 7:30. Will i see my breath? If propane runs out the food will not warm up quickly.

Next i sat at the brew pub bar watching football on the screen that was towards the door. 2 guys walk in. I locked eyes with a very familiar face known from Sedona. Today recall was instanteous:  it was Jason from Sedona where we were buds. He no longer mtn bikes so that was not his reason for being here not like me. He was suprised to see me and his recall was just as quick. Enjoyable visit.

I vacated my outland sleep spot for a piece of Bill and Susan’s driveway on the outskirts of town. Our plan until weather changes is to drive up and ride Doctor Park right near to Crested Butte. Possible precip might include snow.

I made a dropper post appointment for here on Tues. Friends in Salida are adventuring away from home. Monarch pass ride on the CDT might be under snow.