Freedom of choice

Spokane is home to either somewhat flat or steep of varying lengths. Add Mt Coeur d’Alene and a rider could beat themselves senseless.

Tuesday was a take care of chores day. Maybe a ride later at Riverside.

1. Progressive canceled my auto insurance policy renewal.Spent time with agency to buy insurance. She found one that accepted me albeit less coverage. 3 years of higher risk pool. Checked Kelly blue book to learn resale $: less than $5,000.

Van needed emissions test for previously bought plates. Passed.

The afternoon was now open. I drove out to 7 Mounds area parking on a side street outside the park to avoid the $10 daily fee. It is what it is.North end of the Park has a hill, ride down is called Sharp Stick in the Eye. I never knew if the climb had a name. It is a hump. Making the 46T rear the gear of choice. Just pump, each stroke put me closer to the summit. Several years ago I ran into buds who showed me another way to ride off the ridge negating the Sharp Stick part. None the less, basalt babyheads.

Enjoyed the 19.5 miles climbing 1473′ needing 2 hrs 12 mins to finish. Just got after it. Newly ridden in horse trails pop up. I stayed on what i have known.

Finished the day early to be at Bill and Jen’s house for a visit. They are the neighbors across the road from my old house which from the road appears to be more grown up than when I was there. Great for letting nature retake the land.

Last night I lay in bed mulling over ride choices for today. How badly do i want to beat myself? I decided on another ride at MT Spokane. I wanted to ride what I rode previously to the Goodes trail which makes for a shorter ride. I parked outside the park at a place I know as The Beach. I climbed 755′ in 2.03 miles taking 29 mins to save $10 on state highway into the park.I climbed the same trails Tom and I did then descended same until snowpark and start of the Goodes. I turned back up hill for a descending traversing trail. Steep descent scrubbed distance way too quickly. Connected to 140 which descends from the summit. Goes thru what is know as the Jedi. Just a piece of junk caused by nasty brake bumps and root drops. Not sustainable. I wonder who manages the henhouse for environmental damage. I encountered a guy chainsawing logs off the trail. Stopped and chatted with guy who is trail coordinator from evergreen east bike club, the successor to Fat Tire Trail Riders club I formed. We talked about the dearth of volunteers for trail care.

New Sticker: MOUNTAIN BIKERS TRAIL FAIRIES ARE A PIPE DREAM. PITCH IN.

So, I pedaled 2 hrs for 11.8 miles climbing 2732′. Deep tree cover.

Planning on heading east tomorrow. Helena, MT on Sat runs the Trail Fairy which will save about 8 miles of pedaling up Grizzly gulch. Then on to Bozeman. Western SD has trails outside Spearfish and Sturgis.

Recently I sat my computer researching future rides. Gave up trying to plan an agenda.

On Sat I chatted with a rider who has letters behind his name about belly size. My premise is that as we age the discs between the vertebrae wear, read thin, which shortens our spine hence our height. Our guts occupy a fixed volume. With a younger new spine and thicker discs our tent pole is taller which holds up our guts. As we shrink the tent pole can no longer hold the guts in check which manifests itself as a protruding belly. My belly bulges slightly even though I have a 6 pack and hardly any body fat. he agreed. He was going to say the same thing after I made a comment about my belly size.