And between rain spells hero dirt. Good stuff offering carving firm dirt not sticking to tires and producing no dust. Maybe the sandstone becomes tacky as the water softens the silicates bonding the sand grains together. Sandstone is soft which deadens the moving under bike wheels which helps resist sideways slip contrary to harder rock which skates away lessneing stable carving. However friction traction is lessened because that hero dirt sticks to tire knobs creating a slippery interface between the tire knob and the rock. Rock climbers dust their hands with chalk to dry their fingers, our tires just deal with slippery. No more freeze thaw mud. I did reinstall my front fender.
Steve and I took Sunday as a rest day after riding every day since his arrival on Tuesday, OK just 5 days straight. Before noon on Sunday we were at the bar at PJs watching the early NFL game. We left at halftime going our own way. I went north and he remained down at VOC. I am receiving PT for abdominal muscles not being happy, next appointment was Mon at 8 in west Sedona. I planned on staying at my uptown spot for a short drive to PT.
Sunday I drove out to Cultural Park for a hike. I walked out Drano to junction with Ledge n’ Airy a black diamond trail. I “rode” it a bunch of years ago 2X w/ old Mountain Bike Heaven Sunday ride. I walked quite a bit. Today years later my skills have improved maybe not as much as my entire bike has I decided to hike it for reconsideration of riding it. Mapping reported 3.2 miles taking 1hr 23 mins to hike. The trail started out beguiling blue square I can do this, sucked in. There are features to walk and short steeps to hike but not enough to tip the scale to not having an enjoyable experience. Very little use. Yep, it has challenge. I waffle on riding it solo. I told Steve about the trail, we put this trail as a to ride during his spring visit.
Steve has been coming down here since late 90s he said. He has ridden many trails here. I told him about Rabbit ears loop which is a mix of system and social trails, social being ridden in. the climb up to the high point goes thru a “meadow” of bunch grasses and sharp prickly stuff. The tread is mostly below grade with high probability of pedal strikes, with occaisional wheel stopper rocks. Pedal and balance. I remember the first time I rode it with the RUNT installed as its small bump compliance deadened the shock of hitting the rocks which improved bike control. What used to be a grimace turned into a slight lip upturn. I made a 2 sharp uphill climb turn for the first time. Steve insists that I go first. The one time he went first he lead into a tight left hand turn with a steep backslope which required a fine touch. I was making my own problem solution maybe 10 feet behind. Just ahead of me Steve is face downhill pinned to his bike and one of his legs in an agave swirl. Oh shit: pinned on an agave, speared is more accurate. I got to Steve and immediately lifted his leg out of the agave which appeared to only stick him in 2 places, he was never impaled in place. I cleared his leg then worked to free his bike from him. Gravity was pulling him further downhill. Our combined effort got him upright back on the trail. We changed our ride to head back to the barn. He sought treatment at the emergency room being treated by the same nurse, Mark, as I was the week before. Mountain bikers social visit. Steve rode a new trail. No serious damage to his body.
Monday was Steve’s last day here. We rode after my PT and before my eye exam from the Cultural park. Out Drano climbing on Last Frontier to junction with Western Civ. I shared another new trail for Steve as we headed over to Girdner.
During my Sunday hike at the spot above that Steve is climbing I caught the tail end of an over the bars crash from a rider who stuck is wheel on the downside. Spatted almost in front of me. He sat still and groaned for awhile. I asked if he was alright and if he needed me. No he said and I walked off. He wasn’t there today.
I need to pack up to head to repair shop for them to install my door latch parts to restore the side door convenience.
Back from service garage. Latch mechanism and new handle installed, works like it should. Detected worn slider to be replaced.
Raining seriously, none of the sprinkles. Last night I slept out off Beaverhead at my preferred spot. Forecast was for like 20% chance of showers. Gambled wouldn’t happen and if so the dirt would remain firm enough for driving out. I must have missed when showers started. I woke up around 5 listening to rain on the roof. I quickly prepared purple oatmeal and toast for dinner and cleaned up. Daylight reflected water in the wheel ruts. Oh boy, this could be interesting. And traction was fleeting as I slithered out to make the security of the hard road. Mud was slung yet after the drive to VOC on rain wetted pavement washed off any mud thrown up on my van. Presently it is raining in uptown. No riding for several more days.
On yesterday’s ride we crossed Dry Creek down near the highway. No water. However, the shore line on both sides showed the effect of previous monsoon floods moving sand and vegetation. I have never experienced that deluge.
Last year the FS trail crew armored the needed wash crossings on Easy. I heard complaints that the rock work wouldn’t last. Last year I took pics, I took pics of 1 crossing this year to compare to0 last year prior to monsoon. The work held up
Midwest downpour. So far rain stays outside and furnace runs, 44 degrees outside. My bike is locked up inside Fat Tire staying dry.