Fruita is west a short distance from Grand Junction and up on Monument road is the Lunch Loops trail system. Too close to ignore for a challenging technical ride. My good Friday was partly spent huffing and puffing with bits of hike a bike of features that I either lacked the engine or the skill to overcome. Plug for 5Ten flat pedal shoes for first of all their traction sole to mate with the Catalyst pedals for good contact. I mostly stay in firm contact with the pedals which is a good thing. Secondly, they are flexible which is an asset when scrambling over the rocky sections I couldn’t / wouldn’t ride. Clipless pedals as you know do not make good scrambling shoes.
I walked many other features. The tread is hard packed clay and lots of rock features. I will put my personal stamp of evaluation of these trails that they are the most quantity and difficulty riding. Step ups, drops, roll downs, choke points. Then there are the mandatory climb a bike pieces.
Harder more taxing riding than Sedona. 10.2 miles climbing 1539′ pedaling for 1 hr 39 mins. I arrived at the spot where I met Charlie and Teresa. I walked up then and today I walked down. Parking lot was mostly full, many van life rigs, mountain biker style. I am no stranger to these trails, I am a repeat rider still riding mostly the same trails. Mostly blue level. I left Butter Knife and the Ribbon unridden. A trailhead parking lot part way up Little Park is now posted no camping which used to be a great place to stay and ride more days. I wanted to return to Fruita.
In Fruita I hang at OTE for bike talk and Hot Tomato for Happy Hour beer. Hot Tomato attracts standing room out the door food ordering line. extremely popular. Jen and Ann opened a coffee shop which roasts coffee right behind the Tomato. Interesting building for roaster is steel cargo containers, one on edge to give height above the roaster. All kinds of people meet for food and beverage.
Sat weather was chill and windy such that I chose to hike only out at McInis canyon outside of town. Did some rock scrambling.
Been staying out same place north of Loma. Full moon lights up wide open spaces.
For my last ride here I wanted to ride up Hawkeye, down Mack ridge then traverse on Lyons, climb up the double track to S end of Macks then ride down Hawkeye. Forecast called for 30% precip, possible T storm. Light sprinkles fell on my van before I crawled out from under the covers. By the time I fixed, ate, and cleaned up the rain had quit and the windshield was dry. Threatening clouds upwind. Wet weather conditions seemed eminent. I swapped my windshell for a rain jacket. Other riders were present. My turn came. I huffed and puffed this nicely constructed trail that rides OK uphill. 2.77 mile climb taking 30 mins to gain 666 feet. Mack ridge is chunky. I keep learning that the bike can handle features as long as I remain centered over the bike and have forward motion. The ridge offered unfettered view upwind to the dark clouds. Several flashes of lightning seared the sky. My route would take me on the exposed side of the ridge followed by an exposed traverse over to the start of Hawkeye. I decided to error on the safe sensible side by pedaling the frontage road back to the van. No rain fell. I drove out to spot above Rabbit Valley for the night.
Tomorrow I will head back to Moab after the Jeep week. Back to non event visitors.
My left Catalyst pedal had a shimmy in it that needed more than repack with grease fix. I learned that Bikejames is based in Fruita. I called their number to ask for obtaining a rebuild kit that would be dropped off then put on at OTE. Return call message. I ordered them on line and they were dropped off at the shop the next day. New bearings and bushing installed eliminating the shimmy. Pedals get beat mostly pedal strike between tight rocks. I am wary of smashed feet. With flats I can not pull the pedal up like with clipless. My latest foot smash healed overnight.
