Monday morning I checked the UPS tracking which showed received. In a short while I drove to Sunnyside. I got to cut the packing tape away. They joked about how quickly I arrived. Well, it’s just a piece of equipment, it’s a thing that has value when put to use. Which is what i have done for each of the 3 rides so far.
Monday eve was a sprint up Ben’s, Pine drops, then the rocky parts of Phils, first on top then down lower in what I call the canyon: down hill only, gentle grade that provides speed with some pieces of junk to hit at speed. Then climbed up to Kent’s for some cross country downhill on a 2 way trail. Just had fun.
Tuesday I rode from camp spot off Catch and Release taking same to junction with Storm King, climbing to Funner to Larsen’s TH, then Tiddlywinks to Kiwa, over to Tylers downhill to Larsen’s to Funner to Storm King, crossing the road picking up COD to new piece to Ticket to Ride. 25 miles. Noticed how well behaved the fork was over some stutter bumps on Tylers.
Today I chose to ride North Fork as the last big climb here. I drove up to Skyliner TH. Route was up Tumalo Creek to connect to climbing N fork at a major scenic spectacle of the falls. For me it is a grunt of a climb sharing trail with hikers, no problem there. One across the log bridge over the creek I was ahead of the hikers. Trail provides several view sheds of falls.
And so the water flowed downhill. Clean.
Trail enters Happy Valley and Met Win trail, the one I was on last weekend from the other end. Snow free and cut out. Turn on to upper end of Mrazek wending way thru lodgepole forest
Descent off ridge was down Farewell which has patches of gnarly sharp edged sometimes loose rocks. I rode with much confidence. Several steep sections went by very fast. Back to Tumalo creek trail down to TH. Today max speed was 25.4 which had to have been on this trail. Just so much fun on my bike.
So, I believe that this fork is an improvement on the Lyric even with Diaz’s RUNT and tuning. But not by as much as going from RS Revelation to the Pike. Well, it’s new and I paid a chunk of change for it so I lean towards better to make me fell less bad about buying it. No, the Lyric was worn and 3 years old. I asked Anthony Diaz for fork advise. He said he would buy this fork.
My body’s lower digestive system is on the fritz. A possible helpful solution is following this FODMAP diet which eliminates many cherished foods I eat today. No wheat, one beer max per day, no beans, no honey. On Friday I started it, Gluten free bread is like $7.00 per loaf. So far no change.
I ordered underwear to be shipped to Bend, I am now captive till arrival later this week. Then I will mosey on to rd 44 above Hood River for 2 days riding. Then crossing the Columbia to WA. I am planning on a backpack trip into McCall Basin in the Goat Rocks, a place where I spent many Memorial day weekends skiing. The road is open to the end and the approach trail has been cut out.