So Tuesday AM I head for Jackson, WY over Teton Pass which is a steep climb both ways. Two years ago while driving down the Jackson side the brake pad wear light came on. It became an intermittent problem from there on. Sometimes it would come on but when I shut the engine down and turned back on the light wouldn;t be on. Again descending the pass the light turned on again. Shit!!!!, downshift to 3rd to let the engine add it’s slowing down. Drove out of Wilson to bottom of Phillips ridge trail which I learned was a great trail either way. I googled repair shops in the area. Found one that in order to contact them it required an internet appointment form but no phone number. SHit, I needed a call back instead of setting up the laptop. Part was up the climb my phone rang and I answered the repair shop. Sure bring it by. I completed my ride then drove to the shop in Jackson. Tech pulled the right rear wheel and discovered the sensor wire was bad Yesterday after another ride I returned to the shop where they pulled the rear wheels and discovered that the pads were almost toast. The sensor replacement did not make the light go out. They ordered new pads which come with sensors, to be delivered this morning and they would install right away. I asked for permission to sleep in their lot which I did. This AM the parts arrived and were installed. The light stayed off since including the west side of Teton Pass. I now have performing brakes which lessens my fear of steep long downhills.

So I am no back in less populated Driggs. Did my wash and washed my body. Good to go for another week.

So, Jackson. The Phillips Ridge ride could be done different ways. I chose to ride up the ridge then descend the canyon. The pedal up was doable but the increasing elevation was effecting my breathing. Topped out at 8402′. The descent down the canyon was rowdy and lost elevation very quickly which makes for a less time riding and more time hanging on. 14.7 miles climbing 2,267′ breathing hard for 2 hrs 39 mins.

Common practice on the Pass is hitch hiking. Years ago I scored a ride up to Phillips ridge which I rode down.

I needed to learn about camping spots around Jackson before leaving. Guy told me about Curtis XG which is east and above the national elk range. Road left the valley floor then climbed a dirt bumpy road, like 15 mph for me. Scored a spot in the XG. A promontory offered spectacular views.

Place was popular launch spot for parapants(?). Grizzly territory.

Yesterday I challenged my body again with a big climb pedaling up the old highway to descend Black Canyon. I rode this ride several years ago. Highway pedal was 1 hr 3 mins to climb just under 4 miles climbing 1913 per Trailforks. I stopped once to stretch out my right hip. As I swung my right leg over the top tube my sagging pants hooked on the nose of the saddle which didn’t allow my right leg to swing under me. I fell on the pavement. I have no butt anymore to hang onto my britches. Traverse over to the top of the canyon was a hand full of elevation gain and exposure. Topped out at 9,176′.

The descent was beat up, steep, and loose in many places. Beat up from shuttle traffic. Ride was only 10.3 miles climbing 2662′ pedaling for 2 hrs.

Spent the evening in Jackson drinking a beer at 2 different establishments. Last one was a tasting room. I arrived about 45 mins before closing time. Beer pourer said he wanted to leave early. Started talking, another employee showed up and joined the conversation. I finished my beer before closing then went to restroom. I came out and guy handed me a free beer which I refused as I had drunk enough. I offered to stay and tell stories without a beer. Which I did.

Earlier I drove to Fitzgeralds bike shop nearby. I wanted to see what a city shop was about. An I9 van was in the parking lot. Charley was the I9 guy. I told about my grenaded bearing. He pulled the hub apart to check both bearings which were all fine. I did but their bearing because it meets their testing and it will be the replacement should the replacement bearing blow up.

Today was a rest day here in Driggs. Laundry, a shower, and a visit to the local museum as I wanted to take pictures of an early tractor and the rules for school teachers.

So, now my plan is a ride on the way to Pocatello then to the area for several days of riding then Tues make Sun Valley. A beer maybe dinner at Royal Wolf.

Friday I left Bozeman driving to Driggs, ID in the Teton valley. Namesake river is polluted by cows, many grazing on our public land. It just ain’t right for a few people to earn their livelihood destroying resources owned by all of us.

Last night I slept at a spot right on banks of S fork of the Teton, cows grazed right to the banks both sides. Cows don’t recognize requirements to defecate in a 6″ deep hole at least 200 feet from water source. Cows don’t wear diapers for “accidents”.

Rolled into town, parked behind Peaked Sports, a store I have visited on my past visits. They honored me after this article in Bike Mag was published

A woman working there recalled meeting me last fall back on Lower Black mtn trail in the Pisgah. Connections.

Enough day was left to ride Aspen trail which is to the east above town in the sate of Wyoming. Drove to TH which is in FS land and a spot to sleep. Out and back ride. Big climb right from the van at 6xxx’. Mix of loose rocks, buried rocks, and smooth horse tread. Seems I was the only recreater who did not pack bear spray. Chilly night that the furnace kept the chill away.

On Sat I drove up to Horseshoe canyon stopping first at a free camp spot on the Teton river. I scored the last open site, I locked my chair to the picnic table. I rode this trail system 2x on previous visit. Fucking cows. Local mtn bike club maintains and builds trails here.

Spent quite night on shore of Teton river. No cows in the campground.

Sunday I drove back up the canyon to ride out and back up south fork of Horseshoe creek, another out and back or rather up and down. Shared trail with several mtn bikers, several dirt bikers, and 2 horse riders. Trail Forks shows the trail is black diamond, never rode over what made it black. A loop could have been made but the mtn bikers described the loop trails as steep, loose rocks, and double tracks. And that the trail was so much fun to ride back down. I headed their advice. years ago I did ride a big loop which required miles of paved road riding to return to van. I decided out and back was just about right. 13 miles climbing 1847′. Didn’t pack bear spray.

Sat night at the campground I checked my chain for wear using a gauge. Like 2 weeks ago I checked stretch with same tool which showed not stretched. Sat the check revealed that the chain had stretched between the .5 to .75. I elected to replace the chain with a new one. Afterwards I pedaled a bit to check for chain skip or crunching sound of worn chain ring. Chain and gears appeared to be happy. However, once I started climbing I felt the grating which spoke of worn chain ring. I kept a previously used chain ring that I replaced before the wear so my recovery plan was to swap out the rings and order a new one. The Praxxis bottom bracket is a self extracting affair requiring an 8mm Allen and plenty of strength to break the bolt loose. My wrench is standard short handle which lacked sufficient leverage, I needed a cheater. I drove down to the local ACE hardware store: it was closed as was the grocery store. WTF? These people take their “day of rest ” seriously. Plan B was returning to shop to either borrow a longer handle wrench or a strong buck to loosen it for me. Guy loaned me a longer tool and with much strain I was able to break the bolt loose and extract the crank arm. I soon learned that the used ring was a 32 tooth and the worn one is a 30T. Able to keep 3 rings differentiated, I installed the 32T that while parking lot pedaling no grating was heard. I ordered another 30T ring. Swapping the chain saved the cassette but cost the chain ring. I could have left the old chain on but it would have cost me a cassette.

So back to Bozeman. On Thursday I rode from the N end of the Bangtail down to Olsen creek road for the climb up to the trail. Well maintained gravel road climb, 4.54 miles took 54 mins of solid pedaling gaining 1322′. I wanted to ride the long descent at the north end of the trail but did not want to ride the entire trail again, this would be shorter and not so hurtful. I stopped to pick a small amount of ride blueberries for future pancakes. Downhill is same with patches of loose sharp edged rocks, bumpy, steer straight and flow with the jolts. Just scoot. Spent the night city sleeping. Laundry later back in town.

Today I made a non ride day to save myself for volunteer trail work this evening on a reroute of Bovine out at Horseshoe. Fucking cows. Will spend the night up there. Tomorrow I will head over Teton Pass down to Jackson, WY for several days of riding. I was told of several camping spots which will make my stay more enjoyable.

Now around Bozeman, MT. Arrived here Sunday afternoon after short heat affected ride at Helena. So far MT is about climbing big elevation. Made my ride last 60 mins for 6.12 miles climbing 1047′. Hot. The shuttle went to the CDT at the Pass. I rode it one time and that was enough as it was very rocky and the downhill wasn’t all that great. Knapweed has taken over openings on Ascension Mtn. Whenever I would stop my bike I would pull plants. Another reason wildlife is scarce because only goats are able to digest the plant. It has to do with the liver.

Beer at Bozone brew pub before driving up to the N end of Bangtail trail. Gravel lot. Collection of dirt bikers and mountain bikers, almost even number. From my van I watched the two wheeled riders negotiate the last switchback, more of a climbing turn. The dirt bikers had troubles while the mtn bikers railed the turn. Visible evidence on how to make architectural features to challenge this user group. Before dinner I was all alone. earlier gun fire rattled the quiet: practice. Temp was 42 at get out of bed time. Ran the furnace which performed per spec.

Monday I decided to make a rest day. I drove back to town. Not even cell phone at TH which is about 20 miles out of town. Visited with Mason at Altered bikes, and Will at Beartooth publishing, the maker of the Sedona map with a pic of me on the front piece. Ordered new pair of Free Rider Pro shoes as the soles are almost worn thru from the pedal spikes. Dinner at Ale House. Visited Wildrye, a distillery, did enjoy a drink of their wild spiced rum made from sugar beets. Sugar Beets, sugar cane, both are sugar not starch. Bought a bottle of straight rum, they don’t age. Haven’t tasted it yet. Distillery is owned by Phil whom I met on a Moab ride. Drove back out to Bangtail TH.

Bangtail: big ride, big demand. I harbored much apprehension about completing the entire ride. Over my previous visits here I had ridden it several times so I had faint recall to what I would be in for. I even made an almond butter strawberry preserve sandwich for energy, plus 2 Clif bars and about 80 ozs of water. Ride starts on pavement, the first 1.7 miles climbs then the remaining almost 6 miles was mostly nonpedaling downhill. Hit 31 mph, bike is a bit squirrelly on pavement at that speed. About a mile of gravel road finished at bottom of climbing turns climb. Riding at start at 5,xxx’ elevation. Climbed up to 7,800′ finally. Big hump, bit of walking as my engine has lost age affected performance. Trail climbs thru private property that has been logged.

Towards the n end the trail was bordered by blue berry bushes which broadcast their smell. I picked a few for taste. Tread is sharp edged smaller pieces of rock.

Cows grazing on our public land damaging our resources. Hunters complain that wolves are killing off the deer and elk. My put is the cattle rancher running cows on grazing lease destroy habitat such that only man cared for cows can survive. Trail crossed a riparian area, used to be a small stream which ran clean, Now:

About 5 miles from the N end the trail turns downward and real excitement started. Payback for the humps. Broken rock, exposure, dirt bike holes. Letting the bike have more free rein so to speak by lessening the braking and trusting the suspension and my ability to make the correct moves. Screamer. Several places the trail was so rough and my speed so high my eye balls almost started bouncing because the muscles attached to the eyeball became fatigued. That really happened on a ride years ago on a fully rigid bike bouncing over stutter bumps on a logging road. I had to stop because I couldn’t see.

So, this ride was survival. I finished in 1 piece pedaling 30 miles in 3 hrs 38 mins climbing 3530′. Little enjoyment, just satisfaction of completion.

Trail in many places is below grade and like V shaped from the dirt bikes. Beat up.

The final downhill is rough. Look down the trail riding mentally what is coming. Suck up what the suspension can’t get with my legs. Liked it so much that tomorrow I will ride a shorter version of the big ride by pedaling up Olson Creek road which connects to the trail. It ain’t no picnic either.

I am no longer going to Ohio as my nephew’s wedding has been called off. I am working over plans to stay mostly west of the Divide. I am here until USPS delivers my new shorts.