There are 3 trail systems around here with different ride skill requirements, like the bear types from Goldilocks: Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear. Papa is Lunch Loop at Junction, Mama is Kokopeli where I have been riding, and Baby is 18 road. I am a Mama bear terrain rider. Lunch loop requires so much more drag my bike features, and 18 road road out is too rough for me to subject my van to.

So, riding Kokopeli sandwiched between the CO river and I 70, desert riding. The PUSH Elevensix continues to please me. After 5 rides what it does has become that’s the way my bike handles. It just works, again, traction keeping the rear wheel in contact with what’s underneath said tire. I did finally mount my new Aggressor tire on back.

I reride the 2 newest trails: Wranglers and Hawkeye in both directions. Trails here start with a climb right from the start, warm up happens abruptly and not very gently, particularly Hawkeye. The descents are a fine reward for the hump. Mack Ridge descent with numerous rock gardens to roll over add an element of fear. Finding the the bike will roll over nasty stuff inspires confidence. I choose to be nice to both the bike and myself, realizing that MO is what it is all about. Inertia, if the front wheel makes it over the rear is sure to follow.

One ride was from Hawkeye TH pedaling the road to the start of Troy Built continuing to Lyons road climb up to Mack Ridge then drop down Hawkeye.

The bike still needs my engine to go forward. 70 years old engine has worn piston rings allowing low compression that causes me to blow up and stop for a short breather. The downhills are a pleasure which I ride at a slower pace to enjoy the handling and also to be able to share the trail with others.

Friday was my biggest ride this visit. Started at Mary’s TH, climbed Wranglers, climbed and traversed on Lyons single track then pedaled beat up road to top of Mack’s ridge, descend Mack’s , then finished riding Wranglers back. 17.9 miles pedaling for 2 hrs 29 mins, climbing 1778′. At start of Wranglers I self medicated. I rediscovered that wonderful pedal stroke again which seems to emerge from hiding when I get addled.

Been socializing at OTE and Hot Tomato.

Dave and Rebecca, formerly of Green Bay, WI area, invited me to dinner on Fri. I entered their address into google maps for navigation. I pulled up in front of their house, parked then walked to the door carrying a dinner apertif of champagne. Knocked on the door and the man that answered was not Dave who’s house is across the street. I had 2 of the 3 house numbers correct but missed the last one. They live across the street. Sweat the samll stuff for accuracy.

Weather forecast was calling for possible snow showers which was deleted in later forecasts: no snow but a few sprinkles. I have been paying attention to forecast down at Ridgway to ride the RAT trails. Today forecast calls for slight chance of snow. I am thinking I will drive the 90 miles down to there tomorrow and ride for 2 days then drive back to Fruita then on to Moab.

Yesterday I parked out at Hawkeye TH at the Mack exit off I 70. Hump up Hawkeye, rough descent down Mack’s, the connect to Steve’s which I hadn’t ridden in many years. Steve’s is a mix of rideable and drag a bike tread with exposure added in places. Still had to ride the Lyons with its nasties and the jeep road climb to Mack’s, ride it to top of Hawkeye back down to van. Discovered a greeting written in the dust on the back of my van from Liz.

I created a mail shipment from the mail forwarding service I use to be mailed to Fruita. Checked PO on Sat. Teller handed me the envelope which should have contained all the mail I requested but one edge of the mailer had been ripped open leaving only my auto insurance policy inside because it couldn’t fall out. UPSP ” misplaced” the other pieces. Guy told me they will live in the system and will be delivered back to address on the envelops. So he said. Time will tell.

Taking today off to rest my worked legs. Hot Tomato is closed on Sun and Mon. Was able to say Hi to both Jen and Ann, the owners.

After last laundry as I folded my sheets I discovered worn holes. Sheets lasted about 2 years. Living on the road doesn’t establish a ship to address. I will ask Chili Pepper in Moab to receive my new sheets.

Lots of mountain bikers in town esp on the weekends. I have experienced varying degrees of trail love. Hearing that e bikes are being ridden on Kokopeli which is non motorized on BLM land which has been directed by dump to allow pedal assist bikes on BLM land. I watched a woman rider “pedal” up a steep dam breast yesterday. Scofflaw.

Sometimes life gives you lemons, how you make lemonade is up to you.

Rolled into Tomichi Cycles with my bike on back and my shock inside. Put bike in stand then unbolted Monarch air shock. With the shock off we wiggled the swing arm to learn how tight it was. Put the shock on and pedaled in the parking lot. Skritch was pronounced so the shock wasn’t the problem. Removed shock and cycled the rear end. Detected hestitaion and drag indicating bearing issue. Bill determined required bearings, none he had. Called to 2nd bike shop in town. He had 2. I walked 2 blocks to pick them up and return. Needed a 3rd one. Called the 3rd shop, they had one. Walked 3 blocks to pick it up. Bill removed and replaced the 3 bearings. The 4th is a different size. It was frozen. We deduced that’s where the skritch came from. Nobody in town had that bearing. Bill reassembled the bike. I called OTE in Fruita to learn they had that bearing and that I would be rolling into their shop Friday about 1. Forewarned.

Susan fed me again. Night forecast said 4 degrees. I bought propane refill earlier in the day. Furnace was turned on during dinner while I was inside their house. At bedtime I entered a warm house. Outside the temp followed prediction: the furnace couldn’t keep up and my summer double layer down blanket was short of loft. Pulled down the 20 degree down bag from the cubby above my bed. Unzipped it and spread it over and crawled under. Snug as a bug under down. 4 degrees in the AM, 47 inside.

Bid Bill and Susan adieu then drove away. Yesterday I parked in front of this church with the reader board filled out:

How uncomfortable would some attendees be? How could they square dump with the sermon? Did the preacher survive?

Fall colors were really on the Salida side of Monarch. Driving west towards Fruita was heading to desert.

Rolled up to OTE side door, I opened mine and walked in to greet the shop. Bring the bike in. Mine was the next in a stand. Joel replaced the last bearing. At last, the bike would be right for learning shock performance. Except the skritch still reported it was still there. Joel traced it to the derailleur clutch,he sprayed lube and all was quiet.

Still early enough in afternoon for first ride. Drove out to Kokopeli TH. Geared up. Pedaled Wrangler out then Mary’s back. First off the joy of a coil spring became apparent: joy. felt like the first PUSH tune on previous shock except damper. Sharp edge hits rolled. Pleased at improvement. Fast ride to beat dinner rush at Hot Tomato. Another ride tomorrow for more evaluation.

Hot Tomato for Sedona salad joining a packed place. Very popular eating place. Walked around the block to Copper Club, a small brew pub for a beer and visiting. Satiated and tired I drove off to city camp spot. Warmer night.

Sat AM was cloudless bluebird skies but chilly, below freezing. Drove out to Loma exit to ride new trail, Hawkeye. Knee warmers, knee socks, wool jersey covered by wind shell, still regular finger gloves. Pedaled up Hawkeye. Enjoying how well behaved the bike is. My proprioception let me down second ride in a row: a boulder point extended into the trail corridor, right at handlebar height. Today my left hand got squashed then my right side as I slow motion came to rest against a boulder on other side of trail. These slow motion falls can be body damaging as no time for reflexes to execute a safe landing. Picked up, shook it off and continued. Hawkeye is maybe 3 years old. Parking lot at bottom indicates how popular it is. Climbed up onto Mack ridge then down it. Lots of features to roll over and down. I am enjoying a better fork with a RUNT and the new Elevensix, both ends are small bump compliant. Very stable descent. Then nasty on Lyons at the start challenging rocky single track with several drag a bike features. Then a beat up 4X4 climb that becomes a jeep road for final climb to ridge. Amazing: road climb is over patches of small loose rocks that with the previous shock my rear end would bounce causing loss of traction and forward motion. Today we, the bike and me, climbed easily over the same rubble. Another success.

Fruita Kokopeli trail system is spectacular:

I am satisfied with my purchase.

Back into town. Kokopeli TH was packed. Town was populated also. Many rigs in town sporting full blown mountain bikes. Conversation with Troy at Copper Club. Spent night at same sleep spot. No extra layer required but furnace did run all night. 58 degrees in morning.

Today I made a short loop riding backwards what I rode the first day. Mary’s out then mix of rocky ascent up to top of Wrangler. Smiling is baseline. Seems easier to lift front wheel.

Bought new chain as the present one just might be at stretch length. Had 328 miles. Checked it with stretch gauge: just squeeze the .5 distance between the rollers. Put new one on then pedaled to listen for tell tale gritty sound of worn chain ring. All was quiet. Saved the ring. Sure liking the 30T oval ring.

Drove out to exposed sleep spot above Mack on BLM land.

BLM has to figure out how to manage class 1 ebikes on natural surface trails. Fruita trails are on BLM land.

Tuesday I left Oil Well Flats driving into town to right at edge of town to ride south hills ( I think). I rode this 2 years prior, again have some recall. Parked at TH. Sunny warm day.

Rode a green trail to the start of black rated Hard Times to climb out of canyon to get to other trails. Trail is worthy of its rating. I was able to ride sections, others were nasty yank my bike over or up something. I remembered the trail but this was one way to get up.

I rode Hard Time connecting to Great Escape to a short piece of Hard Time to exit on Redemption, descended a road then took Scheppe ridge to van. Purpose built, some machine tread, lots of rock features to figure out. Bike was very stable for what I continue to pass the test, confidence inspiring.

Cleaned up then drove up the Arkansas River canyon to Salida to join Mark and Brenda, long time friends for way back in the ’80s as ski instructors. Forest fire named Decker continues burning above and behind town, some 6,xxx acres and burning for a month.

The main fire is behind the ridge. Some days the wind blows the smoke away from town. Today the sky in town was clear and no smell of smoke. Later that evening Mark lead me over to a nearby school yard that had a clear view of the fire. We could see fire at the spots seen during the day plus from the main fire when a patch of trees ignited sending red color against the smoke. Spent the night sleeping on residential street.

My shock was not waiting for me. I checked the tracking info to correct my misunderstanding, it it to arrive on Wed. I am captive in town till it arrives.

Weather forecast was calling for freeze your nuts off cold and snow. My next stop is Gunnison on the west side of Monarch Pass that could have slippery surfaces which I do not care to drive on. My departure time narrowed to a small window to beat the weather change.

Mark lead me on a ride on the S trails which are right above town. Trails here are rocky as in embedded sharp edge rocks. I bobbled several moves when my motor ran out of push to climb over whatever it was. Earlier this year these trails experienced a major rain event which washed rocks loose and dirt between others to increase the difficulty kept in perspective by local riders. To me my knowledge was blank so for me, this was just what the trails are like. I do not wear pads but if I were to ride here I would consider wearing as the opportunities for slow speed falls abound. Brenda volunteers as a trail angel adopting Sweet Dreams. She has a work project this Sat to repair damage.

We did ride down Chicken Dinner which has lots of Chunder. Bike and me met what was under its wheels.

Back at Mark’s my shock was in Brenda’s hands so I was free to leave just before 3 PM enabling me to drive over the pass in spectacular fall aspen colors, green conifers, and sunlight lighting it all up.

Rolled into Gunnison at Tomichi Cycles, Bill and Susan’s shop. They invited me to dinner and a sleep spot in their driveway.

I am now waiting for dry clothes at a laundromat. Weather is to be warmer and drier tomorrow. Clean clothes and the new shock on the bike await me.