I was sound asleep at MP 4 spot off Beaverhead when the ball hit bottom at midnight . This AM I checked out the FS road going in. Deep wheel spun ruts were cast in from recent wet. I decided the dirt would be firm enough to drive out to the spot. I would find out later in the afternoon.
Patience was worn down to head out on a ride from parking lot shared by county sheriff’s deputies, sub station maybe. I use this spot to avoid parking at Bell Rock to be affected by plentifully posted signs to the effect that you are a nasty person if you park in this lot to hike or bike. Uphill pedal of about 3/4 mile to Bell Rock FS parking. Gentle warm up. Today I am believing enough moisture has left earth for little or no mud. Bell Rock and single track bypass were solid.
However, Llama was slippery wet in too many spots. I rode as far as the first wash crossing. Leading down to the wash were several sections that had been armored to make the tread sustainable, a suitable place to session the climbs. The tread seemed to be handling wheel and foot traffic as the “mud” is mostly sand and soft that can be rutted and cast in but it seems that not too many days pass and the ruts have been ridden out. I still don’t like to ride when trails are wet unless they were built for rain.
Recently I watched a video of a mountain biker repeatedly climb a piece of challenging tread evaluating climbing process of several bikes. I noticed that he pedaled his bike, more than just riding. A great mental image take away. I applied what I imagined I should do on all the tech sections I sessioned as that was my ride. I also worked on learning what the bike can do, learning friction. I have a mental block of jsut starting the step up by lifting the front wheel weight shifting backwards and then not completing the move by shifting weight forward and pedaling. But could I complete the step up.
Desert test: Drove out to MP4 rd. The first part was firm with room to bridge the rain gulleys. The shits was just before the preferred parking spot. Just because you have a surewheeled 4X4 doesn’t mean you should use it.
The line is to the right. It was firm soft as in my traction wheel did not spin. I made the spot.
Conditions were pleasant enough to leave the cargo door open.
Forecast temp was just at freezing which meant no slippery mud when leaving in the morning. Howeve, upon riding I checked outside temp as reported by in dash thermometer: in the 20s which would create a slippery layer of mud when teh sun thawed the dirt. Freeze caused the dirt to display my foot prints yesterday in the soft dirt. I decided to beat wheels out before bfast while the dirt was still frozen. I made it out OK.
I drove up to west sedona for propane and maybe a ride. I made the cultural park then stalled. Nice day outside but inside my body was not happy. Shit. I sat inside all day in sun warmed van reading Gone with the Wind. Fictional history about the South before, during, and after the Civil War. Sooo many words on each page, 959 pages of which I am now on page 415. The culture and norms pre war were very structured and sex defined rigidly. Published 1936. Manual typewriter at best. The setting is northern Georgia. I studied the road atlas of GA. I had been to several of the places written about. Slavery was written to seem almost benign although owned by planters. Contrast to Underground Railroad recently read.
Tomorrow new parts are installed on the van and my teeth checked out. And maybe a ride. Squished in between is laundry.
Thought about, to me, the importance of recreating on trails propelled only by a heart. Heart propelled mountain bikers are faster than hikers but sometimes slower than a trail runner, ebikes are faster than heart propelled riders. More speed with less effort needs to be kept separate from heart thumpers.