Weather, trails, technology, and on. Today I participated in a trail change, I saw an early full suspension bike on the back of someone’s car, temp today was a very warm 60 degrees after below freezing night time. My body. And on.
Today was another volunteer trail work day meeting at Aerie TH at 8:30. Combining the USFS paid people and the volunteers the pairs of hands was in the 60s. We built to completion a short trail in the Western Gateway system. I brushed the trail corridor changing nature’s reality. Then I without full commitment to helping decommission a social trail that I rode for the first time last Sunday. I expressed my concern on 2 sections of new trail that they were not characteristic Sedona build which would have, instead of straight line elevation change trail, it would have been built with little wiggles and waggles as it climbed or descended which way ridden. Because it is a straight line elevation gain a rider can set in to a pedal climb. These 2 pieces are prolly the only trails that offers a sit and spin. I sought explanation from FS person who laid the trail out. He explained the backstory of its design. That’s what he said.
Then we switched to undoing part of a social trail. Our decommission does not restore back to what nature created, it’s ugly slash marked by piled on dead vegetation. Social trails were created to meet riders’ desires. Effort was expended to figure the sustainable corridor which sometimes necessitates lower leg armor then to minimally change the land and plants for the tread. In this Western Gateway system the FS adopted as warranted social trails, built new, and decommissioned social trails. The social trails were what early Sedona riding was like. Then a trail became adopted into the system and changed its character. Change, it is what it is.
Today at the post work gathering a raffle was held for 3 bandanas and a light weight backpack compliments from REI. My number was pulled for the Flash 22 backpack. Cool.
Weather: Sunday was shirt sleeve no wind day. Monday weather changed to below freezing at night and hardly 40 degrees. Monday was very windy van rocking velocity. Tuesday was more better to be outside but inside was preferred. Wed the wind was calm, bright cloudless blue skies, and upper 40s. I deemed conditions to unfavorable to riding. Hiking was my to be chosen outdoor activity. I hiked up to a pass about Bell Rock Plaza then traversed under a rock face then descended a climbers way trail to Slim Shady for the return.
My body is not happy, it is changing without my concurrence and medicine has either not identified the cause or the medicines prescribed have not taken effect. Dunno know but I am an unhappy camper. Blood analysis discovered I have an allergy to wheat and egg whites. My eating these might contribute to my low level feeling which is added on top of whatever is wrong with my digestive system. I have modified my foods and paying attention to any change. It’s crazy that my guts start rumbling right before bedtime which is 2 hours after last nourishment taken by mouth. The discomfort makes for the illusion of sleeping. Change. It’s hard to grow old.
Then my oral health. My TMJ joints are out of whack. I am being fitted with an appliance that will go over my lower teeth which will correct my jaw alignment correctly to but the TMJs in proper alignment. Like $3,xxx. Yesterday my mouth was examined by a periodontist: gum recession, We can make you better for $3,600. Umph.
I received a voice mail from repair shop. A short drive to the shop. I was given repair prices to repair the coolant system. $800 fixes the major concerns, another $1,500 will finish rehabing the system.
Pedaling Innovations which makes the Catalyst pedals sent me an email announcing pedal redesign to make the pedals even better, yours for $149 plus shipping. I entered my card info, now awaiting the next best thing to sliced bread. I have beaten my present pedals not yet to death, new pedals are preventive purchasing. My carbon handle bar prolly should be replaced before the pedals. I did order a new carbon bar.
I used the ride downtime to seek fork service. recommended interval has been way greatly exceeded. They installed my gift of PUSH super slick seals. First ride on bike I heard the sound of something rattling / rubbing. The source was determined to the mechanic not tightening the bolts that hold the brake caliper to the fork leg.
Thurs Doug and I rode out at Western Gateway. I wanted to ride Newly built Axis from the top down to its crossing of Dry Creek. Trail has wiggles and waggles, built to chicken wing width, mostly undug tread. 1.2 miles dropped 200′ which is steeper than seems to be average 100′ per mile. It offers a different way to climb out of the creek. I pronounce it “crick”. We rode 17 miles pedaling 2 1/2 hours. I am liking riding Last Frontier going south. First part is adopted social trail, then changes to newly built trail which is a handful for exposure and many places to present the falling direction choice: right is into the back slope side or left out into the abyss. We encountered quite a few riders at the Cockscomb / Outer Limits trail junction, most were riding newly built black diamond Ground Control trail. One guy was Canadian from Nelson, BC. Somehow the Bald Bomber Brian Cross’ name came up. I backcountry skied with Brian over 4 visits to his Valhalla ski hut.
Let’s see Change. Zags play tonight at ST Marys. 8:00 I will be barside at PJs pulling for Zags changing the score in their favor.
To be weather change per forecast wants rain and chill early next week. Not creating freeze thaw mud.
During Thurs ride our route put us on the section of Girdner which is right above Dry Creek. We started at 11. We dropped down the creek section to see ice over puddles. The trail holds water as it is in the shade away mostly from sun. Today the tread was firm perhaps indicating dryness, I thought that it was because it was still froze. I did not stop to do a soil analysis.
I installed a new chain on my bike to stay ahead of lateral stretch which kills the chain ring. I pedaled a bit listening to said ring complaining, success silence except for the worn saddle clamp parts I am still waiting for.
My new eyeglasses were received by the optometrist but were rejected for quality issue and ordered to be remade. I am still waiting the new prescription which will ease my eye strain when reading.
Republicans voted to acquit dump. So much is at stake for protecting democracy and separation of powers. The guy is a narcissistic sociopath with his hands on the tiller of our country’s direction. Read Sinclair Lewis’ :It can’t happen Here” for a scary possible future. My short term goal is to remain alive long enough to cast my ballot in disapproval.
It’s 4:04 PM. I’m sitting in my parked van fully exposed to sun’s warmth, the side door is open, van thermometer reads 66 degrees. Earlier today I stopped at ACE in west Sedona for propane refill. A clerk was sorting out snow shovels and yard rakes in a storage unit. Mixed messages but the store had weather covered. Last year at end of Feb nature gave the city 18″ of snow, I know I was there snow bound. It is the desert and it is early Feb. Phil did not see his shadow portending to an early spring.