Days here in Sedona the weather is mostly favorable to being outside, adjust your layers accordingly and maybe prefer to remain under shelter when it does rain. Otherwise the red rock vertical features make up the skyline. This week there have been 2 days of high winds and upper 40 temps, OK I am able to wait a better day to ride. Gusts were strong enough to rock my van. Being on a bike I do not know. One day I was pedaling my bike in a paved parking lot while being buffeted by a moderate breeze: me and the bike were blown off intended line on grippy pavement. Just too windy.
Yesterday winds gusted just over 20 mph.Doug and I met at slightly exposed Cultural park for 11 AM ride. Chilly made chillier by wind. Knee warmers and wind shell on then pedaled away. My ride desire was do a big loop out here N of 89A riding Chuck Wagon and Mescal planning on few hikers during mid week. When we crossed Dry Creek rd on Chuck Wagon the road shoulder had few cars parked which was a good sign. We stopped at the TH parking lot for a break. Located there is a bike repair tool station. We talked about how often one of these things are used. There are 6 of them located at trail heads for bikes here in W Sedona. Time to pedal away. I noticed that Doug’s rear tire was flat. He eschews prophylactic flat protection meaning tire tube only. He carries 2 tubes but no repair kit. The fact that he has ridden so many miles here with only his second flat testifies to his good luck. Today he used the repair stand to swap out a tube. Yes the stations get used.
Chuck Wagon is the popular trail for hikers to get to Devil’s Bridge which is heavily used. The number of cars at the Chuck wagon road crossing indicates number of hikers we would be sharing the trail with. Not many. Trail sure rides better heading north as it is mostly downhill.
Chuck Wagon connects to Mescal.
Completed Mescal sped down Deadman’s to start of Aerie which climbs to high point of ride at 48xx’. This trail is growing rocks which justifies a fukk suspension bike. Look where I want to go and maintain an attentive grip on the handlebar grips, the bike seems to go in the direction pointed and if I position my body correctly both of us remain upright and going forward.
This ride we pedaled the entire Outer Limits which has some nice slightly down hill sections for fun carving red rock turns. Then cross the creek and start the pay back of climbing out of the creek bottom.
Ride was 22.5 miles long. My heart took a beating from high pulse, the computer calculated recovery time of 21 hours. Of the 3 hour pedal time I spent 2 hours above my theoretical anaerobic threshhold. Rest day today.
Today weekly laundry completed. 70 degrees outside and 25% humidity should dry my bike clothes by sundown.
Two nights ago I ventured out into desert at MP4 for the night.Sat night a real heavy rain fell which turns the desert into mud bogs on the “rd”. My favorite spot was still occupied by a large RV. The owner stopped by to tell me he would be leaving today and wanted to park his locksmith van where I was parked to vacate where he was parked. Cool. I asked him to park the van at the spot which would indicate that it was occupied, a stronger signal than me setting out a chair. As darkness settled in I noticed that his parking lights were on. He will be greeted with a dead battery when he returns to drive it away.
Just another beautiful day. Of the 30 cities with the worst air pollution China has 21. Here there is no industry of coal fired electric plants to pollute the sky. Clear skies.
Back down to Beaverhead desert.