Sunday night, 8:35 PM, evening food idea hatched, prepared, eaten, and cleaned up. Evening walk around Marvin’s and KGB is therapy for my right knee as prime benefit but out weighed by how nice the evening is: sinking sun eliminates the glare, dusty trails puffing brown pow mid way up my calves and darkening my feet shod in Bedrock sandals with no socks. Encountered only 1 person, that a biker.
Yesterday was a no ride day. I drove away after bfast cleanup with a list of action items to be accomplished quickly then drive back to sleep spot. I have been at this spot, an all time favorite location, for many nights. I sometimes ride right from here. I supply up every 2 days. I drive to this spot upon returning to Phils area in hopes that it is open. Helps sometimes that young couple in their vans are holding down squattership. Drive up to Skyliner for well water preferred over filtered water or tap water. Propane and groceries. I have not seen an unmasked person inside a building. I did go for a walk after dinner, same area but longer.
Mrazek had been working its way to the front of my to do brain. Rest day yesterday prepped me for a beat down. This loop requires effort and perseverance ( intrinsic motivation), pedal time of excess of 4 hours (big day). New brake pads in rear caliper and 2nd ride on Ergon saddle. This will be pass / fail for saddle. At 9 I pedaled away catching Marvin’s Garden from here to trail head start of uphill Ben’s. Climb Ben’s until unsigned spur trail heads off to cross Skyliner rd continuing on short piece of FS dirt road before ST dropping down to FS gravel rd that crosses Tumalo creek and climbs up and over Mrazek ridge. I turned left onto Mrazek trail for the next 10.5 miles pedaling for 1 hr 43 mins with one rewrap my head around climbing 1978′ stop to junction of Farwell, the high point of ride. Big hump yet all pedalable, just a 9 mins section on old haul road of boy, I will feel better when I get off it. I have low gear of 46T, I prefer not to go that low as, to me, maybe it is a give in to the climb, I should be able to spin the 40T. I have been sucking on that 46T ease more lately because, well, I brung it. Encountered several riders descending as I was climbing, I have been staking my etiquette right of way to trail when I am climbing. So far I have not suffered the consequence of being right. Man, riders need to look aways down trail for other recreators and me.
I will say this about brake bumps which are created by a locked up rear brake. When the rider has only 1 skill to manage down hill speed and that is grabbing a fist full of rear brake and locking it up, the suspension starts pogoing bouncing the wheel up and down which creates the bump. Climbing them lacks enjoyment as my suspension follows bumps but a much slower speed. Solution: riders learn the performance of their front brake and use it. One finger braking, go deeper into turn then apply speed control of front brake which has about 70% of braking force. This will prevent brake bumps but like many things it takes skill and trust about the front brake. Trail gets shuttle traffic.
Another shout out to go arounds and leaving challenge not dumbed down.
At Farwell the trail drops down to Tumalo Falls rd. 3.5 miles. Up high several nasty loose sharp rocks are the tread. Courage is to let inertia and physics of greater or equal force maintain direction control.
Tumalo falls is at end of road at small parking lot. Very popular hike up N Fork.
All these people were hiking out and back on the same trail, just crammed in. this is Phil’s a bit later. Here bikers have options which creates distancing.
Back at van. 33.6 miles pedaling for 4 hrs 21 mins climbing 3110 and burning 1769 calories. 9:30 PM, side door open, chill starting to be felt, no mosquitoes, listening to music from back when I hived in a house loaded onto an I pod. John Prine.
Need to quit typing to roll out my legs before bed time.