Today marks the start of 13 years mountain biking the states. It finishes 12 years of doing what I want.

Today I wanted, and did, to help at an aid station for the High Cascades 100 mile race. I brought along my cow bell and volunteered to clang on enthusiasm to the racers. Good gig, I sat on my 3 legged stool and shook the bell as a racer approached. I threw out some inconsequential speech to the racer. Not very communicative coming into aid station 2, 50 miles onto the race. Did sometimes a racer smiled. Extensive on line liability release and protocol: masks worn in aid station and 6′ distance and no spectators. I waited till 11 to drink my only beer, tepid, not overly warm but definitely above preferred 55 degrees.

Slept last night in Kaptka snow park which is closest pavement to aid station. It’s at intersection of Bachelor highway and cut off to Sunriver. Within sight of MT Bachelor which in of its self means nothing but signal strength was 4bar.

Tonight I am at empty Swampy snow park with whimpy 2bar. I walked up Ridge trail where there is strong 3bar. Almost constant traffic noise.

I am creating this on my phone. I wanted to boast about my accomplishment.

Gorgeous day with no mosquitoes or sweat.

In answer to the saddle question: I will keep it. It was not easy chair comfy yet it was a good kind of hurt. that upgrade cost $110.

It’s only money to fix what isn’t working correctly. My shifting was hanging up between 2 particular gears, I checked what I knew how, even sparingly squirted triflow onto the pivot points on the derailleur, lubed the chain, and searched my memory bank for past situations and how each was resolved. This time I concluded that it was the shifter cable and housing, thought was cable had worn the inside of the housing causing the derailleur spring extra work. Negotiated with Sunnyside for a 24 hr turn around, after dropping my bike off just after noon. I drove off starting the waiting for the come get me from the shop. Tuesday around noon the text arrived. I was parked closer to the shop than where I spent the night out past Phil’s. Met with wrench who put his healing hands to cure the bike’s ills. replaced cable and housing and the shifting issue remained. New derailleur fixed the shifting. It was only money spent on a necessary need. $165.

Put bike on rack then headed out to RD 41 to park almost trail side on catch and release. I geared up then headed out just after 2 PM, late for me. The shadows were on the other side of the feature. Different light. Route went Catch and Release to closed Welcome Center joining Ticket to Ride north side to Grand Slam, to Storm King descending down to Catch and release back home. trails are soft and dusty. Almost all by myself.

Dirt here is volcanic ash with no organic to bind grains together. Trail tread is rolled in firm from bike tires. We are our own destroyers and problem creators by riding in new trails. Visible case is on Storm King right before junction with Funner and Tiddlywinks. A maybe 6′ drop off basalt face landing on sloped run out that riders have created a deep rut just worn into the dirt as it is so soft. Not a good example of a go around.

Back at the van. I set up my chair and stool right outside the open sliding door facing the trail. Yesterday I bought a cow bell and tonight I was going to clang riders going by. I thought that cheering them on would generate a thanks or at least a smile. Maybe I need a bigger bull bell for that to happen.

This ride I rode to descend Storm King, previously I rode it the other way. Amazing that times were 2 minutes different on a 1 hr 54 min pedal. For the most part when I ride I pedal stopping for a short break, I keep after it.

Today I drove up to Skyliner for water and to ride S Fork. 9 AM start. 14 mile ride where I encountered only 1 trail runner. Trails are being worn down from all rider use and no rain. Benefit of being the leading rider, or only one, is not eating dust. There is a mountain bike race this weekend on some of these trails, fortunately S Fork is spared as it is fragile and would be badly damaged by race traffic. Ride time was 3 minutes slower.

I have been vaping pot during my ride, sometimes starting with a short buzz like today. Riding experience is different than straight. I go to like a zone to just pedal and negotiate trail features. I am in the moment in control as required to full on high speed coast down S Fork. No wandering. Being buzzed is beneficial to space out on grunt of a climb. Perhaps it’s just that I am acquainted with the trail. I wait till ride’s end to drink a beer.

Tonight where I am sleeping ground squirrels and chipmunks were behaving as they are supposed to do. I put a small plate with water on a flat rock. I was curious how any would respond as there is no water around. I saw only 1 chipmunk check out the bowl but was too far away for my eyes to see what it did with the water.

Brandon from Freehub called for a visiting call.

Tomorrow I have a PT appointment to treat my TMJ.

Temps are in upper 80s and furnace running chilly in the early hours.

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.