Miles of 40. Yes, I do like to talk about some things, this case another big accomplishment. Riding here at Phils is mostly about pedaling and coasting with my choice of no black trails (COD, bottom of Grand Slam), with lots of miles to chose from. Trail sections are longer here, when committed on a trail it could be a ways till next choice. So riding here seems to be just how long am I willing to make my body propel me and bike down the trail. Climbing Mrazek I avoided for awhile as I was feeling my level in confidence to satisfactorily complete the 33 mile loop with lots of climbing. I did it which helped move the needle of confidence. I rode it again the next week in almost same pedal time. Chest is swelling from breathing. Okay big boy, let’s see if I am able to big ride Olallie and O’Leary loop. Been there done it. Followed that up with another ATCA at Oakridge. What is my top out effort? I sought it on this big loop yesterday of 39.6 miles pedaling 5 hrs 5 mins climbing 3698′, burning 2074 calories. It was a big effort accomplished by perseverance of just pushing the pedals among all the other things: body care, balance, line choices, matching gearing with breathing, conserving energy, hydration, etc. I succeeded. Last night I studied the trail map for a bigger loop. Initial reaction was: pretty big with no water source. It could be monster 60 miles. Dunno. My hydration bladder holds 100 ozs. I refilled it at Tumalo lodge reached after climbing Mrazek.
For those following my route at home it went like this: I started from sleep spot on rd 41 on Catch and Release which is about 40 feet from where I slept, up to Welcome Center taking Ticket to Ride, turning on ELV, Flying down Expressway, turning left on KGB, turning right on Kents, turning left on MTB which I rode for the first time that ended at cut over trail for crossing Tumal creek and climbing up to Mrazek, reward of junction with Farwell which means downhill for many minutes of coasting but requiring attention to challenging trail. Ah, Tumalo Creek trail starts with short shallow climbs interspersed with flat or small downhill until the big shot downhill with no traffic flying, once I topped out at 28 mph, today was pedestrian 26.8. Fill new hydration bladder at Tumalo lodge and the other half of almond butter and honey bagel. Climb and descend several times on Skyliner to destroyed bench to climb short section of Phils topping out at start of Storm King to its end with Catch and Release for the rest to the van. Long clock day finishing at 5. I encountered maybe 30 riders.
Clash / contrast between the Was and Is. The Was is us older riders that have been riding since the early days back in the 80s and some of us could be the same age. The Is are the newer riders on way better bikes now, are younger, and are riding trails that favorable to mountain bikes. I perceive their trail etiquette is more self centered. There are way more Is than us Wasers. Rant: uphill traffic gets the trail, and rear brake draggers.
6:30 Friday morning at 3900′ on rd 41 the temp was 31 degrees, late afternoon it rose to 75. I ran the furnace during the night.
Tumalo Lodge can be reserved for group use, during that time the lot is closed which prevents me from access to well water spigot. I asked caretaker how to learn of reserved use and was given a web address. I saw on Friday that the starting time was 8:45. I needed water and it was at the start of my S Fork loop. I slid up the the spigot in time to fill up. It’s well water that I desire.
S Fork loop starts at the bottom mostly climbing for like 45 mins to old haul road then fast 18 mins to Swede shelter. Old single track thru the unlogged forest on SST which receives little use. Over to top of S Fork which is being worn down from use and no rain. The brake bumps are bigger, the roots maybe a little higher. My bike is so stable. As a Waser I accept responsibility for my actions by riding within my sight line to avoid not yielding to uphill traffic. Great brakes makes for great speed. Sintered metallic brake pads create great friction on disc rotor resulting in powerful controlled speed modulation. Jump root patches or just skip over their tops. Bike flies. Finish is down Tumalo creek for smooth wide high speed section.
I am an avoider of effort when I can. I do fix healthy food and clean up afterwards. My carpet can remain un vacuumed for weeks, I can settle. My living is settled in that there are very few non critical expenditure of human energy events. I carry same approach to riding: if I can get free speed I settle to coasting and carving the turns. Faster riders will pass me pedaling, they must be an Iser. These trails are bendy not twisty with soft outslope. 2.5 WT on front with pronounced side lugs makes for good carving. Then dropping the seat allowing angulating bike underneath me adds up to carving. Need to read each bend for firmness.
During Friday’s ride I felt wetness against my back from my hydration bladder. back at the van I pressurized the bladder locating a pinhole leak. Surrounding area shows creasing which I feel will result in larger leaks. New bladder needed. Went to Sunnyside who carries a bladder designed by a local. 100 oz size same as present. I drove away. later I inserted the bladder into the holster in my Wingnut pack. I had to force the zipper closed because the handle, which runs lengthwise, to give rigidity to the bladder. Ain’t going to fly. If I could sever the handle the bladder would fit. I sawed a section out of the handle using the saw blade on my Leatherman. I soon learned that the drink hose was too long and the sternum strap couldn’t gather the slack. It needs shortening. However, this is a big engineering bloop: the bite valve has a super strong magnet to attach to another magnet strapped to your pack. Fine. I read the written info on the packaging which stated magnets can have adverse effect on digital and magnetic code. Didn’t specify safe distance. I wear a digital watch, a digital computer in on my handle bar, I carry a digital camera and my cell phone. All of these can be affected by magnets. Need to learn more about care of digital items.
Knapweed is flowering. It is an invasive weed. Nothing eats it, it spreads quickly overpowering natural vegetation. I pull it by the stalk to pull up its roots. Purple flower is visible. I have spent maybe 10 hours in last week eliminating purple color. Edward Abbey said of water in the desert is that there is always enough water, just too much demand. Same applies here in high desert where no rain has fallen since early June.
Rest day today. Am in town now for internet speed.
My right knee is almost pain free. I roll the inside on my upp er leg on the ridges on the hard roller. Uncomfortable wincing pain that is becoming less wincing each session.
I sit at my desk inside my van to write my bog entries. I type away which sort of wipes my memory clean of what I typed.