Saturday AM the skies were carrying smoke. AQI was upper limit of yellow. Decided good to go with reservations. Needed to drive to Ketchum to Lizzies to buy her freshly roasted and ground beans. Pulled into her lot, strange, no plugged lot. Got out and walked to door, sign said closed on Sat & Sun. Turned around and drove to Alkins grocery then shopped for off the shelf beans. Picked a bag then ground it in store grinder. It will be what it will make tomorrow at breakfast.
Ride plan was what Steve calls the Trade route starting at Oregon Gulch. Small parking lot for the very few rigs that ever park here. Trails from here are less populated and worn. Geared up then pedaled away. Start is Saddle trail that goes after climbing really quickly on cold body. I ate a lunch and waited for about 30 mins before I started. I started on a full belly while it kept the growlers away it bogged me down. I had energy but couldn’t put it on the pedals. Nice fall day with good colors.
I might have pushed too hard on the way out as the return was some walking and several rest breaks. Smoke was in the air but I didn’t feel I was affected. I thought the issue was inside me as I had not felt this dead in a long time. I finished 12.5 miles gaining 1983′ pedaling for 1 hr 58 mins. Again, distances are short but effort is high. I looked thru records to find last time I rode this which was 6/6/18, today was 2 mins slower and I walked more.
Much of yesterday I felt I was short of wind and I needed to find out if this condition was acute or chronic. Resolution: Ride Curlys tomorrow. I drove up the Valley to Prairie creek rd which is past Baker creek but is less traveled and parked in a spot next to the flowing creek. Smoke was still in the air occluding the bright moon. This AM the temp was 23 degrees and the sky was almost clear. My short wind was gone. I drove down to Baker creek and parked at spot just off the hard road in the sun. I remained inside letting the sun warm things up. Cameron, who works for Club Ride, enjoined me in conversation. He and others were heading to a big ride shuttle. He posted a help wanted for models in the local paper. I had torn it out intending to apply. I showed it to him telling him he needed me as an older fit rider. He laughed, I guess I failed the interview in spite of showing him my flat rippled belly.
Today I allowed about 2 hours after bfast before starting. Instantly I had the hunger pains but had energy. First park of the ride is 3 miles on flat gravel road and well traveled by both dusters and considerate drivers that slowed down. I would watch an approaching driver and the billowing dust cloud created, I would lift my bike and me off into the sage to avoid the dust. Several drivers slowed down as I was stepping off the road. I acknowledge their consideration by returning to the road and pedaling then giving them praise for considering me. Many, however, fell into the it’s about me and you will get that effect.
The pedal turns serious when it leaves this road to the climb up to the top of Curley’s. Today I pushed myself to learn how my body would perform. Nice no stutter bump resource extraction road climb. Today the pedal to the top was 1 hr 16 mins gaining 1426′. All by myself.
Then the descent which starts out gently thru mixed aspen and conifer forest. Colors are very intense.
Spectacular such that digits could not capture all of it.
Last week on this same ride with Steve, who went before me, acted as my canary in a coal mine so to speak. I let him pull me along. Today it was up to me to make my own choices. Lots of choices to be made while going very fast. The trail is narrow and below grade which hides trail side pedal strikes. I let gravity pull me unheeded when I could see ahead but controlled speed on the uncertain sections. There are 2 places on the trail where it pitches fall line and the tread is broken up. Sheesh, hands full. I am a firm user of my more powerful front brake with as little rear brake to prevent brake bumps. On those steep parts I used both brakes pretty hard. Down towards the bottom my rear brake started squalling and seemed to loose its grip. Later back at the van I pulled the pads seeing that meat still remained so it wasn’t metal on metal causing the squeal. My new real Formula rotor arrives at Steve’s tomorrow which I will install plus new brake pads, both Formula products, which should eliminate the squeal and restore the grip. The 2.94 miles of the trail dropped 1184′ took 16 mins. 1 hour 39 mins of climbing generated 16 mins of “pleasure”? Screamer descent, not for everyone.
Hung at the van enjoying fall weather and colors. My effort reconfirmed that my body can still perform. Yesterday’s flat effort was smoke induced or fatigue from Deer creek ride the day before.
Drove back down to Ketchum, bought some groceries then drove out Trail Creek rd looking for a sleep spot with internet. How about that? The long term parked trailer was gone. Score. I have straight view of ski slope and strong internet.
Aging is like a downhill slide. All we can do is slow the descent. It is like laying face down on a pitched snowfield where I have 8 fingers dug into the snow. Try as I might my fingers are not strong enough to arrest my slide, I can just slow it down, I have no idea how far the bottom is, I just keep riding while looking uphill. Only time will tell when I reach that bottom.
Time to fix dinner.