Same ‘ol, same ‘ol: clear and cold at night and breaking 40 during heat of day. I have sufficient layers of riding clothes and freedom to wear what is needed to keep me warm. I see riders I’m saying not so fortunate as they ride in shorts and t-shirt. Mostly younger, ( which is the population). I do experience being over dressed but not able to thin the layer. I have 2 wool long underwear tops, each of a different weight, one of which  I wear under a jersey. I chose the heavier top to stay warm at the start which allows my fingers flexibility to pull the brake levers versus teeth chattering cold and clenched fingers. Yeah, yeah, just saying an observation, some of you readers might be clamoring to be able to ride and think I am whining. OK, you might be crushing the couch cushions in a warm building while I am getting wind burned in the desert. Well, that’s how I played my cards as you are playing yours now. It’s about choices.

20 degrees outside before sunrise and like 48 inside. becoming acclimated to cold.

The Freehub folks arrive Sunday morn meeting me at N Klondike. On Sat I took care of needs in town then drove out to same spot. More campers were out there than last weekend. My preferred spots were occupied. I cross country traveled over the desert and climbed a mound above the valley. I mix in hiking on non riding rest days. Just nice to be dressed warmly and be under the sun outdoors.

Sunday Freehub folks arrived after my bfast. Their game plan for filming was fleshed out, they went their way leaving me to ride a year’s last ride on N Klondike trails. Per the completed ride data from Garmin I really beat myself during my 10.6 miles climbing 935’ pedaling for 1 hr 33 mins, 31 of those minutes were above my 85% exertion level, recovery adviser advised 33 hours of recovery before next effort. That’s right, 33 hours. facts are facts. Climbed up Baby Steps

Up Baby Steps connecting to Mega Steps for ups and downs joining Alaska to connect to Mega Steps down low finishing on Dino back to end. The trails are on slick rock like pic, climbing is slower speed which aids in following trail makers problem solutions. However, the same conditions exist for downhill except riding way faster affects following the trail. Go faster than able to follow a turn. Speed  shortens the sight line for decision making involving a roll down , is it a roll or a huck? Always stimulating. Most of the riding here is body jarring, full body work out, riding every day beats me, riding here is primo. Riding at Bend is almost all smooth trails that are sit and spin trails that can be ridden everyday.  I think if I lived here I would beat myself silly. I am definately riding faster going downhill.

So Freehub mag folks are here to make a film featuring me. There is Brandon, the publisher, Spence the movie filmer, Riley a still picture taker, and Cole, a grip. Last evening they filmed sunset pics down in the Colorado River canyon. Cold work but not as cold as this morning’s early morning filming. Teeth chattering chilly. They create the scene and coach me on my role. So far we are synching our actions. Tomorrow is riding up on Porcupine Rim. Wed we head to Hurricane where highs are low 50s but above freezing at night. Speaking of the mag it is a real first class publication and beautifully done. Choice.

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Sat AM, before sunrise out off Willow Springs road, it was 19 degrees outside and a toasty 50 degrees inside. But I was out of the wind. May the temperature rise to the forecasted 45 degrees by the time I step out of the van to start my ride which will be about 800′ elevation higher. Zags play at 9 AM that I will listen to on XM before heading out, at least the 1st half.

Zags are comfortably handling Auburn which will not be overly distracting me as I drive up to the main TH for Navajo Rocks, where Middle Earth trail is a loop splitter. 35 degrees under clear skies. It’s going to be a chilly ride. I wore bike tights and heavier socks under baggies and upwarmed to a heavier wool long underwear top under a heavy long sleeve jersey. Topped it off with warm helmet cap. Protected by wind shell top. Just regular full finger gloves. Could not see my breath which was good. Parking lot held maybe 20 rigs of riders who got out ahead of me.

And the ride starts off descending exposed slickrock. Ramblin. It was prolly 2006 on my maiden Sprinter Moab visit I rode all of Navajo Rocks the day after T day in falling snow. There is a dicey slick rock g-out where the exit is above the entrance meaning that pedaling will be required to climb out. That year about 2″ of snow covered the rock. I had no idea what kind of traction I would have packing the snow onto the slickrock. No way around, and the climb was off camber. Whew, I kept traction and my skin. Today, the rock was bare and inviting for enjoying the g-out zoom. Arrived at the lower trailhead which had more rigs in it than above. Numerous riders wearing summer clothes and me bundled up and warm. Way too cold for me to just remove my wind shell.

One section of the trail hugged a steep outsloped piece of slick rock. Body English and well timed pedal strokes got you across.

I just could not get my engine up to operating speed. Recovery time after yesterday’s ride was 22 hours but I rode inside that window. I bailed on Middle Earth and returned to TH and warm van. 8.84 miles climbing 738′ pedaling for 1 hr 16 mins.

Drove back down to same Willow Springs sleep spot. Last night after I went to bed a pusher RV pulling a large off road vehicle pulled up, I noticed it when I got up to pee as they had left 2 bright outside lights on that shined into my driver’s window. This morning he put on a show driving out.

Yesterday, Thursday, was laundry day. I drove back down to an empty town and laundromat. Clean clothes. I checked the propane gauge which indicated I would be cold before today. Feed Store is where I fill up 6 days a week except for holidays. A gas station outside of town has propane which was my go to place on T day. Darn, it was closed. I googled refill locations in Moab, found a campground in town. I called, voice mail. I tried again several minutes later and a woman answered. She said they were closed and she was uncomfortable filling an attached tank. We talked a bit as she became sympathetic to my cause. We agreed that I would drive in and she would decided if she would fill me. I arrived, she looked, I coached, she attached the hose and turned on the pump. Score, 4 gallons in the tank and I would be warm last night. Drove up out of town and stopped at Brand M trail head for a short ride.

Brand M trail ride. Riders were out either riding off calories or creating a demand for same under blue skies and chill. I wore knee warmers and no hat. I rode Deadman’s Ridge again just savoring the benefit of the Hydra hub. That hub is helping with my track standing which is a balance move. from a standstill I can maneuver to attach the upcoming tech feature. Amazing confidence enabler. 9.35 miles climbing 978′ pedaling 1 hr 26 mins.

The trails travel lots of slickrock as it is sustainable and requires no sculpting. The surface is irregular with either roll downs or step ups depending upon which direction you ride. Creates suspension travel that transfers loads to my body, specifically my shoulders which get beat. My legs not so. Mixed in are rolled firm sand per above.

Friday, 4:25 PM, sun dropped below cliffy horizon, temp is dropping, 43 degrees.

Monday I rested out at N Klondike, chilly and windy. Went for a rock scramble just to be outside.

Tuesday I rode from sleep spot starting on the west side pedal trails which are such a change over the slickrock. Suspension not required by I pedaled on top of it and enjoyed it none the less. Pump the dips and square off the turns. I turned off before trail to S Klondike TH and began suspension thankful trails. These trails are on a tilted plate of slick rock. Again, the trails use that for tread and route around washes and pour overs, up, around, down, over, climb, repeat. Follow the color coded stripes on the rock. 16.9 miles climbing 1280′ pedaling for 2 hrs 16 mins. Almost all by myself.

Freehub mag is creating a film about my life style, they will be here with me all of next week. On Wed we had a telecon for 1:30 PST. I managed my time to get a ride in before the call and be in cell service. I finished in time and set up my lap top. I figured local time was 12:30 MST. Shit, before 12:30 I realized that I subtracted time instead of adding the time zone change. Could have ridden longer. I sprinted a 9.35 mile climbing 978′ pedaling for 1 hr 26 mins. ride. Drove down to town for groceries and water and took the call while in town.

Where I park off Willow Springs rd I have a long view looking up US 191. Wed the traffic was very heavy heading towards me. Headlights were visible.

Geesh, I ride a lot. I need to accept the fact that I wear my body and don’t recover sufficiently. So far this month I have ridden 19 days out of 27. I have no body fat. Resting heart rate is in upper 40s. My waist size is now 28″ and need a belt. After today’s ride recovery per Garmin was 22 hours. I will ride N Klondike tomorrow after lunch.

Back out at N Klondike after 3 nights up at Horse Thief. I had to get here from there.

Yesterday I rode a mama bear effort from sleep spot. Chilly morning. Drug my warm feet to pedal away. Knickers, knee socks, and 2 wool tops. Wind shell on top. My helmet fits too tightly when I wear a cap underneath which exposes my bald pate, and chilly too. Pedaled that 1 mile piece of dirt road to catch Lasso to its end at Chisholm riding it to its end also but at Big Lonely. Turn right on said trail that morphs into Coney Island turning left on Middle Earth cutting across the middle of the Navajo Rocks loop. Turn on to start of Big Mesa continue when it becomes Big Lonely, turn right on Chisholm then repeat start of ride to arrive back at home. Beautiful day. Started windy and chilly that was replaced by more friendly conditions. Pack swallowed up the first layer. Again, Navajo Rocks trail had company versus Chisholm. Did encounter an ebiker however. Just yelled at him.

23 miles pedaling for 3 hours climbing 1552′. 2 safety breaks, nourishment was small spoons of peanut butter, honey, walnuts, and chocolate blended together carried in a tupperware. Mixture has energy. Papa Berar would be the entire Navajo Rocks loop.

Back at the van. So nice to be outside blocked from the wind. Nice enough to do bike work. First move to replacing the drive train was to removed the self extracting crank arm. I put the long shafted allen wrench in the socket, braced the pedal, then pulled with vein popping force. Just veins popping, no bolt movement. I took another grip with same lack of success. Phooey. The force needs to be a cheater and or a stronger arm.

Today, Sunday, made and ate entire batch of scratch pancakes and drank a second cup of cold brewed coffee. Plan today was to drive to parking where Chisholm crosses the Horse Thief road to save the 1.5 mile road ride to pick up Rodeo. Lingered as outside temp was 40 degrees with a gentle breeze. Again, same amount of clothes. Pedaled a short section of Chisholm to start of Rodeo which is directional. Private playground again, didn’t have to share. Back at van temp rode to 52. 9.3 miles climbing 618′ pedaling for 1 hr 14 mins.

Towards the end of the ride I started feeling less chipper as a result of the 2 previous days of hard riding. I will be taking Monday as a rest day.

Van transmission slips when it is cold.

Stopped in at Chili Pepper for a wrench to break free the crank bolt. He used his feet, one on the wrench and the other on the pedal then stood up which broke the bolt free. Tomorrow I might off with the old, on with the new parts drive train.

My water supply consists of 7 gallons of sink water and 2 gallons of drinking. I can make quantity last for 3 nights. I let replenishing water determine when I go to town. Gearheads provides free filtered water, open 7 days a week. Propane need depends on outside temp.

I made skillet scratch corn bread in my 8 inch skillet. Found a recipe on line that is gluten free. I ate almost all of it for dinner tonight.

N Klondike is crowded tonight, chose another spot for the night.

Covid killed the sit down WabaSabi Thanksgiving feed so I don’t get fed for my volunteering.