Yesterday I drove down to town for resupply for several days of riding out at N Klondike trails. Groceries, propane, water, coffee beans ground, and package pick up for 2 new pants in time to replace 2 pair that I have worn out just this week. left knee on both pants wore through. I asked for and received dietary permission to be able to make my scratch pancakes that I haven’t made and eaten for over 2 months. Needed new bag of frozen blueberries. Tomorrow pancakes, today was Scottish oatmeal with blueberries. Still no gluten. Mid afternoon drive N out of town to N Klondike BLM all weather gravel recently graded road. Almost 2 miles back to a spot I picked. Maybe 4 rigs out here, ghost town w/o the deserted buildings. Could have taken the spot back against the rocks which was open. Went for a rock scramble to be outside under blue skies and little wind.
Fixed dinner of skillet chicken thigh dredged in Quinoa flour, carrot, green pepper, thyme, marjoram, red wine deglaze, chicken broth to make gravy over Yukon gold mashed potatoes with butter, thyme, and vanilla. made a stacked dinner plate. In a short while the plate was scraped clean. Big flavorful dinner but a mess to clean up. Still below freezing during the night. The spinning earth exposed my van to sunrise for solar gain. Still 57 degrees is chilly inside.
Today is ride day on east side trails where the difficult riding is. Geared up with same top layers bu just shorts and crew socks. Pedaled away just after 10. Rode Dino out to its end, turned on Miner’s loop, oh well and several more trails till I hit EKG back. EKG goes up and down this big slab of bedrock. Goes up, maybe traverses a bit then turns down, maybe traverses then climbs back up, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, Follow the faded orange paint stripes on the rock.
EKG is less of a ride than an endure, just a slow hump finding and following the paint stripes because that’s how the trail is marked across the slick rock. Pay attention as the line marks the solution to roll over wheel traps.
My riding prowess has improved noticeably with the l9 rear wheel. That no lag pedal stroke gets me up and over so much easier, I am riding stuff that I walked riding the 3 degrees of engagement Torch hub. Remarkable difference between the hubs. With any hub there are degrees or rotation of the crank (read pedal) before the freehub paws engage for pedal force going forward. That means a rider has to time the peal stroke relative to where the rear wheel is allowing for that crank rotation. The .52 degrees of engagement of the Hydra means that there is no lag, it’s like riding a tricycle with a freewheel. I do not want to go back to even the 3 degrees. The wheel really enlivens my bike.
14.7 miles pedaling for 2 hrs 17 mins climbing 1345′. As the ride progresses the sun warmed me up to remove first layer on top. Then too warm for heavy wool jersey, could have ridden in summer clothes. Encountered maybe 10 riders. Private play ground.
All trails here are still no ebikes allowed, land manager is BLM. Wonder how effort is to keep the trails heart propelled only.
65 degrees forecast tomorrow.