Thurs drove into town for resupply and for service on bike. Laundry day. Drove to location in same building where Gear heads used to be. Empty shell. Hotel was moving ahead with their plan to remove the building. Same owner has another location just off Main st. Same kind of machines with an attendant on duty wiping down the machines. Clean place as were my clothes. Air dry clothes take more days to dry because of lower temps.
Bike service was to replace derailleur cable and housing as the chain hesitates dropping down the cluster, past experience said it was the cable and housing. Also the clutch on the derailleur makes clicking sounds when it takes up chain slack. Also the sound of breaking metal when the suspension was loaded but not all the time. Wrench pulled the pivot bearings out and discovered that the 2 upper bearings were seized. He replaced those 2 plus the odd size small bearing in the bottom linkage. He commented that the bottom bracket has wear play that should be replaced sometime. From time to time for the bike’s health it should be handled by a care giver to identify wear points.
Put the bike back on the van then scooted out of town up to Horse Thief rd, Scored the view spot again. Warm night allowing me to keep open the side door well past sundown. Most nights I get up 2 times to pee, when empty I look out the windows when on clear nights the star show is blazing.
This morning the sunrise lacked the colors from a previous show but from the same spot.
Up here at Horse Thief allows riding from park to several networks of trails. Go North to Navajo Rocks system, East to Horse Thief system plus Mag 7. Today my plan was to ride the Mag 7 stuff. 40 degrees and breezy. I wore 2 tops and knickers and knee socks plus wind shell. Ride starts out road riding with some downhills, horrible to start with a cold body making it colder coasting in the cold. Just this side of the group camp spots a new trail crosses the road, turn left down to junction with Chisholm, turn right and ride it to its end across the highway at Mustang, Turn left on Get Away descending to spur trail to start of Bull Canyon. Bounce down many rock drops sure enjoying 6 inches of travel, tuned to me and my bike.
Hydra hub enabled me to climb stuff that I have previously walked. Amazing. Cross Gemini bridges road to continue on Great Escape descending more chunk. At junction of Little Canyon turn left to begin the climb back out. At this point I have ridden 1 hr 42 mins for first break. My riding is so much improved this year. I kept my nose down for the climb up Get Away and retracing the start of the ride. Maybe 15 riders during my 3 hr 49 min pedal 28.8 mile, 2126′ climb, burned 1780 calories ride. I rode the perimeter of this system, that’s stupid as there is only 1 trail down and another back up. Confidence tempered with respect. Amazing bike that I am getting more out of it.
Living out of my van allows me to camp out in the toolies in the elements so to speak. It can be defined by what city living is not as an avoidance. Better to describe it for what it is for validation of life style. Quiet, lots of space separating others and some cases nobody else around. Exposed to the elements. Place to be as will the next night’s spot. If I don’t like the view the freedom to relocate is driving to the next spot.
Not tired, just worked. Both my shoulders are yipping. Off to bed. 44 degrees at 9:17 PM at 5747′.