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.