Jimmy left Sedona several years ago moving to Prescott where he established himself as a local and still my friend. Yesterday mountain bike  tires lined up for a trip over to his neighborhood. Ian drove me and our bikes over to Jimmy and Christine’s house for a ride from their house. Well, while we rode from their house but we had quite a few miles of pavement climbing to dirt then into Prescott NF still on dirt. Almost classic CO ride with mass uphill time for smaller amount of time going back down on single track. Higher elevation and more moisture changes the forest canopy. Here we were in P pine and alligator juniper on decomposed granite. Even a patch of push our bikes over snow.

15.5 miles climbing 1850′ which mathematically is greater than 100′ mile Sedona profile plus we started at 5.373′ climbing to 6,796′. Sedona stays around 4,500′. Paid the effort price of higher elevation.

Reward for effort was downhill on purpose built single tracks. Ian and Jimmy gapped me very quickly as it is wont to be. I manage my excitement with confidence to lessen pressure on my brake levers and coast rather than enhance my speed. I noticed that the manzanita here is green as it should be as more water was available during last year’s growing season. A bit of pavement riding back to their house then treated to a fine home cooked dinner and a tequila drink (only 1). I visited with Jimmy’s dogs who maybe remembered me but didn’t begrudge my affectionating them. Late night drive back to Sedona where I spent the night at the overlook.

I looked at a web site on brake pads from MTX. Manufacture added ceramic to his brake pads which is to increase modulation and power while creating no squeal. Sure. Present sintered Formula pads have great power with less modulation and squeal when wet and shriek when dry. Yesterday while waiting for Ian to pick me up I install a pair in the rear brake then rode a bit to bed them in. In the flat gravel parking lot the power did not seem to be any better than Formula. Then miles of riding I worked on more bedding. When I started downhill the pads slathered their compound on the rotor making a happy bind and the performance came on. Powerful with no squeal and maybe some better modulation. Take aways are the pads don’t squeal and grip the rotor with stopping power. Have a set for the front also.

Today at 11:10 Gonzaga plays Sweet Sixteen game. The timing messes with potential ride time as it will be too late to drive to west Sedona with bumper to more bumper traffic. And crowds down here are getting bigger down here. That a a glass of wine during the game might have coordination and confidence issues. Nice day, maybe just a walk.

So, bike update: I am keeping my fork and nonboost front wheel. The fork needs to have an additional 10mm more travel added to match the rear then be retuned and a new RUNT installed. I scored a drop off appointment with Diaz in Durango for either the 6th or 7th. I will be leaving prolly the 6th after the Championship game. I will ride Alien Run in Aztec, NM and Phil’s in Cortez, CO and Boggy Draw in Delores if melted out then on to Moab. I need to allocate my time to ride good stuff between here and Bend to arrive there at Memorial Day.

End of March is approaching moving out of the reputation of in like a lion out like a lamb or reverse sequence. April showers bring May flowers may that happen here in the west. And may Gonzaga still be playing on April 5th to win the big dance.

Late Mon afternoon the wrench called me to say bike is ready for me to settle up. Drove up and plugged my debit card in their money slot for service. He replaced all the bearings and said that the knock was still present saying it was in the shock. Friend Bill from Gunnison finally connected. Bill was granted escape privilege for a bike get away. He and his wife own Tomichi Cycles where he is main wrench. We checked over the bike away from the shop. Well, the suspension felt more supple. I removed the PUSH then installed the stock Monarch, same clunk. Two sets of ears traced the sound to the derailleur clutch. Chain slack / tension pulls on the hanger and the clutch hangs up momentarily which creates the clunk. Replacement in the future.

We drove out to Beaverhead. The spot, first right past the overlook, was open which is flat and big enough for our Sprinter vans.

The forecast for Tues called for wet for sure after 11 AM. I suggested that we lessen our chances of getting stuck or getting wet riding was to be on the road by 8 and ride short loop at Turkey creek to finish before precip. We were on the road before 8 and drove to spot down Verde Valley School road at start of social trail thus eliminating the 3 miles of road riding in each direction. Threatening cloud cover. Bill is much stronger and way better tech rider than me and was seeing these trails for first time. I put him up front and called out turns from behind. Trails were firm and a little rain fell on us but it appeared that heavier rain fell on the ride back before we arrived. We rode around the knob and the ocotillo forest. I watched Bill clean all the tech problems. Back at our vans before 11, spritzes fell. I was done riding for the day and I wanted better internet speed so I drove back to outlet. Bill hung around a bt then went for another ride. Where I was parked several small squalls fell. Bill drove out to Beaverhead and scored the same spot. I attended a COTA Zoom meeting about trail management while in town. Afterwards I drove out and joined him. So nice to know I had a confirmed sleep spot.

Forecast was favorable for riding Wed. I invited Ian with ride request of Old Mans and the new trail construction. We made a big ride, 19.8 miles climbing 1486′, making a full afternoon out of it as we stopped for visitation numerous times. We rode the new trail, most was new construction with places where legacy sections became the trail. The new trail crosses Rabbit ridge trail which has not been decommissioned… yet. Ian described it as a in your face challenge to visitors, the trail uses a whole lot of entire body control on a seemingly flat trail. It is littered with small loose rocks and is below grade. My effort riding it causes several out of breath breaks. However, the new trail traverse climbs on the side hill. We made the waterfall trail, a social trail that descends a tight wash, hence its name. May this piece be left alone. Then over to connect with Llama out to Little Horse intersection where we were presented with several ride options each riding part of Hogs system. Turned right up to Chicken Point then Broken Arrow to Hogs, riding entire Twin Buttes down to Hogwash to its end at Mystic, left turn dirt to trail end on pavement. Then a social trail to reconnect with system trails at HT to Breezy all the way to its end, cross the highway, short social trail to connect with Slim for the desert of the ride. I asked to be excused towards the end as I said my mind was full.

Bill and I drove back out to Beaverhead an scored the same spot. Last night the forecast for today was a wind event and possible precip. Bill would be heading back home early today, he went to bed early. Dark thirty 4:30 AM I was awakened by several raps on the slider door. Bill? Yes, he said then said his van would not start and do I have jumpers. I said yes then set about making my van ready to drive 30′ to the front of his van. Jumper cables stowed in the JOBOX, he connected them, waited less than a minute, then turned the key, van fired up, disconnect and stow the cable, drive back to my level spot, then lower bed and climb in. Sleep never returned.

Today was wash day. Drove up to west Sedona before 9 on empty highway. Clean clothes including sheets, 1 is a brand new one, and hung the bike clothing on the inside line. Visited with Mike at the Worm then drove back down to VOC. Bumper to bumper traffic heading into Sedona and even a bit heading down. I am playing the forecast to not rain so I drove out to MP4. Wind event and desire to rest kept me inside all day.

Bike update: Soul Cycles called me 2 times leaving messages about delivery dates for 2 bike colors. Ist choice was the electric copper, second was black. Black has shorter delivery time. I want the bike and black is perfect. I called Soul today telling them to order the black. Delivery sometime in June to be shipped somewhere. At first I ordered the new boost Lyric fork. I have a brand new nonboost I9 front wheel in UPS care to me and a Fox factory 36 Diaz tuned fork. I inquired Diaz about which fork is better, I was told that my present fork is better than stock Lyric. He can increase the travel to match 170mm bike suspension. I have decided to stick with the non boost front wheel and the retuned current fork. The far out delivery date gives me time to convert the rear hub to boost and buy the various new parts such as: dropper post, bottom bracket, cranks. Gonna be a $4,000 bike. I am to be at Bend by Memorial day and I will spend June waiting for bike build.

I have commented that there are no new riders in our group. Bill offered the possibility that the new riders are using social media to connect and we are not conversant in the social media. Maybe we aren’t reaching out in their language.

Years ago a shop I visited when I was seeking bike repair told me there are 2 kinds of shops: a city shop and a destination shop. The former is where you dropped your bike off then waited, your repair was added to the end of the queue. The later you dropped your bike off then the shop turned to to cure the bike. Destination you were at that location to ride in a short window of time. A city shop was just a bike to repair. My bike with its suspension issue is in a city shop. I called last week to make an appointment to put my bike in the queue, Monday was the earliest open date. Dunno if that means by end of business or earlier. Or, perhaps my work on date will be slid to later. Anyway, no bike to ride.

On the bike I checked on what I am wanting to do. The 2 main pivot bolts were loose, not checked since Moab repair last year. Never thought to check all the bolts. I tightened those bolts and rechecked the others to torque specs with the bolts all tightening which told me the inserts were still bonded tightly to the frame. My hope is that a bearing failed which is a replacement part and not a frame part failure. Tearing down the linkage was more than I want to do in a parking lot hence a bike shop repair.

In the mean time I am investigating buying a Revel Rail 27.5″ bike frame and installing as many as the parts from the RFX on this one. How to convert a non boost rear wheel to fit a boost rear end, and others. I emailed numerous tech sources seeking advice for parts compatibility. I can rationalize buying a new bike that has newer dimensions which improve bike handling better than present RFX. I emailed Turner my 5th birthday bike pic and asked him if there is a bike out there that rides like a Turner if he would have built it. He said there are many bikes to pick but did not recommend one. Steve and Jimmy ride the Revel and speak highly of the suspension and the company which is steering me to buy a Rail. The company has figured a new resin formula that allows striping of the cureed resin from the fibers to be able to recycle material.

NCAA big dance underway. Sat I watched the Zags destroy their first opponent, at noon today they play their next round. PJs before noon and drinking. Sat was buffeted by high winds that kept me inside.

Yesterday I hiked out in Turkey Creek area where I ride. My intent was to hike the trails up and down Napoleon and Witch’s tit. Beautiful day to be out. In the almost 4 hours walking I encountered 1 rider and 2 hikers.

Beaverhead spot is crowded. Yesterday all the spots from the hard road out were occupied except the  8 min drive out spot, all the puddles were dried out allowing me to drive out to it. Too many people invading my “private” space.

Another precip event is forecast mid week, even snow.