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.