It’s Mother Nature dishing out whether you agree.
Monday I rode down at Black Rock trail in sunshine and just right temp on dry trail. yesterday weatherperson called for 80% prob of less than an inch of snow overnight continuing into morning. I parked at Overlook then covered inside my windshield and driver’s door and went to bed not being able to see outside. At wakeup I looked out: weather forecast was reality. I left the wipers on the windshield that I carefully pried off the glass. Drove into town to the outlet mall lot, snow fell off and on before lunch then the skies opened to blue, rising temp and evaporating water. I parked at mp4 able to drive established ruts to get around 2 low spots that become pits after some amount of precip. Great to be back in the desert again. Don’t cover my windows allowing sunshine to the east gently turning up the gain. I shoot for out of bed at 6. Overlook proved popular on these wet days as there have been 3 other vans and a truck camper sleeping the night away.
Last night I picked my ride for today. I drove into voc at the mall for ride start. The trails down here offer trails that connect to others after a while, point is your ride can be as long or as short as you want it to be. Feel good: go big, less: take first lateral to return trail. I planed on riding around Hogs on system trails. As I rode on Llama I decided I would shorten my ride. I passed on Bail trail for 1st bail continuing to Little Horse cut over marking the furthest point away from my van. Bounce down rocked stairs letting the bike and my reflexes get the job done. It took me several years of walking some of the problems before I gained confidence and some ability enough to ride each one. I have come a long ways. Breezy piece to Tempeton to Hermitt to Coconino to Slim Shady for gravity assisted finish of my ride. On Slim there are several roll downs that I ride every time. Today on the first nasty one I cut the exit to the inside setting up for the abrupt up. Shit, I was just inches too outside as the front wheel hit a stopper which sent me over the bars. I made a mistake choosing that line. The feature is a short wash crossing so my fall just splattered me on the far side into pin oak with the bike tangled up on me with the rubber side up. I smacked my left side head on the helmet for which it did its job. No stars displayed on my heads up display. I squirmed out of the clutches on the oak and the bike and finished my ride. Next ride I know the line to avoid as there are several feet of rock width to choose. I have never been able to ride it up.
Back at van I removed my worn rear tire and replaced it with a store bought fresh same tire. I waited for more comfortable conditions to do this work outside; too cold to do it before the ride. I use Stan’s sealant. Once the tire bead was broken I could see the Stan’s which I sucked up using his small 1 shot squeeze bottle. I sucked up more than 3 bottles and there were no brains. I put the former new tire on back in Moab on my new l9 wheel. That was 669 miles ago. Today i only squirted 2 bottles. My floor pump lacks output to bead a tubeless tire, solution is shop air. Drove up to Absolute, I bought 2 valve cores and a shot of compressed air. Tire beaded with 4 loud cracks indicating tire both sides is seated. I compared the old tire to the new, I wore the center knobs down past the sipes and only the left side lugs were being worn away meaning I carve to the left and maybe just turn to the right. I know I can make my body carve lean to the left but not so good to the right. Stimulus spending that I received today. New tire and forthcoming, per their schedule, my new l 9 front wheel, which is to be shipped on the 19th, are paid with free money.
Off for groceries then out to the desert.