Tuesday I rode another go at N Klondike on the slick rock pitched on slight slope, or maybe faulted, what is is a massive exposed slab of slick rock with several gulleys cut down into. I mix up my challenges. This ride I chose vertical hump by climbing up Little Salty then riding the trails up high till what went up gets assisted down. 14.2 miles climbing 1260′ pedaling for 2 hrs 17 mins. Average speed was 6.21. Dropper post actuation numbered into the sore thumb bracket numbers. Slick rock with rigosities and depressions some of which retained rain water from last week. Painted stripes on slick rock show the way. Beat the wind event. Cows hung around retrimming previously grazed sage bushes. Spent the night. Some nights the van population increases but the big camper rig population seems stable. Nobody has crowded me. Same with my time on the trails.

Wed I drove into to town for resupply and to start rear wheel alteration for the boost Rail frame. Steve sent me from his attic my I9 wheel warranty repaired laced to crash replacement IBIS carbon rim wheel. I pay a shipping store $5 to receive packages. I parked on the side street beside the office then did the wheel swap out. Remove cassette and disc rotor then attach to new hub. I slipped the wheel in to the frame and immediately noticed a gap between the hub and frame. WTF? What happened to the hub size? Me or them? I took both wheels to bike shop on other side of shipping office. I asked for wtf. He slid a scale thru the axel hole, both measured the same , wasn’t them. He showed me the end cap was still on the old wheel. Oh, I popped it on and presto new wheel on the bike and the former wheel shipped back to its creator, Industry Nine in Asheville, NC to be made into boost spacing. Then shipped back to Steve for me to pick up, along with other parts shipped to him, on my way to Bend for bike build. IBIS off center locates its spokes. I9 lubed the hub with stealth grease that quiets the paws, there is no freehub clicking sound.

Next was to ride. I drove back up out of town to Willow Springs mid afternoon which should mean overnighters gone from spots and too early for evening campers to arrive. Scored favorite spot with others further out. I rode Klonzo system from camp 2.73 miles each way. Klonzo is squished between state trust land and Arches NP.

Wiggle and waggle to ride a loop. Gravatron and Topspin trails I included, the former is downhill and the latter is up and around.

Willow Springs road starts on state trust land then becomes BLM land right at first trailhead. It is just packed with various camping solutions. Just packed. This is the closest place N of town for primitive camping. Spots that were small have creeped larger driving down vegetation. At my spot I watched several rigs crowd in, one van parked right on the smoothest line down from the slick rock. Duh, lack of awareness of his location. Park at the edges.

Thurs I left early driving back towards town to ride Moab Trails before driving into town for laundry. I chose to ride before wash as I could wash my pack and gloves. Deadmans trail has lots of challenges that I met. Amazing what power to the pedals means for balance and forward motion. The I 9 Hydra hub with .52 degrees of engagement is a deal maker knowing and doing ratchet pedal.

There is still 1 feature that I can not direct my resources to climb up which is on Back 40. System has mix of easy and tech challenging trails, again choices for a ride.

Wet wash cloth wipe down inside my converted bathroom. I heat a small sauce pan of water on the stove till too hot. I spread a heavy cloth on the floor beside my sink. I cool down the water then wet a wash cloth that I rub on all body surfaces I can reach adding water between appendages. Pits and crotch treated with DR Bronners then rinsed, a rub of mineral salts for deodorant and I am good to be around people. Clean.

Clean clothes and sheets, drive out and up to Horsethief area. Big open spot taken, took the next spot one I previously used when that spot was taken.

Friday forecast called for a wind event, guts to 45 mph starting at noon. Get my ride in. Again, I ride from camp to first trail. Today’s route was down the road to where Lasso crosses it, its short piece is now loose sand. It joins Chisholm to its end at Big Lonely which becomes Coney Island taking the cut over of Middle Earth to Navajo main trail head. Check out license plates of rigs in the parking lot. Pick up Big Mesa that becomes Big Lonely then return on Chisholm etc back to van. I like Chisholm as it rides well both ways. The wind was at my back going out, coming back speeds had increased and it was in my face or against me on climbs. Once i hit the Navajo Rocks loop I am riding against the suggested direction of travel but I do not want to pedal up sandy Coney Island. As a result I encounter many riders coming my way. Lots of riders. For the most part riders including me were courteous and many knew trail love of yielding to uphill and tread in the tread. I did have 2 encounters with riders who had not grasped etiquette. One was on a sloping slab of slick rock with a for me a gentle climb. trail was bordered with rocks, maybe 4′ wide. I staked my climb line and expected the coasting rider to yield. Shit, no slowing down as he claimed his line. I yielded swerving out of his way.

Big ride of 23 miles climbing 1535′ pedaling for 3 hrs 11 mins. Average speed was 7.21 mph and bpm of 119. Today’s time was 11 mins longer and slightly lower effort than last ride back in November. Today I stopped at start of Chisholm before the climb up. 4 riders, 2 couples, pedaled by heading in my direction. I waited a bit before I started as I believed I would catch them then ask to pass somewhere. In a short while I did catch the last rider, they were riding at same speed which was slower than I would be. However, I rode behind them for a while. I noticed my heart rate was in healthy range by riding at their speed. They were my speed governor that I can’t do by myself.  I rode right on the wheel of the rider in front of me who pedaled in a low spinning gear which does not match my use of bigger gears. Her body blocked what I would be riding over. Something to follow a rider slower than me. They finally broke for a break before the more difficult part started.

Head wind blowing road dust onto and into me on the short orad pedal back.

Forecast for today is for another wind event which suits me as it helps make me take a rest day after 5 straight days of riding. The Blog title of “Four” is for the 4 different trail systems I rode in 4 days.

 

It might be legal but it ain’t right as the cows continue to graze the leaves and down to small twigs on the sage brush. The ground cover is brown, maybe dormant because of drought, yet the cows have grazed them down to a stubble. Lots of cow shit plops. And we the people paying for the damage while receiving a pittance from the money that is doing the damage. It ain’t right. Wonder that present policies were created back in the early day when resource extractors saw the bounty that with current technology told themselves that it will never run out. Times changed, as did technology and man caused environmental affects, yet this form of resource extraction continues in spite of causing damage.  Cows have little fear of humans, so far I have not been challenged.

Yesterday I drove down to town dropping from 56xx’ at Horsethief to Moab down on the bank of the Colorado River at 40xx’. Warmer for sure. Took on water and groceries then headed up and out to N Klondike area for several days. Again just enjoying the smooth road surface. Still rigs occupying sites. I saw a white van parked in an opening in the sage at an edge. Enough room for me to park at the far edge. Watching rigs pull in continue down to the end then bunch up high density. After while I heard my name called form outside my van. I looked out, it was Jimi. I drove past where he’s posted up with his VW Westy. He pedaled back to his rig and I set off for a rock scramble out of the valley. Problem solving skills applied as I boulder and rock hopped gaining elevation while picking my line to step only of hard mineral surface.  I hoped I would see riders, maybe 9, I picked a more technical trail thinned out the crowd. I reached my high point then headed back down on a different line. I picked up a trail for the rest of my hike out. I sat down along the way to enjoy sunshine. I took off my shirt to work on coloring my winter pate. Three 30’s men riders road by bouncing over the features. One came back to visit. He asked me to wear his sunglasses for him to take my picture. He said it was the reflection he wanted. Youngsters. He told of his monster ride he did yesterday and it was his first ride of the season. I told him he will get over it with time. He was riding a Revel niner. Nice and shiny.

The trail emptied into the parking area. 3 riders, a man and 2 women, were post ride hanging. I stopped and invited myself into their midst. I asked them if stories about their ride had grown since being done. They said they will grow when they meet with others later on. The couple are from Victor, ID, I was able to connect. She was raised in Birmingham, AL, I connected with riding Oak Mtn.

I watched them sitting on chairs in the sun with food and drinks. back when I lived in a house I skied both lift and backcountry. Contrast the 2 activities that I participated. Backcountry skiing was being outside from closing the car door to opening it later. Skiing used many hours of climbing for just a few minutes of coasting down. Sometimes the ski out was after sundown. Back at the rigs it was pretty much stow the gear and maybe change clothes. Too cold to hang out. I never wore a heart rate monitor to learn what I did to my body. Take away is then entire day was spent playing. Now mountain biking is different in effort time and visiting. My rides, physical effort, is much shorter duration than skiing. Computer data tells me what I do to my body. Then post ride activity is under more pleasant conditions. Difference caused contrast.

Warm night last night. I lowered the turn on thermostat setting. At head hitting pillow time the turn on temp had not been reached. I cross my fingers each time it switches on that it will start. Several days of successfully lighting has moved into the next sampling size. I don’t hold my breath anymore but keep an eye on the green diode running light. I can’t depend upon it until it is lit.

Yesterday’s forecast called for a wind event today from noon till 9 tonight. 45mph gusts. Ride solution today is to finish my ride well before noon. Still out at N Klondike. I was pedaling just after the top of the hour NPR news. I rode EKG out and returned on the pedal friendly trails on the west side of the valley. EKG undulates traversing the slope. The line could be compared to the track of an ekg. Just lots of short climbs and downhills while following either the  red paint stripes or portable guide structures. I pedaled into the rising sun in places the angle of the sun and the location of the tread aligned lowering my look ahead to the top of my front wheel. Route finding the red dashes.

The trail markers routed problem avoidance, if it was marked I could roll down it or step up. Some places the sun lit up upcoming stripes. Saw 1 rider who got out earlier than me. EKG is a black diamond trail. I rode everything except for when my effort was caused by lack of engine power. I am pleased with my effort.

I returned on the pedal trails which are enjoyable as I can pedal for long stretches on a smooth tread creatively routed

And managing the users

13.7 miles climbing 1047′ pedaled for 2 hrs. Today heart rate was lower. Yesterday my heart rate did not drop which told me recovery was not complete from Sat ride. I checked my pulse this morning while in bed, rate was in upper 50s where it should be. Recovery complete. Get after it. Today my average bpm was 117. Better.

4 PM wind event has been happening for (pick and amount of time) awhile. Van is rocking but not to the beat of Outlaw Country on XM. Waylon at present.

Going to stay here tonight then ride here again tomorrow. Wind is to be less.

Slow internet connection.

Check. Smart phone knows all and it agrees. Cold and windy. Last night the furnace started on its own and ran all night as I set the dial to be warm setting. Yesterday it was 32 degrees, today it was 28. Yesterday was windy, and clear and chilly. I was cold inside the van, the furnace shut off after awhile because the location of the thermostat is at the back of the van and that end was square to solar gain. I wanted to ride but I didn’t want to ride in low 40s with strong winds. I dillied and dallied till said “alright”. Cooped up is enough. Knickers, heavy wool jersey and wind shell, oh and knee socks. The dirt dried out. I decided on a shorter ride around Rodeo and not Bull canyon. I pedaled from camp.

Camp is a noun and a verb, you got to know the context it is used in. For me, per Sedona city regulations I camp because I cook food on a stove and cover myself with non wearable articles. Doesn’t have to be inside  a vehicle. For me I mostly just park overnight not making an outside presence. Maybe I camp “lite” as compared with full on camping with set up of tents, chairs, tables, clothes line hung, you get the picture. So, OK, I will call what I do as “camping”, and I “camp”.

So, I pedaled from camp on dirt track then road. The high winds moved sand around and the precip held redistributed sand making for a much smoother road. Turned right down dead end designated off road track down past where I also like to stay, to the dead end then social trail down to Rodeo. I rode Rodeo loop around continuing past  where I entered to connect to Chisholm, turn left pedal till trail to group camp sites before then Lasso joins which is sandy, climbs to road, turn right pedal the road to the offroad route back to van. 15.8 miles pedaling for 2 hrs climbing 997′. My average heart rate was 128 which is at my anaerobic threshold. I don’t set out to ride like wind sprints or intervals, I just work at my pedaling.

Rodeo is a fun 8.5 mile loop with around 500′ of climbing. It’s up on top which means no big climbs, just short pitches.

As I wrote the furnace ran all night, it was 56 inside and 28 out this morning. It is what it is. At 6 AM Wait Wait comes on XM. Today I woke up in time to tune in and I listened to entire hour while beneath the covers. I will be riding from camp meaning several hours of free time before pedaling.

Windy and chilly again today, a repeat of yesterday. I planned riding Bull canyon down to Arth’s then climbing back on Get away. Shuttle traffic is dropped off up at intersection of highway and Gemini bridges dirt road, They coast down Get Away till cut over to Bull which is downhill, some go on to ride the Portal. Groups of riders, must have been shuttle groups. At times I was by myself then I would overtake a stopped group, one group changed leads several times. Finally at Get Away the shuttle crowd continued down then I began the pedal back up.

Climb out on Get Away is climbing for most part. A blue square trail. Until I hit the Bull crossover the traffic was mostly uphill. Then past Bull encountered downhill traffic. Take away on etiquette was a mix bag as several practiced tread in the dirt as they allowed me to climb by while several encounters the trail was contested not yielding to me climbing. I am grouch in my claiming uphill  rights. I ride looking ahead scanning for other users going either way. Glancing way ahead helps plan how I will ride what my wheels will soon be rolling over. Maximize conservation of effort. Look beyond up, look out. Once junction with Bull the ride is going back.  What went down when fresh is now up when tired. I did see fewer than 10 Indian Paintbrush blooming plants. Desert here is dry also.

I don’t hammer, I coast quite a few feet, I pedal as needed to overcome gravity and less on flats and none on downhill. What I do to my body is captured in the EDGE computer. I wear a heart rate monitor chest strap that sends data to computer that interprets it according to programed algorithms. At the end of the ride I read the displayed data. 22.4 miles climbing 1660′ pedaling for 2 hrs 56 mins. Average mph 7.65. Again average hr was 128, I was above for 1 hr 44 mins. My breathing is usually what causes me to pause to catch my breath. While pedaling the smooth sandy part of Get Away I attempted to ride below max hr. Never really got down to it as I just pedaled. Recovery is 31 hours.

Clouds left, La Sals shown forth

So, tomorrow is Sunday. Breakfast will be scratch pancakes which I make only every Sunday going back years. I clipped the recipe from the Spokesman paper in Spokane years ago. In past years I added wild blueberries and huckleberries that I picked, all others just frozen berries kept frozen in my fridge. Anticipation.

Lots of people out here and full campground. Lots of bikers, more than I have every experienced. Perhaps I should attempt to understand their stories. Who are these riders? They are way younger than me.

Furnace switched on and started first go. I am not insane because a change did occur as a result of my previous effort.

Tomorrow I need to go down to town for resupply. Might do a short Navajo Rocks loop sharing with weekend crowd.

Last night I made a lentil stew of my concoction, enough for 2 dinners. Tonight I warmed the leftovers for refueling. Lentils, a legume, are a good source of protein as I had only 1 chicken thigh instead of usual 2.

Time to check off a task from to do this thing to live in better peace list. Dishes. kitchen cleanup.