Monster heat event in the NW, I am experiencing hot Bend, won’t speak for other burning locations. Riding temps in mid 90s down low. Sat after a hot ride down low I drove up to Swampy snowpark for the night which is almost 2,000′ higher than town. What is rule that the temp changes 2 degrees for every 1,000′. Yes, Swampy is hot, yesterday afternoon the van gauge read 98 degrees. Yesterday I did my ride ahead of heat of the day at Swampy, 14.8 miles climbing 1430′ under tree cover, big trees. I work at drinking a lot of water, both during the ride and afterwards, yet very little exits. I reversed my usual Swede loop by riding down SST and climbing Swede ridge. Swede has one nasty steep climb that I could not get my shoulder into as I took a breather part way up. Almost all by myself.

Riding the Rail while learning how to compliment its design to my reflexes and desire to commit. The bike seems to like carving better than the RFX. How quickly I have accepted the differences between the 2.

I left my table and stool at anchor spot down at Phils to hold my spot. I wonder if the stuff will still be there tomorrow when I return.

Presently I am in the MT Bachelor ski mountain bike park parking lot. Lift serviced bike park, not for me. Great internet speed and a sink tap for water.

Going to spend tonight at Swampy again. Mosquitoes are present. Last night I kept the side door opened and stretched the mosquito netting across the doorway to keep the biters out and let the cool in. Still slept under just the top sheet.

Rest day after 5 straight days of riding.

Reading a novel about the dust bowl, the setting is Dalhart, TX, Timothy Egan in his Worst Hard Times wrote that this area was the epicenter of the dust bowl. Those were some hard times. Today the west is being baked while modern conveniences of air conditioning, if you have it, give comfort.  Today we are not being tested like back during the bowl. The future is uncertain with climate warming.

 

Rest in retirement. On the 23rd I rode the last ride on the Turner RFX, a legacy of 1,135 rides covering 16,229 miles. The frame and left over parts will be kept is a safe spot and could be resurrected with a few bucks, bike is still solid. The Revel Rail that I wanted, not needed, has been built and ridden 2 times and rides like a new car. TJ at The Hub in Bend, the local Revel dealer, kept after discovered differences between the 2 bikes as in the rear rotor is upsized to 180 from RFX 160, and the Cura brake hose was not long enough for the new frame. Fortunately he had both rotor and rear brake in house to put on. It just cost money, throw enough and problems go away. Rear brake is now a Shimano XT.

So, bottom line: how much better is this bike than the former? It’s about a pound lighter, geometry is just a little bit slacker but felt almost the same and has boost rear I9 Hydra and their carbon rim. Revel riders Steve in Wood River valley and Jimmy in Prescot spoke of how well it climbs. I learned what they talked about: it is about the suspension eliminates lost effort from suspension bob, (anti squat). It just scoots forward with each pedal stroke. I am on learning curve of handling characteristics. Going downhill seemed the same for handling and confidence, I was not faster nor was I afraid of mishandling. I nailed the S Fork trail today for  suspension experience: we just flew down. It is enough better to put the RFX to pasture.

Heat wave rolling in with 100 degrees for forecast. This morning Emmy, COTA executive director invited me to a coffee gathering. She asked questions about other places and organizations I have learned from. COTA now has 2000+ members, she was selected to be the first ED, a paid position. Afterwards I made a short visit to The Hub to compliment TJ on his bike build as everything worked. Then drove up to Skyliner Lodge to ride my Tumalo / S Fork loop. TH parking was plugged, where the occupants recreated were not on my ride as I encountered 1 rider and several hikers during my 14.2 mile ride. Climb up Tumalo Ridge catching short viewshed

Descent of S. Fork was a typical screamer with my joggle bell clanging. Bike stayed true to direction I pointed it. Speed down Tumalo creek was slowed to yield for a hiker. 14.2 miles climbing 1588′ pedaling for 1 hr 46 mins, about 6 mins faster than previous rides. The old haul road climb was about the same time as was the S Fork. Hammered heart rate, average for ride was at my threshold.

Back out at anchor spot, so far nobody has crashed my spot. Hot evening.

S.A.D., days are now shorter.

Thursday was a COTA crew leader training session up at Swampy that Woody invited me to attend. Session up here was on water management. COTA has several trail building machines, one of which Woody operated to move dirt faster than a gang of volunteers.

Dirt, as it is, was loose and dry sending up clouds of dust. Hot temp. Woody instructed and educated the group and we turned to to hand make drains to shed water off the trail. Afterwards we hung out at the TH socializing until well after dark. I stayed overnight. Lightning flashed in the distance over Bend. Micro climate as NE Bend received enough rain to flood streets but nary a drop fell on Phils.

Thurs was laundry day and build of bike. Drove down to town. Drove to The Hub in anticipation of right away bike completion so I could ride. Bike was finished just after 4. I paid my bill, pushed the bike to van, put it on the rack, then beat feet to Phils for first ride. Just up Ben’s, connect to Phils, then down to entire length of Kent’s.  Back at van for an 8 PM dinner.

The Rail has a new, to me, Monarch rear shock and rear brake which I need to educate myself of their operations. I have not stopped long enough with internet signal to read about them. I need to fine tune bike set up. I set the sag at 30%.

Going to be above 100 for bunch of days with no precip per forecast. Maybe ride from anchorage early to beat heat.

The entire Coconino NF and the Prescott NF are closed to everyone because of fire danger.

Watched a video by an exercise knowledgeable woman explaining the hip hinge and demonstrated 2 exercises to strengthen the hips. I have been doing those exercises for several days and I have noticed an improvement in my pedaling strength. My butt is muscularly sore from exercise and working a stronger stroke which has improved my speed.

Enough. Dinner clean up ahead followed by a session on the roller.

Concept that man reigns supreme and all shall submit to man’s rule. More or less. Today I made live or be cut decisions for many branches of ceanothus, ones who just happened to take root and send its food generating apparatus in conflict with man, in this case a small faction and includes women, who are mountain bikers. The branches resisted to the point when the sharp jaw of a long handled lopper severed their connection with home. Nary a squawk. I reduced carbon absorption. Yeah, for everyone who rides the trail now will have better sight lines and fewer scratches. COTA volunteer day, we hiked 2 miles up Farwell then turned back down and started lopping. Maybe 9 volunteers. Sweaty hike up, the downhill working not much better. My legs were sticking to my heavy work pants. Today was a rest day. Parking was alongside the narrow 2 lane gravel road. The refrigerator gas absorption cooling needs pretty level sitting  which required me to park about 1/4 mile below starting trail.

Finished the work. I drove down to Phils TH and parked under tree shade. I had not heard squat about my Rail so I called them. Guy who took my call was involved in issue. He said my frame was shipped to Bend on Fri, he gave me the tracking number which I called up: out for delivery today in Prescott. Revel said all parties agreed that the frame was to be shipped to Bend. Strike 2 on Revel. Local Bend shop got involved. Revel told me they will be overnighting a bare frame to The Hub here in Bend but the shock, headset, and axle and maybe the seat collar have to be removed and put on the bare black frame. Have a Thurs build date. Just maybe this weekend.

My legs at slide out of bed time this morning  doth protested from yesterday’s ride then I worked them hiking and brushing.

what it will soon become:

On Pine Drops. Trail is protected as it is a legal trail but in places it was cut over or became a steep haul road climb. Fuels reduction timber harvest. Wonder how much political pressure was applied to the FS to harvest there.

So far others have honored my table and chair at the site where I have been staying. Or, it hasn’t been found. A great attribute of the location is it is boxed in and can’t be made larger.

Yesterday was first smell of forest fire smoke for the season. Haze.

Tomorrow maybe an early ride down low to beat 90 degree heat.