Sunday.
Seems that Spokane riding opportunities are either mostly flat (Riverside) or monster climbs like MT Spokane or Mica Peak. I prefer to mix alternating between grunt and just pedal. Sat was a grunt, yesterday was a pedal with some grunting as I rode Riverside yesterday from Seven Mile.
During Sunday’s ride I rode some of what I know and wanted to ride, others were new or reacquainted with old trails. Sharp Stick in the Eye out at Nine mile area is a grunt and lots of square edge rock gardens. What I was able to pedal years ago now mixes in blows or hiking like the Wailer. Today I started at the bottom of Sharp Stick pedaling and gasping to a connector trail to uphill as previous ride. At the top I turn right instead of left down Sharp Stick. The left goes across lots of feet of those square edged babyheads. I am still experiencing the prowess of the Rail’s suspension over these features. I just work on keeping power on the pedals and maintaining balance so both bike and boy roll over the nasty. The suspension does not buck me off or break traction. Phenomenal. This bike is much improved over the RFX. The I9 Hydra hub and wide carbon rims add to performance. I found some of the new trails I rode on Thurs and rode several lesser traveled trails I knew from yore. Lots of distance of rock gardens on those old ones which is prolly reason so little traffic. I shared admiration for Catalyst pedals with a rider. Nice day yet I encountered fewer than 20 people during my 18 mile pedaling 2 hrs 11 mins climbing 1119′ for 65′ per mile. Average speed was slower than when I followed Frank on Thursday. Nice day. Trails in places did not receive rain because of heavy tree cover.
So Washington is under mandatory face covering when indoors. I comply. For the most part compliance is what I experience. Except after dinner grocery shopping where I see customers maskless. To me it is up to each of us to take actions to comply with health regulations to protect all of us, the community, as a whole. Those that don’t should be named domestic terrorists. Laws can be passed for public safety but if they are not enforced compliance comes only from us suckers who comply.
I have noticed the above with pedal assist bicycles, aka ebikes. Today USFS and BLM natural surface trails are open only to heart propelled activity. Ebike poaching happens because there is no enforcement. I learned to my dismay that Washington State parks permit E bikes where ever pedal bikes are allowed. I did check on Spokane County controlled lands to learn that E bikes are not permitted. At Mica I saw 2 riders on Ebikes. Again, no enforcement. I visited a bike shop today and asked where they suggest Ebikes can be ridden. He said ride them where ever. It is up to the rider to know where they are allowed to ride them but the shop gives the impression to ride where you want. The shop is in business to sell product but I believe they have a responsibility to be correct. I suppose a car salesman does not instruct the buyer to follow traffic laws.
I am making today a rest day and am finding it difficult to constructively occupy my free time. Wed is transmission check out day. Thurs my new Patagonia shirts are to arrive which is my last known need to prevent me from going down the road.
New issue of Freehub mag hits the internet and stores tomorrow. The film release is early Nov.
I have been in Spokane now for 17 days, I have ridden on 12 of those days. 60 rides and 971 miles on Rail since June 24 first ride.