While visiting Fruita I ride the Kokopelli trails as they are not 18 road. Trail system is above the Colorado River but never makes the river. Cottonwoods have been putting on a growing golden fall foliage.
Out here you pretty much ride out one trail then return on another making a loop. A route I like is from Mack interchange off I 70 pedal hump up Hawkeye then slither down start of Mack ridge continuing descending over many rock garden pieces, at the bottom turn right onto Lyons working downriver to jeep rd climb up to Mack Ridge at the S end, then descend Hawkeye as my climbing reward. Gravity works better this direction.
On Thursday’s ride I reversed direction on 2 of the trails to descend Hawkeye w/o climbing it. I climbed Mack, but hike a biked several sections, going down is more enjoyable to coast the rocks. However, I did it and learned what it was like: acceptable.
What continues to put a smile on my face is the almost empty trails I ride. Is even lonelier at the non Kokopeli main TH.
Clean clothes on Thurs.
Peter at OTE suggested a route that I chose to ride on Friday. From the Kokopeli TH pedal the frontage road a bit to find a closed jeep rd climb to avoid the road climb and descent out of main TH. Drop down then pick up Mary’s out to Steve’s Connector, aka pizza point, pick up Steve’s to ride CCW, pick up Marys for a short distance then climb descend on wranglers, to Marys then road climb out back. I did that. The Edge freaked out dropping ride data. On Marys I located the cause of my flat, the culprit was a narrow sharp ridge on a rock such that when the rear wheel hit it all my weight was concentrated on that point.
I figured my hike out distance walking the bike with the flat tire to be 4.5 miles. Today I rode up the point.
Riding here requires more upper body effort which is affecting my right shoulder. I took Sat of to rest it.
Early on I had an issue with my dropper post which finally manifested an issue was during Friday’s ride when I notice my legs having a greater bend to them. Cause post not fully extending. I put off having it serviced knowing full well that it was sick. Rolled into OTE about 3,bike was entered into service from my hand to George, the owner, was wrenching, in short time the dropper was nut smacking speed fast. Great turn around. The post had lost several internal parts, that for repair, the missing parts were canabalized off a shop post.
I called the local bookstore asking for Grisham’s new novel: The Judge’s List, not in. Drove into Junction to major book seller and bought the book. I spent a chunk of Sat reading it, finished it.
Last night I heard tell tale sounds of mouse activity. Shit. Earlier at the anchor spot the weather was leave the side door open weather and the mouse took me up on my open door policy. I slid out of bed searching for a trap from the junk drawer then open the fridge for almond butter for bait. I set the trap inside the galley cabinet then waited for snap. I heard just more scratching, either the butter was not desirable or the catch on the trap is not sensitive. Tonight I jammed a small piece of cheese into the trigger.
Heater is performing as advertised. Chilly nights.
Today OTE comped me a bike wash to make it look like their rentals. Clean and shiny and now the wear is visible. Just checked, 83 rides covering 1289 miles after today’s ride.
Today I rerode Friday’s ride after I factory reset the Edge. I needed to learn if the computer worked and to record the ride data. 16.3 miles climbing1240′, pedal time 2 hrs 3 mins.
On my rides there is amble time for me to rattle around in my head. Memory retrieval from the past. Back in the 60s I belonged to a Boy Scout troop. At that time several local grocery stores gave trading stamps based on money spent to be traded in for savings. They had some small value. We scouts collected them and turned them in for cash going to troop treasury. They quietly retired. Back then gas station attendants pumped your gas and washed the windshield. Several brands gave away things, one such were plastic coffee cups which filled my need for cups. Back when windshield squirters were an option. The stingray had not been invented.
Wow, look at the time! Past bed time