Revel Rails that is. Maybe a 3rd.
Yesterday I rode a big loop around western gateway trails. Morning temps warm up to around 10 AM starts. My favorite parking spots at cultural park were occupied so early in the morning. My route today went as so: left TH descending on Saddleup to junction with Girdner, turn right, upstream Dry Creek, with a mix of descending and climbing intermixed. Turn on to Snake then AZ Cypress to borrow pit, pedal out the road, cross Dry Creek, turn on to Oak for short distance to handshake social trail to bottom of COF. Climb up to jeep road crossing of Aerie, turn left descending gently carving turns to start of uphill at junction with Cockscomb. Rejoin Cockscomb at end of Aerie to start of Outer Limits. On Outer Limits I encountered Joe, a buddy from up at Flag, we have known each other for many years. Learned that Joe is riding a Revel Rail as I am.
Revel bike company is about 3 years old, new company, new bike idea using CBF, etc, very small fish in the bike industry. To share part of a ride with another Rail was… what? We both were former Turner riders, each of us retiring our RFX to move to the Rail. We both defended our Turners. I said to Joe that we rode our Turners 2 years after the Rail came out out of devotion to Turner.
Joe had just cleaned Ground Control, I caught glimpses of a red jersey above me while I pedaled Outer Limits. We met at junction. He said he was going to ride Last Frontier, same as I. Outer Limits to junction with Last Frontier on to its end at Outer Limits. Joe shared a way to climb out of Dry Creek but not Outer Limits. Seed planted as I pedaled Last Frontier. We met at junction and I mulled over shorter, less enjoyable climb on Outer Limits or this: Turn away climbing Outer Limits at first then rolling till climbing traverse up to NOD’s knob. We stopped for rest in the shade of a juniper. The bikes remained exposed:
I wanted the copper color but its lead time was a month later than the black. I wanted the bike in black but not the mint color they sent me. Short story I did get my black size M frame. Previously I wrote that the Rail climbs better than the RFX, Joe countered that the RFX was no slouch. I believe he had both bikes at the same time. Sunday he remarked that the Rail climbs better than the RFX. This bike is more fun to ride and more agile and stable.
We coasted down to junction with Last Frontier to repeat again to turn off on to Bolo dropping down to Axis descending to crossing of Dry Creek and the start of the climb out. I like climbing Axis. Ride was 19.6 miles climbing 1604, pedaling for 2 hrs 52 mins. Average heart rate was 123, just shy of threshold.
So, yes, Joe’s idea is better even though it is longer. I do not care for the Outer Limits climb out back to the TH.
Drove out to Beaverhead mp4, preferred spot occupied, lower left same, way out ditto, pull out open to me. Busy Sunday night. 2 trailer camps.
During yesterday’s ride I made a pedal move that caused a noticeable pop sound from my right knee, I felt pain. Shit, that ain’t good. I was still able to pedal with strength, the knee was stable and strong. I finished the ride. No swelling or tenderness, full mobility. I slept well all night. This morning I performed my daily 20 deep knee bends and other exercises. I needed to learn how it would pedal today.
Today I geared up at the outlet mall then pedaled the 1.2 miles of pavement to Bell Rock TH. Ride was Big Park to Little Rock, climbing to high point then descending all on Rabbit Ears. Turn back on Big Park riding over what i helped build, then pavement coast back to van. Newest trails replacing social trails dumbing them down to system quality. Won’t say I miss the old social trail climb up the ridge.
Arrived Beaverhead Flats top of hill just after 5. A preferred anchor spot is ahead into the sunshine on the left. I sometimes can see a rig of some kind when i look real close. Today I could not make out an occupant so I turned on to dirt road. Empty. Score. This spot gets late afternoon shade from a blocking hill side. Not long after I anchored 2 other rigs drove in then parked a FS campground distance. This spot has strong internet signal.
Sat I recovered from Friday’s ride and heat exposure. I spent time out at cultural park. Later I shopped at natural grocer where the check out clerks dally at their duties. My checker raised the bar on dallying. Just because I am wasting my day doesn’t mean you can.
Strong winds forecast for tomorrow.
Riding temps have been in the 70s. So far no sun burn.
Oh, the possible 3rd Rail. As I was pedaling behind Joe climbing Axis I heard a rider behind me, rider caught up to us, a faster rider. I told that rider if they wanted to go by, say so. I’m enjoying the day, you’re good was a young women’s voice. Our order lasted until an opening in the vegetation where Joe pulled over and I followed. The rider went by faster than our aged bodies could propel us, her bike was black and I saw the Revel R graphic. Market acceptance of new bike.