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.

 

Steve left Friday morning, it’s back to the subject company.

As previously written I am settling but sometimes I open a bit wider for a bigger bite. Comfort is not over rated, avoidance is accepted. A more challenging ride I have wanted to do I have put off and put off. Finally yesterday without my moderator I set out to ride around the Hogs. Pieces of this ride are more tech challenging for my enjoyment, I pushed out my boundaries. Over the years I have ridden this route, every year I must get myself up for it. Llama has 1 hike a bike spot, Little Horse up to Chicken point has several more, Broken Arrow is a beat up hiking trail that grows rocks, the piece of Hogs I travel has 1 nasty slide down, Hog Wash has several difficult haul me and my bike up, Twin Buttes is tamer, Peccary descends to Mystic, Mystic is an old pipeline wide trail terminating at Chapel rd then a neighborhood paved road coast to FS land wander to system trail, today I rode Bell Rock and Phone trail back to Bell Rock descent finishing up on Big Park jump trail.

Chicken Point and the famous White Line above

Hog Wash works its way around the far side of the massive

Today the 70’s temp dehydrated me, the hottest ride this winter. Here around Sedona this is winter. I wore summer clothing and sweated heat caused perspiration. 15.6 miles climbing 1165′, pedaling for 2 hrs 16 mins. Very warm. Sun not strong enough to burn my exposed skin.

Thursday Steve and I rode Chuck Wagon and Mescal which get many many hikers going out to Devil’s Bridge. Cars park packed head to tail along Dry Creek road, the quantity of vehicles did not indicate the number of hikers I feared we would encounter. We parked at a borrow pit that is used as a shooting range. We pedaled Snake to Chuck Wagon and the hikers. Then to Mescal and more hikers.

We descended Canyon of Fools then a short piece of AZ Cypress to firearm blasts at the pit.

Wed I sort of lead Steve, Doug, and Andrew on a Western gateway ramble mixing in pieces of social trails. Our goal was to ride Axis’ entire length. Axis is the most direct route to get from way out there back to Cultural Park. Pedaling from the north the trail works its way down to crossing of dry Dry Creek then climbs out. I prefer to climb Axis over either beat up Girdner or new Outer Limits.  14.3 miles climbing 1096′ pedaling for 2 hrs 3 mins. Social ride pace.

Steve and I made Tues a rest day. I did hike up to the pass above VOC.

My new prescription glasses required several adjustments to see clearly. My eyes had difficulty reading in spite of adjustments. Yesterday I was examined by optometrist who discovered that the oil glands were not secreting oil which keeps the eye moist. She likened my vision to like looking thru scratched glass. She used equipment to press on the blocked glands purging them of denser blocking oil. She prescribed fish oil for 4 weeks to restore the proper secretion. The human body and evolution.

Yesterday’s ride caused several serious legs cramps that happen last night while in bed. The cramps are excruciatingly painful that for me are only ameliorated by eating mustard which has vinegar in it. I beat myself yesterday, I am making a non riding day today.

Zags host Saint Marys tonight, belly to bar at PJs to watch. No audio.

The above map pic has me as the rider. I stopped our group ride on Wed to redux the pic:

Will likes his pic. I no longer have anything from that map pic. Among others was my Turner DW 5 Spot 26″ wheel bike.

Friend Steve from Bellevue, ID is here visiting, arrived Thurs. I visit him up in the Wood River valley where he is my guide on his home trails. Here, he is a visitor and I am his guide. I get to give back. He is a few years younger than me, neither of us are spring chickens but we are still on the same side of the road. He travels in his van along with a Revel and an Evil bikes. No kitchen however. We have known each other for many years, me visiting him and him finding me somewhere in NW. Over the years one of us adds something to our bike and the other maybe updates, he has electronic shifting on one of his bikes but that is one upgrade too far for me.  He earned credit for me riding a Revel and I modeled Catalyst pedals, RUNT, and I9 wheels. He left snowy and cold home for warmth and red dirt for a week. He has to go back and I get to stay in hog heaven conditions. So I have been paling around and not making time to share. Catching up and capturing life.

Steve has ridden here over the years even before I rolled into the creek. He has ridden many of the trails here. We are scheduling his time to ride what we agree on. He likes riding Scorpion over basalt babyheads that doesn’t put a smile on my face as big as his. I have learned a few tricks here that I share with him both on trails and how to connect them. He is a little slower than me which slows me down to keep him caught up. Yesterday we rode Llama trail connected to others. On Llama there are several armored climbs that we we sometimes make, we sessioned them with various success. We gained accomplishment but perhaps more enjoyable was the amount of time we spent outside while not having to hump ourselves.

I read about owners of ebikes celebrating they can ride as far and or as fast as they used to pedal. None of them have mentioned how long they stay outside riding. To me being outside and riding what my 72 year old body will give me counts. I measure my satisfaction in time not distance or speed. I savor my food, not bolting it down. I pedal the same way.

I lead him on social trails that he had never ridden. We poked around searching for the faint tread. Slow speed and short distance but lots of minutes outside.

The number of us older riders is shrinking as increasing numbers of younger riders dilutes our formerly larger numbers. Bikes and components have improved making bike handling ever easier and more expensive. If you can pay the entry fee you are a more proficient rider right out  of the bike shipping box. My first bike I bought back in 1985 has long since been recycled. Us older long time riders reminisce about how we used to ride on bikes back in the day, whatever equipment was current at that time. Full suspension with modern geometry, disc brakes, and dropper posts. Good gosh how much easier it has become. Perhaps these improvements have allowed more difficult feats such as bike parks.

I recently read an article about happiness, its premise was find satisfaction in what you already have. My lifestyle currently is about what I have because of my income and small space. Of course I do buy replacement things, acquisition yes but no net gain. My bought stuff lasts a long time that is replaced but same long wearing items. OK, I wear out bike parts. I have what I need, little of what I want. Happiness comes from $ in the bank and owning all of my time. My van is 15 years old, it’s what I need.

January month health expenses lessened that $ in the bank but not my freedom which was prolly increased as I have new stronger glasses, cared for teeth, and alternative health care. Feb started with a van repair.

I watch televised Zags games at PJs. Stunning to watch how good they are and improvement. I fix my focus on the screen playing their game and ignore other people.

Making today a rest day after riding 4 days straight with Steve. My right knee has been protesting and wanting PT to figure out how I should be treating it. Long lead time for treatment. I’m holed up at the outlet mall parking lot consuming time while resting. Learning how to more comfortably settle.