Four weeks ago I crashed on Scorpion leaving me with lingering sore ribs, front and back. No longer is an approaching sneeze cause for dread. I have been riding while listening to body signals. I still can not fully inflate my lungs except for during an exercise, climbing leaves me gasping and permitting me to take blows more frequently than prior. I will offer sore ribs as my reason. Anyway I have shied away from upper body tech work. I wanted to ride Scorpion correctly to negotiate my crash corner. The corner is a pay attention no brainer bend that previously I had not paid respect to. Today my wits were with me allowing me to sail around the bend. I did stop and look at the stump however. So I did a do over.

Today morning temp was low enough to wear a light weight wool long sleeve top. Forecast called for increasing winds as the day progressed. I packed my wind shell. I rode Old Post turning onto Skywalker to its end at the HS, crossed Upper red rock rd turning on to Scorpion descending basalt babyheads on slope of Scheurman then back on red sandstone on shoulder of Pyramid. I climbed up Herkinham hiking my bike when my engine lacked pedal power. Back on Skywalker repedaling my out. wind gusts buffeted me on Skywalker, I chose this return instead of Sketch which is more exposed to wind and consequence of unplanned dismount.   Presently I am parked in VOC battered by winds. Not suitable for riding.

Thurs I lead friends out at Western gateway. There is a hidden side out there.

Wonderful day. My stipulation of the ride was I needed to be back at van by 3 so I could be bar front at PJs for the 5 PM Zag game. One server expressed concern about my non attendance as she knows of my proclivity. Once she saw me she was fine. Unfortunately the Zags got beat which ended their season. I felt deflated, an emptiness, as I no longer would they be playing leaving me looking forward to this fall for the new team and season.

Short of time. End this now, more later.

Later.

Yesterday I rode Llama then bailed on the Bail trail temps have been in lower 80s last 2 rides. Previously on Llama I rode the new go around, today I skipped down the armored steep pitch to the wash then climbed back out. I worked my way over to the intersection with Shady for return to VOC. As I approached the intersection  I saw a man with his back to me in the male peeing position. Fuck, the guy was peeing on the rock seat underneath the only shade. I called him out, he asked if I was going to sit there. WTF? Hiker.

Friday I pedaled from VOC out to Turkey Creek trails, several miles of pavement each way.

Sat I rode from Cultural park. Hardly anybody to share a trail with.

Just typical Sedona scenery. Sandstone loose pieces don’t move very much as the rock is soft which seems to stick to others, well, not sticking but not skating away like harder rocks would. I can count on a cupped trail with a bit of a berm. Naturally ridden in. Lots of red.

I have ridden 6 days in a row. Tomorrow is a rain forecast rest day.

So far I have ridden 166 rides covering 2332miles on my Rail since first ride late June last year.

Off to overlook for pavement parking anticipating forecast precip.

I noticed that side roads off Beaverhead have been recently graded, first and second roads past the overlook. Campers have taken to the smoother access. MP4 spot remains deserted.

Temptation. How to allow time for my body to heal when I have Sedona riding right out my side door. Medical knowledge of my injury is just  bone bruising that time will heal all bruises. To me it’s like spitting into the wind, not always is there blow back. I have been riding more dirt and starting to increase tech challenges. As spitting into the wind I have been able to complete each ride with minimal pain afterwards, maybe the wind velocity is lessening. My right shoulder has been suspect as to its strength and how much I can count on it to maintain control, wide handlebar helps. I still can not fully inflate my lungs against rib feedback. On Friday I rode Big Park loop from outlet mall, about 3 miles of dirt. Sat I pushed hard riding a loop out at Western Gateway, 8 miles of dirt with 705′ climbing. Feeling more comfortable. Sunday I went for more gusto riding Rabbit ears from Jacks canyon.

That’s what Sunday ride was. Descent of Rabbit Ears has chunder and pull of gravity tested my body some more.

I noticed sealant leaking out valve stem on rear tire. Absolute told me that leakage is caused by torn rim strip allowing sealant to flow underneath tape and its avenue of escape is out the valve stem. Rim needs retaping. Wrench removed the tape and checked the rim for damage from the nail, non detected. Rim retaped.

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around how a 2 1/4″ nail could penetrate straight into the tire if the nail was just run over.

Yesterday I drove up to west Sedona  to hang at cultural park and a ride. I texted Doug and invited him to guide me on the social trails he has been exploring. Doug accepted invite. I learned of additional trails. We mixed in system trails as connectors. Beautiful day that sucked us into stopping frequently and for many minutes sucking up nature. Doug will be leaving this week and he was storing Sedona beauty into his memory bank. My departure is towards end of next month so I am not cramming like he. Sedona is really pretty and the riding is really great.

Post crash I have experienced more frequent being out of breath as I am stopping on climbs to gasp. I might not yet be able to fully inflate my lungs is my hope instead of accepting age is the reason.

Sat Zags played 2nd round. I walked into no open seating at PJs. I stood in an open spot in front of the bar and danced around servers coming and going at the bar. Server Edward grabbed me telling me about at table occupied by Zag fans that was right in front of a TV. He introduced me to those fans. Fans, heck, the young couple were graduates and the mother paid for tuition. We were all focused on the game and what a dog fight it was. Zags pulled thru with a win, now in 7th consecutive Sweet Sixteen game. For me joy of connection to locals.

March is starting to go out like a lamb as temps are climbing, this week 80s are forecast, soon I will be wearing appropriate clothing. Yesterday a young couple pedaled up to Doug and I while hanging at Nod’s Knob. The woman was in shorts, her legs were mild white almost needing shades to protect from glare. They are from Wisconsin with today being first day out of winter long pants. I’m not that blinding white. Seems sun needs to climb a bit higher for my skin to darken.

Been hanging out at Jacks trailhead here at VOC on public land that we all own. I have hiked several times. Full on sunshine.

Yesterday I repeated the Verde Valley School road out and back. Today’s results took the same time but my heart rate was 117 bpm. Able to breathe but again painful to lift front end. Seems riding doesn’t cause pain, it is afterwards that pain returns. Sneezing is still knee buckling pain.

Somewhere on the pavement yesterday I picked up a nail in the rear tire. I happened to notice the head sticking out of the tire when I put the bike on the van. No sealant had leaked out, the nail created the puncture and sealed the hole. I was faced with choices of leaving the nail in or pulling it and letting the sealant stop the leak or next step was inserting a  Dart into the hole for a plug. If the hole would not seal then next action was to buy a new tire. I drove up to Absolute seeking a DR for repair. I needed the pliers of my Leatherman to pull out the nail. Shit, I pulled and pulled some more until this 2 1/4″ nail came free.

Sealant squirted out the hole not sealing it I attempted to insert the dart into the hole to no success, Jacob tried with sim result. Puncture went in on a knob. The tire became history. Replacement Maxxis Minnion DHR ll 2.4 WT not at Absolute. I crossed the street to bike and bean, which was closed, but talked my way in and bought above tire. My hands are not strong enough to break the beads and reseat the beads on the rim. Shop help. New tire on. Only 325 miles on tire. Sedona wear wore the knobs down and side lugs were starting to break free.

At the festival I visited Stans booth, maker of the sealant I use and the dart. The guy let me insert a dart into a tire in which he  created a puncture / slit with like an exacto knife, the dart went in and the tool left the dart inserted in the hole. Easy peezy: hole plugged. My previous experience of plugging holes with the dart have not been successful which I attribute to  holes too small to accept the point of the tool. I will still carry the tool.

Yesterday was the Zags first game in the tourney, a 1:15pm tip off. I made my day’s plan around watching the game at PJs in VOC. I got after it early with a drive to west Sedona to do laundry (Thursday) then return to VOC for my above bike ride. I walked to PJs arriving before the ST Pat’s foofara started. Zags ranked overall #1 played a 16 seed team which kept the Zags on their heels until midway thru 2nd half when Zags got after it to win.

Last night I tossed and turned as I could not find a no pain sleep position. When will the injured ribs quit barking?