This morning wrenches at Mac Daddy in Junction examined my van to figure out the source of the shudder that I understood to be torque convertor issue that could be bigger to a transmission. I rode while the boss’ kid drove the van listening to the signals being sent. I asked for his test drive drop me off at a nearby laundromat because, hey, today is Thursday. Clothes swishing around in older front loader washing machine, phone call: wrenches put microphones at select locations on van. Analysis determined source of shudder is in the drive shaft, there are no stored codes and the fluid levels and cleanliness of fluids close the door on transmission malady. Shop ordered the drive shaft to be installed late next week. I will limit mileage as shaft could fail. Prior to learning the cause and remedy I let the unknown drive stress of the cost of transmission. Now I must not further stress the van and myself.
Tuesday I drove the 1 mile of BLM dirt road to hard road, turned left, south, ending at Kokopelli TH for my ride. Peter at OTE told me the spring flowers were noteworthy on Steve’s trail. I took him up. I parked past the TH on a pull out. Peter told me of another way to get to start of Marys by riding up the road a short ways to a ride a closed jeep road. Still climbed same vert but not sharing with vehicle created dust. Climbed on Mary’s to junction with Wrangler with its monstrous climbing turns, at the far end the trails drops down to intersect Mary’s, rode short piece to Pizza Point and intersection with Steve’s connector. last fall I flatted nearby then walked my bike 4 miles back to van. The connector connected with Steve’s (duh?) where I could either go left or right. Peter likes going right as I did the 2 times I rode here last fall. I misunderstood the intersection and turned left riding it CW. After seeing several of the tech features I realized I was riding in the opposite direction. Small flowers were plentiful:
Heat affected me. 16.5 miles climbing1365′ in 2 hrs 17 mins.
Drove 6 miles of I70 to Fruita, dinner at Hot Tomato, a Sedona salad. I sat outside on back patio under only shade. A guy passed me and I struck up a conversation. He prefers trail running to formerly mountain biking because of a compound fracture of both bones in his forearm incurred by unplanned contact with Mother Earth. 911 rescued him and medicine plated and screwed repaired the fractures. Guy is the new owner. Drove back out to spot n of Loma.
My next planned ride was ride up Hawkeye, ride a loop, then return down Hawkeye. Already warm at 9 AM start. My ride would have several nasty climbs staring on Hawkeye. I really didn’t want to do this ride. I failed to properly tell the EDGE 305 to collect ride data that I could not figure out on the fly and without corrective lenses to read the small print on the screen. Good enough signal to me to go home. Back at the van, 3 minute climb up, 30 sec down, I figured out the computer, operator error perhaps. I needed to consume some time and exercise so I hiked up Hawkeye to where it breaks over the face. It took me an hour to hike 2.6 miles climbing 571′, startling it took the same time to return.
Temps at night have been warm enough for just the top sheet covering and the side door opened. Another wind event is forecast for today and a temp drop. Tomorrow I give another go at that ride.
So, reconciling diagnosis and repair info from my trusted shop in Bend with a shop I don’t have near the same level of trust where I happen to be. I will still consul with Bend shop as trusted knowledge.
Today at the laundromat a young man was also making for clean clothes. I showed me the front page of local newspaper which displayed a picture about horse show locally. He wore a beard like Amish men wear. He is from Ohio around Wooster which is home to Amish and Mennonite faiths. He grew up Amish, experienced his 1 year runabout, then decided to not join the church so he was able to leave under good grace. He is here to photograph this horse show which is about working draft horses, 6 horse hitches. I grew up 1 county over so I have some knowledge of the faith and where we both grew up. His business card read X-amish photography.
Today I visited Canfield bike headquarters which is just a plain steel sided warehouse style building. I chatted with only person in shop who does inventory and shipping. Canfield story: Name is a bike brand that uses the CBF suspension design now owned by younger brother Canfield. The CBF is licensed by Revel bikes that is on my Rail. Crazy, older Canfield bike brand brother pays license fee to younger brother to use the CBF on his bikes. Younger brother pay back.
Rest day today, parked in town with strong internet.