During last year’s fall visit I helped at a Wood River Trails Coalition volunteer work event cutting back sage brush bordering a trail, Sage had 2″ wet snow on top. Cutting sage brush needs a saw and not loppers. Nasty work, give me ceanothus. A raffle happened and I won a mountain bike lesson with acceptable conditions. I and the to be instructor, Cameron, scheduled school session for yesterday morning. I invited Steve. Cameron went thru several basic skills then moved on to wheel lifts gained by aggressively compressing the suspension, front or back depending upon which wheel to lift, skilled Cameron showed how each worked. Steve and I struggled to put into effect. He also corrected my body position to put my nose more over the steer tube which weights the front wheel to give traction. We both grabbed onto that change. Then we pedaled out to a slight tech feature to work on. The climb was within my ability but I have fear of stalling and falling downhill. Being spotted didn’t alleviate my fear, I finally got it. Trust the bike and make it work for me.
Today Steve and I met Kirk and his brother Tony up at Hulen Meadows. Fox Creek and Chocolate Gulch. Pleasant start warm up in creek bottom until the climb out. Steep, Steve continued his streak of pedaling proficiency. Each of us blew up wherever. Steve said he lit a match to describe his blow. Just after that spot a short steep descent that I needed brakes for. I pulled on the levers but the brakes lacked full power. I made it down. My brakes were affected by a free bike clean in Hailey where the cleaner washed the rotors with cleaner. As other braking opportunities arose the brakes restored their grip. Today I made all the switchbacks, one was a previous all time failure. Then the descent screamer. My nose was over the stem which kept that front wheel glued to the dirt and making turns. Sure like this bike’s handling. Finished back at Kirk’s who fed us.
Thursday Steve and I rode a shortened Trade Route, his description. Forecast called for clouds but no rain. Before we started we looked up valley to see rain clouds descending. We added rain coats. The Saddle trail is old forest dirt that I enjoy. Sprinkles caught us up high, raincoats on. I followed Steve down over chunder, I had a loss of confidence moment that caused me to resort to picking my way down. I watched Steve who also rides a Revel but it is the 29″ wheel rascal. He seemed to steer his bike letting it do its suspension work. I took that cue by riding over the rocks. Much faster. 8.43 miles pedaling 1 hr 30 mins climbing 1499′, that’s 178′ / mile, that’s big.
At Steve’s I helped pull up meadow salsify weed on his land. We picked in the morning leaving no visible yellow flowers. The field across his road is mass salsify:
That evening driving same road the flowers were not visible. Steve found the plant identification, a nickname is “Jack go to bed at noon” because around noon the flowers retract. Crazy. Pull it in the morning as the yellow flowers give it away. After noon they are all green somewhat blending in with other green vegetation.
Aspen is still coming on. This spot on Cow Creek connector is where I shot fall colors
I’m buying shop socks from Revel bike dealers. I added from Idaho Cycles up in Ketchum.
Forecast for tomorrow is rain. My van transmission replacement date is this Tues in Bend. I plan on driving that way tomorrow. Diesel is $5.74 here, Bend is a $100+ bill.
I joined the Wood River Trails Coalition which is the local volunteer group supporting the USFS.