I’m anchored at Swampy TH arriving earlier today and riding. I’m just off the pavement. A trail running race is about to start. The registration table is just off my let rear. Surrounded by trail runners. Prize location to watch runners
The runners have different body type from mountain bikers who are different than roadies. Will ebike riders look like dough boys? Several mtn bikers have ridden off. Wonder about user conflict. Runners might be faster than a climbing biker. Registrar said this is the 3rd race in the series, the first time here. I’m living amongst a sea of runners. Thy don’t wear helmets.
Monday I drove up here to Swampy for a rest day and planned on riding Tues and Wed then driving back to town. Mon’s forecast was for 94 which is why Swampy ~2000′ higher would be cooler. Trails from Swampy are at 57xx’. I would find out melt out.
Tues waking up at location of my ride burned no fossil fuel. I listened to the Jan 6 Hearing. Afterwards I pedaled away up Ridge climbing from get go, almost made junction with Flag tie when my drive train started balking. The hub would not allow the wheel to free wheel, meaning no coasting or pedaling. WTF? Like the 3rd ride on the serviced hub, figured hub was culprit. The freewheel would not release to allow wheel to freewheel and not pedal. I used my gift multitool chain breaker, Lyzene, to break the chain. Now the return, not able to pedal I would coast, and walk back to the van. I put a 5mm Allen from the tool to check axle tightness. Seems the axle had backed out, I tightened it which jam the wheel so it would not spin, I backed off enough to allow spin. Recovery plan was dash to Bend first to Revel dealer The Hub, who is also an I9 recognized shop. He pulled the wheel from the bike. He noticed right away that the driver (?) was not seated into the hub, he removed the driver to see a mish mash of mislocated springs and or pawls. The hub was not correctly assembled during service. The driver was broken and the face of the hub shell was scared. Major damage. I returned to servicing shop and laid out their error. Guy said he would review with wrench the next day and call me. Short story was he would not accept responsibility. They did loan me a wheel until the I9 is repaired. The wheel is now on the way back home for rebuild. Cost $100 UPS, I9 will replace damaged parts then ship back. Guesstimate is mid July before back on superior I9 wheel.
The runners just ran off.
Yesterday was consumed by emerging tasks: DR visit, prescription pick up, wheel activity. I had a sometimes dry cough that is a COVID symptom. The DR’s appointment voice mail said if any covid contact triage nurse. Short story yesterday at pharmacy store opening I bought a home test then performed it in my van in the parking lot. Healthy result. PA said I have a virus rebound from last month’s nasty cold. Lungs are clear. Good to go. Back out at Phils for the night, different spot.
I parked under scattered P pines giving scattered shade. Maybe after sundown I happened to look at the solar panel controller to see no data. WTF? Battery storage? Even under the shade the face would display remaining voltage. Dead. How about that? This AM the data displayed. The panel has worked all day.
Oh, clean clothes, laundry day.
So, back at Swampy to ride what I planned to ride 2 days prior. I pedaled away on the loaner wheel, with beaucoup degrees of engagement, not like almost instant engagement of the Hydra hub. This is what like going technology backwards. To keep pedal in engagement meant constant pedaling under load. Need to figure out wheel loft point. So far no success. No ratcheting. There is no sound from hub, dead quiet. I’m riding. I rode a Swampy loop, short, 7.88 miles but climbing 957′. Trails up here are more primitive.
Cascade mosquitoes have been sucking my blood.
Runners et. al. have cleared, back to solitary.
Slow internet speed here at Swampy.
4th of July weekend in tourist town. Bend is a living city, not a retirement community like Sedona. Lots of people out and about downtown as I drive around.
Dishes, wet wash cloth wipe down, clean body for clean sheets. Days are getting shorter.
