Riding out at Kokopelli trails is full on sun bake: no trees, no shade.
Temp has been in 80s, sometimes windy. Concentrating on drinking water from my 100 oz bladder carried in my new Wingnut pack. I haven’t sucked it dry…. yet.
For me challenging moves or not. Climbing Hawkeye one ride, descending it on another. Mack Ridge down only has lots of embedded rocks. Constant exposure to remaining on top of my bike. Enjoying bike’s performance and my increasing level of confidence. Several rides I parked near Kokopelli main TH to pedal up Mary’s which at the start is an abandoned jeep road. yesterday rescue service drove an ATV out to meet helicopter flying out a damaged rider. ( No official confirmation of evacuation). I was up on Wrangler’s when I heard then saw a helicopter working its way to Horsethief bench. At the TH I saw the rescue truck and trailer and later an ambulance w/o flashing lights. The descent to Horsethief is red rated on Trailforks, miscalculations occur, some resulting in an unplanned ride out. I was up on Wrangler’s where I encountered a man and woman rider off the trail. The man was hunkered in the shade provided by a juniper. He said he was heat affected. I shared advice then pedaled away. I hoped that the heli wasn’t for him. Full on exposure to sun.
This is a 3 day weekend. Yesterday the main TH was plugged as was parking on the down side at bottom start of Mary’s. I suspected many riders, I don’t like crowds, I contemplated turning around. I kept pedaling out Mary’s all by myself until almost Pizza Point. This is where a drop in to Steve’s takes off. I saw many riders following me. I continued to Mary’s end with no one ahead or following. I saw an injured rider being attended to just down the steep fall line trail at trail start. I pedaled up Wrangler’s all alone. On the previous ride I made a move around a juniper that had a hidden 3″ branch that I clipped with my left little finger. D
arn, trail builder did not properly cut that branch. Next time I planned on riding the trail I would saw it off. Yesterday I corrected the safety issue. Nice folding packable saw. I rode the climb 2 times, 14 mins each time.
Today is rest day after having ridden 4 days straight.
Van brake problem has been fixed, part arrived on Wed and installed same day. I called the shop at 10:30 which was hopefully after UPS arrived. Guy said he was just going to call me to tell me part arrived. I was in town a short distance away. He said come on down which I did. In sat outside under the shade of a tree reading. Wrench finished remove and replace, took it for a short drive, and plugged in the sensor computer which sent no code. Van good to go.
I ride Catalyst Pedals, their business is Fruita. I was invited to stop by which I did, I met James Wilson the creator of the pedal. Office is a cubby hole 3 doors away from laundromat I use.
I run a SRAM 11 speed PC1170 chain which costs around $50. After yesterday’s ride I was able to force the .5″ stretch indicator between chain links. I believe the chain lasted for 689 miles. The higher priced chain outlasted the like PC1130 by 200+ miles. More expensive lasted longer.
Megan at OTE heard me tell of dead cow out where I sleep. She is from a ranching family and called me on that cow having been dumped. She said if the legs are up it’s more than likely the cow fell and could not regain its feet hence dying in place. The legs were up but I still suspect it was dumped and it landed that way. I just see carcass roadside that were dumped. None the less, it’s rotting away and I stay at an odor free spot.
Tomorrow I will be heading out north. Driving over Douglas Pass then over to Vernal, UT and McCoy flats for a one day ride and night. Next day driving to Heber City for a ride then a night in a state XG next day arriving at Indian Springs near Kimberly, ID. I receive the weekly Wood River trail report that I read today: way too much unmelted snow and muddy trails. I will visit Steve for a short visit because of trail conditions then on to Bend.
Cheat grass is going to seed:
Moving out, battery spent.