Friday morning N of Loma, CO. L:ast night the weather changed by lowering the temp and producing strong gusts that rocked the van maybe like riding on a train. Occasionally spurts of rain drops, very little fell amidst its fury. I did enjoy the heater output also. My anchor spot is exposed to the sky. Long sight lines.
Outside and forecast is not favorable to riding. I ride if I want to as opposed to I have 5 days to ride because I’m on vacation and I have to ride. I have clothing that would protect me from those elements meeting the there is no bad conditions, its bad gear saying. I’m warm and dry, I did switch from short sleeve shirt to flannel long sleeve. Still wearing Bedrocks and shorts. Temps are finally moving into 60s and 70s more fall like.
Another mouse invited itself inside 2 days ago. Yesterday afternoon it showed itself remaining still several times. I embarked on a more aggressive method of eradication by loading the pellet rifle and pumping just 3 pumps for low velocity. The rifle was on the table pointed in the mouse’s direction as I waited for a shot. Mouse posed but my motion to aim and fire caused it to scurry away. It ate the almond butter off the trigger w/o tripping the spring. Bigger mouse than previous departed visitors. Last night it again ate the bait on top of trigger not hungry enough to clean the under side of the trigger. Pellet rifle is ready to go sitting on the passenger’s seat.
I switched chain rings from easier 28 T back to 30T. I rode the change last ride enjoying the change. Noticeable was nonstop pedal up a climb on Wrangler. I compared results of this ride and a previous one, later ride was slower and higher heart rate average of 121 vs 114 on 28T ring. Whatever rapid twitch muscles I developed have been lost because of aging. I am a better bigger gear pedaler liking the 30T. The chain rings are oval that creates a 2 teeth larger ring at the power point of the pedal stroke so the 30T becomes a 32T. I will stick with the 30T.
During a ride several rides ago I started hearing drive train sound that I diagnosed as dry chain. I rode to a trail sign post to use as a bike stand and applied Squirt chain lube from the small bottle I carry in my pack. Sound lessened along with wax build up on chain ring indicating the chain was not dry. On last ride sound was hearable. I looked at my ride spreadsheet reading the chain had less than 500 miles, the previous one had 1,000 miles, this one should not have worn to replacement. Yesterday I checked growth with tool: Stretched past .5 but less than .75 meaning I should have changed the chain earlier. I had kept the previous chain, I checked its growth which was less than .5, good enough to run so I put it on. The chain does not stretch, the pins wear from wear and grit, as a result the chain does not sit well on the teeth on the cassette, skipping under load. Solution is buying and installing a new cassette along with chain. I pedaled around testing for skipping which would tell the tale of cassette health. None, good to go but will be replaced by new chain when it arrives next week.
Last 2 laundry days I drove into Junction seeking a better maintained facility as the one in Fruita still has not fixed machines not working since my last visit.
The front end of the van was checked out at local suspension shop, report was everything is tight, nothing needing their corrective repair. Still hearing the sound that was diagnosed as noisy alternator bearings.
Chilly 44 degrees at 10:46 AM. Considering changing to long pants.