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.

Can’t is lack of ability.

Won’t is lack of permission.

I have a pretty good idea of what my abilities are, I know that riding Highline in Sedona is over my head. Likewise other trails I have experienced or are researching for a possible ride. I am increasingly becoming more cautious about meeting challenges for fear of consequences of failure.. I am not on a downward slope to ride only greens. I ride blues mostly and some blacks, some turn out to be over rated.

Then there is Won’t, I back away from longer and / or harder rides. I could do the ride but I balk at beating my body to tackle that ride. My pedal time is less than 3 hours max. Two hours are a chunk.

So, each ride is subjected to can’t vs won’t.

Saturday I picked the trail system at Highline SP that TF showed as mostly green. The park can be seen from anchor spot above Loma. I drove to the park. I paid daily $10 entrance fee. I saw signs banning surface water activities. ? . I geared up and pedaled away. Shortly I caught a glimpse of the lake:

The west is drought affected which I thought caused the non existent water and surface activity. The system wended its way playing with fingers of where water would have been. Smooth tread. Many places the trail was cut thru stands of scrub trees like Gamble oak making for nonexistent sight lines. I rode in TF direction encountering no one.

I finished my ride of 7.34 miles climbing 413′ in just under an hour. I visited with a park staff member seeking knowledge. I learned the lake is being drained to kill off a zebra mussel infestation. Plan is to leave lake empty over winter subjecting exposed lake bed to frost to kill off larva. Nearby Mesa Lake is full so drought was not cause for non existent water. Also the park allows class 1 and 2 M-bikes. I foresee many user conflicts on sections with no sight line.

Sunday was another ride out at Kokopeli system. Route was Mary’s out to Steve’s loop reconnecting back on Mary’s then taking first cutiver to Wrangler back then road climb out back to van. At first I was alone on popular Mary’s but as the day wore on more riders shared the trail with me. Steve’s plays with edges of canyons.

This ride was in my ability and permission. The ride was 14.9 miles climbing 1171 pedaling for 2 hrs 9 mins. I am really liking the lower saddle height which gives me pedal power. However, the 28T oval chain ring is too easy to pedal against. Yesterday in town on a parking lot across the street from OTE I swapped chain rings to the 30T which will give me resistance for better balance. Now with more powerful pedal from lowered saddle height coupled with harder pedal I might increase my can’t boundary.

Temps are still in 80s for mid October. Forecast calls for 70s later in the week and even some precip.

Yesterday morning while still in bed I heard the muted snap of the mouse trap then noises indicating a struggle. Later I slid open the cabinet door to see a mouse under the bail of the spring trap. The night before I baited the trigger again with almond butter, this time I worked most of it under the trigger to cause the mouse to work for the bait to hopefully spring the trap. The previous 2 nights the trigger had been licked clean of the bait. At last mouse free… until the next? How they are able to scamper inside the van remains to be observed. Hot days means open side door. I told Peter at OTE about the dead mice. He suggested like a sticker showing dead mouse and putting it on the van much like pilots showing enemy kills. Next trapped mouse will be made into a sticker.

Today is Monday, I’m making today a rest day and not driving. Tomorrow is trip to Junction for examination of van’s suspension that still clunks over bumps and dips. Presently 82 degrees with gentle breeze. I attach the front windshield cover to block out solar gain.

The leg ulcer is clearing up from the steroid cream applied 2X. Healing.

Now around Fruita.

Wed morn I was seen by a dermatologist about my unhealing painful ulcer on my left leg. She assessed condition as needing a steroid cream to help healing. Prescription filled and being applied 2X / day. Noticed almost immediate reduction in pain. Three weeks is to be complete heal. I am sleeping better now,

Afterwards I returned to Fruita and went on a ride out at Kokopeli system on trails and direction I am familiar with. Mary’s out and still walking same tech features above my pay grade. Climbed Wrangler that seemed less arduous than just this spring. Lowered saddle increase efficiency.

Thurs was laundry day. I chose to give a laundromat in Junction a try instead of the Fruita laundromat because of its broken machines still not fixed. Also, Lunch Loop system nearby. This system is laden with more tech features than I can make so I had avoided riding here for years. Today’s ride was to pick the lesser difficulty trails, blue rated. I pedaled away from TH, climbing right away. Feature after feature populated what I rode. I made very few and walked a bunch. Difficulty was above my skill and motor to make. I accepted that what little I had in the past had withered. I clicked my heals together and asked to be shown an easy route back to the van. I bailed. I made it back to TH unscathed.

Google showed me the way to the laundromat. A young couple living in a pickup camper home made conversion with 2 small girls. The woman was interested in my life that I shared plus my wisdom from years of living.

Back to Fruita. In the evening I set out to socialize in town. Local open mike session I attended. 3 people in the audience. I listened to a guitar player doing a good performance on a John Prine song. Not the crowd I was hoping to intermingle with. Outside I heard more music and I sought out its source. Copper Club across the street from the Hot Tomato was karaoke night. I caught 1 act and that was enough. I left and drove out to Loma spot for the night.

Darn mouse / mice are climbing on board thru the open side door. I saw one on the step that i yelled at, it must have moved in instead of leaping to the ground. I set the Woodstream trap baited with almond butter on trigger that harvested several mice. This mouse is eating the bait w/o tripping the trigger. Tonight I will rebait that trap plus set another makers solution to a better mousetrap.

Today is a rest day, back into town for groceries and water.  Tomorrow will be another Kokopeli ride.