Yesterday I drove back down to town for resupply of water, food and propane. I slept in Reid’s driveway. Propane source is closed on Sunday. I haul free filtered water a gallon at a time from Gearhead. Across the street is City Market for chain store groceries.
At present I am parked in that grocery store lot with 3 bar 4g connection and sort of catching up.
Bill and Susan from Tomichi cycle in Gunnison visited me out at Horsethief area for 2 nights of friendly connection. They rode their rides and I pedaled my own. Can’t keep up with the kids as they are of age could be progeny.
I rode 3 rides out there. The first one was riding Chisholm down and back. For me great trail as it rides well in each direction. Sunshine and chill enough to switch to long underwear 2 layers and knickers. Still holey summer gloves. Elevations are 5,xxx’. Bill and Susan arrived afterwards. I have heat in my van that I shared with them as their warmth comes from layers and sleeping bags.
The second was Rodeo from camp spot. Trail is suggested directional which avoids widening from riders coming the other way. 10.3 miles climbing 709′ in 1 hr 38 mins. There are 2 spots that exceed my engine’s capacity causing me to walk. Steve knows of one of them.
The 3rd was a reconciliation between can and won’t. I chose a route from Trailforks that said it was the most downhill in the system here. I had ridden it before so I was knowledgeable of tech features and distance so I was able to ride it. The won’t was because it was for me a long ride. Sunday morning I drove down to Middle Earth TH for ride start. I addressed the won’t to pedal away. I pedaled 18.5 miles climbing 1588′ for 2 hrs 48 mins.
The chilly temps thin out the crowds as I share the trails with not enough to field a baseball team, basketball yes.
Last Monday I paid for shuttle to ride the Raptor Route.
All this riding is desert open to the sky. Tread is slickrock intermixed with either firm rolled sand or a sand pit.
Forecast temps are low 50s during riding with 20s in the dark. Some days and nights wind velocity lowers air temp to chilly. One night Bill, Susan, and I sat outside visiting in a stiff breeze. We lasted until core temps lowered. Later we warmed up in my van. Next day almost still air with same temp.
So today has been rest day in town day. Zags play at 8 tonight, I could stay in town to watch at a bar or go back into desert and listen on XM.
Data as of Nov 13, 2024 I have covered 46,670 miles over 3,292 rides.