Friday at 4:55 PM outside temp was 60 degrees at 3,848′ elevation. Out at Beaverhead spot. It was 25 at 7 AM.
Previous Sunday’s weather was bodacious wonderful. Doug and I rode starting at 2 PM out off Dry Creek. So nice to be outside and riding provided the medium for our enjoyment. We rode Aerie for the first this year, it’s a system trail Sedona rugged. Bike suspension is so nice, more later. 10.1 miles climbing 774′ pedaling for 1 hr 32 mins.
Previous to this ride I sought suspension advice from Absolute in VOC. Slow day, Gunnar set me up starting with proper sag on the shock. He used a caliper and calculator to arrive at 30% sag. I left the shock tuning valves alone. The Fox 36 fork is set to open and the proper rebound setting. The other fork leg is the RUNT which is set at 120 and 60 psi, no sag adjustment. During the above ride I enjoyed the bike handling. I believe the sag was set too high which didn’t play well. The bike rides so sweetly. The suspension eats up the less than smooth tread. It climbs so ably that my engine can not take full advantage of what it is capable of climbing. frame design and coil shock.
Soft winter weather arrived Mon morn for my drive up to Flag for DR appointment. Forecast called for snow in afternoon. I drove up the canyon to Flag in the morning then waited for my appointment. I preferred to drive on bare pavement. Before my 3:30 appointment snow started falling off and on but not sticking. I returned to VOC on I-17 driving thru several snow showers that worked the windshield wipers. Flag is at 7,000′, VOC is at 4,000′. Many miles of little elevation drop highway had snow on the road, wheel tracks thru. Drove out of the snow before the elevation drop to exit. Weather turned cold and dreary and windy until today.
Today I drove out Verde Valley School rd to ride in Turkey Creek area. First ride here this year having missed last year. Plan today was to map my ride and to wander. All by myself. I mostly rode previously ridden trails. I rode up to what I call the ocotillo forest named so because of several of them.
So nice being outside in favorable weather. 8.68 miles climbing 827′ pealing for 1 hr 24 mins. Rides are becoming shorter distance and time. Riding is now about being physically active for between 1 and 2 hours. Making the body work. Average beats per minute was 118 just below going anaerobic. Riding a mountain bike is a mix of pedaling and coasting, the bike computer gathers the data and reports effort. Of that time I spent 53 mins at beats between 110 and 126. I work at it.
I’m learning to steer the bike, pick a line and let the bike deal with it. Of course within my risk threshold. Bike is an enjoyable and enabler ride.