Friend Steve from Sun Valley area visited and I got to be the local guide. Steve has visited me here b4, I just know trails better that allowed me to make routes that were favorable to me that he received the benefit of. Steve is almost my age and has the same facial hair color that I do. He knocked on my door early Wed morn with snow on his jacket. Hello cold and wet. Forecast wanted showers not rain. Another layer and rain coat carried in hydration pack. First ride was Rabbit Ears going now favored clockwise direction new direction for Steve.
Thurs was drive up to W Sedona for laundry. We met up later at gravel pit for ride out here that does not have the climb out of Dry Creek, Ride was 7.02 miles climbing 525′ pedaling for exercising 1 hr 11 mins. This distance and time suited us.
Friday we rode what I call Llama route. Our infamous Llama problem is a short pedalable rock armored pitch that requires more of our bodies than we can squeeze out. I made it 2X, 1 time in front of Steve. I had been telling Steve about my new coil shock opened up the bike’s performance. He said he would buy a shock after I made the problem. I attacked the problem 3 times but failed. Steve said he will trust my word when I tell him I made it which would set him free to buy one. He rides a Revel Rascal that was a data point for Revel suspension for me and an Evil something. His rear brake loosened an air bubble that caused the brake to fail requiring bleed that he learned as he wheeled it out of his lodging. 10.5 miles climbing 856′ pedaling 1 hr 28 mins.
Sat back to Sedona to ride from Cultural park where all rides go down then finish on uphill climb. A better ride is the reverse. Roundabout start then Girdner to Dry Creek crossing on Axis that has 2 hike a bike pushes for both of us, me every time, continue climb on Bolo to Last Frontier then traversing social trails. Down Rover to continue down on Rupp the start of climb out on Girdner to final trail Stirrup. 9.2 miles climbing 846′ pedaling for 1 hr 28 mins.
Sunday, Steve’s last day, we rode Rabbit Ears again as he said he liked the ride. This time I would make sure he rides the Big Rock system trail instead of he chose a better defined social trail. Today after he rode the system piece he said he didn’t know how much he missed. We start from outlet mall pedaling 1 mile to start of dirt at crowded Bell Rock. Big Park loop to start of Rabbit Ears that climbs straight away to high point and start of downhill. Several breath blows stops during the climb. Our bodies have aged, spring chickens left us years ago. 8.77 miles climbing 833′ pedaling for 1 hr 17 mins.
Steve and I have a coast off seeing which bike is faster. He rides a 29 and I ride 27.5 wheels. His wheels are faster because of wheel size. The 1 mile road climb gong out is all coastable after pedaling hard stopping at road intersection. He is slightly faster when I am out of his draft zone, however, drafting I’m right with him. We had a coast off back in his backyard on a dirt rode which I won because I made a faster turn. Both of our rear hubs are l9 but mine is the improved Hydra. Previously I rode the Torch same as Steve, they were noticeably louder.
Yesterday I chose to sleep out in desert where I could leave my windows uncovered. I invited Steve for dinner that he accepted. I made Captain Craig chicken dish over smashed Yukon Gold potatoes. Skillet dinner. Lip smacking god review. He brought desert of gelato. Place was crowded, most I have experienced.
Steve left this morning. I am making today a rest day. Forecast wants 80s starting Wed. Hot, full sunshine, no shade, low humidity. Dead dry. I have changed back to summer clothes after last week’s cold.
I put the new Suunto Peak instrument in the drawer replacing it with Core which is more basic and doesn’t tell me of my short comings in fitness. The Peak tells what my sleep was, it tells me if I have been sitting for 2 hours, and much more. I choose what I want to see. It records data that loads onto an app on my phone. It’s a fitness watch.
Ocotillo is leaving out after flowers at tip of trunk start to flower. Sites that are more exposed to full sunshine show the growth. Out at Dry creek area I saw flowers on manzanita bushes. Cat claw is still barren as environment signal has not started their leafing out. While bare they are easy to avoid, when leafed they blend in.
Starting on tomorrow’s ride it will be choosing how much to hurt myself.