One who wanders by themself. Thanks Ian.

I am able to find many things to keep me away from writing here and other things that require work like washing my bike and van windows. I do tend to work that supports my life like laundry on Thurs and grocery shopping.

Bill from Tomichi Cycles in Gunnison shared several rides and nights out off Beaverhead last week. Desert “roads” are dry and firm but w/ poor internet. I enjoyed his company and stayed off line. I shared local ride info. He is younger and more skilled than me, we shared time at rest stops. He did an additional ride after our shared one. Back when I was younger….. . I was the navigator requiring me to take the place of Doug to figure the route and keep us found. I succeeded even with me leading from behind Bill who is faster. We did a Carroll canyon loop and gateway ramble.

Last Sat Ian drove me for another Black Canyon ride. We met Lee in her rig and Jimmy and Christine in theirs at Mayer TH. Jimmy’s bike has electric shifting that did not work, he later learned that he had inadvertently drained the battery. He and Christine returned home leaving Ian, Lee, and me. Our route decision was either S on BCT with a wet feet crossing of Big Bug creek right at the beginning or ride the Copper mtn loop again. This loop rides well either direction. Today Ian lead us the opposite way of Jimmy’s preferred direction.

14.9 miles climbing 1473′ pedaling for 2 hrs 3 mins. Jimmy’s direction was 5 mins faster not that it made any difference. Dinner at Creekside outside of Mayer.

Bill left leaving me without a riding partner. I beat myself up pretty good. I lowered my seat to bottom out post to get a greater knee bend that gave me more power. I like being lower for stability and my knees are happy. On Thurs I rode out Western Gateway trails and to check out dry feet crossings of flowing Dry Creek. 1st was Axis:

Riders figuring out how to cross:

that I would cross on return. Dry feet. Next was Rupp going away, same success:

Nice day. I still ride harder than I would prefer as heart rate data reveals. I don’t intend to but the EDGE records. 10.3 miles climbing 1007′. Back out to Beaverhead desert for the night.

Friday I rode around Hogs which is a demanding loop. Warm enough finally to wear shorts and short sleeve jersey. 15.7 miles climbing 1427′ requiring much push a bike. Ride really beat me up.

Sat Jimmy called a Prescott ride. I rode with Ian and Cody and joined Jimmy and Christine somewhere out Thumb Butte rd. Cody is a very skilled and strong rider as I watched his many tech moves. The Canfield Balance Formula bikes prevailed as Jimmy, Christine, and I ride Revels and Cody was on namesake Canfield.  Decomposed granite tread.

Higher elevations. 10.7 miles climbing 1276′. While I was always off the back on the climbs but ahead of Christine on the downs I still rode the entire ride. 31 mins was in my 80 to 90 percent effort. I am developing an appreciation for my 46T easy gear. Post ride feed at a upscale burger place then back to VOC night at outlet mall.

Today is a rest day after 3 days of riding. Still waiting DR info about my heart.

Temp is rising to shorts range this week.

Sedona is a tourist attraction and boy do they flock to plug  rt 179 to Sedona and down Cooks hill to the Y. Too many people and more coming.

 

Yesterday the dentist extracted my upper left back molar that full head X-Ray should was decayed. Original schedule was Tues morn, I had prepared myself for the procedure. On the way up to office that office called saying dentist was under the weather and would not be in, when is next opening? Found opening on Thurs, they called back later offering me yesterday one day earlier and a day earlier on my way to no head ache etc. Arrived yesterday AM, dentist started by topical numbing on opposite side. Hmm? Nerve block on that side for other side? I spoke up. Opps, mirror image. Dentist fully recovered from day off? He corrected himself then hit me with 3 injections. Numbness occurred. I asked about procedure. He said tooth is not pulled out per say but extracted. First up was wiggling it with a large flat blade screw driver then vise grip to pull the tooth out. I did not see if tools were per his description. Concern was possible root breaking from tooth which 1 root did that necessitated a rasping out remnant from skull. Said decay and infection was present and decision to remove was correct. Presently a tongue perceived pit exists.

Monday I drove to Cottonwood hospital to have a heart recording device glued to my chest. Device records heart electrical impulses for duration of 1 week. Device is removed (somehow) then put in a mailer bound for data analysis, results sometime in the future. All is in effort to understand heart health.

Being in Cottonwood my plan was to ride Dead Horse afterwards to start data recording. Area known as Dead Horse which is a state park that borders FS land. Costs $3 to ride in and cross state land. Rode up Bones.

To Upper Raptor connecting to Rust Bucket etc down Thumper and Lime Kiln out. 19.3 miles 2 hrs 36 min pedaling climbing 1457′. Rode by myself. Last year I rode the same loop following Doug, This year I was slower with higher HR.

Back to VOC. I9 bearings arrived, Tues appointment at Absolute to remove old and install new. Expectation is replacement bearings will make the hub spin longer. Tues bearings were replaced. Will learn of improvement on next ride. At present free spinning wheel doesn’t seem as fast as Steve’s.

Thurs here at laundromat. Weather came in earlier with van rocking winds and blown rain. Big sucker hole appeals. However forecast calls for 18 to 25 mph winds gusting to 39, temp high of 47. Friday weather is sunny and calm. Doug stopped for visit. We talked about riding but haven’t reach tipping point. They are leaving Fri heading back to Canada.

Zags got spanked in the Elite 8 round. All over until this coming season. Letting something affect me that I have no control over. Movin on.

Sat I gave the Rabbit Ears loop a go figuring that these trails would be less muddy. Little mud but washes were still sending water.

Garmin sent me a warranty chest strap heart rate pick up. Today I watched my heart rate working to keep my pulse not so high. Some success, ride was 9.18 miles climbing 1004 pealing for 1 hr 26 mins. Still average hr was 123. I stopped for blows along the way esp on the Rabbit Ears ridge climb.

I rode against runners competing. I called Climbing when I was and runners yielded. Most runners were not running very fast.

Watched game at PJs sitting at the bar right under a big screen TV. Loud band playing prevented conversing. I left mid way thru 2nd half as I did not want to watch the beat down.

Sat. back at my van I found a business card stuck on the driver’s window, I retrieved it, it was from Mick and Beth formerly of Rivers Eatery in Cable, WI. Nice people with whom we connected. They are here for a few days. We texted but made no meeting. Today on my ride out western Gateway trails at the intersection of Girdner and Axis low and behold they were hiking towards me. Mick recognized me he said because of my different color gloves. We visited until finally agreeing to meet back at TH. I pedaled away finishing before them: I pedaled uphill faster than hikers. Although earlier on Girdner a runner caught me on uphill, I never heard him. He ran by but in short while trail turned down and I caught him, he stepped aside, I covered some distance that I thought would keep me well ahead. Nope, he caught me again, this time I rested allowing him to disappear.

So today I headed to Sedona ahead of tourons from the Valley. Spring break, nice day, lots of visitors, traffic backs up well before the Y, need to beat the crowd. Parked at Cultural Park. Thought about riding Girdner out then looping Anaconda, Snake back but Doug said Dry Creek was still running

so I rode Snake to shooting bank then out to bridge over Dry Creek to check water flow. Turned around retracing Snake then Girdner to intersection with Stirrup that I intended to ride. However, a local rider was at the intersection, he had ridden Girdner from the start and reported it was fine.

We had no knowledge of Axis to climb out. I talked myself into Axis being dry. Girdner to Axis was firm. Then I met Mick and Beth. Ran into the old Mountain Bike Heaven gang, greeted old buddies, some ride ebikes. Ride was 11.2 miles climbing 1079′ pedaling for 1 hr 42 mins, average HR was 126 which is at threshold.

Back down to VOC at outlet mall parking, wash is still running.

I don’t need anything I can’t get on my own. My life is basic.

I read an Indian cholesterol reducing recipe using fresh cilantro and mint etc that needs to be blended, chopped whatever. I googled portable blenders then picked one that charges via USB. It arrived recently then I put it to blending this concoction that is real green then dipping blue corn chips into the blob. Herbal knowledge, may it be better than old wives’ tales.