Wind velocity. Forecast on Sunday calls for  50 mph gusts here in Dolores. Red Flag warning. Moab is 10 mph calmer but adds dust to the mix. Still hunkered down at Dolores breathing clean air, will make the move to Moab 2 hrs away on Mon to meet Steve.

Now in town at city park for internet and creating this. Making today a rest day as Garmin tells me I need 67 hours recovery after yesterday’s ride before next hard effort. Seems even if I work on lessening my effort I still seem to need more recovery time. The software seems to calculate every ride is a hard effort.

Yesterday I rode Sage Hen trail on the far side of the reservoir as what I perceived as an easier ride and to do it before high winds. I misjudged degree of effort required for an 11 mile ride. I did avoid strong wind. Trail tread for climb was sand and loose and lacked any character. As I slogged my way to the far out point I told myself that the climb was for the reward going down.

A short section of trail down lower was built by mtn bikers that finally made for challenge and fun. Out there by myself for 13.2 miles climbing 1407′ pedaling for 2 hrs. Checked off the trail from ride card, no desire to ride it again.

Been sleeping at same spot up on Boggy Draw road. Yesterday evening was first night since here to enjoy being outside as wind was calm and temp was almost shirtless. Elevation is 7636′. This EDGE 530 calculates fitness etc, last report I am now acclimated for 6300′ yet I heve been riding in the 7,xxx’.

Thursday was laundry day and grocery shopping greater than great small store here in Dolores. Cortez is about 15 miles away. Quick dash in then back. Once back to Boggy Draw I rode pieces of trails I had yet to ride. Boggy Draw to Bears tracks to Bald Eagle

then finished Sunset down to Little Bean canyon descent then hump back up to Boggy Draw.

Been hanging at Kokopelli bike shop here in Dolores visiting with Scott. I first rode here back 11/8/10 as recorded on my spread sheet. I stuck the shop sticker on my van. Over time it has faded and disintegrated. This visit I did something I have never done before: I scraped enough of the old sticker off then  applied a new one. Today we shared stories about animals that could have hurt us, his wife joined in. I enjoyed their company.

I replaced my front tire as side knobs are tearing away, mostly on the left side which indicates I carve more to the left. To the right I have difficulty weighting my right hand to carve because of destroyed shoulder.

String of today’s events was started last night after I installed a new chain as the chain wear .5 distance tool allowed its other in between the rollers. I didn’t a running total of miles on chain, I last remember 4xx miles which told me I needed to check chain wear with tool. Replacement time. Replacement chain had been soaked for weeks in Simple Green to solve off the factory lube for bare metal for Squirt to adhere to. I watched several articles about using stock grease, similar opinion was strip stock off which is what my soak did. Many unremembered days ago I switched liquid to water. Again an unremembered days ago I drained the water. Last night when I dumped the chain out, rust was evident. I wiped the chain with a rag which absorbed rust. Next will be Squirt on chemically stripped clean chain. Next action set in motion today. I have changed chains many times, 110 pins. This time instead of counting I made an assumption that chain was same length. I had the tail end from a previous chain, I counted the pins, matched the tail to the new chain then broke the chain. I put the chain on the bike while it was on the rack. I threaded the chain correctly. I sort of ran thru the gears to my satisfaction, then Squirted the chain. Went to bed anticipating today’s ride. I would be riding from sleep spot under trees providing wind protection from again forecasted 40 mph gusts. I pedaled away. I pedaled on Boggy Draw to Little Bean. On the first climb I downshifted but the crank stopped. WTF? Near as I could tell life should be happy but I noticed that the derailleur pulled way tight like it was in smallest gear. I pedaled out stopping to visit with Gary and Spokane folks. Bike needed professional help and it was just down the hill in Dolores. Down I went. I noticed a propane fill station in town eliminating a drive in to Cortez. Pulled up in front of shop, right out front. Looked like it would be just me. I wheeled my bike in, just me and Scott, a destination shop experience. He put the bike in an empty stand noticing immediately that the chain was too short. No way, I measured twice and cut once, I was right. Scott told me that chain comes in several lengths, unbeknownst to me I had bought the shorter chain, my process was correct. Previous practice was count 110 pins for length. Scott fitted the chain resulting in same 110 pins number. Shifting wasn’t happy, learned that the derailleur had developed a death issue, replacement was at Cortez shop location, 15 miles away. I’m on it, drive to Cortez and score a lesser grade replacement. Returned to Scott who installed and adjusted the drive train. Test ride was on a happy bike. Scott’s shop is Kokopelli Bike and Board, the Dolores location. He would not charge me for labor. While visiting I said I help on trails when I can find an event. He checked info to find a project this afternoon on a new trail dropping down to connect with current system trail. This piece runs right beside the paved road. Official opening of trail is held for legaleeze on easement as trail is on private lands. I said I’m on it.

I bid Scott Adieu then drove to propane station. Attendant said he was by himself and could not fill, he told of a campground about a mile out of town that would fill. I learned that distance is whatever. I arrived at campground seeing a propane tank which is always good. Attendant was filling portable tanks and was having difficulty which didn’t bode well for filling me. My turn. Guy turned the attachment fitting to the left and was confused why it wouldn’t tighten up. Duh, I stepped in and threaded it on. The tank did get filled. Campground is Jimmy’s favorite however, his friends no longer own it.

Drove back up hill to trail work site. 3 PM start. Maybe 15 guys, all older, showed up, most wearing their club’s t shirt. My work was using a Macloud(sp) to carve in drains. I have no knowledge of local water events. Trail descends almost the entire distance to town and it is right along side a paved road. It will soon become a coaster downhill shuttle. Very windy working.

So, the Good was the start of my ride with a new chain, then Bad caused by shortcut chain length, Good was Scott identifying problem and part was available and was fixed, then Good was contributing.

Drove back to same spot at Boggy Draw. Tomorrow I plan on riding what I planned for today. Forecast is blustery and chilly.

My next stop is Moab in the desert. I am liking tree cover and living here that Moab lacks. CO and UT have own versions of freedom, I prefer CO.

Last 2 nights my parking spot aligned with direct sunset thru the windshield. Realized that most nights my view is different. Yes, sleeping on public land that I, as a taxpayer, pay for. Just like every other tax payer, just that I spend more time benefiting what is all ours.

Temps have been below freezing in the morning here at 76xx’. I heard frogs speaking during that cold.

The torque convertor in the van’s transmission has started barking.

Yet the state’s notable attribute crossed state lines. Wind, most number of days and places I have yet to experience on this odyssey. Wind velocity is a variable to consider for decision to ride or hunker down. Yesterday I drove from Aztec, NM to Delores, CO stopping in Cortez, now out at Boggy Draw trailhead area. Camping spots are just beyond trailhead. Most number of campers I have yet to see here, it was a Saturday and possibly the first weekend the road was open. Most everyone was on the right side of the road overlooking a dearth of rain shrunk bigger than a pond body of water. Plugged was apt, however, Sunday evening thinned the ranks. This is a better spot.

Windy drive, windy here. Forecast for today was for another high wind event which occurred. Gusts to 39 with 20+ mph constant. Mix in blowing dust, add in needing a rest day after 4 straight ride days for taking today off. I stayed in bed till almost 7. I fixed scratch pancakes and drank freshly cold brewed coffee.  Scoring the beans was happenstance from local bike shop coffee bar. I support local roasters, google search returned no local roasters. tried health food store which had roasted and ground coffee from Durango. Pass as the grind would be to fine. Plan B would be Morning Thunder tea. Visited the bike shop just because. I spied a display of roasted beans from Durango, and the bar had a grinder for coarse grind. Score.

I drove out to north end of Phils trails to ride. Last spring I rode same trails, I was curious to learn effects of winter and precip. Perhaps 4 rigs were parked in contrast to multitude at traditional trailhead. Trails play with a feeder draw off Simon Draw. What started downhill climbed back out, went around a bit then dropped in again then hump my bike up. Internet speed too slow for pics. Short intense ride of 7.26 miles climbing 810′ Forest is juniper. Tread held up well.

Visited with a couple from Minnesota, trail builders, Bent creek area. I shared concept of pavers and pitches that went over their heads as they do not have elevation to build on.

I drove over to Delores where above town is the Boggy Draw trail system. Same bike shop in Cortez has a store in Delores. I stopped in to learn about trails. I spied Squirt Lube and bonus of I9 valve stems. The valve stem on my front wheel is almost blocked from cured sealant. I asked the guy to break the bead and I would finish. He did the whole deal. Store is repurposed newspaper operation originally a like general merchandise store.

Walked across the highway to the incredible little grocery store. Turned a corner and ran face to face with Gary from Bend. We met back in ’09 Fruita festival and have run into him in Bend and other places.

Guy at shop told of a single track descent from Boggy Draw TH to town to ride instead of pavement. I hiked out today following a social ridden in skinny single track heading in correct direction. Trail entered private property where the trail was machine built. I hiked it far enough to believe that it will connect to the trailforks mapped trail down to town. This downhill is a part of a bike loop that will go along an edge of reservoir then climb out back to TH. I plan on riding this loop tomorrow as weather forecast doesn’t want strong winds. Today wind would have been a problem as trail along reservoir is exposed.

Done. Dinner fixing time: steamed wild salmon, quinoa, and broccoli. Dessert will be a third of a Haagen Daaz pint ice cream, not Rocky Road. Veggie first.