One last mega ride left for me here around Spokane. From the Beach to MT Spokane summit then down entire length of trail 140. A great big climb then a very challenging downhill. I drove to the Beach which is about 3/4 mile below park entrance. Plan is to ride the hwy to cut in to trail 110 and climb it to Kit Carson then pedal pavement to the summit, then descend 140 to hwy. I figured about 1 hr 30 mins of climbing and just knew the descent distance.

I arrived at empty Beach parking and geared up. I still carry my Wingnut pack containing all the good stuff for multitool repair, flat remedy items like slime tube, Lyzene pump, and Stan’s darts, water, munchies, headlamp, jersey, fire starter, firstaid kit, and a bunch of small stuff. I only have 1 pack that I use on every ride. I just pack the same stuff for every ride. Haven’t had to use headlamp when finish riding before 4. But I got it.

Pedaled upwards, past Bear Lodge, then park entrance ranger station, then junction for Wailer on right hand side of road, trail 100 on the left. Hump to cut in, today I was 3 minutes faster. This piece of wide single track will be the flattest of entire ride. Under deep tree cover. Climb start in earnest after crossing Kit Carson road. My engine lacks output to make 2 climbing turns then masters everything else to the summit. It took 1 hr 32 mins of mostly uphill pedaling. Yes, it was a grunt but I just bore down and my body got me to the top.

Back when I lived here I lift and ski climbed the mountain. Pretty steep black runs. Paved road was one gear from granny 46T. Just few cars and motorcycles passed me on the pavement which was 2.36 miles climbing 650′.

Just below the summit trail 140 takes off. Last time I rode this it was on my 5 Spot 26er. The trail is nasty with lots of decisions and actions to be taken. The angle is prolly climbable, it’s the abundance of embeded rocks, exposed roots, and loose rocks. Ski area expansion since last visit cut over the trail leaving clear cut. It’s a handful of rocks and roots up high down to Kit Carson, below and down the trail is a steep single track made by mtn bikers. I finished on the lower 140 that is so beat up. Trail 140 was 5.41 miles dropping 2510′ taking 35 mins of pedaling.

The descent was another test for my Revel Rail and my skill to pilot it. I stayed after it while allowing gravity as my engine. Switch backs with blind exits. My eyes tear up blurring my vision even with large lens glasses. The bike is so stable which adds to my confidence. It was a challenge needing sharp reflexes and looking ahead to prepare for what’s ahead.

I would need other rides before riding this again. I rode a new downhill trail named The Goods which is shorter than 140. That ride the trail was just completed not ridden in or winterized. 140 is not a speed downhill which maybe filters out riders. It is completely shuttleable on hard road.

Park entrance is at 3100′ summit is 5883′. EDGE reported 2267 climb which is less because of my below speed recording threshold.

I park out beyond Mead in a parking lot adjoining a small airport. I watch small airplanes take off and land. I fix dinner as colorful sunsets put on a light show.

Tomorrow is drive train appointment. It’s only money, it’s the unpredictable inconvenience for possible repair.

I lived across the road in a log house I paid for design and build for 16 years. I became familiar with the area. Driving around is just like the past. The roads go the same places, there are some building changes. Many acres and many farms  of dry land wheat farming interspersed with conifer woodlands.

New issue of Freehub is out. Catch my article.

Bed time.

Sunday.

Seems that Spokane riding opportunities are either mostly flat (Riverside) or monster climbs like MT Spokane or Mica Peak. I prefer to mix alternating between grunt and just pedal.  Sat was a grunt, yesterday was a pedal with some grunting as I rode Riverside yesterday from Seven Mile.

During Sunday’s ride I rode some of what I know and wanted to ride, others were new or reacquainted with old trails. Sharp Stick in the Eye out at Nine mile area is a grunt and lots of square edge rock gardens. What I was able to pedal years ago now mixes in blows or hiking like the Wailer. Today I started at the bottom of Sharp Stick pedaling and gasping to a connector trail to uphill as previous ride. At the top I turn right instead of left down Sharp Stick. The left goes across lots of feet of those square edged babyheads. I am still experiencing the prowess of the Rail’s suspension over these features. I just work on keeping power on the pedals and maintaining balance so both bike and boy roll over the nasty. The suspension does not buck me off or break traction. Phenomenal. This bike is much improved over the RFX. The I9 Hydra hub and wide carbon rims add to performance.  I found some of the new trails I rode on Thurs and rode several lesser traveled trails I knew from yore. Lots of distance of rock gardens on those old ones which is prolly reason so little traffic. I shared admiration for Catalyst pedals with a rider. Nice day yet I encountered fewer than 20 people during my 18 mile  pedaling 2 hrs 11 mins climbing 1119′ for 65′ per mile. Average speed was slower than when I followed Frank on Thursday. Nice day. Trails in places did not receive rain because of heavy tree cover.

So Washington is under mandatory face covering when indoors. I comply. For the most part compliance is what I experience. Except after dinner grocery shopping where I see customers maskless. To me it is up to each of us to take actions to comply with health regulations to protect all of us, the community, as a whole. Those that don’t should be named domestic terrorists. Laws can be passed for public safety but if they are not enforced compliance  comes only from us suckers who comply.

I have noticed the above with pedal assist bicycles, aka ebikes. Today USFS and BLM natural surface trails are open only to heart propelled activity. Ebike poaching happens because there is no enforcement. I learned to my dismay that Washington State parks permit E bikes where ever pedal bikes are allowed. I did check on Spokane County controlled lands to learn that E bikes are not permitted. At Mica I saw 2 riders on Ebikes. Again, no enforcement. I visited a bike shop today and asked where they suggest Ebikes can be ridden. He said ride them where ever. It is up to the rider to know where they are allowed to ride them but the shop gives the impression to ride where you want. The shop is in business to sell product but I believe they have a responsibility to be correct. I suppose a car salesman does not instruct the buyer to follow traffic laws.

I am making today a rest day and am finding it difficult to constructively occupy my free time. Wed is transmission check out day. Thurs my new Patagonia shirts are to arrive which is my last known need to prevent me from going down the road.

New issue of Freehub mag hits the internet and stores tomorrow. The film release is early Nov.

I have been in Spokane now for 17 days, I have ridden on 12 of those days. 60 rides and 971 miles on Rail since June 24 first ride.

Late yesterday afternoon sprinkles started, during the night it became a gentle rain heard hitting the roof of my van. I checked weather history which recorded .26″ of rain. By wake up time the moisture delivering clouds moved on. Signal : hero dirt somewhere. Seems trails here would not become damaging muddy with this amount of rain on dirt dry dirt. Several people told me about new trails on the S side of Mica peak accessed from defunct town of Mica, on the far side. I dilly dallied in the morning visiting with former neighbor Bill. I heard a term today which describes my arrangement at his driveway: Moochdocking, not boondocking which is out in the boondocks. Sleeping in someone’s driveway. I decided to give Mica a ride. First I stopped at Tate Honey farm now owned by boss’s son my age. We worked together at Spokane plant. He took over from his dad, Jerry now has a great grandson dressed in a bee suit helping great grandpa. Caught up on happenings and learned more about bees.

The TH is 20 miles away straight down Argonne, turn right on Palouse Highway, turn left on Belmont road then park in crowded parking lot. Area is now conservation area like Antoine peak is. Years ago I rode from same spot but it was undeveloped and rode primitive fall line trails. Today with nice parking area and signed trails. I started out on a rider’s Trailforks route climbing up California creek.  Sheesh, another hump buster. Climbing went form closed jeep road to single track back and forth. I attached my phone to my handlebar and followed a rider’s route. reached the high point then descended Silica Slide which is built as a bike park trail with deep berms and hucks. I do not chose to ride these type of trails, I rode the route. I used both garmin and BCN. BCN recorded 10.1 miles and 1802′ vert, like 180′ / mile. recovery advisor calculated 48 hr recovery. Another big hump out of low elevation city.

I installed a new pair of MTX brake pads on rear brake. I cleaned the brake pistons before installing I was able to make both pistons extend same distance meaning both pads grip the rotor equally. The brake as a result is much more powerful w/o much modulation. I adjusted the lever throw outward for greater lever travel as a sort of modulation. The brake will now easily lock up the rear wheel a comforting benefit going along with almost 0 degree engagement on I9 Hydra rear hub. When I want what I want, I want it NOW. Several Spokane shops are now carrying their pads for selected brakes. Formula is a hard find.

Skies cleared after rain as did the smoke haze. Beautiful clear blue skies on Mica.