I plan on leaving Sedona heading to Durango on Wed after Gonzaga wins the championship. I have made greater Sedona my home for 90 some days and still counting. My experience has been of putting things off until there is shrinking amount of available time. Shoulda but didn’tna. I can make myself be bittersweet about moving on but I smile at my experiences here as memory. This is my 12th visit here and I have known some people here that amount of time. I have returned year after year and stayed for several months, I see returning this winter again to be part of Sedona. Riders, whom I met back during my first year of hanging at the old Bike and Bean and being adapted by the locals, are still together. No new members, just loss. Closed culture? Yes but normal grouping of people you know a bit about and trust to them to help me and they the same of me. Back when I lived back in the Puget Sound I was part of a small group of people who shared same the sport and expertise, we were a product of  organized mountaineering training (Mountaineers). We were exclusionary. Each of us had learned individual behavior, we had a standard that everything was brought along and you were a competent user of same. This biking group is similar in that we know about each others’ ability and character. We have a culture among ourselves albeit me the interloper who shares experiences for places they have not been. I understand their Sedona talk and have participated with them. I kept returning and rejoining.

Today was Ian’s birthday. He invited me and members of our gang on a birthday ride. Something about a social easy ride up Old Mans etc out to Horse Mesa. Met at the Outlet mall lot, my home out of the forest spot. Jimmy pulled in, Dave ( Canadian Bacon), Ian, and Chuck. All long time friends. Connections are important that my lifestyle are few and short duration lack. I am the slowest and possess  lesser tech skills and less speed that the others have, I’m never far back and I walk several features. To be included in their company is rewarding.

The FS is building new trail out Old mans and what’s named Dairy Springs way and decomissioning user created trails. System trails. Slick rock construction:

Unfortunately the Rabbit ridge trail has been obstructed by lots of plant material, however the tread appears to be intact. Our ride was over to shoulder of Horse Mesa meaning we wiggled downhill on a scant impression of a wheel track. Dodging prickly pear and yucca close to the ground and catclaw to upper body. As the rider ahead of me maybe brushed a catclaw bush that I rode into on the rebound. Or maybe it was my mistake. None the less my right forearm was weeping dark red blood from numerous claw gouges.  Bleeding stopped unaided. Over at Horse Mesa the tread became basalt babyheads. There is a spot out there that is known as the Church, church of the Rotating Mass. Sacrament is a sip of tequila from a stashed bottle. It’s one of several locations out here.

Deathly slow pic upload.

We honored lost member Duf.

More basalt junk. My pedaling prowess continues to grow as a result of lowered seat, I was able to pedal over many of the feet of that basalt shit. we exited onto a residential street at its highest point for the start of a steep coast. Screamer tuck. Down the ways an older woman driving her white older sedan entered the road on the right without seeing 3 bikers screaming downhill. We we able to avoid her and she let us pass.

Back to the rigs then dinner at mexican restaurant in the mall. I dashed out to Beaverhead in search of sleep spot. The first right after the overlook is packed big time, never seen as many rigs there. Even the next road to the tank. Sweating an open spot at MP4. Last night out there my favorite and back up spots were occupied. I knew of a spot between the two not obvious and it was open. Score for the night. today after dinner I cut the celebrations short and drove out to MP4. Scored my favorite spot and the way out is still occupied. More and more rigs out here occupying public land with not always places to park a rig for the night.

Speaking (writing) of lots of people with few spots to stay I realize that in my travels I am adding another rig to the pudding. Uncertainty of scoring a primitive legal sleep spot. I have become less adventurous in my travels as returning to previous spots is to have local knowledge. wed i head north to uncertainty.

Yesterday was cleaning of the clothes day and picking up my new Industry Nine front wheel at my local mail and ship to location of The Worm. Wheel: New with improved rim design and construction. No mileage. Needed shop air to seat the beads. Traffic in west Sedona is horrendous, turning left on a crowded 4 lane highway takes time for an opening. I figured my stops turning right only and saving the stops on the other side of the road for the way back.

I parked at Sunset Park on southern outskirts of town, right up against public land. Ride idea was for big loop from here out to furthest reaches of the western gateway trails. again, the ride idea was hatched while laying in bed imagining instead of counting sheep. And actualization was only going to happen one pedal stroke, uphill pant, or downhill breeze at a time. Out Old Post, turned on to start of Skywalker all the way to Over Easy to behind the expensive chain motel, crossed the highway entering the Cultural Park trailhead. My route had many possibilities because of the sheer number of trail miles limited by time and endurance. I exited on Stirrup heading to junction with Girdner. Continued on Girdner to Snake down to AZ Cypress along Dry creek. Off that I rode miles of social trails working my way back to cultural park. Rejoined system trail on Rover, Axis down to the creek and climb up to cultural park. Back across the road to Over Easy to Skywalker to Old Post onto pavement back to park. I ran out of hours. 20.1 miles pedaling for 2 hrs 47 mins climbing 1755′. I encountered fewer than 20 people, so few I hardly remember encounter. Big ride and big effort: my average beats per minute was my aerobic threshold of 128. Hardly a stop.

First impression of new I9 wheel was supple less bash from the sharp edges. What was noticeably enjoyable after time became the norm. I sent the old wheel back to Steve’s barn. The old wheel had 15,xxx miles on the rim and several years more of riding on the hub. Non boost to go with my to be extended travel fork to match the revel rail bike.

Wed I rode a short figure 8 route out Llama, down Little Horse to HT to templeton, down Breezy wash then up the wash etc to join Slim at high point for finish. Down the way was where I fell. Always take a pic of crash site.

Chiropractic manipulation realigned parts.

Sat late afternoon Gonzaga plays UCLA in final 4 game.

Last night was first since last fall to not run the furnace plus I kicked off the second layer of down blanket. Warm and next few days are forecast in the 80s.

 

Jimmy left Sedona several years ago moving to Prescott where he established himself as a local and still my friend. Yesterday mountain bike  tires lined up for a trip over to his neighborhood. Ian drove me and our bikes over to Jimmy and Christine’s house for a ride from their house. Well, while we rode from their house but we had quite a few miles of pavement climbing to dirt then into Prescott NF still on dirt. Almost classic CO ride with mass uphill time for smaller amount of time going back down on single track. Higher elevation and more moisture changes the forest canopy. Here we were in P pine and alligator juniper on decomposed granite. Even a patch of push our bikes over snow.

15.5 miles climbing 1850′ which mathematically is greater than 100′ mile Sedona profile plus we started at 5.373′ climbing to 6,796′. Sedona stays around 4,500′. Paid the effort price of higher elevation.

Reward for effort was downhill on purpose built single tracks. Ian and Jimmy gapped me very quickly as it is wont to be. I manage my excitement with confidence to lessen pressure on my brake levers and coast rather than enhance my speed. I noticed that the manzanita here is green as it should be as more water was available during last year’s growing season. A bit of pavement riding back to their house then treated to a fine home cooked dinner and a tequila drink (only 1). I visited with Jimmy’s dogs who maybe remembered me but didn’t begrudge my affectionating them. Late night drive back to Sedona where I spent the night at the overlook.

I looked at a web site on brake pads from MTX. Manufacture added ceramic to his brake pads which is to increase modulation and power while creating no squeal. Sure. Present sintered Formula pads have great power with less modulation and squeal when wet and shriek when dry. Yesterday while waiting for Ian to pick me up I install a pair in the rear brake then rode a bit to bed them in. In the flat gravel parking lot the power did not seem to be any better than Formula. Then miles of riding I worked on more bedding. When I started downhill the pads slathered their compound on the rotor making a happy bind and the performance came on. Powerful with no squeal and maybe some better modulation. Take aways are the pads don’t squeal and grip the rotor with stopping power. Have a set for the front also.

Today at 11:10 Gonzaga plays Sweet Sixteen game. The timing messes with potential ride time as it will be too late to drive to west Sedona with bumper to more bumper traffic. And crowds down here are getting bigger down here. That a a glass of wine during the game might have coordination and confidence issues. Nice day, maybe just a walk.

So, bike update: I am keeping my fork and nonboost front wheel. The fork needs to have an additional 10mm more travel added to match the rear then be retuned and a new RUNT installed. I scored a drop off appointment with Diaz in Durango for either the 6th or 7th. I will be leaving prolly the 6th after the Championship game. I will ride Alien Run in Aztec, NM and Phil’s in Cortez, CO and Boggy Draw in Delores if melted out then on to Moab. I need to allocate my time to ride good stuff between here and Bend to arrive there at Memorial Day.

End of March is approaching moving out of the reputation of in like a lion out like a lamb or reverse sequence. April showers bring May flowers may that happen here in the west. And may Gonzaga still be playing on April 5th to win the big dance.

 

 

Late Mon afternoon the wrench called me to say bike is ready for me to settle up. Drove up and plugged my debit card in their money slot for service. He replaced all the bearings and said that the knock was still present saying it was in the shock. Friend Bill from Gunnison finally connected. Bill was granted escape privilege for a bike get away. He and his wife own Tomichi Cycles where he is main wrench. We checked over the bike away from the shop. Well, the suspension felt more supple. I removed the PUSH then installed the stock Monarch, same clunk. Two sets of ears traced the sound to the derailleur clutch. Chain slack / tension pulls on the hanger and the clutch hangs up momentarily which creates the clunk. Replacement in the future.

We drove out to Beaverhead. The spot, first right past the overlook, was open which is flat and big enough for our Sprinter vans.

The forecast for Tues called for wet for sure after 11 AM. I suggested that we lessen our chances of getting stuck or getting wet riding was to be on the road by 8 and ride short loop at Turkey creek to finish before precip. We were on the road before 8 and drove to spot down Verde Valley School road at start of social trail thus eliminating the 3 miles of road riding in each direction. Threatening cloud cover. Bill is much stronger and way better tech rider than me and was seeing these trails for first time. I put him up front and called out turns from behind. Trails were firm and a little rain fell on us but it appeared that heavier rain fell on the ride back before we arrived. We rode around the knob and the ocotillo forest. I watched Bill clean all the tech problems. Back at our vans before 11, spritzes fell. I was done riding for the day and I wanted better internet speed so I drove back to outlet. Bill hung around a bt then went for another ride. Where I was parked several small squalls fell. Bill drove out to Beaverhead and scored the same spot. I attended a COTA Zoom meeting about trail management while in town. Afterwards I drove out and joined him. So nice to know I had a confirmed sleep spot.

Forecast was favorable for riding Wed. I invited Ian with ride request of Old Mans and the new trail construction. We made a big ride, 19.8 miles climbing 1486′, making a full afternoon out of it as we stopped for visitation numerous times. We rode the new trail, most was new construction with places where legacy sections became the trail. The new trail crosses Rabbit ridge trail which has not been decommissioned… yet. Ian described it as a in your face challenge to visitors, the trail uses a whole lot of entire body control on a seemingly flat trail. It is littered with small loose rocks and is below grade. My effort riding it causes several out of breath breaks. However, the new trail traverse climbs on the side hill. We made the waterfall trail, a social trail that descends a tight wash, hence its name. May this piece be left alone. Then over to connect with Llama out to Little Horse intersection where we were presented with several ride options each riding part of Hogs system. Turned right up to Chicken Point then Broken Arrow to Hogs, riding entire Twin Buttes down to Hogwash to its end at Mystic, left turn dirt to trail end on pavement. Then a social trail to reconnect with system trails at HT to Breezy all the way to its end, cross the highway, short social trail to connect with Slim for the desert of the ride. I asked to be excused towards the end as I said my mind was full.

Bill and I drove back out to Beaverhead an scored the same spot. Last night the forecast for today was a wind event and possible precip. Bill would be heading back home early today, he went to bed early. Dark thirty 4:30 AM I was awakened by several raps on the slider door. Bill? Yes, he said then said his van would not start and do I have jumpers. I said yes then set about making my van ready to drive 30′ to the front of his van. Jumper cables stowed in the JOBOX, he connected them, waited less than a minute, then turned the key, van fired up, disconnect and stow the cable, drive back to my level spot, then lower bed and climb in. Sleep never returned.

Today was wash day. Drove up to west Sedona before 9 on empty highway. Clean clothes including sheets, 1 is a brand new one, and hung the bike clothing on the inside line. Visited with Mike at the Worm then drove back down to VOC. Bumper to bumper traffic heading into Sedona and even a bit heading down. I am playing the forecast to not rain so I drove out to MP4. Wind event and desire to rest kept me inside all day.

Bike update: Soul Cycles called me 2 times leaving messages about delivery dates for 2 bike colors. Ist choice was the electric copper, second was black. Black has shorter delivery time. I want the bike and black is perfect. I called Soul today telling them to order the black. Delivery sometime in June to be shipped somewhere. At first I ordered the new boost Lyric fork. I have a brand new nonboost I9 front wheel in UPS care to me and a Fox factory 36 Diaz tuned fork. I inquired Diaz about which fork is better, I was told that my present fork is better than stock Lyric. He can increase the travel to match 170mm bike suspension. I have decided to stick with the non boost front wheel and the retuned current fork. The far out delivery date gives me time to convert the rear hub to boost and buy the various new parts such as: dropper post, bottom bracket, cranks. Gonna be a $4,000 bike. I am to be at Bend by Memorial day and I will spend June waiting for bike build.

I have commented that there are no new riders in our group. Bill offered the possibility that the new riders are using social media to connect and we are not conversant in the social media. Maybe we aren’t reaching out in their language.