Recently I came across info about new trails developed above ST George, up the road to access Ice House trail going downhill. Yesterday was my first business day in Hurkin area. First up was battery store to buy replacement batteries for the camper that were installed back in ’18. $600 on the barrelhead for new same batteries. I will be evaluating performance. Then several other stops. I was already near this new trail system and enough daylight remained to drive up there and ride some miles.

Access is from town, short piece of pavement then 5 miles of gravel. Today I enjoyed freshly graded dirt road and passed the grader. Big climb, road was not badly stutter bumped. I made the TH which is short of the start of Ice House downhill trail. I pedaled this climb 2X previously, this time I enjoyed just turning a wheel and pressing a pedal. Speed was just a bit faster than pedal speed. Made the tiny parking spot then drove several more feet to find an acceptable sleep spot. The spot was littered with brass ammo casings.

Geared up then pedaled away. Trails I rode were mostly all machine built and well laid out. Tread is over basalt babyheads, trail construction eliminated most, leaving the rest as rock gardens. Sharp edge hits. Late afternoon sun angle shifted visibility of chunks. Worse feet were when the sun shone directly in my eyes, visibility was impaired. I encountered only 1 rider, a local, who shared info. Trails were completed this spring but no rain fell to settle the new dust. Today the tread was dust free. Trails are in Trailforks for navigation. 10.5 miles climbing 883. System is on tilted earth. Spent the night.

Sunday I rode more of the Hurkin Cliffs system, today far fewer rigs and riders compared to Sat. Today my plan was descending Chinatown wash to connect to Rim system. I had ridden all these trails over the years, today I looked to evaluate my performance on features. Much improved I attribute to lowering saddle.  Trails here are a mx of firm rolled down dirt pock marked from cows. Dirt was firm. Played at carving turns on JEM. I climbed out on Dead Ringer then finished on Gould’s back to corral. 16.2 miles climbing 1053, pedaling for 2 hrs 4 mins, average beats per min was 116.

Sun I drove back down to town then out to Quail creek camp spot. However, road construction closed spots. A guy was heading out from spot who told me about closure. He said he would try Red Cliffs XG which was nearest camp spot. Registration is all on line. I picked a spot then drove out to the empty XG. My spot took creative block placement to level the van. Warm enough for the heater to exceed the heat loss which turned it off, so quiet without blower noise.

Today back to Hurkin. I sought body repair from local Chiro, repeat patient, to fix my right hip issues. Bought coffee beans at local roaster, River Rock Roasting, long time customer. Now outside OTE waiting for fork service to be completed. I have my new  Cane Creek Kitsuma coil shock waiting to be installed to set sag then my learning which direction turning which knob will affect ride quality.

I think I heard the term “Downwork” or maybe I made it up as applied to riding a motorized bicycle. Downwork riding. Like your car having electric windows instead of hand cranked. Applies to whatever lessens human energy expenditure.  Or maybe applies to whatever energy savings when recreating. Is lift skiing downwork from skinning up to earn your turns?

I grew up in Ohio, graduated college in Ohio, not OSU Buckeyes. I do favor the Bucks and play with the rivalry between Ohio and the state up north. The Bucks were rated #2 Nationally against underdog UM and playing at the Horseshoe. And they got beat, again. I allowed an event I had no control over affect my mental state. I was really down when the Zags lost. I enjoyed my first Hurkin ride today, I, the physical plant, and bike played the gentle bermed turns on hero dirt. I rode during the second half of the game, I stopped maybe 3 times to view the internet. Last was the final score. Oh, well, back to pedaling.

Thursday I drove down to Moab to do laundry before Waba Sabi meal and volunteer. In the teens overnight freezing the puddles. Lower 50s inside. Clean clothes stowed away. Drove to meal site, parked, and consumed time before feeding. I felt a jolt and a bang sound coming from my van: someone hit me. I jumped out sped to back of van. A full size pickup with a topper was culprit. I banged on topper yelling to attract driver’s attention. Door opened, it was a volunteer we knew of each other. My guess is he hit a pedal which jolted the rear wheel loose breaking the Volle strap then bouncing rear wheel off wheel track, a pedal prolly caught on the box preventing the bike falling more. Guy was watching his backup video which said plenty of room. I removed bike and put front wheel in and pedaled away feeling for anything not working. Seemed OK, Man said he will make good if damaged. Parted on level keel. Today I tested the bike on a ride learning all parts worked as should with no creaks.

Yesterday I drove away from Moab. My route is to take me on highways not driven. Up to I 70 W to State highway 24 to 12 . Twisty windy, steep ups and downs repeated many times. Up high in 9,000′, snow spotted blanketing. Memorable image was a short red sand dune with wind carved ripples with a low patch of fresh white snow. Escalante. Spectacular views and heads up driving. One section was on a knife’s edge, exposure. I experience vibration coming from front wheels that I believe is out of balance wheel, other wise the van ran as it should. Route was to take me thru Zion NP using my pass for no fee, this would be shorter than going around. I committed a navigational blunder turning too early for the park, I sensed I could be wrong so I stopped at maybe Duck something. I walked into an establishment and asked a woman if road thru park is opened. She looked at me puzzled and asked which park. Then I knew I blundered. I could have saved it by continuing to Cedar City then down to Hurkin. Turned around retraced route back to 89 then south to rd to East entrance to Zion. Lots of people and traffic in the park. Then Springdale was a zoo. Next unknown debacle was driving Sheep Bridge rd, Previously the road had been kept decently graded. I soon experienced miles of washboard. Won’t drive that road again.

25 degrees at dark wake up, 53 inside this morning Sunlight cleared shading mesa warming my front seat. I watched the thermometer while listening to the first half of the Bucks game. Temp rose to 50s at half time, time to go for a ride.

I rode from sleep spot catching Goulds over to TH at start of JEM. Most number of rigs I had ever seen. Many M-bikes. Dirt was firm. Shared my ride with less than 15.

Finished ride. I needed to tear down the bottom bracket area as I believe it is sending noise signals. Warm in sunshine to work on the outdoor bike stand. I discovered a loose bolt holding the chain ring on to the spindle. I cleaned parts up then reassembled then pedaled a short distance without the skritch sound. May I have been successful.

Drove into town for resupply. Stopped at OTE which was hopping, stayed out of the way. Shock had not arrived. Back out to corral spot. 31 degrees at 9:15 at 3930′.

No pics taken.

Bed time.

Forecast several days ago called for precip starting last night continuing all day and into night. Sunshine on Wed, Waba on Thurs, leave on Fri. living around Moab is reaching its end. I figured how to consume remaining time based on weather. Yesterday was prolly last ride, find place to hunker for today, and resupply to support.

Sunday I left Klondike for town to resupply, specifically drinking water. Then drove back up canyon to the Brand M trails to ride, Chilly and windy, what sun warmth gave the wind took  away.

Brand M trails I ride have challenges most I make and the same ones I still walk. Most walked ones are because my engine lacks output. I watched a rider pedal by me on Deadman’s giving me an image of successful matching his skill and bike to trail tread which was rock bedrock. Pedaling will overcome most problems. I am fully aware of what had been down in the past is not what the old gray goose is today. All of the trail is rideable which is a compliment to the trail design. The bikes are so much more capable. Slow speed balance method. I planned a shorter ride finishing just under an hour. The wind speed lessened my enjoyment of being outside.

Tomorrow I planed on riding up at Horsethief after spending the night up there. Up there past the turn I take for previous spot a road goers off to access another spur to go up to a large flat spot. Place is full on exposed. Over the years I have stayed there and today I wanted to accept weather exposure to stay there. Darn, BLM closed off the spur up to the spot. Returned to prefered spot down the road. All alone, empty. I have stayed off this road for many visits, observation: absolutely clean. Just old fire rings. Cleanliness of dispersed camp spots has been my experience.

You just don’t get this kind of riding everywhere everyday. Yesterday would be my last ride here. I drove out to where Chisholm crosses the highway for start lessening pedal time from and back to anchor. In upper 30s when I parked facing the sun. Empty trailhead. I sat on my chair soaking up solar gain and checking raising temp of at least 40 before venturing out. During my wait several other rigs disgorged riders. Between checks the temp jumped to 52, time to get after it. Horsethief system offers many choices of route and direction and effort. Bull canyon is nearby that I haven’t ridden for several visits. It’s a descent followed by climb home. Mixed in of course are ups and downs. It’s also a bucket list trail attracting riders and being worn. I have ridden this route many times, today I chose lesser traffic trails. Again, you don’t get this kind of riding everyday.  At every intersection a map is posted showing a smiley face for your location. Trailforks shows same info. I figured my route and read the maps. At 1 intersection I misfigured which trail. I did not tune into direction and elevation drop but enjoyed the descent that would have to be regained ahead. I arrived at an intersection and map: OOPS, Wrong direction. I was presented with 2 choices: 1)  climb back to last intersection, or 2) continue down to another intersection to climb out. I chose the return knowing that what I coasted down would be muscle power up. I made what I attempted. Clouds moved in during my ride blocking solar gain. Forecast appears to becoming reality.

At ride start I pedaled maybe 50 feet when my chain broke. WTF? Cause was improperly seated magic link after I removed it yesterday. I always carry spare link in my pack which I dug out and installed and seated. My bike is sending a discontent sound under pedal load that I haven’t learned its source. I removed the chain 2 days ago to check rest of drive train, the links were not bending freely. WTF? too much Squirt gumming flex? First time this happened, too much wax, maybe it will wear away over miles? I think chain is not playing with chain ring. I do my wrenching outside, here I put off pulling parts apart because it’s more comfortable inside my van.

Towards morning I heard pisting sounds outside. Sprinkles started continuing to daylight. Yep, rain. Then changed to snow in the air and melting on ground here, up higher snow stayed longer but melted out as snow returned to rain. Hunkered down on slick rock. Nearby this morning just several rigs spent the night, I stayed and they all left. 36 degrees out at 11:10 AM at 4390′, inside 71 at the ceiling. One night of propane burn, burning about a gallon a day. Today the heater will burn all day and night

Upon occasion I consume THC while on a ride. I notice I modify my pedaling to more closely pedal all the time while applying more muscle on downstroke. Also I seem to pedal while attacking the stepups. I seem to take the same risks. I notice an insufficient recall of that ride. Short term memory loss. I have consumed prior to ride start using the influence to convince myself that I really want to do this.

Batteries appear to be loosing their ability to store energy. I have been running the engine for 30 mins at a time, today maybe more as solar is hidden.