Last Saturday Jimmy invited Ian and I to join him and Christine for a ride on his local Prescott trails. Ian picked me up and did the driving both ways over to Prescott. Trails are snow free which shouldn’t be. Elevation is more than 1,000′ higher than Sedona, increases gasping for breath. Riding area is right against private build up, twisty climbing road to arrive at Aspen TH. Jimmy lead us on one of his favorite rides. Locals know how to link trails for the most smiles. Tread is decomposed granite. Slightly chilly which lessened sweat dripping. System trails. Our price of admission was a 20 min dirt road climb in the middle which linked downhills and coasting. Forest flora is mixed Ponderosa pine, oak, and juniper. Stick season for oak. There were 2 small off trail blobs of snow.

Tread is mostly pedal bike.

Thursday Doug lead a ride out from Cultural Park which is the high point of any ride meaning finish was climbing up Axis, a solid 20 mins of huffing. I pedaled it non stop per usual. Grinder, red dirt and rocks. 7.61 miles climbing 732′ pedaling for 1 hr 10 mins. Doug’s shoulder issue limits his choices that I benefit from also, being shorter and lesser chunk. We enjoy being outside that riding gives us an excuse.

I have been hiking more as I am better able to keep my breathing below gasping. Yesterday we hiked a piece of Transept off Verde Valley school rd. A faint social trail beckoned me for a return instead of retracing trail.  Many years ago I “rode” the trail in opposite direction, did it more than once as I joined group rides. I had many opportunities to walk, back then I wore clipless pedals that required a metal cleat on the sole of my shoes, right under the ball. Metal does not hook up to slick rock, slippery. Today I wore hiking shoes. Been there ridden it, never more.

Sunday was Super Bowl game which I watched 1st half in packed PJs. Experience reminded me of my first super bowl watering hole on Shelter Island way out on Long Island, way lower key back in 1974. PJs was standing room only if you could find a spot that would not block someone’s view from the many TVs mounted above standing head high. Commercials have changed over the years, sound was muted. Lopsided game, Eagles trounced the Chiefs. I walked back to my house and fixed dinner. Only much later did I consult espn to see the score.

PJ’s now receives espn+ where the Zags coverage has moved to, dunno if coverage is a result of their no longer in top 25 teams. XM has moved them to a channel that my receiver doesn’t receive or I am required to pay additional $ for.

My Suunto watch shows sunrise and sunset daily. I compared ride and set for Jan 9 and 30. Sunrise changed 10 mins and set changed by 20 mins. Today’s data is 7:12A to 6:12P.

Where we should not have been. Dead dry and very warm for this time of year after P-Phil forecast 6 more weeks of winter.  But that is there, not here. Maybe there is a scorpion that predicts upcoming weather.

Doug and I rode out Western gateway trails yesterday, note the blinding white of his flesh.

I’m still wearing a light weight long sleeve wool top but have shortened leg coverage to shorts. 70 degrees yesterday.

Doug’s left arm is not happy which limits his riding time and roughness of trail which as I follow along benefits my body’s performance. While we stop more frequently and for longer minutes our time out is growing longer as our mileage shrinks. Yesterday’s ride was 7.61 miles climbing 732′ pedaling for 1 hr 10 mins. This is Sedona chunky riding. Ride finished with 20 min nonstop climb on Axis out of Dry Creek. At start of the climb 3 male m-bike riders, maybe in their 40s, regrouped to recover their lungs after a downhill.

Thurs is laundry day before lunch. Yesterday Doug scheduled his ride to during washer time. I was parked at laundromat when I read his text, decision: do wash now and miss ride or ride and do wash later? Folks at the laundromat have learned that they can mark their calendar to the day of the week with me being there in the morning. I chose the later choice. I walked into the laundromat and informed them that the date was correct but not to count on the time. I returned after my ride and let the machine make clean and dry clothes.

Last night the Zags played, TV coverage was espn+ that PJ’s did not subscribe to. Previously I had introduced myself to the new owner and asked for that channel. I checked in b4 game and learned they bought access. I returned at game time and watched the game. Zags won.

Monday I followed Doug again for a ride. This ride broke the 1,000′ climb per ride threshold at 1125′ covering 10.8 miles pedaling for 1 hr 36 mins. Beat down, recovery was calculated at 36 hrs. Average beats per min was 123.

I continue to sing praise for a better suspension tuned bike performance. I also seem to be doing more steering for chosen lines. Sometimes an obstacle is preferred over picking. Suspension works better when power on pedals over feature.

Joey at Absolute Bikes shared bike info unknown to me which will correct future actions. He said that SRAM chains are made with their lube and should be left on, any degreasing should be done with just water and Dawn. SRAM said that chemical degreasers removed a protective plating which dastardly harmed the chain. Also, don’t apply lubricants to fork and dropper post seals as the liquid seeps past the seals entrapping grit. Both lessons alter old ways of taking care of parts.

Friday at 4:55 PM outside temp was 60 degrees at 3,848′ elevation. Out at Beaverhead spot. It was 25 at 7 AM.

Previous Sunday’s weather was bodacious wonderful. Doug and I rode starting at 2 PM out off Dry Creek. So nice to be outside and riding provided the medium for our enjoyment. We rode Aerie for the first this year, it’s a system trail Sedona rugged. Bike suspension is so nice, more later. 10.1 miles climbing 774′ pedaling for 1 hr 32 mins.

Previous to this ride I sought suspension advice from Absolute in VOC. Slow day, Gunnar set me up starting with proper sag on the shock. He used a caliper and calculator to arrive at 30% sag. I left the shock tuning valves alone. The Fox 36 fork is set to open and the proper rebound setting. The other fork leg is the RUNT which is set at 120 and 60 psi, no sag adjustment. During the above ride I enjoyed the bike handling. I believe the sag was set too high which didn’t play well. The bike rides so sweetly. The suspension eats up the less than smooth tread. It climbs so ably that my engine can not take full advantage of what it is capable of climbing. frame design and coil shock.

Soft winter weather arrived Mon morn for my drive up to Flag for DR appointment. Forecast called for snow in afternoon. I drove up the canyon to Flag in the morning then waited for my appointment. I preferred to drive on bare pavement. Before my 3:30 appointment snow started falling off and on but not sticking. I returned to VOC on I-17 driving thru several snow showers that worked the windshield wipers. Flag is at 7,000′, VOC is at 4,000′. Many miles of little elevation drop highway had snow on the road, wheel tracks thru. Drove out of the snow before the elevation drop to exit. Weather turned cold and dreary and windy until today.

Today I drove out Verde Valley School rd to ride in Turkey Creek area. First ride here this year having missed last year. Plan today was to map my ride and to wander. All by myself. I mostly rode previously ridden trails. I rode up to what I call the ocotillo forest named so because of several of them.

So nice being outside in favorable weather. 8.68 miles climbing 827′ pealing for 1 hr 24 mins. Rides are becoming shorter distance and time. Riding is now about being physically active for between 1 and 2 hours. Making the body work. Average beats per minute was 118 just below going anaerobic. Riding a mountain bike is a mix of pedaling and coasting, the bike computer gathers the data and reports effort. Of that time I spent 53 mins at beats between 110 and 126. I work at it.

I’m learning to steer the bike, pick a line and let the bike deal with it. Of course within my risk threshold. Bike is an enjoyable and enabler ride.