“Everybody” complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it. Me, Mother Nature controls the show, I just live with effects to make what I am able to do. My dresser has 2 drawers, the top is for street clothes, the lower is uncold temp riding clothes.  The street clothes are in 2 layers, one for warm and the other for cold. I just resequenced the cold clothing to be on top. Soon I will be putting on cold weather bike clothing from a separate drawer.

Sunday was an enjoyable sunny ride out at Kokopeli trails. Same ol’ same ol’ trails. Mountain biking is challenging even on familiar trails as tread might be different like a rock moved, a pedal stroke missed to make a feature, or a different line chosen. The scenery might change as in fall colors or soon to be stick season. A constant is riding same trails. I start from a parking spot removed from main TH and pedal a pice of the gravel road before turning onto a closed double track to a gap in the ridge then descend last of More fun then start climbing Mary’s. The first part of this trail is an old road with just single track line choices to a pinch point where a rock slide constricts to a squeeze. There on single track and features. This ride I rode Steve’s Connector that starts at locally named Pizza Point and connects to Steve’s loop then the loop. Peter showed me this direction. Out of Steve’s back to far end of Mary’s heading back. I rode the 2nd Wrangler cutover to finish on Wrangler. This choice eliminated Wrangler climb and descending switchbacks and miles of old below grade double track. 13.2 miles climbing 1122′.

I drove back to Fruita for resupply and visit with Peter at OTE to plan Monday’s ride where he would guide me on his Junction local trails. Our ride needed to be on Monday as the forecast wants wet for Tues and Wed. He showed me where to meet.

Monday I drove out to meet location. This area is on the approach to Junction’s airport. Peter and wife Janet live nearby which makes this a preferred riding area. Over time they have explored cow paths, dirt bike trails, and 4X4 roads and named some of them to create a loop. Weather was overcast and windy. I followed a ways off the back as they are faster. First part was thru prairie dog towns. Old cow pies. Brown vegetation.

My Rail has been ridden 656 rides covering 8412 miles since June 2021.

Sprinkles fell on our return. Chilly. Packed up and I returned to Fruita then out to my sleep spot N or Loma. Towards early morning the forecasted weather system made its presence felt with van rocking gusts and pounding rain. I park off S road which is an all weather gravel road allowing 2 wheel drive travel. After Bfast I drove back to Fruita. I hang at OTE for socializing with staff, most of them I have known for years. Then back out to sleep spot. This morning more rain fell which wets the gravel slicking it like driving on fresh snow.

So, I’m back at S road hunkered down. Dirt is too wet to ride, perhaps tomorrow. Forecast for tonight is freeze warning 25 degrees. Ground is too warm to create freeze thaw mud. Cooler weather is moving in which will keep my side door closed eliminating entrance for mice. The last one ate almond butter coconut bait for 2 nights before its 3rd feast met with capture.

Next Tues I have follow up appointment with dermatologist regarding my leg issue. The prescribed ointment cleared up the ulcer. I plan on heading to Moab afterwards which is warmer.

Continuing fall falling here at Fruita. Temperatures are now fall like, like just 70 under sunshine and in 40s in the dark.

Last night I was punished for not paying attention to propane quantity as I woke up about 1 AM to quiet and flashing red led from the heater saying I am empty. The fridge showed a bright green “F” saying I’m getting warm. I pulled over the down comforter then thought about recovery plan. Prolly closest fill station was outside Junction about 20 miles away. I figured that if I could remain “comfortable” I could wait till morning and refill in Fruita. I hoped the cold inside would keep the fridge cold. The Fruita store opened at 7 I learned when I crawled out from under covers to read my phone. I put off the cold by staying in bed until just before 7. I started the engine and turned the van heater on high and drove the van slowly to lessen the chilling effect of could air not letting engine warm quickly. Arrived at Fruita CO OP just after 7, the sign at the refill station read propane fill hours starting at 8, I was an hour early. What to do? Perhaps breakfast in town inside? I chose an open restaurant for warmth, coffee, and rolled oats and passing time till 8. I drove back to COOP at 8 for 5.6 gallons of warmth.

Inside OTE numerous mountain bikes are hung up high, historical evidence of the engineering developments. There might be a time line for the display as bikes go from fully rigid, long stem, narrow handlebar, and rim brakes, to more modern full suspension and disk brakes. Below pic is informative in that it is an early full suspension but before advent of disc brakes. Museums just show facts.

While here I have been riding the Kokopeli trails that are challenging for me technically that I can accept and require muscle power that is age effected. My sleep spot is N of Loma on a gravel road. Yesterday I sought a less strenuous ride on gravel roads. I was not gungho to pedal my 6″ travel bike on gravel roads. I studied TF to pick a ride. I chose a route that took me north to the toe of the Book Cliffs to a trail for return. Nice day. I pedaled and pedaled w/ nary a front wheel loft. Roads were of gravel of varying degrees of stutter bumps and depth of loose gravel. Pedaling on road makes for constant pedaling which was good for me, I learned to keep spinning. I stuck it out to catch the single track going back. Many of the trails out in this area are open to dirt bikes as was the trail I took. Dirt bikes create whoops that play heck with pedaling and the trail is not mtn biking challenging. I only rode this 1 trail before returning to the gravel. I worked at keeping my heart rate down averaging just 106 beats per minute, highest was just 125 for 17.5 miles pedaling for 1 hr 46 mins, climbed just 735′. Gravel biking does not appeal to me.

Darn mice enter the van thru the open side door which is open when wanted for view and comfort. I keep a trap set baited with almond butter in the galley cabinet where my food stores are. Seem a mouse needs 3 cracks at eating the bait before its last meal. Last night a new visitor made its presence known from scratching sounds. I checked the trap this morning to see almond butter was missing but the trap was still set. That was day number 1, 2 more to go before harvest.

Thursday was laundry day and quest for Junction laundromat. I misread Google info as the format has changed. I picked a new one which turned out to be further into town than before. There is a difference between on line reviews and what is on the ground. I was there so I fed their machines for clean and dried clothes. Number of liners line drying at back of van tell tale of number of rides between washings: just 2 last week.

Returned to Fruita. Again, the Kokopeli trails are like the mama bear of trail challenges. Papa bear puts its paw on the scale in places. Mack Ridge descent needed to be ridden this visit. To get it I rode Lyons up and around to its end at Mack ridge road climb sim to route of Troy Built. Mack Ridge descent goes down, not a mountain bike optimized trail. Lots of rock features to let bike suck up with 2 that I don’t trust myself to make. Proper body position keeping heavy feet and light hands allows bike’s suspension to roll over. Plus confidence all will end well. Down low there is a protruding rock in a tight spot that still catches my pedal. I ride in fear of pedal strikes as consequence can result is my leaving the bike and possible body damage after contacting mother Earth.

Chunky in places, hike a bike over and between rocks and boulders. As you see, no tree cover, full on exposure to sun.

My Formula Cura 4 pot rear brake was not locking the wheel up as I expected even after new pads and brake bleed. Perhaps the rotor was worn thin as this was last variable I could affect. Formula rotor thickness is 1.8 to 2.3mm, present rotor was under 1.7, hmm. Measured SRAM rotor in the shop: 2.0mm. I bought one and installed and realized remarkable performance improvement as now able to lock wheel while still having modulation. Much happier. I want a brake that will lock up the wheel right when I need it to affect a move. I don’t skid the wheel I pivot from locked wheel. Running a 2 pot Cura on front that has not needed bleeding from new back in ’17. Mineral oil.

Washington State is mail in ballot. Yesterday my mail forwarding service sent my ballot to Fruita PO per request. I opened it and checked the boxes of what I wanted then returned to outmail at PO. I did what I am able to do now it’s waiting to see if enough other voters agreed.  How can so many people get sucked in to following a cult leader against their own better interests?

Rain and Recovery

Yesterday I rode a ride that I should do while here but dreaded effort. Case of can’t vs won’t. I started from the Mack TH riding the last piece of dirt road to the start of Troy Built single track. The purpose of this route was an easier shorter climb to top of Mack Ridge to descend Hawkeye back to van. I knew of all the hike a bike for me parts ahead which is source of won’t. What I can’t make I would walk. An the in between climbing parts would elevate my heart and blow up my breathing. Today I put myself in the position of going for a ride for enjoyment of being outside and letting the can’t parts just be. THC before starting helped mindset.

Right at start of Troy I waited and watched 2 women riders pedal up what I prolly would have walked because of steepness. Challenging trail for me, as steepness requiring either endurance or a burst of pedaling to climb a feature has left the barn. Watching others succeed  when I can no longer do…. … . Cope.

Desert riding, just invasive junipers for green. I learned that junipers are an invasive species because of man’s interference with Mother. The cows grazed down the native grasses opening vegetation for juniper which take over competing with natural grasses. In nature’s way the juniper adapted  fire resistant locations. Suppressed fires allow juniper spread. I learned this from an article about a location, that to protect endangered prairie chickens, junipers were being uprooted opening land back up.

Troy ends at non maintained 2 track to climb Mack Ridge.

Looking behind:

At the top of this beat up road I stopped for a break. As I started to pedal away a woman rider rode up. She called me by name, it was Anne formerly of Hot Tomato owner. Short catchup while I panted and she smiled while “pedaling” an M-bike. 2 track trail to top of ridge to start of single track wending its way on top over to start of Hawkeye. Hawkeye, 2.9 miles long, descending 928′ but climbing 318′. The descent is not all downhill.

My ride was 9.54 miles climbing 1001′ pedaling for 1 hr 33 mins, average beats per minute was 124. Recovery time is 46 hours. This was 12 mins longer than same ride this spring. I do enjoy the 30T ring and lowered saddle. Nice day to be outside. Not crowded, encountered maybe 15 others.

Weather person is not consistently in step with what Nature delivers.  Rain fell early morning thru breakfast clean up enough to create puddles. Clouds moved downwind opening up sunshine and drying.

Recovery, per Garmin EDGE, is 46 hours which is pretty long. Today is a recovery day to listen to computer to take care of my body.

Evidence is it’s the third night the mouse eats the almond butter off the trap trigger before springing the trap. This last mouse ate the bait 2 nights straight, third time did not end well for the mouse. Same number of days for the previous capture.

I’m reading Kristin Hannah’s newest, The Four Winds, which is set prior and post dustbowl time around Dalhart, TX. Writer Egan described town as epicenter of dustbowl.  Man’s inhumanity to man based on haves against the have nots. I visited Dalhart 2X, saw green.