Tuesday

Sort of a late ride report. Had an early day Tuesday and saddled up the Zion. Rode to the hospital. Did my cases. Left the hospital at noon.

Rode up iron springs turned left hear the racket club to the old nearly unused trail that climbs up to the thumb butte parking area. I could not clean this climb. I don't think I have ever done it on SS. Too steep and loose at the end.

Rode up White Rock and cleaned everything including the sandy gully at the top. I felt strong.

Turned around and dropped down 332 to the RR grade. Met this bull snake



Played with him until he went under a rock.

Finished 332 and then had a choice: up the road to 37, or straight across to the GB saddle. It was hot, and I have been going up 37 a lot lately. I also didn't think I had a prayer of riding it with the 33 x 21 gearing on the Zion, so across it was to the saddle.

Then around GB clockwise 349 to lake, refilled water, then down Mint wash. At this point I was starting to fatigue and was probably at least 2.5 hours into this thing. I really really wanted to clean this puppy:





The top is as high as you can see. 1 mile and 20 minutes of steepish climbing. Probably not at techy as 37, but very close. This late in the ride, I thought I had an even chance if only I could clear just past the first switchback. Rolled to the beginning and hit it. As I want up, I spun the rear on the loose stuff, stalled, track standed, and amazingly started again without dabbing three times. Once past it, I knew there were two more tough sections. They actually passed without drama, and soon I was whooping at the top for cleaning this thing with a "big" gear late in a ride on a hot day. I actually felt very good...at this point.

Climbed up to the saddle area, down to Katahn road and started the road home. This required several road climbs, and I noticed that my speed had slowed to a glacial pace. I had one more "secret" steep, 1/4 mile singletrack to get up the hill to the house. This ended up being a walker. I was done. I was lucky to get up the driveway at the end. The 3.5 hours in the heat of the day was 15 minutes too long. Got home and had two fistfulls of potato chips and a cup of ice cream...bliss.

It is such an odd feeling to be "done" in this way. Almost indescribable. For me, anyway, I don't really feel bad, I just can't move any more, at least with any power. I experienced the feeling most way back when I was training for a marathon. When I upped the mileage to the next goal, I would invariably crash out in the last mile or so and have to simply walk slow.

What is the cause? Hard to say. I was hydrated enough. But it was hot, hot. No leg armor, but with the full face and arms on I was cooking plenty. I ate no food? and maybe that contributed. I am of the calories on a ride are for wusses school though, so I categorically deny that had anything to do with it. I vote for heat and simple lack of conditioning as the cause. This was my third ride in the three hour range in 5 days, and rigid take its toll.

Equipment: Flow rims plus Rampages are the most brain dead simple tubeless combo I have ever tried. Dan's tubeless homebrew is brilliant (and cheap)

While I am in the mood. Let me ruminate on single speed and rigid SS riding. It is hard, it is fun. In my heart I am truly a SSer. Especially in the local terrain. It gives me a buzz, and challenges me in a way I simply can not get with gears. Rigid is nice (especially when riding alone) because I really don't feel the need to ring every bit of speed out of the bike downhill all the time. Beats me up to bad, so why not just slow down and poke along?

The cool thing is that I have three very different bikes, all with essentially nothing I would change about them (right (shrug)). The one with gears gets the least love, however.

Anyway, I had a good time if you couldn't tell.