Get Off My Trail
Cloud cover and morning AC blasting my body was fooled into believing that the morning Utah air would be cool and perfect for a ride. Instead the clouds withholding even the slightest drop of moisture instead populated the air with stifling humidity. I climbed through rock and dust roasted dry by drought and mountain sun all the while dripping as if I had just emerged
In the brisk, sharp, mountain morning air the Ripmo and I started up Jardine Juniper for a marvelous morning in the mountains. Crank turning and wheels rolling over rock and root we bickered about direction. The Ripmo likes to meander around the trail. I prefer to go straight. At one point the Ripmo wanders into a sagebrush. I pull hard on the reins to bring
I used to ride without music. Then I rode with ear buds. Then I started scaring hikers and runners because I couldn’t hear them and since they usually have ear buds they couldn’t hear me. Even when the hiker/runner doesn’t have earbuds, mountain bikes are remarkably quiet. On a lower traffic trail it’s easy to slip into Zen mode. The noise of the world fades
Having backed away from my destructive attitude towards the Ripmo I discovered that most people cover their new toys in all kinds of protective shielding. I made an appointment with the bike shop to have them outfit the Ripmo with all the protective stuff. Think iPhone protective plastic but all over your bike. Whenever the bike goes to the shop I take a detour to
The Ripmo was not happy that I left it in the truck yesterday and went road biking so when I woke up at 6 a.m. this morning I was like what the hell am I doing awake so early?! Then I woke up at 8 a.m. and remembered the Ripmo was waiting. I proceeded to get ready. When I started biking, getting ready meant walking
Riding the Ripmo is like taming a wild pony. It comes with a set of opinions, secrets and approach to navigating the mountains. It is the job of the new rider to discover these secrets. I’m gradually unlocking the bikes capabilities one level at a time. I still find myself breaking out of the perfect flow from time to time, surprised at the bike’s handling
Continue readingThe Demonic Stones Rise From Their Dusty Hell
Woke up early to another extreme heat warning. To escape the heat and with a tiny head start in my favor I determined I could make it up Logan Canyon for a quick ride up Jardine Juniper. The Ripmo was already cleaned and loaded in the truck. I checked the air pressure and set off to spend the morning blaming my Ripmo for my ineptitude.
I added a speed and cadence sensor to the Ripmo last night with the intention of gathering a few more stats on the morning ride. Then I rode to the top of the trail, glanced at my cadence which read nothing and then remembered I never added the new sensors to the Garmin. Oops. I set up the Garmin to search for the new sensors.
It’s July 5th. After a night of celebrating our freedom to BBQ and blowing stuff up it rained. In Utah a bit of light late night rain means get on the trail as fast as possible before the sun bakes the dirt back into moon dust. I want to give the Ripmo another chance. This time I’m expecting the heavy front end and I deal
I’ve been an Ibis rider for years. I have a Ripley V1 that I ride multiple times a week on the trails in Northern Utah. I’ve ridden it all over Keystone, CO and Park City, UT. It handled Slickrock admirably. I have more miles on it than my friends have on their various motorized devices. It has been my best friend in blazing heat, rain,