Wash lessons: Just keep pedaling

January 28, 2025

Tuesday is group mountain bike day at the RV park. Riders of all levels, novice to advanced, meet up at the trailhead at 10:00. The experienced bikers are willing coaches for folks like me.

Today the group splits and the larger contingent takes off. Hank is going to lead the second group with me, Barb and Steve.

We follow Hank out on the trails to practice riding a series of progressively harder washes. Typically they involve plunging down around a curvy hill and back up the other side of the wash. We get no passes on these. If you don't make it up the hill, you go back and do it again.

Getting tips from Hank before we dive down the wash on the right

A wash known as International Bridge on Gate Pass Trail is the first big challenge. Steve has no trouble with it, or any of the others for that matter. He's here to help.

Barb and I both make it up the hill on the second try. Mostly it's about being in the right gear and keeping the pedals turning all the way to the top, even if you feel like you're going to lose it. Crushing this one makes for a good confidence booster.

The next stop is a steeper wash with no name on Mariposa Trail. On three attempts I fade short of the top every time. I'm ready to move on, but the guys assure me I can do it. Steve throws out the sweetener - when I make it to the top we’ll call it Jan’s wash. I can’t resist that challenge; the fourth time is the charm:

Let's call it "Barb and Jan's wash" - she made it too

The ominously named Ghost Gulch is the steepest one yet. After falling over and sliding down the hill on the fourth try, I'm saving this one for another day.

Back at the park, Hank offers to help me with a couple of bike issues. The front tire pressure is high, causing too much bouncing around and not enough grip on the trail. The valve is stuck so I haven't been able to let out any air. He pulls the valve core, probes the open valve with a wire to dislodge a gob of dried sealant, then screws in a new valve core.

Next he goes to work on the air pressure in the fork, which is too low. It's a bit scary when the fork bottoms out going down a rocky hill. Finding the right level is iterative - he pumps in some more air, I stand on the pedals to see how far down the fork goes in the shock, then repeat until it hits the spot he deems ideal. How lucky am I to have a friend like this?

I ride back to our trailer, where Barry has finished greasing the squeaky crank on his recumbent. Our new bike rack was just delivered and he is tearing into the box.

Assembly isn't difficult. It just takes time to tighten the 10 screws that hold the rack together. We should be able to take it apart for transport and storage. The rack seems sturdy enough. By alternating bikes to face front or rear, it holds all five of them and doesn't touch the disc brakes.

All the pieces parts, labeled and laid out

He gets pretty far before the instructions become important

This is a big improvement over the old situation where the bikes leaned against a wobbly railing, an awkward spot on the picnic table or each other.

Two stout chain locks secure all the bikes

The tarp is tied down just before the rain really kicks in.

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Today's ride: 8 miles (13 km)
Total: 154 miles (248 km)

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