Adobe Bike

I just got back from the Chuska Challenge and it took me four hours to clean up my bike and gear. We were out in the Chuska Mountains in the Navajo Nation just northeast of Canyon de Chelly in northeastern Arizona. My camera lens cover stopped working after my second wipe out in the mud so I was not able to document the whole experience. Despite having to be rescued out of the mud I had a great time and will write it up as soon as I can. In the meantime consider these photos.

This shot was the next day about half way home after I cleaned enough mud off to barely be able to lift the bike on to the rack. The camera dried out and started working again so I was able to document the mud. Keep in mind that there was actually 3-4 times as much mud on the bike. Every spoke was full so that it looked like a solid wheel. The tire looked several times larger. The brakes did not work. At one point another Chuska Challenger joked that it looked like I had a Harley. It really did look and feel that way too! I could barely lift the front wheel out of the bottom of the ruts. At times I would have to dig the mud off the wheels about every ten feet just to be able to push ten more feet.



I was having a little trouble shifting. Others noted that their chains were skipping too.









I hate to sound like a whiner, but my brakes were not working too hot either!



Oh, one last thing. I had some difficulty clipping in. In fact, I could not even find the pedals!!



Fortunately, the directions where clear ... well at least before I started carrying a stout stick on my handlebar bag to help clear of the mud every few feet so that the wheels could turn.



Every epic journey requires an Epic Designs frame bag.



Meanwhile, my wife was tracking my progress (or lack thereof) on my SPOT account. She was particularly interested to see whether I would be able to get back home today. I run the Spot on the dashboard so that she can see where I am and what route I am taking. It performed like a champ despite the conditions. I did not signal for a rescue, but the Navajo Rangers were amazing. They got us all out in about three hours; just before dark.





Riders were abandoning their bikes, because they could not push them or lift them out of the mud. A couple of boys were getting hypothermic. I pulled some warm clothes out of my Mary Poppins bag to share, and a Navajo fellow got a bonfire going while we awaited rescue. The fire was so hot that it melted one kid's helmet like a marshmallow from about three feet away. Fortunately he was not wearing it at the time.

I wish the camera was working, because it was an amazing event as well as a tremendous full body workout. I also really enjoyed being out there with the Navajo men and women, and seeing how they react to stress. It was very impressive. Everyone just calmly supported each other and took care of the kids. More later...