Saturday, March 2, 2025. Ride 28 mi on the dirt. Flatted in first mile. Went back for a bike switcheroo (squish to hardtail). Cleaned exactly zero hard stuff I wanted to clean. Finished ride and went to stop the tracking app on my phone. No fone. Panic at the thought of riding another 30 miles on dirt to not find the phone because someone picked it up. Brain switched on: fire up computer and ping phone for location. Find it. Looks like it's still on trail. Drive to closest trailhead with bike in bed. Ride likely trail like a snail. Nothing. Decide to walk nearby trail (pushing bike) before doing same on first trail. Come around bend and hear someone calling my name. Meet Gerald, my hero birdwatcher and apparently the only person other than me to take the A-lines today, who returned fone to me and had great conversation. Here's to you, Gerald!
Trainers definitely help but there is no substitute for the real deal. 
