Snowpocalypse
Wow.
Very slow going on side streets. Slow going on the main avenue. Enjoyed my coffee and bagel, pushed a few people out of the snow, and made it to the bank and back.
I was met with fist pumps and thumbs up from a few pick up trucks, to honks and ‘You’re crazy!’, to the angry laying on of the horn as I took the lane. Yes, I’m as crazy as you, small car driver who cannot get through the tire ruts from the side street and is now stuck. And Mr. DayGlo-Orange Camouflage pick up truck driver – you enjoy your time to ‘Gut Deer?’ – I’ll enjoy my time freely moving about town on two wheels (or two feet), even in the snow.
End
The end of winter is near. Trails are firm but starting to soften. Temps are rising. And rain is on the way. I may finally get in some quality (but wet) road miles this weekend. Spent the morning on the Pug. Aside from one over confident plunge into soft snow resulting in an endo, I had a good round of laps on the local single track.
I also took a side trip down to a little cove on the lake. Right off the bike path, but plunging down down down to the water.
Pug
Got out for the first quality bike time in about 5 weeks. Met up with Wil @ City Market and we took a road / bike path / dirt road cruise to Shelburne Pond. I opted for the Pugs as conditions when I left were sketch, and I didn’t feel like the fixed gear with studs or trying 28s on the IF in the slop.
I bonked hard on our return leg. Pushing the Pugs on the road was easier than expected – but I also kept to the shoulder and stayed in the marginal snow / slop so Wil could have the good lines. At one point while I was struggling along he wondered why we were moving so slowly… until he pulled in behind me to enjoy the oatmeal / wet cement snow. Eventually I needed to even the playing field so I opted to get off the main road and take the bike path back to town. It was a pleasure on the Pugs. It was work on skinny tires. I cruised along (relatively) easily while Wil worked on his cross skills and cursed me a few times.
Frozen
Been a long time since I had any quality time on a bike. Got out this morning on the frozen trails. Post holed and hiked over trails have gone through freeze thaw cycles and are pretty miserable to ride. I picked my way down the bike path and into the woods and eventually bailed out to the road. Not in the mood to get slammed around on the ice. There were short sections where I was able to ride comfortably on the frozen crust – but eventually I would break through or dive into a hidden pocket of footprints. Hopefully we’ll see improving conditions – on the trail and in the weather. It was 3dF this morning when I set out.
Pugsley Play Date
Got out in the recent wet snowfall with a friend who picked up the last Pugsley in town. Too deep on the trails – but we had fun trying – and riding the somewhat plowed roads.
It was tough going in the deeps. Good fun trying.
I’ve ditched the stock trigger shifters for Paul thumbies with bar ends. Much better in the cold.
Moose River Plains
A short ride in the Moose River Plains in the ADKs, from the Limekiln Lake entrance. Front shifter either broke or froze, so no way to get into the little ring for the steep stuff, which made climbing in the snow a challenge. Camelback hose froze, then the bladder proceeded to leak down my back (unrelated, but time to get some insulated bottle covers). Legs and lungs felt off – too much driving around the northeast for work this week… too little riding.
Quite a few snowmos out. A group stopped to chat at my turnaround spot and snapped a picture of me. I’m not sure if I like road riding with drivers doing 35-55 or trail riding with snowmos out, even with the posted limit of 25.
I was hoping to ride into Mitchell Ponds, but without low gears and a snowed over trail I decided to head back to the trailhead early, and ride the Limekiln Lake campground access road. No snowmos around and some good views from the boat launch out across the lake. All in a good short trip to explore a new place that has been on my radar. Lots to learn about winter travel by bike.
-8
-8dF this morning. Local single track, lakefront bike path, and woods. Funny how 4 months ago 28dF was cold. Bodies adapt and acclimate.
Local single track, 5 minutes from the house is in great shape. Someone set classic ski tracks and an army of snow shoers has stomped down the sides of the wider trails. Narrow trails are hard packed, twisty, and fun. The last two mornings I’ve been working to clear every (short) little climb. Figuring out the gearing choice as well as momentum and position on the Pugs has been an adventure. I’ve pulled the monkey nuts and gone back to the wheel pushed all the way forward in the drop outs – it shortens up the chain stay length by 1/2″ +/- and it improves handling and climbing in the woods.
Hopeful that I’ll get a ride in the ADKs this week… looking at Moose River Plains (PDF map). With temps dropping all over the Northeast existing snow pack should harden up into a great base.
Crunchy
Loud crunchy snow this morning. -6F. Everything felt slow – legs a bit sore from the ski, bike felt really sluggish – even after adding some air to both tires as the snow was semi hardpack in most places. I need to research cold temp grease for the hubs, BB, and cassette. The rear trigger shifter would connect and click 1 out of 4-5 times – so I spent plenty of time pushing a lever that wouldn’t click – it seems to get worse with the cold – which is frustrating as the Pugs rewards you for being steady and maintaining momentum.
Snow Going 2
Much more rideable today… but still not ideal. Did pass a few skiers, and spent some time walking where the path drifted in. 4-5 psi did the trick and made a huge difference from the 8 I started the morning with.
