Category: pugsley

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Snow Going

Lots of fresh snow last night – 9-10″. Slow going, but I had to see how / where I could ride. It was almost easier to ride where no one had walked or skied…

The marks to the left and right of my track are from my pedals.

Probably put in 6 miles tops. 1/2 on the lakefront path and in the woods, then I bailed to local streets to get home and do my core / back strengthening routine of shoveling out. I started off with 8 psi in the tires and was down to maybe 4 by the time I took to the street. I should have added air – it was pretty slow going on the pavement.

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Snaps

Snaps from this morning. Front line moving in. Started snowing when I was out. Did some laps in the woods – single track and some techy stuff. Fun to ride trails while running lights in the dark.

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Back to the Pugs

I spent Friday morning on the Soma with Nokian studs. Last year these tires inspired confidence in their width and grip on ice and snow – especially in mixed conditions. Friday morning was rough. Terrain I would have cruised over on the Pugs slowed me down, had me second guessing my lines, and the (relative) high pressure (25?) and narrow width (2.1!) had me chattering on frozen ground and over frozen post holed trail. It was unnerving and exhausting.

I rode some of the same terrain Saturday morning on the Pugs, and covered all and more Sunday morning again on the Pugs. I’m much more confident on the Pugs – the float of the tires over chop and through mixed conditions is drastic, not to mention the places I could ride with the additional snow that arrived over the last two nights. I didn’t have the bite of the studded Nokians – and I payed for it a few times when the base was frozen and the snow atop simply slid out of my way as I washed out my front wheel several times – but overall it was great to be back on the fatbike. The Soma will get slightly higher gearing and I’ll keep it for fixed winter road duty. With the Pugs in the stable there is little reason to take out ‘skinny’ tires in mixed conditions.

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Fast Snow

Warm temps during the day dipping below freezing over night + skiers and walkers out have made the local trails pretty quick. Had a blast yesterday and today riding a mix of ski trail and single track out the back door.

The Lakes are a holiday present from my sweeties. Wishing I’d had picked these up years ago. So comfortable. So warm. I’ve returned to riding clipped in after having to wear winter boots with platforms to keep my frozen toes somewhat warm. Can’t wait to get on the fixed gear again in the cold… and these will come in handy with our early brevets and training next year.

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Snaps

Been down with a cold / sinus / throat bug. Finally got out for a short cruise along the lake. Warm temps, wet snow.

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More

More Pugsley riding. Tougher day out. Fresh snow was trampled and the temps dropped. Blown and drifting areas were hike a bike. Great moon, warm sunlight when I got down to the beach.

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Fresh

Fresh snow overnight. Riding the Pugsley is eating flourless chocolate cake covered in awesome sauce followed by sipping a cappuccino in a tiny cafe in Florence.

I made first tracks pretty much everywhere I went this morning. Challenging in a few spots – wind blown drifts a foot deep across the trail… but overall a good ride. There was some hike a bike up the steeps and through some deeps. Dropped to 6 PSI in the tires. The low pressure really settled down the steering on choppy trail covered in fluff.

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Lake and Wind

Short windy ride out into Lake Champlain via the Causeway. Headwind on the way out made it slow going. I’ve had to zip-tie my Ixon IQ closed. Still working – but I doubt it will keep water out.

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SS(s)DD

Same Spot(s), Different Day

~12-13 miles on the Pug this morning.
1/3 of those miles re-breaking trail over postholed / skied over / dog walked fields.

Full body workout – aerobic to keep moving in the snow. Upper body / core keeping the bike moving in the right direction. Anaerobic dieseling up the steep(er) stuff. Starting to figure out climbing. Gear down, keep the weight centered over the bike. Front wheel needs just enough weight to keep it tracking straight, rear wheel needs traction. Unless on hardpack standing doesn’t work.

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Great Day

Great Day on the Pugs. Logged ~32 miles. We had a short section on road getting back to the house so Wil could take out the Soma in the snow – but the balance was the Intervale, some single track, plenty of bike path, and two different stretches of beach. Had full immersion of my feet on the beach getting around some high water – but I was close to home so the cold was more of a shock than anything I had to worry about.

I’m pretty close on the cockpit setup. Went back to the stock Salsa bar, adjusted the tilt and moved the levers. Went with a longer stem from the stock bike.

Lesson learned today: Railroad tracks under snow are very slick, especially when hit at an acute angle.