Category: winter

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

About Town

Winter festival today in town… we explored Church St. after lunch with friends. Ice sculptures, snow sculptures, good times jumping in snow piles.

Posted on

SnowPics

Lots of fluffy snow on the ground. Ava had her first day of preschool on Tuesday and her first snow day today!

Posted on

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.

Posted on

-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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

Ski

6-7 miles (maybe more?) in Little River State Park. Great fun. Need more time to explore all the way back to Cotton Brook. Saw 6 sled teams on the way out. 12-15″ of fluff on the ground with a solid base.