Anybody ride this weekend??

[AngryScientist]

it was a dreary weekend here in NJ. Roads weren't dry all weekend, but I got in a solid few hours on the fixed gear bike. The beauty of the fixed is that the drivetrain is so dead simple. wipe the chain after the ride and you're good to go. Better news: not being able to coast keeps the bones warm when the air is wet, keeping the motor running and all.

the bad news: vittoria open corsas are not the tire to be running when the going gets wet. multiple flats. had to stop the motor to change the flats. it's time for a tire downgrade for the winter. GP 4-seasons on the way. First time out this season with full shoe covers. can't say enough good things about these specialized neoprene covers. several seasons old and still going strong, and they keep my feet nice and warm/dry.

please excuse the ghetto rear fender. i need to get some proper mudgaurds for this rig.

the proof is in the pics, IMO:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nb38gdDpV9E/UMOu8A4jQoI/AAAAAAAAA-o/U2-3VZoeBUc/s640/IMG_1135.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ec6Ov2eXB3E/UMOvAiwC7WI/AAAAAAAAA-w/-dm64o50n9o/s640/IMG_1136.JPG

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CmqN0lYN8pw/UMOvFFVkPPI/AAAAAAAAA-4/YWQHUyiPn8M/s640/IMG_1137.JPG

[Bruce K]

I wish

Sick as a dog yesterday so I missed my last planned cross race of the year (Ice Weasels Cometh).

Trainer session today that pretty much stunk. Felt like 80% at best

BK

[Pete Mckeon]

Today was a pretty warn day starting in 50s and going into 70s with Sun. Starting Tuesday we go back to cooler and damper. Oh well the ole saying is true riding is always better than not riding:bike:

[Pete Mckeon]

I had it 3 weeks ago and my wife had it the past week and still has it.:no::no:

Bruce, Hope you get better quickly. Pete


I wish

Sick as a dog yesterday so I missed my last planned cross race of the year (Ice Weasels Cometh).

Trainer session today that pretty much stunk. Felt like 80% at best

BK

[ofcounsel]

Saturday I rode my mountain bike several friends through Crystal Cove State Park in Laguna Beach. Today, I MTB'ed with several of my friends through Turnbull Canyon, East of Los Angeles. Started each morning in the low 60's and warmed up to the high 60's by the time we were done. Perfect MTB riding weather.

Even with all the smog, traffic, high costs of living, fires, and earthquakes, there's no place on earth like Southern California:banana::banana:

[stien]

Went out and got the Fatback reallly muddy and nasty on some marsh and beaches. Gotta love riding on sandbars and in places where people haven't even walked in a long time.

Just meandering, really.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/250712349

I also rode with my puppy on a leash next to my commuter a whole bunch.

[shovelhd]

Did an FTP test on Saturday. 41 degrees, raw, drizzling rain. Dandy.

[jmeloy]

Got in 25 miles both yesterday and today. 36 deg on the way back today but better than nothing.

[Ralph]

Sure.....Rode both days. Florida is nice this time of year.

[Nooch]

rested yesterday, went out for a threshold test today to see where i'm at to start putting a plan together for battenkill...

the good news, power hasn't fallen off to far after a pretty lackluster season plagued by injury... the bad news, the other half of the power:weight ratio is still recovering from sympathy pregnancy eating...

[mudhead]

Got out for a hour today on the crosscheck.. Hadn't been out in a long time so it was mentally rewarding. 45 and gray but dry.

[witcombusa]

Had a nice 25 miler on drying roads in 38 degree air today...will be skiing later this week so not many rides left.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . for Battenkill. Call my regular moto driver. :p

Did 31 yesterday out of Saratoga around through Middle Grove, then over to Greenfield and back into town. 40 degrees. Rain. Yuck. Spent an hour today cleaning up the Queen Bee. I don't think she's EVER been that dirty in 11 years of ownership.

Then did 26 today on the local MUT with my friends Kevin and Steve. Kevin's first ride back after 6 weeks out for hernia surgery. Great to get out and ride with him again!

BBD

rested yesterday, went out for a threshold test today to see where i'm at to start putting a plan together for battenkill...

the good news, power hasn't fallen off to far after a pretty lackluster season plagued by injury... the bad news, the other half of the power:weight ratio is still recovering from sympathy pregnancy eating...

[fatallightning]

cold, quiet and peaceful.
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/12071_783598071484_1873364170_n.jpg

[xjoex]

I got in a long ride yesterday, it ended in the snowy dark.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tPt5zSMxJbI/UMPh90_kqYI/AAAAAAAAI10/XSRXxL95nHc/s912/PC080141.jpg

Today it was too cold, in the single digits, so just a hike.

-Joe

[akelman]

I walked around the block a few times and saw a few people riding bikes. "That looks like fun," I thought to myself.

[Vientomas]

Rode a couple of hours on the mountain bike on Saturday. Frozen dirt at the bottom gave way to 2-3 inches about half way up. I decided to head down instead of getting deeper into it. Nice sunny day.

[rccardr]

Beautiful day Saturday here in the DC area. Got in a nice, fast 20+ miler in the afternoon. Lots of people out, very nice vibe.

[cat6]

The story takes place on the planet Grool, a planet inhabited by mostly short, anthropomorphous felines. The idyllic and mundane lifestyle of the feline aliens is interrupted when an alien invader known as Kat of Nine Tails kidnaps Grool's sentient populace, inadvertently leaving one of them, Squeak, behind. Shortly after, Squeak encounters a human boy known only as Bubble who agrees to rescue Squeak's captured populace.

[monkeybanana86]

I got in a long ride yesterday, it ended in the snowy dark.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tPt5zSMxJbI/UMPh90_kqYI/AAAAAAAAI10/XSRXxL95nHc/s912/PC080141.jpg

Today it was too cold, in the single digits, so just a hike.

-Joe

great pic for the season!

[David Kirk]

Cut and pasted from a blog post about riding my new Surly Moonlander this past weekend. Really fun stuff.

"I took it out yesterday and it was a stunning day – about 15°, sunny and perfectly calm. I rode it from the house toward the Bridgers on local trails where I ran into a few mule deer that had no ideal what to think of me. I then got out on the snow covered road and went up the hill toward “Middle Cottonwood Canyon” and its wonderful singletrack climb into the mountains. A steep dirt road climb brings you to the trail head where I ran into some skiers working their way up the hill and got some fun comments and interesting looks. I rode the singletrack up a good ways until the snow got too deep and the trail too steep. Then I got to bomb down and float over it all. I’d say I hit close to 30 mph on the snow and it felt perfectly natural. It takes a good while for you to learn that the bike can handle it but once you learn to trust that it will work you can really fly.

I took a few photos but the cold wiped out the batteries in short order (low to begin with) so I didn’t get any photos of the singletrack or the fox tracks in the snow. But the few I did get before the batteries shut me down give a little feel for what it looks like.

For anyone that lives where there is real winter with snow covered roads I highly suggest you try out a fatbike. They just flat out work on the snow and feel perfectly appropriate for the task at hand. That and it makes me laugh aloud every time I ride the thing and learn more about just how capable they are. Maybe like me you’ll find you can ride more of the winter than you thought you might.

I’ll be headed out after my shop work for the day is done and just thinking about it now makes me smile."

Fun stuff.

Dave

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9369.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9371.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8260.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8262.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8264.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8266.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8268.jpg

[FlashUNC]

Did the usual Saturday morning 50-mile airport loop with a dwindling number of riders now that the weather is worsening.

Of course, given the year I've had, my fitness seems to have peaked in December, at least according to Strava.

[JayBay]

I punched out a 45 mile hill route on Sunday. Lots of nasty (for around here) climbs, with long recovery stretches in between. Cold, 42-degree start, but it crept up into the high 40's by the time I wrapped up around 3. Overall a great ride for this late in the season.

http://app.strava.com/activities/31703381

[Pete Mckeon]

And good picture taking. THanks for sharing, Looks too cold for us south wimps:p
Cut and pasted from a blog post about riding my new Surly Moonlander this past weekend. Really fun stuff.

"I took it out yesterday and it was a stunning day – about 15°, sunny and perfectly calm. I rode it from the house toward the Bridgers on local trails where I ran into a few mule deer that had no ideal what to think of me. I then got out on the snow covered road and went up the hill toward “Middle Cottonwood Canyon” and its wonderful singletrack climb into the mountains. A steep dirt road climb brings you to the trail head where I ran into some skiers working their way up the hill and got some fun comments and interesting looks. I rode the singletrack up a good ways until the snow got too deep and the trail too steep. Then I got to bomb down and float over it all. I’d say I hit close to 30 mph on the snow and it felt perfectly natural. It takes a good while for you to learn that the bike can handle it but once you learn to trust that it will work you can really fly.

I took a few photos but the cold wiped out the batteries in short order (low to begin with) so I didn’t get any photos of the singletrack or the fox tracks in the snow. But the few I did get before the batteries shut me down give a little feel for what it looks like.

For anyone that lives where there is real winter with snow covered roads I highly suggest you try out a fatbike. They just flat out work on the snow and feel perfectly appropriate for the task at hand. That and it makes me laugh aloud every time I ride the thing and learn more about just how capable they are. Maybe like me you’ll find you can ride more of the winter than you thought you might.

I’ll be headed out after my shop work for the day is done and just thinking about it now makes me smile."

Fun stuff.

Dave

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9369.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9371.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8260.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8262.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8264.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8266.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8268.jpg

[bikerboy337]

Got a nice 25 miler in yesterday in SE Mass. Cold 40 morning with slightly wet roads, but lots of fun. Got out for about an hour while the wife watched the kids. Beautiful ride. Few shots of a nice section of road near me and some scenery around here...

[rustylion]

...but, a good day was had by all.

Any day out on a bike that is reasonably safe (not icy, snowy, sleet and above 0deg) is a great day to be a cyclist. Dress wisely, light up the bike and body, stop when necessary and enjoy life.

When in and around Saratoga Springs, let's ride.

Thnx,
bill
bill.watkins@serotta.com
404-242-5966

[rustylion]

Thanks for sharing. Super photos and geographys. Nice looking winter bike setup, too!

Thanks,
bill

Cut and pasted from a blog post about riding my new Surly Moonlander this past weekend. Really fun stuff.

"I took it out yesterday and it was a stunning day – about 15°, sunny and perfectly calm. I rode it from the house toward the Bridgers on local trails where I ran into a few mule deer that had no ideal what to think of me. I then got out on the snow covered road and went up the hill toward “Middle Cottonwood Canyon” and its wonderful singletrack climb into the mountains. A steep dirt road climb brings you to the trail head where I ran into some skiers working their way up the hill and got some fun comments and interesting looks. I rode the singletrack up a good ways until the snow got too deep and the trail too steep. Then I got to bomb down and float over it all. I’d say I hit close to 30 mph on the snow and it felt perfectly natural. It takes a good while for you to learn that the bike can handle it but once you learn to trust that it will work you can really fly.

I took a few photos but the cold wiped out the batteries in short order (low to begin with) so I didn’t get any photos of the singletrack or the fox tracks in the snow. But the few I did get before the batteries shut me down give a little feel for what it looks like.

For anyone that lives where there is real winter with snow covered roads I highly suggest you try out a fatbike. They just flat out work on the snow and feel perfectly appropriate for the task at hand. That and it makes me laugh aloud every time I ride the thing and learn more about just how capable they are. Maybe like me you’ll find you can ride more of the winter than you thought you might.

I’ll be headed out after my shop work for the day is done and just thinking about it now makes me smile."

Fun stuff.

Dave

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9369.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9371.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8260.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8262.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8264.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8266.jpg

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_8268.jpg

[jr59]

hey Dave, That deer is looking at you funny!

Great pics as always!

Are you going to start making Fat Bikes now?

[David Kirk]

hey Dave, That deer is looking at you funny!

Great pics as always!

Are you going to start making Fat Bikes now?

Thanks - the mule deer are pretty tame but usually run from bikes. For some reason they don't seem threatened by the fat bike.......or that there is so little noise when riding on snow. Hard telling not knowing.

Nope - I doubt I will ever build fatbikes. The tube bending required for the offset hubs and drivetrain is crazy and to tool up for it would be more than spendy..........and the market is really, really small. Buy a Surly - you won't regret it.

Dave

[Steve in SLO]

Nice weather on Saturday. Rode CX with a friend up Stagecoach Road north of San Luis Obispo, crossed over HWY 101 then up East Cuesta Ridge. There was some frost on the ground when we started out, and the canyon winds were blowing hard, but after the rain last week the dirt was perfect.
First shot is looking south towards Pismo Beach and Oceano Dunes, while the second is overlooking Morro Bay.

[54ny77]

STEVE: am sooooooo jealous of that photo.

You live in paradise.

[spiderman]

Thanks - the mule deer are pretty tame but usually run from bikes. For some reason they don't seem threatened by the fat bike.......or that there is so little noise when riding on snow. Hard telling not knowing.

Nope - I doubt I will ever build fatbikes. The tube bending required for the offset hubs and drivetrain is crazy and to tool up for it would be more than spendy..........and the market is really, really small. Buy a Surly - you won't regret it.

Dave

I got my ML out for lunch
And had a blast rolling through our
Off road trail system
11 degrees
Wind chill 2 below
After a double loop
I started wondering
Where'd I put those bar mitts???

[oliver1850]

Great pics above, thanks.

I enjoy DK's endorsement of Surly, because their respective missions seem so incongruous. I don't know anything about Surly as a company, but I like the way they've been able to carve out a place for themselves that was off the big companies' radar.

I didn't ride Saturday or Sunday. It was rainy here and I'd had 7 days straight on the bike from 11/30 - 12/6, for my highest mileage week of the year. Today I rode a part to the PO for a forum member, and tacked on another 15 miles to make a decent ride of it. 26 degrees and 15 -20 mph winds, but I was glad to have the incentive to get out.

[Steve in SLO]

STEVE: am sooooooo jealous of that photo.

You live in paradise.

As did you, once.
If you come this way, I am sure I could find you a bike to ride.

[MattTuck]

Got in 25ish miles in wet cold weather. I could try to romanticize riding in cold weather, and how much better it is to be outside than on the trainer.... but at some point, I have to admit I really miss those 75 degree summer days :help:

[svelocity]

I had a great ride up in Idyllwild with some good friends. I believe this is May Valley we are looking down and that's Diamond Valley Lake far off in the distance...

Definitely earned my post ride beer. :banana: