At Interbike this year, I had the good fortune of running into Gary while browsing around.

Picture without a Flash on…

Picture with a Flash on…

Note the reflective stripes. How’s that for style points?

Probably works well for some high visibility night time commuting!

Sometimes when I read blogs of fellow riders who live in 4-season cycling environments I am envious. I’m envious that they never have to take 45 minutes just to weatherproof themselves before they go out and ride during the December-March months. I’m envious that they never have to worry about numb fingers and toes and the ever-looming ominous threat of frostbite. And I’m envious that they don’t need a bike dedicated simply to the salty icy conditions and probably don’t even own studded tires.

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So the east coast got some serious snow if you haven’t heard. Up in here in Roanoke, VA we got 18 inches. After a day of sleeping in a playing in the snow with the family I was going a little stir crazy. So I suited up the Superfly with a set of foul weather wheels and tires and hit the road on my mountain bike; since real mountain biking was out of the question.

Here was the end result:

The ride was great, even on the road. If you can call riding on several inches of compacted snow and ice road riding. At least there weren’t many cars to worry about. I hope everybody has  a great Christmas and finishes off the year in style.

The stockings have been hung from the chimney with care…while visions of bombing trails in 2010 danced in my head.

Well, it’s winter eh? Snow on all the trails for the next couple months, but at least we have the dirt roads and such in the mountains that we can usually ride year around if it is not too bitter cold out.

Our new rider, Russell “Finster” Finsterwald came up from Colorado Springs to join JHK, Heather, Shep (our other mechanic) and myself for a tour of the Boulder hills ride.   I built Finster his first team bike- a sweet Superfly with Sram XX. Nice thing with him is he rides the same size bike and very close dimensions to JHK, Sam and I. We could just swap seat posts and would have no problem jumping on each others bikes. Nice in case we ever had a lost bike or something.
Finster is going to be a good addition to our team. He is a first year U23 and is the reigning Jr National Champ in both XC and STXC. We welcome the new blood.

 Speeking of blood, JHK got attacked on our ride by a crazy dog that was off leash. It managed to rip through his leg warmer and inflict a pretty good wound. The dogs shots are all up to date so hopefully he will just need to heal up from the puncture wounds!

Well, Happy Holidays to everyone. See you in the dirt in 2010!

Matto

The thermometer only read in the single digits, but with the wind chill (20+ mph) it was estimated by a real meterologist on the radio that it was at least 10 below zero, Fahrenheit. It was so cold out that I had to bust out the ski helmet and my OR winddstopper Balaclava. You also have to wear a lot of clothes when it is so cold out. Fleece lined tights, Craft windstopper thermal tights and then my Craft rain pants to really keep the chilly winds out. On top it was a sleeveless baselayer, ls base layer, fleece ls jersey, fleece jacket + winter riding jacket. Wool socks and the Lake winter boots were a must as well as my LL Bean goretex mitts.

I find it easier to ride in such cold temps vs 30 degrees. when it is 30 you can never get the right clothing, either over dressed or under dressed, booties or boots? Well when it is -10 F you just put on a bunch of clothes and you are all set.

You really can’ see the ice built up on my eye lashes, but it was there.  The wind was blowing from my right side (cross wind) which is why all the frost was built up on the left side of my face. The ski helmet is the secret to riding in the winter….

Some rides separate the strong willed from the weak.

Some rides require a little more gumption than they’re probably worth.

Some rides are more beneficial to your mental fortitude rather than physical.

Some rides keep you asking the whole time; Why am I out here?…this is just silly, I am miserable, sitting at home on the couch seems like so much better of an option right now.

Tonight was one of those rides.

Finally, when some rides are over, you are left feeling like there was no other place you would have rather been.