It wasn't brake induced so it doesn't count! :P
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Thats a really good point. Thats why I sacrifice some climbing power for a lower grip rear. :thumb:
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Crap all for riding lately. Holiday stuff + ****e weather + horribly nasty head cold is not a good combination. Called in sick to work a couple nights this week. I very rarely get sick, but it's bad when I do.
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Only thing our neck of the woods is good for now is snowshoeing and XC skiing. We've gotten about 3 feet dumped on us since Dec. 17; I'm sick of plowing and shoveling.
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Went out riding today with a buddy on the trails just behind my house. It was cold but the ride was still a bunch of fun.
Snapped a pic of my buddy cornering: http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...56250_4218.jpg |
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First ride for 09
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1104/...b48105439a.jpg
Being that the snowboard is broken beyond repair, and I need exercise, I decided it was time to take the bike out in to the white stuff and see what's what. I was gifted a keen pair of Nokian studded tires this year, so what better time to put them to use. The bank thermometer read 39 degrees as I rode by on the way to the trail head. Really? Wow. At first glance, I noticed some XC skiers heading up the trail, and felt my heart sink a little bit, figuring the snow would be either too soft, too deep, or both. As I got closer, it looked like it had been packed down quite a bit by all the skiers and snow-shoers. Sweet. I sat for a moment and let the skiers get a good head start, then I made my way up the mush. http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1012/...ab01da8b45.jpg Immediately I wished that I had put an easier gear on the single speed. 32-18 is fine for climbing in the dusty-dry conditions of summer, but this was much more like pedaling through a mud made of butter. (32-20 will work much better). The tires gave great traction, though I don't really think the studs had too much to do with it. The studs don't really come in to play until you hit icy stuff. I do like the single speed for snow stuff. I was thinking about how a Pugsley might handle this - I'd rather not deal with the weight and tank-ish feel, but those fat tires probably float across the soft stuff nicely. I climbed the trail for a bit, rested a couple times, cause damn, that's tough work. Especially after not really riding for a good month or so. People coming down the trail were pretty curious to see some idiot out on his bicycle. Funny what a conversation piece studded tires can be. Lots of dogs out today too. http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1079/...421c96a225.jpg Managed to get out in to the meadow trails, but finally the snow just became too fluffy, and every third crank or so my front wheel would bust through and sink about a foot in to the white stuff, so I turned around and headed out. The out part was a blast because it was downhill all the way to the road. Blasting downhill through semi packed snow is a trip - and I highly recommend it. Actually, if you can get out in the snow at all, find a place that's packed down fairly well, it's a great time. I'm going to have to find a light and do some night rides up there. There's enough hard pack, and I think at night it will be cold enough that the trail should be fairly solid. Cool. Anybody want to buy a pair of Vans snowboard boots? ;) http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1195/...396d574d86.jpg okay, back to lurking.... :thumb: |
December 27th at Chuliotta in FL
My brother bought him self a used 2008 Trek Fuel EX 5.5 off craigslist for X-mas and we all went out for a ride.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...nChuliotta.jpg The weather was an amazing 68 degrees, the sun was shining, we were riding right next to the river. You can't beat the weather down here. http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...an300/jump.jpg There were all sorts of cool little jumps and drops nothing to crazy. http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...0/15ftdrop.jpg Here's me on an imaginary 15 foot drop all in all it was an awesome day, we did like 16 miles. we rode from like 10 to 1:30, it was awesome. Anyone else riding in Central FL? |
I'm jealous...all we have around here this time'a'year is either snow or mud.
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I dont really dislike mud now that I've found some more *caugh* secret trails that dont get nearly enough traffic to close due to wet conditions.
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first time on a bike in about two weeks. it kicked ass.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f1...9/IMG_0013.jpg |
Tested out my new Go Pro. For some reason it didnt upload in very high quality, but I am really impressed with the video quality (audio is ok, but not great, but I dont really care).
http://vimeo.com/2764801 Edit: The trail that I was filming on is one that some friends and I are working on clearing in the woods near my house. |
I got ouut on a nice long ride on Saturday. Weather was about 50f and it was cloudy but nice. I almost ran over this "older" lady( about 40'ish) on Ridgeline trail. She was going downhill at about 5 mph. Thats cool though becuse she was out riding and thats what really counts.She had on one of those neon yellow jakets so I could see her way down the trail........safety first.
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Got a good trail ride in today with the snow on the ground.
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Today I met up with some people from the MTBR forum. We rode in Rockville Park in Fairfield, CA, which is just outside Napa.
The weather today was fantastic: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04644.jpg Heading down the trail: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04645.jpg The main feature for mountain bikers at Rockville is this rock garden: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04650.jpg http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04656.jpg http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04669.jpg http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04672.jpg http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04675.jpg me: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04663.jpg Back towards the car: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04679.jpg |
^^^ Nice pics, nice country, nice riding. Thanks for the stoke!^^^
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Originally Posted by nachomc
(Post 8211563)
http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04672.jpg
http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04675.jpg |
Originally Posted by chelboed
(Post 8216348)
I'll bet this poor bloke feels like a gimp after watching girly-girl traverse the same section of gnar sans armor.
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I have new pics from a separate ride today :D
My friend and I had the day off work today so we decided to head out for some riding in this fantastic weather. Most people are working today (or staying home to watch the inauguration) so the trails were completely empty. The weather lately has left them tacky and in great shape. We knew it would be a fantastic ride. We rode two trails in the Folsom, CA area: Sweetwater and Salmon Falls. We started on Sweetwater. The two trails are on the opposite sides of Folsom lake, normally, but right now the water is so low that there is no lake. In it's place is the original American River and bridges used by locals before the river was dammed in 1955. With the water levels this low, we can now use this old bridge and make a loop out of what were two separate out and back trails. Here's the map of the ride: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...es/ridemap.jpg We did 18.4 miles today. Elevation: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...eelevation.jpg We started out on Sweetwater. Normally we ride Sweetwater at the end so we thought this would be a fun change. Turns out we both prefer Sweetwater in this direction! http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04680.jpg Here's our river crossing. We'll climb to the peak in the distance in just a bit: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04689.jpg Normally, that entire area is lake: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04693.jpg At this point you have two choices. You can either go left and stay on the Salmon Falls singletrack, or you can go right and take a very nice climb up old fire roads. We went right. http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04697.jpg Here's a nice view. In the distance are the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains. If you look along the river, you can make out a small bridge. That's where we started the ride: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04709.jpg Today we decided to explore some fire roads at the top of the climb, so we headed out. We were rewarded with tall manzanita (over 6 ft tall at some points) and some great views. We also had some great climbing to get up here and reached the peak: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04716.jpg My buddy Mike: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04721.jpg |
Here's me:
http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04725.jpg My Garmin keeping track of the ride, and my headset cap keeping me riding: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04735.jpg Here's another old bridge that was under water. This was hand built, likely using the rocks you see on the hillside: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04736.jpg Almost back to the start. On the left you can see the trail carving up the hillside: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04740.jpg The chute down back to the car: http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/...s/dsc04743.jpg We had a great ride today. Possible rain tomorrow so this may be the last of our spring weather until .. spring! |
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oof that looks cold
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Originally Posted by nachomc
(Post 8219343)
oof that looks cold
Not too bad. Was hovering right around 30F the whole ride. Only about 5-6" deep at most, but with a fun icy layer underneath. It was about 20F when I rode in to work this evening. :thumb: It'll be about 15F when I go home at 0800. Yes, I really am that goofy looking. |
I've actually enjoyed riding in the snow so far this year with the mtb. Guess being on a bike that I actually like makes a big difference.
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Originally Posted by Dannihilator
(Post 8219363)
I've actually enjoyed riding in the snow so far this year with the mtb. Guess being on a bike that I actually like makes a big difference.
It's been kinda' iffy up my way. Either super sloppy wet, or really crusty stuff. A very few perfectly icy studded tire days, or just the perfect packed down powder to get decent traction. I hate my trainer. Going to have to make a mini road trip down your way in spring/summer this year. |
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