For the last fifteen years my only bike has been a road bike, and I love that thing. But just this last November I bought a Surly Krampus, which I used for commuting all winter. Now the local bike trails are thawing out and I can finally ride on them (I tried in the snow, but I didn't get very far).

Just today I went for my very first ride ever on an actual bike trail, and it was, well, muddy and slow. My fitness is pretty good, but I was too chicken to try to take those twists and turns at a high speed. But I did discover something I hadn't really noticed before: the small chain ring. Amazing how much easier it makes things.

All winter I was grumbling to myself, wondering if I should have bought a true fat bike, asking myself if I made the wrong choice. But now that spring is here, my regrets are drying up with the snow.