3" of fresh snow

This is what my shoe cover looked like after my ride home last night....as well as the entire front of me.

The snow started coming down just as I left work yesterday at 4pm. At first it was really light snow, not that big of a deal but as I got onto the bike path it immediately started snowing harder and the head wind was making it much worse with hard, ice like snow pelting me in the face. I decided to pull over and put on my balaclava and goggles, I was so happy I put my goggles in my pack that morning, they make all the difference when it's snowing outside. After that, my head was warm and my face wasn't hurting and I didn't have to deal with the icy snow jabbing me in the eyes. Luckily the snow wasn't sticking, it was however pretty wet and slushy and the next time I went to wipe my nose with my gloves I got a mouth full of dirt and grit, yuck! I looked down and both my gloves were covered with muck from the wet roads and it was starting to freeze on my gloves. My legs, jacket and shoe covers were coated with a nice layer of muck also, unfortunately my front fenders don't really do the trick. I always curse myself when it's raining or wet out for buying a front fender that only covers the back of my tire and not the front as well. I made a mental note to grab the towel by the front door to wipe myself down before stepping into the house.

By the time I got home the snow was starting to stick and was coming down in wet heavy flakes. I called Dan and told him that if he needed a ride home I could come and get him but he was convinced he could ride home....even though he said Boulder was already covered in about 2". By 6pm we had 2" where we live and it was still coming down pretty hard. I started to call Dan again but decided to check the basement to see what bike he had rode in, if he had his CX bike I'd call, if he rode his Indy in I wouldn't....at least he'd be on a mountain bike with knobbies and he'd have more traction. He had his Indy. By 7:30 the snow had tappered off so I decided to go outside and shovel and discovered that underneath all that snow was a slushy layer of really slippery snow....now I was a little worried because Dan wasn't home yet and it was probably around 7:45, just about the time he should be getting home. By the time I had finished shoveling it was 8pm and where I shoveled, it was starting to freeze. I decided to leash up Patch and start walking towards where Dan would be coming from. Just as I stepped off the driveway, I saw his headlight and saw he had a huge grin on his face. All he said was that he had the best time riding home. Insane! I recall getting stuck in storms on my way home and it completely sucks! If you can't find fresh snow to ride in and are forced to ride in car tracks, it's almost certain death because you're all over the place. He said the roads were so bad that he was actually passing cars.....I was just happy he was home.

Oh well, it's supposed to be in the upper 30's today and with the sun, a lot of the snow will melt off the roads by tomorrow. I'm crossing my fingers that we don't get anymore on Friday like they're prediciting.

I'm so done with winter....I can't wait to do a little bit of this.



And I can't wait to watch Dan do a little bit of this

Hall Ranch, Sunday Jan 27

I don't even know how warm it was today but it was warm enough to wear shorts....in January....on the front range! Amazing! We headed out to Hall with our friend Aaron (aka philzy on mtbr) since we heard the rock section was rideable and free of snow and mud. There was only a couple patches of mud at the start of our ride but dry through the rock sections. As soon as we got to the bench, we saw some mud on the trail but for the most part it was dry, there were a couple really muddy sections we hiked-a bike through....until we hit the upper loop which was mostly snow covered or mud. We hiked-a-bike a lot and rode when there was packed snow and/or dirt. When we got back to the bench we had to free our tires of mud the best we could before making the descent back down. Dan went ahead and shot a couple pictures of Aaron and myself. This is where we saw Cynthia and stopped to chat with her for a couple minutes. Thankfully, we all had clean descents , Dan had another clean 100% no dab climb. Last ride of the season in 2007 was at Hall Ranch for us and I went OTB and cracked my helmet...this ride I was able to redeem myself with a clean descent.

This is what it looked like after the bench



This is what the upper loop looked like



Having fun on the rocks



Can't wait until the trails dry out...this kinda weather is a little depressing. We want to ride trails so bad but they're just not ready yet.

Axle Removal

While I was getting 3" cut off my hair...and it feels wonderful!


Dan was busy removing the axles from the donor truck! Now the piece sits on blocks waiting to be picked up. It'll be nice to get this thing out of the driveway.


The axles weigh over 400lbs each. Now all he has to do is go get the small block chevy 350 motor out of an old '87 Suburban that he bought and we can start building to crawler. Our goal is to have it ready for Thanksgiving in Moab but I think it'll be ready before that.....fingers crossed.

Kinda a lame Saturday. I'm fighting a cold so we're layin' low tonight with hopes of riding Hall tomorrow. Drinking margarita's and watching the X Games....I probably shouldn't be drinking but....it's kinda a weak one.

-Kim

WooooHoooo!

Nothing like a 30mph tailwind to push you all the way home, especially on a Friday! Now that's a treat for Margarita Friday!

What an awesome way to end the week....hope I didn't just jinx myself. Colorado wind has a funny way of changing directions in a blink of an eye.

-Kim

Pueblo - Sunday January 20th

We headed out to Pueblo on Sunday for a group ride with over 20 other MTBR folks. We were surprised when we got to the trailhead because it was so warm, I think the temp was around 50 when we check later in the day! I layered the clothes on and about 5 minutes after we started riding, I had to take most of them off. The trails in the canyon were short and full of rocky sections to play on. I have to admit, I walked a lot of sections because of the snow and ice covering the rocks but I'm excited to go back when the snow is gone to redeem myself. Dan had no troubles clearing most of the features except the 2nd section to Steep & Tech....he came in a little too hot both times and couldn't make the turn. The couple riders who made the turn basically had to stop before the hard right hand turn and trials their way over.


Group shot after about 5 minutes of riding....time to take off some layers!

The rock roller to bridge is way more steep than it looks. I think Dan was the 1st or 2nd person down before it started to get really slippery from snow covered tires.


Another successful attempt


The next major feature that we spent a lot of time at was Steep & Tech. The first section was a steep roller to a couple steep steps. Very intimidating coming into the section because all you can really see it the canyon off to the right.

This is from the top of the first section, you can't even see the trail.


Dan's attempt, sorry I didn't get any good pictures of him cleaning this section. Notice the chain, that's the only thing saving people from falling over the canyon.


A couple more successful attempts



This is the 2nd section of Steep & Tech. The right hand turn after the ledges proved nearly impossible.




After that, Dan had an energy drink of some sorts


After that we rode a little, stopped a lot, got lost, rode a little more and made our way back to the car for the drive home...which I pleasantly slept through! Got back to Golden to unload some bikes and was hit in the face with freezing temps. 5 minutes outside and my hands were frozen.

We both had a blast and it was nice meeting new faces! We hope to enjoy more rides like this when the weather gets better.

More pics here: http://weimie.smugmug.com/gallery/4202809#245633985

Winter commuting

Is not always a good look


Dreaming of warm singletrack days




Can't wait to wear shorts again....

Bike Path Rant

Why do runners and people walking dogs HAVE to walk on the wrong side of the path? Don't they see signs posted everywhere to STAY TO YOUR RIGHT? Is that such a hard thing to do?

I remember the first day in dog training class they teach you to walk your dog on your right side....not your left side! This is so the dog AND you can stay to the right and there will usually be a patch of grass for your doggie to walk on! Why is this such a foreign concept? I walk Patch on my right side and I stay on the right side of the trail, not hard at all.

I run on the right side of the path also...there's no oncoming car traffic to worry about so why is it so hard to run on the right side? Is the left side just that much better?

Next time I come around a blind corner under a bridge and someone is right there walking their dog on the wrong side of the trail....I'm not going to budge when that person and their dog freak out when I nearly hit them because of their carelessness! I guess I'll just have to stop and educate them on how to use a bike path properly.

Get with it people!

Okay...I feel a little better now.

-Kim

Bear Gulch, Loveland

We headed up to Loveland to do some wheelin' this afternoon. I thought we'd get to the trailhead, go 30ft and get stuck but luckily they hadn't had any new snow in a while so we actually got a full days in. Most of the road was hard packed snow or ice covered, making a usually simple road down right treacherous in some areas. I had my 2 instances of complete terror trying to get up a steep section of road, not making it and sliding backwards with my foot on the brake to the floor and still in 3rd. It's hard to listen to people screaming at you to straighten out the wheels and put it into reverse when all you can do is look out the back window and the canyon you're speeding out of control towards. I tried that section twice with the same outcome.....I could barely get out of the Jeep my knee's were knocking so hard. I had to sit on a rock and watch Dan make it up. The road was amazing in sections, deep in the woods with tons of bermed turns and rollers that made you feel like you were on some pretty sweet singletrack. Like I said, not a difficult road during the summer, rough in spots but with all the ice there were a few challenging spots.

It was just pretty cool to get out with the jeeps and some friends.

You won't be spun out today

That was my text message to Dan this morning after I had gotten to work. Man, it was windy! I've lived in Chicago and commuted there as well, it is a pretty windy city because of the lake and the tall buildings but the longer I live here I'm almost convinced that Boulder is deserving of "The Windy City" title as well. I didn't have that far of a commute when I lived in Chicago so I just had flat pedals and wore regular skate shoes. On one particularly windy morning, I came into an intersection and got blown off my bike. Not the fall to the ground blown off but knocked sideways enough I had to put my foot down...good thing I wasn't clipped in or I probably would have fallen to the ground.

Another funny story, a couple years ago we did a Super Walker ride in the spring and right when we were getting to the dirt road leading to the trailhead, just as we were making the turn onto the dirt road a big gust of wind hit us and totally knocked one of the guys we were riding with to the ground...heee heee....he was a skinny little thing.

For me, wind is evil. It can turn a normal commute into a test of will and strength. At times I don't know whether to laugh or pull over and start sobbing. Cross winds are just plain scary because you never now when that big gust of wind will knock you over into a car. Head winds are annoying and make me very very angry, especially on my commute home when I'm usually more tired than in the morning. Tail winds...well tail winds are a blessing.

I'm hoping for a nice tail wind on my way home!

Happy Margarita Friday everyone! In my house, every Friday is Margarita Friday :)

-Kim

Snow? What snow!

That's the last time I listen to the weatherman!

-Kim

Too good to last

With all the warm weather we've been having and the snow pretty much all melted away, I knew it was too good to last. I hate when snow is predicted for the evening commute home and it's prefectly good riding weather in the morning. But when all 3 evening weather reports say there will be snow on the drive home....I gotta listen to them.

I've done the whole commute home in a snow storm before and it's scary. I don't mind the snow, goggles take care of that and I don't mind the wet and cold weather, I've got clothes to take care of that. It's the drivers and the roads that scare me to death when there's fresh snow on the ground. If my commute wasn't 95% roads I don't think I'd have a problem with it but since most of my commute is on roads, I don't want to take that chance anymore.

Can you tell I'm trying to make myself feel better for making the decision for not riding in today? I feel like a complete wuss.....

I was so looking forward to riding the SS in today....guess I'll have to settle with a run during lunch.

-Kim

Sunday Roadie Ride

Even though we had 60 degree weather yesterday, the winds from the storm moving in from California forced us to stay off our bikes and onto the trails for an 1hr run instead. We had chilly weather today but no winds so we decided to take the SS bikes out today. I was a little nervous about taking the SS out with all the climbs we were going to do but I'm happy to say I loved it! It wasn't a struggle at all and I'm looking forward to using that as my daily commuter! We got a 2hr ride in and were really glad to be back since our fingers and toes were starting to get a little frozen.

Here's a look at the foothills from our front window as the storm clouds started to break up




This is Dan's bike...it made me squint in the sun it's so bright white


This is my bike which Dan gave me for Xmas. I'm thinking about putting a bullhorn bar on it but I'll give the flat bar a whirl for a week and see how I like it. Even though it's a road frame it feels like a really fast mountain bike with the flat bar.

Earthed 5 Premier tonight

This is where we'll be headed tonight. All proceeds going to the Tara Llanes Road to Recovery Fund! Hope to see all you locals there!

Coldest commute in - 6 degree's

Last year I think the coldest day that I commuted into work was 9 degree's, today it was 6. Funny that with all the gear on....it just doesn't seem that cold, that is until I get into work and see myself in the mirrored glass of the front door, all frozen and frosty.

Sometimes I wonder what drives me to ride my bike to work? I haven't always done it, when I lived in Michigan just the thought of riding my bike on the roads scared me silly. I actually feel guilty when I have to drive in, I feel all those gallons of gas slipping away every time I put my foot on the pedal and I'm nervous about the next fill-up...where can I find the cheapest gas at? I get into a car now and I'm a little disorientated at first and I'm nervous about driving at night....weird how your perspective can change.

Props to all those other commuters out there! Even if I don't do the head nod every time I see you.....you've got my respect.

-Kim

Big Tires

We got some 38" tires for the Jeep!


They look HUGE compared to the Nissan's 32" tires, even the Cherokee's 36" tires look small compared to these.

Back in the saddle

Yesterday was the first time back at commuting to work after taking most of December off. With all the snow we've gotten and all the running around for Christmas, commuting hasn't been happening. Luckily the bike lanes were cleared off enough to start up again.


I took the MTB commuter out for it's first voyage to work with me....let me tell you, those knobby tires and suspension fork make it the most inefficient commuter I've ever riden. At least I felt safe if I hit a patch of ice or had to ride through some snow.


It was a chilly 18 degree's outside but with my new gear I got from Dan, I didn't feel cold at all. The Pearl Izumi InsulaTour Jacket is warm and it's looks really good, I can wear it just as a jacket as well as a riding jacket.


The AmFib gloves have always been my favorites and the AmFib Mountain Shoe Covers should keep out the muck from the melting snow.


I probably should have put the Moose Mits on the bike but my fingers stayed toasty until I hit Boulder and the winds were picking up. Next year I'm asking for some Lake Winter Riding Boots so I don't have to wear multiple layers of booties. Although the new rubber one's worked surprising well. The gloves and booties are both rated for 10 degree weather.

Fortunately for me Dan got out of work at 5pm yesterday so I was able to ride over to the bike shop in Boulder and catch a ride from him. The winds were gusting up to 60mph and with the temps in the teens....it wasn't a very pleasant environment to be riding home in. The winds and cold temps also spoiled out plans of a midnight snow ride for New Years,

Oh well....the temps are supposed to be in the 40's the rest of the week and in the 50's all weekend, hopefully we'll be able to get out on the CX bikes.

-Kim