4.5 Hours of Singletrack Over 2 Days / Singetrack MTB Riding for the Past 30 Years

 CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE!!

The view from the saddle, leaf covered singletrack.

I've been riding mountain bikes for 30 years and it just doesn't ever get old. I feel as good on the bike...no better than I did back in 1982. Sure there were the years I was racing in the late 80s and 90s and I was faster and more fit, but just riding feels so natural to me now. I learned to ride with very little wasted effort, to flow down the trail. The racing did that, but it was the countless rides I did in the mud and snow and up and down mountain trails that have given me the skills that I use today. I learned more from riding slow tough trails then I did blasting down the trail at warp speed. That's why I say ride slow to go fast.

"BEAR" > 1987-2001

The rest of the MTB story is about my dog named "Bear", half Black Lab half Golden Retriever, 75 pounds of muscle. My dog (god spelled backward), Bear could run 30 miles in a day with me and my bike. Back in the days before riders were afraid of mud, those were my favorite days. After a ride I would hang my bike in the garage and let the mud drip off the bike and I would have to rinse Bear off outside because he would be covered with mud. I taught him to run alongside me and drink my energy drinks as we traveled the trails. Bear would jump up and start whining with excitement as soon as I said " do you want to go for a bike ride".

Winter mountain bike riding was also a thrill as I would ride the frozen snowmobile trails in the dark. Bear loved running in the winter. I remember one night that I left the truck, probably around 1989 or so. It was the dead of winter about 10:30 at night and the temps were about -18 degrees F. It was so cold that I would have to hop off the bike every so often and jog along my bike just to keep my feet warm. I started out with a bandanna over my face to breath warmer air. I had to be careful with Bear also breathing the cold air. It was a great ride and adventure that night, was out about 2.5 hours. I will never forget that ride. Bear had frost all along his back from his breath and I got back to the truck not wanting the night to end. It is like that with many of my adventures...like a great hockey game where 2 teams are so closely matched and they go into overtime and you don't want it to end, but you know it will be a great effort that will win it. That's how a good ride is, don't want it to end, but when it does it is time...

       

 I rode through this patch of light in the woods and had to stop and lean the Salsa in the spotlight.

 The Steele Horse...

 Bike light is mounted and ready, still had several miles to travel on the singletrack to get back to the truck.

 Used the flash in the dark at the trail intersection before the final stretch back.

A Labatt Blue was appropriate with the temps in the 30s when I got back to the truck. Changed out of my riding clothes and into a hoody and warm clothes. Topped it off with a sandwich and a cold one...GOOD TIMES!!

Backcountry, Snowmobile / Snowboard Backpack

This is a post I did last Spring. It is a breakdown of the contents of my snowmobile / snowboard pack. Any other ideas, let me know.

What the Heck Ya got in That Pack, Man?

The pack with snowboard attached after a 2 hour snowshoe hike to the top of the mountain. This was in Montana, over New Years 08.

Triple collapse poles from Black Diamond. So easy to pack. We use them snowboarding in the backcountry. They are used to give a push if needed or if you get stuck in a tree well or fall in the deep powder (don't fall, right).

BCA Companion avy shovel, it is a short handle. The avalanche probe fits right in the handle. I like having the probe and shovel together. Very handy, don't have to hunt for either.

Shown apart, probe slides into handle of shovel.

Odds and ends, compass, also reads slope angle. Knife screw driver tool, whistle, orange flashlight, razor blade, carabiners, small pulley, electric tape, pepper spray(critters out in those mountains).

It was up north of Bozeman, MT, Jan 07. I was up in the backcountry and there were Mountain Lion tracks in my tracks from the day before. I kept my eyes open as I snowshoed up higher that day.

Tracker avalanche transceiver, must have and know how to use. The top transceiver is set on transmit. The bottom transceiver is on search. The signal waves travel in a curve, that is something a person has to learn and practice. That is why one needs to take an avalanche course. I have taken a course every 2 years, Level 1, Level 2 and took a refresher level 1 again this last fall. It is like refreshing on my Ski Patrol skills. It keeps you sharp.

Sleeping bag liner, I used one during the wait for Search & Rescue in my accident. I draped it over my head and back to conserve body heat.

Fire starter kit I put together, Small fire starter sticks, matches and lighter.

Munchies, Mix of carbs and protein. Beef jerky, peanuts, energy bars, Power Bars. Energy gels Power Bar Gel and Accel Gel for quick energy.

This is a 2.8 pound 1 person tent for an emergency shelter. I carry this on the sled in a water proof bag. After being caught out in a blizzard 3 years ago it always travels with me.

Rope, high quality climbing rope, about 120 feet of length. Rope is always good. I also carry 130 feet on my sled.

Lightweight climbing harness, ya never know. There's cliffs out there, man.

Headlamp, extra batteries. Extra silk head, face mask. It does get dark and cold out in them there mountains, Vern.

First Aid Kit. I'm sure I carry more than most people. I see what can happen out there, anywhere.

Walkie talkie, that even sounds cool. They are handy when we might get separated, I keep them on a neck cord to throw on quickly. You could put them on scan to pick up a signal.

Clear goggles for dark or an extra set in wet conditions, bandanna use it for any thing, tie a splint, cover face, sling with tape over shoulder. Soft gloves to use when not sledding or boarding. Map of Wyoming, cause that's where the snow is.

All packed away in nice little stash sacks, Each picture of items is in a separate sack. There is room to throw in an extra vest in case.

This is the Dakine Poacher pack. It is very well designed. It rides on my back very good. I can wear it all day. The compartments are well thought out. The best large pack I have owned, and I've had a few. It is too large for, in resort. A backcountry pack it is. I use a smaller Dakine Heli pack in the resorts.

October 08

If you can guess what is going on here you get a cookie.

2nd guess.

If you guessed the Twin City Marathon you can go get a cookie.

This was our First Aid support camp at the Twin City Marathon, at the 21 mile point. The Angel and Devil were funny, yelling encouragement to the runners.

The next week-end, Oct 11 & 12

All 5 grandkids. The one in the high chair turned 1. Birthday party.

Grandkids and Great Grandparents.

The next day Oct. 12, Jeff's mountain bike race in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Jeff on the gas.

Don Edberg WORS Director, doing the race. I used to race against the dude back in the day.

Wisconsin Mountain Bike Racing in the fall, Sheboygan. This was a, get up at 3:30 AM, pick up Jeff. Drive 400 miles, spend 7 hours at the race. Drive 400 miles get home at 12:00 midnight, "Adventure". Good Times!! Have a beer, unload the truck and call it a full 22 hour day.

What the Heck Ya got in That Pack, Man?

The pack with snowboard attached, after hike to the top of the mountain. In Montana, over New Years 08.

Triple collapse poles from Black Diamond. So easy to pack.

BCA Companion avy shovel, it is a short handle. The avalanche probe fits right in the handle. I like having the probe and shovel together. Very handy, don't have to hunt for either.

Shown apart, probe slides into handle of shovel.

Odds and ends, compass, also reads slope angle. Knife screw driver tool, whistle, orange flashlight, razor blade, carabiners, small pulley, electric tape, pepper spray(critters out in those mountains).

It was up north of Bozeman, MT, Jan 07. I was up in the backcountry and there were Mountain Lion tracks in my tracks from the day before. I kept my eyes open as I snowshoed up higher that day.

Tracker avalanche transceiver, must have and know how to use. The top transceiver is set on transmit. The bottom transceiver is on search. The signal waves travel in a curve, that is something a person has to learn and practice. That is why one needs to take an avalanche course. I have taken a course every 2 years, Level 1, Level 2 and took a refresher level 1 again this last fall. It is like refreshing on my Ski Patrol skills. It keeps you sharp.

Sleeping bag liner, I used one during the wait for Search & Rescue in my accident. I draped it over my head and back to conserve body heat.

Fire starter kit I put together, Small fire starter sticks, matches and lighter.

Munchies, Mix of carbs and protein. Beef jerky, peanuts, energy bars, Power Bars. Energy gels Power Bar Gel and Accel Gel for quick energy.

This is a 2.8 pound 1 person tent for an emergency shelter. I carry this on the sled in a water proof bag. After being caught out in a blizzard 3 years ago it always travels with me.

Rope, high quality climbing rope, about 120 feet of length. Rope is always good. I also carry 130 feet on my sled.

Lightweight climbing harness, ya never know. There's cliffs out there, man.

Headlamp, extra batteries. Extra silk head, face mask. It does get dark and cold out in them there mountains, Vern.

First Aid Kit. I'm sure I carry more than most people. I see what can happen out there, anywhere.

Walkie talkie, that even sounds cool. They are handy when we might get separated, I keep them on a neck cord to throw on quickly. You could put them on scan to pick up a signal.

Clear goggles for dark or an extra set in wet conditions, bandanna use it for any thing, tie a splint, cover face, sling with tape over shoulder. Soft gloves to use when not sledding or boarding. Map of Wyoming, cause that's where the snow is.

All packed away in nice little stash sacks, Each picture of items is in a separate sack. There is room to throw in an extra vest in case.

This is the Dakine Poacher pack. It is very well designed. It rides on my back very good. I can wear it all day. The compartments are well thought out. The best large pack I have owned, and I've had a few. It is too large for, in resort. A backcountry pack it is. I use a smaller Dakine Heli pack in the resorts.