Blizzard in Minnesota / Fat Biking & Hiking

Fat Tire Mountain Biking the Minnesota River Trail in Early December 2013 / Winter's Coming

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR VIDEO!!

A couple years back when we were beginning this Fat Bike experience. Meeting Jeff Hall down by the Minnesota River in 2013 and watching him take his first Fat Bike rides. Fast forward to 2016 and he is the Man to beat anytime he toes the line at a Winter Fat Bike Race. Fastest Fat Tire Man in the Midwest...

Ride On!!

Surley Pugsley + -15 Degree Temp / Moonlit Winter Night + 3 hours on the Trail = Good Time

 CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE!!

Riding along the river trail on a late winter afternoon. With temperatures at the start of the ride -13 degrees and dropping down to -15, the preparation is very important. I am making small changes to adjust to different temps. I bought a new lightweight shell jacket that has been a great addition to my winter mountain biking gear. I have been on subzero rides for the past month, so I have been able to fine tune my clothing.

There are going to be details like fingers and feet getting cold, they go through a cycle of cold and ya move your fingers and they warm up. With the feet, I just get off the bike and hike along for a bit, they warm right up. It has alot to do with regulating your body heat, you don't want to sweat. A couple of clothing rules that I follow are, wind protection, layer, having a vent system to move your body heat so as not to build up sweat. On my feet I wear a lightweight polyester / rayon sock. My boots are a mid weight Gore-tex boot, I don't want my feet restricted or sweaty. Over my boots I wear a neoprene boot cover that slips on easily.

I stop and snack on high protein snacks along with zero sugar energy drinks, Monster and Rockstar. Calories and caffeine keeps the blood warm, yeah!

It's not a race. It's just out enjoying the winter and as darkness settles in, the dark is my favorite time to be out, the woods are awesome. The moon was out tonight and with the bitter cold, there were tiny ice crystals floating in the air. I would stop and take a break, listen to the Hoot Owl in the distance. It's all good as long as I'm in the zone and have the proper mix of quality clothes.          

 Riding the snowmobile trails tonight along the river.

 This a 3 sided shelter with firewood and a fire pit. It was a good place to take a break after a climb out of the valley. My body was totally adjusted to the weather. The moon was bright over head.

  Rockstar...

 There are some massive logs laying on the ground along the river. So I can't resist climbing up and looking around. Kinda a neat view of the Pugsley below. 

 The face shot, a bit frosty tonight @ -15 degrees after 3 hours out on the trail.

 The High Life with snow crystals floating in the air.

Dashboard shot...Ride On!

Last Week of 2013 / Couple of Pugsley MTB Rides on the Snow Trails in Sub Zero Temps

 CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE!!

Snow biking the last week of 2013, the snow is deep and the temps are cold. With temperatures below zero degrees and a couple days of fresh snow it has been a blast to get out and have a winter adventure. Last week I had the -7 night and built the fire. That was all good.

Had another good ride on Christmas night with a few inches of fresh snow. I decided during that ride that I needed to try platform pedals and see how they would work compared to the step in cleats. Christmas ride was in fresh snow and I had to pop out of the pedals a few times and it was tougher then it needed to be.

On Monday, the last ride of 2013, there was about 2 inches of fresh snow on top of a solid base singletrack trail along the river. I used platform pedals and found that with the platform pedals, I was able to keep my feet warmer. I used my pack boots. Also, I could dab my foot quicker and keep my balance a bit easier riding on the narrow packed trail. I will be riding on the platform pedals any time that the conditions are tough and for sure on the narrow singletrack trails.  

 Every ride and hike down along the river, I am amazed at the trees and their shapes. This is the tree of the day.

 This is a fallen log that I came across, with it's roots in the air and the size of the tree, it must of shook the ground the day it toppled. It makes one wonder why one tree is uprooted and it is surrounded by trees that are still standing tall.

 I got a birds eye view of the Pugsley below. It was a dark night and the temps weren't as cold, about 2 degrees below zero.

As I was standing atop the massive fallen tree, a coyote began to bark and then progressed to an all out howl. He was close, maybe 30-40 yards away. I couldn't see him in the dark, I believe he was down along the river, just below the river bank. It was all good and I remained standing on the log and just listened to the night noises. It is at these times that I feel connected to the weather, landscape and any critters that happen to be in the area.

 The view from the saddle using the flash in the dark. Below is the view from my headlamp.

Here's looking to 2014 and more adventures to come...Ride On!!

Merry Christmas to All

&

To All A Happy New Year

Surly Pugsley Winter Singletrack Adventure Under the Moonlight

 CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE!!

Playing in the snow is good fun, young and older...

 Looking forward to a moonlit night on the singletrack. Temps are about 15 degrees, a bit warmer then the zero degrees out at the resort Ski Patroling last night.

The trail is a narrow ribbon winding through the woods packed down by fat tire riders. It takes a bit of concentration to stay on the packed trail and not to flounder in the deep snow. Found that the best way to stay on track was to stand up on the pedals, power up the climbs and stay out of the saddle on the twisty descents. The key is to balance traction and power and not spin the rear tire with ones weight forward. Took 3 good tumbles into the snow, doesn't take much to get off track.

Was out in the woods about 2.5 hours and outside in the elements about 3.5 hours. The idea is to become acclimated to the winter temps and find the ideal layers of clothing for all the different activities. We have a backcountry multi-day snowshoe / snowboard trip planned into a 10th Mountain Hut in the mountains of Colorado this winter. By snowboarding one day, then snow biking the next. I am able to find out what works for clothing and how to stay warm, but not sweat too much. I like to test my equipment and clothing in true winter conditions.    

 The view from the saddle, don't need much light with the moonlight. I use a bar mounted light and a Black Diamond headlamp zip tied to my helmet.

 I enjoy the breaks and the darkness when I turn off the lights. A Monster drink and energy bar are good for keepin' the pedals turning.  

Back at the truck a cold beverage and snack bar are the reward for a good ride under the moonlight...Ride On!

Father Winter Blasts Into Minnesota / We Blast back on the Mountain Bikes

 CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE!!

The season of Father Winter...Game on!

 Timing was great, the snow started as I was driving to the trailhead and nobody out. Got a good 3 hour adventure ride in. These are the days I live for, adverse conditions and a means to explore. The Puglsey is awesome in these conditions. 

 The Beaver house is now surrounded with ice and the geese have moved to the river with what is left of open water.

 I'm always in awe of the massive trees in the river bottoms. The starkness of early winter and a new snowfall give the trees center stage.

 The Canada Geese are on the river for the last of open water. At sundown they congregate on the river after feeding in the fields out in the country.

As the darkness settles in I take a break and watch a couple of deer in the woods. I picked up the reflection of their eyes in my headlamps. It is good to be in the solitude of the woods, miles from my truck. The night is when ones world is pretty much closed to within the reach of my lights. 

Arriving back at the truck after a good bike adventure and enjoying the solitude of the river bottoms, I take in the sight of the last fragments of the early winter sundown over the river.

Good Ride!

  A Week Later More Snow and Temperatures Below 0 Degrees 

Hooking up with my son Jeff Hall on a brisk -5 degree afternoon with fresh snow and a packed singletrack trail along the Minnesota River. Me on my Surly Pugsley and Jeff on a Salsa 29er.

The trails were narrow and packed in so that Jeff was able to run along with the 2.5" tires, I'm running 4" fat tires.

Rode up close to these whitetails at sundown. Their dark winter coats blend in well with the trees.

Back at the truck after 2.5 hours in -5 degree temps. Another good adventure along the river.

Ride On!