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

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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!!

Back in the Saddle on the Fat Tire Mountain Bikes / Winter Edition / LAMERE Cycles

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Winter started off with a blast here in the Northland. Riding motorcycles and fall conditions on the mountain bike trails on a Sunday. Monday, wake up to fresh snow and mid 20 temperatures.

 

I have had a bunch of riding, motorcycles and mountain bikes in the past few months. Going to start back out with the current adventures and flash back to some of the good times that have occurred.

 The biggest bicycle news is the addition of a new Fat Tire bicycle in my stable. I have been riding a Pugsley the past year. The new Fat Tire bike is a "LAMERE Cycles", this is a 5" tire bike that is in the low-twenties weight class. I'll have more write ups and adventures on this new bike.    

 Good day on the bikes, Jeff Hall is also involved with the LAMERE Cycles bikes. He is LAMERE Cycles sponsored rider and is going to be racing a light-weight version in some of the premier winter fat tire mountain bike races. 

 Jeff Hall with Buzzy LaMere on an early winter bike testing ride. These LAMERE Cycles rock!! This is going to be a good adventure.

Night Rides and the Winter Campfire

 Night rides along the Minnesota River in the winter are going to a weekly adventure. Add a fire along the trail to light up the night and it is a good time. 

 It has been a blast to have this early season snow and cold to get out on the bikes.

Cheers!!

Ride on!

Swamp / Lurkin in the Rain with the Critters

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First time down in the river bottoms since the floods. I've been riding every season this year with all the extreme weather conditions and every ride has it's own personality.

Back in the 70s it was motorcycles, and since about 1981 it has been mountain bikes. I never get tired of the Minnesota River bottoms. I have ridden every season of the year and all the way from Fort Snelling all the way down to Belle Plain, Minnesota. The best memories are when the weather is a bit extreme or critters are out running around.

These are some of the photos the I took while pedaling along the river this week. The power of the water was evident with many downed trees and the vegetation was washed away. I was able to see the deer trails in the mud. There was vegetation hanging 7 feet high in the trees. This flood wiped everything clean.

 This Pugsley was designed to be a go anywhere bike. It fits my adventure spirit, it is a vehicle that can get me into areas that gets me in touch with nature.

 These trees were bent over from the power of the river.

 Hunkered down as the rain started, the vegetation hanging from the trees...it was swamping at it's best. I sensed something, I looked to my right and there was a doe with 1 then 2 then a 3rd little fawn following her. They were prancing along and I snapped several photos, they never sensed that I was in the area. This is what the adventure is about for me. Blending in and observing the surroundings. Being in the right place at the right time. It is knowing when to sit tight and let the woods come to life.

 I was riding along and spyed the movement on the high ground, circled back and talked to this deer, she was all ears and curious about me.

 At sundown I noticed this beaver, it was having a meal of some fresh leaves and branches from some fallen trees. The beaver was not alarmed at all.

 Sundown and enjoying the river as it flows along. Not in a hurry to get back to the truck, it's great to be on the bike on a quiet rainy evening in the river valley.

The last of daylight, savoring the bit of time on the bike before the cold beer back at the truck.

Ride On!!

2 Wheel Adventures the Week of the 4th / Fat Tire Surly or Fat Tire BMW

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Good mountain bike riding on the Murphy trails. These are the trails you can ride all afternoon and get back to the truck and savor the ride. Eat a sandwich and take your time packing up. A good way to spend a day of my weekend.

 The more I ride the Pugsley, the more I enjoy the fat tires. Kinda like riding the Suzuki 400 with the big knobbies.

Riding the BMW 1200 GS on Northern Minnesota Backroads

 So much rain this season. Everything is extra green and growing. Even the beaver house is sporting a green mossy looking roof. The swamps and Beaver dammed flowages are right up to the edges of the roads or in some cases, flowing over the dirt roads.  

 Got back on some remote dirt roads in northern Minnesota and caught a glimpse of tracks. Cranked the big BMW over and backtracked to the tracks and found some good prints of a large Timber wolf track alongside a set of whitetail deer tracks...I set my x-large glove along side the tracks. These are a good size set of wolf tracks.

 The foliage along the dirt road is tall and thick. Saw this deer alongside the road and was able to capture it before it disappeared into the woods.

Just me and the deer flys along this stretch of backroad...sipping on a Rockstar energy drink and eating a Cliff Bar...

Good Times!

The Beemer and I packed up for the road. Temps were in the 80s, bought a new pair of Olympia riding pants. they are vented with good protection, padded knees and tough http://olympiamotosports.com/catalog/mens-airglide-3-mesh-tech-overpant-2/ . These pants are a real addition to my gear for adventure motorcycling.

Riding along Mille Lacs Lake, staying ahead of my shadow...

Mountain Biking Singletrack & Riding a BMW in the NorthStar Bicycle Festival

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Taking advantage of my Monday off I traveled south of the cities and hit the single track mountain bike trails. I'm still adjusting to the larger tires and these trails are great for working the bike and the legs. As the trail winds through the woods one climbs and drops down into the lowlands. I like the roots and rocks to create a good old singletrack ride.

It took a bit of riding through the woods before I felt smooth around the winding trail. After a good 1.75 hour ride I felt a bit worked but after a nice spin on the streets, the legs felt good.  

 I liked the jumbo mushrooms on the first loop, so I had to stop and do a photo. 

 This is my go-to favorite mountain bike trail. Classic singletrack...

 Riding Motorcycle Support for the "Nature Valley Bicycle Race"

 Riding south towards the town of Cannon Falls with a friend. He on a Ducati mutistrada and me on a BMW 1200 GS. The Ducata is a monster, with 150 horses and the Beemer is no slouch either with 125 horses in the the new liquid cooled.

 Ridin' with the Troopers today. We had 2 troopers at the front of the race and 1 at the rear along with several Sheriffs all through the pack. There were over 100 women racing in the bicycle race, the top Pros from the USA.

 Many big adventure motorcycles on road with the race today.

The start of the Mens road race, moments before the start.

Off-roading on 2 Wheels / Enduro & Fat Tire

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 A late night logging road ride.

The next day out on the backroads, good to get the Suzuki out in the woods again.