Surly Pugsley Winter Singletrack Adventure Under the Moonlight

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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!

First Night of the Snowboard Patrol Season / Zero Degrees and a Winter Moon

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Good to get back on the snowboard. 0 degrees and a Sunday night, the resort was quiet.

Got 3 runs in and had a injury call for Ski Patrol. Snowboarded over to the scene and applied a sling and swath to a young fellow with a broken collar bone. Wow right back into the Ski Patrol season.

Great to be back on the snowboard...Ride On!!

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

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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!

Mountain Bike / -5 & Alive / Minnesota River Trail / December 9, 2013

Giving Thanks for a Ride Along the River and Through the Woods

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Amazing the natural sculptures that make up the River Bottoms. The Fall season eliminates the underbrush and makes the trees the stars.

 

 A good river ride is scattered with stops to soak in the starkness of the bare trees and just simply watching the water flowing. Always being alert for wildlife and the sounds of the woods.  

 With the cold snap that has froze the ponds the waterfowl has found open water along the river ice. Canadian Geese and a Mallard...what's with the Duck?

A sea of prairie grass typifies the fall season blowing in the wind.

Singletrack Mountain Biking One Year Later / Now 26"/4" Pugsley / Then 29"/2.2" Salsa / Both Good Times

 Above / November 25, 2013 / Surly

Below / November 29, 2012 / Salsa

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Best time to be in the woods on a mountain bike, the Fall and at sundown, into the darkness. I'm riding a new bike this Fall. A Surly Pugsley. A bit of change after becoming accustomed to my 29er.

 The good and different. The Salsa with 29 inch wheels and 2.2" tires are great for rolling over obstacles and carrying your speed.

The Surly Pugsley with 26 inch wheels and 4" tires have a much larger contact patch so I feel the trail. The actual diameter is more like a 27.5 because of the large tires. I feel like I can ride it more like my motorcycle, lean it over and let the knobs grab the trail.

 Above / November 25, 2013 / Surly
Below / November 29, 2012 / Salsa

 At sundown, I pulled off the trail and rigged up my light system.

A helmet light and 2 handlebar mounted lights. I set up the whole system that I had in my backpack. Changed batteries and mounted the helmet light, using zip ties to secure it to the helmet. Mounted the handlebar lights, had a quick snack and 20 minutes later, I'm on my way in the darkness.

 The top picture is with a flash on my camera, the bottom picture is the view I have with my light system.

As I am riding, I use the head lamp to look ahead and around turns. The handlebar mounted lights light up the trail right in front of the bike. That is why it is a good idea to have both systems in place off road where the trail is twisty and you need to see around the corner.

Ride On!!

River Ride / Slowin' Down, Takin' It In

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