2014 Snowy Range Snowbike Challenge

I have always had a tumultuous relationship with the season known as, "winter".  Though I love Laramie, and Wyoming is the only home for me, I have always hated the crystal flakes that cover our mountains, and make the skiers in our region gleam with joy.  I even wrote a editorial for Dirt Rag one time that was a full page with pictures concerning my hate for winter...and they published it.  (Dirt Rag issue 143)

But this year something changed.  In the past, riding my bicycle in the winter was a challenge.  I would ride to work, smiling at the passing cars, rushing to get indoors and brag about how hardcore I was.  That was the extent of my winter riding. But this year, something just clicked.  I think it was my even deeper hate for riding a trainer inside.  So, I got on my fat bike and rode in the mountains, deciding that I wasn't going to let the cold keep me off of the trails, and after a couple rides it just became fun to be outside, in the cold, suffering, thinking about snow conditions, building groomers and seeing the mountains in a different way.  It is crazy.  

Last night, was the 2014 Snowy Range Snowbike Challenge, and even though I am still not a racer myself, I love being around bike races.  This race was no different.  Despite my lack of abilities, Evan and Nat let me "help" set up the course, and I got to see how much work they actually put into making races run smoothly.

It is a lot of work, and those guys deserve a ton of respect.  Thanks fellas!  

Here are some shots from the race, enjoy, and I hope to see you out there.   

Pre Race Socialization.  It was good to see everyone on Pedal House bikes. 

Snow started coming down pretty hard right before the race.

Fat Tires on a Big Boned Bike.

Get lined up!

Evan gives instructions. 

And they are off.

So graceful, like a cheetah. 

One of my favorite pictures of the night. 

Grrrrrrrrr.

Fat Biking with the Pedal House

Greetings All, I hope you survived the holiday season with relative sanity...(double meaning???) Anyway, on Christmas day Jeff and I went for a ride.

Jeff and I at the end of Roger Canyon. 

We had fun on that Surly Pugsly.  Jessica brought the Moonlander out a little later and she, her brother Jason and I had a pretty good time breaking trails and riding some BLM land.  I was beat up...but I was also hooked on fat biking.  It was like my cycling heart grew two sizes too big....

I am loving Fat Biking.  Nat took me out to Happy Jack and tried to kill poor Ali and I.  Erwin and Brian were there too.  Overall, a pretty darn good first time out for Ali.

Then Erwin took a group of us out for another ride in the hills.   This was a Fantastic ride.  I was dressed right, which helps, and we had a good three hours in the saddle.  Today Miguel and I rode and had another three + hours on the trails.  Check out the two rides here: 

Winter Commuting Ideas

Two days ago I was riding around with my best pal Jeff when I realized that riding in the snow takes some considerable preparation. It wasn't until my tires slipped out from under me sending me crashing to the ground that I remembered that my helmet was still sitting on the couch where I left it. Unharmed, I vowed to remember it when I ride my bike, especially in the winter. As I laid there, Jeff looking at me curiously, I thought that it might be nice to try a video blog to help the emerging winter warriors get safely from point A, to point B on a bicycle. So here is my first attempt at Video Blogging;

Though, It seems to be of better quality on youtube. Enjoy, and I hope it was helpful information.