These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

Twisting singletrack in the snowy woods with no sign of civilization. There have been several occasions that I have regretted not having a camera with me on the bike. I really don't like to carry extra stuff, and in winter I'm loaded down with extra gear as it is, so the camera doesn't make the cut. Today just might top the list of days I wish I had a camera. The only consolation is that I doubt any picture could really capture or convey the whole experience.

Today I awoke to a light dusting of snow and 34 degrees in Seattle. Joe was already awake and had posted on his facebook page that he was glad "it was only a dusting of snow". I double-checked that we were on for our ride and he confirmed.

There are two places to ride singletrack in the area that I have heard a lot about, but have never had the chance to ride. Yesterday, we crossed Black Diamond off the list. Today, it was time to cross Tolt-McDonald off the list. I was very happy that the weather allowed us to head out as planned.

The ride starts with an immediate climb called the I.A.B. (It's a Bitch). I am not one that does well with a climb right out of the gates. I need a good warm-up. As I have gotten in better shape, I find that I really hit my stride after about 2 hours. Sounds crazy, but it has been proven on the last few mountain bike rides. I ride with people that are faster than me, and generally have trouble keeping up. But lately I have found that after a couple hours, I can keep up much better. Now that may be because they are tiring and slowing down, but I'm going with the former. Sadly, after a couple hours is usually when the ride is just about over. Now I just need to start warming up for 2 hours before a race or find a way to shorten my warm-up period.

Anyway, once you get through the IAB, the trails rock! Great twisting, semi-technical singletrack. But not so technical that you can't find a rhythm (for a little while - before the next sketchy log crossing or tight turn across a web of slippery roots). Combine that with the gentle snowfall, and the silence that goes along with it (minus the screeching wet disc brakes). What could be better!? It's like when people joke about liking long walks on the beach and candlelit dinners. I seriously can't think of much better to do on a Sunday than what I did today. And that is saying a lot. I have three beautiful children and an awesome (and beautiful) wife. I love spending time with them. But it really isn't every day that you get to experience a new trail in the conditions that we had today.

Basically, just picture a Hallmark card-type photo of a twisting trail through the woods with light snow falling and a dusting of powdery snow clinging to the leaves and branches. Now add me on my mountain bike, and it's perfect...just like today's ride ;-)

Back in the Saddle

Sounds weird to say, because it seems like I've been riding a lot. But when you really look at what I've been doing, it's mostly short, high-intensity stuff like cross races and interval sessions, with a few Thrillas thrown in there. I haven't done much mileage.

Last Wednesday was the most miles I've ridden in a long while. That is going to change big-time. End of May is looming and I need to seriously up the miles. So the Wednesday night ride to the Thrilla instead of drive is going to be a regular thing. And this weekend is the kick-off of more miles on the mountain bike.

Last year, I trained mainly on the road. This year my goal is to do a lot more miles on the bike I will be riding in the 24-hour race. Today we did 18 miles out in Black Diamond. I had heard about it, but never ridden there before. It was fun. 18 miles there is more like 25 elsewhere. It is pretty tight technical singletrack. Hopefully, I'll be back out there soon. But I'll need a guide for the first few times - the trails are packed in there and all of the intersections from today are a blur.

Tomorrow, the plan is to ride out at Tolt-McDonald Park. Another spot that I've heard about, but not yet ridden. Supposed to be nice flowing technical singletrack. Not sure of the mileage, but I'm sure Joe can tell me exactly how many miles it is and how many vertical feet and a bunch of other stats. My friends think I am obsessed with the details and numbers of riding. They haven't met Joe.

Looking forward to a good post about our adventures at Tolt-McDonald tomorrow. Not that I trust them, but the weatherman says that the snow they expected isn't coming, but the temperature at 10am is forecasted at 31 degrees, but "feels like 24 degrees" with the wind.

Stay tuned.

The Stinky Spoke and the Frozen Tundra

Odd match, isn't it? No, I did not have some sort of bathroom related incident with my bike. The Stinky Spoke is short for "The Stinky Weather Poker Run". It is not a run. It is a mountain bike ride that raises money to benefit the "Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center". Joe told me about it a couple weeks ago and it sounded like a good cause - as if I need an excuse to go ride.

So this past Saturday was the Stinky Spoke ride and I decided to ride my cross bike since it sounded like it was a pretty mellow course. I was not aware that Joe was leading a group on a route called the "Thrilla" (as in the "Thrilla in Woodinvilla" - a ride that starts every Wednesday night from the Red Hook brewery in Woodinville, WA). The Thrilla route would take us past all of the checkpoints of the Stinky Spoke while adding an extra 7 miles and keeping us on trails for the majority of the ride. Great!

Now I realize that the Thrilla is a great route for a cross bike. Previously, I've always ridden my mountain bike. And the gears start turning. It's about 17 miles on the Burke Gilman Trail and the Sammamish River Trail from my house to RedHook. 17 there + 21 mile Thrilla + 17 back = 55. Not bad. 55 miles once a week including 20 + on trails. I could get used to that.

This brings us to the Frozen Tundra portion of the title. Last night I put the above plan into action for the first time. I really tried to get organized so that I could get out the door early and enjoy a leisurely spin to RedHook to meet up with the group. Complete and utter failure. It would take about 1.25 hrs to get there at a leisurely pace. The ride starts promptly at 6:30 from the RedHook parking lot. I rolled from my house at 5:32. You do the math.

Instead of a nice gentle warm-up, I had my own little time-trial from 58th Street to RedHook. I arrived at the junction of the Sammamish River Trail (where the group enters from RedHook) at 6:33. Not knowing if I had missed them, and not wanting to waste the 2 minutes to check the parking lot, I forged ahead. Joe had said that he would be on his single-speed, so I knew I could catch them if they were in front of me on the Trail.

After 2 minutes at a good pace, I decided that they must not be ahead of me and I toned it down. I stopped at the trail junction a few miles down the Sammamish River Trail where we turn onto the dirt. Sure enough, about 3 minutes later, Joe and the crew rolled up. Great - nice story.

Not so fast. Rewind a little over an hour. I'm getting ready and trying to minimize the stuff I need to carry since I will be riding to the ride instead of driving as most normal people would. It is pretty cold out, but I am trying to talk myself out of bringing my jacket. Now in my defense, those of you out there picturing me going in short-sleeves in the Seattle winter need a bit more info. I tend to get hot wearing many layers in the cold. I was wearing my winter long bibs, a base layer under a short-sleeve jersey, arm warmers, and a vest. This setup will take good care of me until the temp drops much below 40.

Mistake #1 - trusting www.weather.com. They forecasted 37 for Woodinville, WA at 9pm.

Lucky break #1 - not being able to convince myself not to bring my jacket (a.k.a - forgetting I decided not to bring it), and packing my jacket.**

**Lucky Break #1 was sort of negated for most of the night because I had no idea that I had actually brought my jacket. Read on and you will understand.

So, out we go on the 21-mile loop. Joe, his wife Molly, Parker (a regular), and a first-timer (forgot her name). It was cold, but bearable when you have some climbs on the trails to keep the blood pumping.

Then comes mile 15. The beginning of a long, rolling, mostly downhill section that can be extremely cold due to the exposure and high speeds. Everyone else puts on their jacket. I advertise to the others that I didn't bring mine. No one comments on the hunchback I am sporting (due to balled up jacket in my jersey pocket under my vest. Not sure if it is because they don't realize it is a jacket or they are just plain cruel.

We get through most of the freezing cold downhill section, when Joe volunteers that the thermometer on his fancy watch (or maybe bike computer) says 29 degrees. Well, I knew it was below freezing from the frozen, rock hard tracks through what was once mud. I guess the glistening ice crystals on the ground were sort of a give-away also. Anyway, when you hear someone say it is 29 degrees, it somehow seems colder all of a sudden.

And just then, it dawns on me...my vest feels tight. [insert fat joke here] Something is pushing into my lower back. A quick check with my hand confirms my thought. My jacket is in my jersey pocket. Now you have known since the beginning of the story, so it is no surprise to you. But you have to imagine my surprise. I could have saved face and kept quiet. Instead, I started laughing out loud.

"Do you want to hear something funny?" I asked whoever was willing to listen. I didn't wait for an answer. I admitted that my jacket was back there all along. I had convinced myself to bring it and then immediately forgotten.

We finished the dirt portion of the loop and met back up with the Sammamish River Trail. I parted from the group and headed for home. I didn't put the jacket on yet. I wanted to feel the cold as I rode along the bike path so I could really appreciate the jacket when I finally put it on.

After about 15 minutes, I stopped and put it on. I really did appreciate it. Not sure how much was real and how much was psychological, but I wasn't cold the rest of the way home. It also helped that I got passed by someone going much faster than me and I jumped on his wheel (after asking if it was OK). Amazing what a difference having someone to follow can make. I was beginning to tire and had slowed considerably. I never would have thought that I could pick up the pace and hold it at the speed we were going. The effort to keep up got me really warm.

I don't have a computer on my cross bike, so I can't say how fast it was. But suffice it to say, it was fast. Much faster than I normally go on the bike path on any bike. Sadly, no pictures either. I did have my phone, but just couldn't muster the effort to stop on the trail and take off my winter gloves to take a bad photo with my phone.

I haven't really kept track, but that just might be a new low temp for me on the bike. Not sure I should trust them, but www.weather.com is showing a low of 28 for Woodinville last night. So next time you're cold, picture me on my bike with no jacket when it's 28 degrees and enjoy yourself ;-)

At Long Last

I have been lamenting about being sequestered to riding indoors with the weather we've been having in Seattle. Well, on Saturday, a friend organized a ride that was actually outdoors! As soon as I heard about it, I committed to being there. It involved a 40 minute drive and a 21-mile ride on some fairly boring trails, but at least it was outside and I wouldn't be alone.

What an awesome day! I never thought 21 miles of mostly flat fire road could be so fun. Lunch and a pint of Blackhook Porter post-ride at the Redhook Brewery sort of help too ;-)

I know the route well. It is a 21-mile loop that I did 5 times in a day to get a 100+ mile training ride in before last year's 24-hour race. My legs were completely dead from a hard interval workout on the trainer Friday night. But being out on the trails with a group overcame any possible negatives.

No photos but the ones in my head - and we don't have the technology yet to share those.

Thanks to Joe for organizing and getting everyone out there.

This is Getting Ridiculous

Light snow started falling late this afternoon. It became heavy snow soon after. Here is what my car looked like after 15 minutes in Home Depot.

Did I buy a snow shovel? No.

Here is what it looks like outside now. Glad I didn't buy that show shovel.



Looks like it's back to the trainer again. Might be a while until that new mountain bike sees the dirt again.

She's Dirty

No, I don't mean my wife. Saturday, I finally got the chance to ride the bike I recently rebuilt. There was still some snow on the trails, but most of it was rideable (sorry, no camera with me on the ride).

It was cold, but bearable with my full-length winter bibs, and hand warmers on top of my shoes wrapped in saran wrap, in addition to my winter booties over the top. Welcome to riding in the Seattle winter. Can't wait until my winter boots finally arrive (currently backordered).

She needs a couple fine-tune adjustments, but she is sweet. So happy to be riding a hardtail again. The new XT drivetrain is as good as advertised - maybe even better.

Here's proof for you doubters (Brad):

It's All Relative

That's what they say. and it is true. I would have never thought of 37 degrees and cloudy as a great opportunity to go ride my bike for a couple hours. But now I live in Seattle and we just emerged from 10 days of snow and sub-freezing temps. So today was a great chance to go ride. I went up to Edmunds. My hands and feet were cold, but it was way better than another sweat session on the trainer inside ;-)

And I'm not the only nut out there. The speck in the left side of the photo is a scuba diver. Now that's cold!!!