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Icy roads, icy toes

Friday's commute started out at 19 at the house, a HIGH for the last week by almost 20 degrees. Funny how it feels balmy when it's 20 now. I dressed lighter but that was a mistake since there was a bit of an inversion going on. I thought I was getting colder down the 'drop' just because i was going so damned slow on roads like those above and no studs on Tank yet, but it really dropped in temp. My face felt a sting, especially the left upper cheek-bone that got frost nip at the Grand Traverse last March. Had the face mask in the pack but of course I didn't stop to put it on, i was already so close to the bottom by the time I realized it was frozen that stopping would've made me colder, or it would've made too much sense!

Cold feet again today, looking to try out the Lake MXZ302's this year even though i hear they fall apart. Not many choices out there for winter shoes. Two, maybe three if you can find the new Northwave Celcius' in your size. Sidi, Lake, and the new Pearl Izumi's. That's it. Sidi's are even more expensive than the Lakes and they don't fit my feet well. The Pearl's look ok, but hey, it's their first year out so I will give them some time to learn from mistakes. It's time to retire the Arctics.

Keen wool insoles

I bought a pair of wool Keen shoes a couple of years ago. They're those things that slip on, not clogs but not performance shoes at all, but warm and easy to get on/off. And they look like you have Wookie feet. Not sure they sell them anymore but they came with these sweet insoles. Rubber in the middle sandwiched by wool on the top and a heat reflective (tinfoil-like) surface on the bottom. They're perfect to put in the winter cycling shoes and resist the heat loss and cold that comes thru the cleat. I looked at the time and saw that Keen was asked by others than me to sell these separately. No such luck. But if you know of any other insole like this, comment and lemme know!

Master's Cross Nats - The Pilot WINS!

Webber wins, Myrah second. Wow. Who would've thought the Masters 40-44 would have the two guys in 1 and 2 spots that were in those same spots (but reversed) back in 1993 (or was it 92?). Classic. Congrats Pilot.

Coyotes and Cold commutes

Three coyotes hunting in the front meadow before heading off to the bus. (KB- they look like 'your' coyotes!) The horses were closed into their stalls because the temps were forecasted to get down to -15 again. These three staked out the property in one smooth down-valley movement until they got here where the picture was taken. Maybe they heard the crazy barking dog at the bottom of the driveway that gets left out all night (horrible pet owners). Or maybe they all heard the same vole. Who knows, but they all marked up that brown post on the left like it was the coolest thing to do on earth. It's amazing to me how they can seem unaffected by the cold whereas our dog's lift their paws up into the air in horror after 5 minutes being outside with how cold the snow is.

Off the bus on to the bike paths in the Flatlands. The roads were treacherous, the paths were butter. Cold down there, but nothing like up at the ranch where the winds have picked up and we're getting some 'fun' conditions like zero degrees and 40mph gusts making the windchill...well...COLD.

Getting some studded cross tires for Tank, seems like these conditions will be around for awhile. Going to try out the Schwalbe Marathon Winter's as they have nicely looking"siped" treads and a 240 stud count. This site has good pictures and info on most of the studded tires out there. I usually don't use them as the transition from here to the Flatlands is usually bad, but once you get down there it's summer. This winter is a different story though.

1st ski tour of the season

First off, CONGRATS to the Pilot for winning the Colorado State Cyclocross Championships yesterday! That's rad. Dubba and him sprinting to a finish that found the Pilot only a foot, if that, ahead of Dubba for the win. Classic. Now on to today, and SKIING!

Yep, begin the posts with lots and lots of pictures of snow, people's backs skiing ahead of me thru the snow, wind scoured peaks, and of course pictures of my sweet turns on powdered glades.

The Redneck, or as I shall now call him - Hayride (unless i hear objections), on the Holmenkollens with Haystack in the view. Right about here, even in the absence of the most common element of this place (gale force winds) we both froze our fingers off. It was zero at the house upon leaving but we heard it was an inversion so were hopeful it'd be warmer. Not so much.

I brought out the leather's and Combat's today. Seemed like a good idea as we knew we were going to be battling horrible snow cover and rocks covered in just an inch or two of the driest snow on earth.

The sky kept trying to snow but the RH was just too low (56% at DVR). Hayride was right when he said it was like the air was crystallizing - you can kinda see that in the picture above - blue sky and white air.

I wish I got some pics of the narrow, rock-filled, tobaggan run back to the parking area (which now has two spanking new restrooms by the way!). Many near misses and forced tele/alpine turns made for an exciting run.

Pitiful snow cover. Another storm is on it's way for Monday night so hopefully that'll get us back up to average. Word is, a big one is brewing off the Pacific Coast right now too, so we may be in for a good set!

Late Saturday afternoon snowride

Riding in the snow can be one of the funnest things you can do on a bike, and it can also be one of the most severely frustrating things you can do on a bike all in the same hour long ride. You know the feeling. Just like with skis, if it turns into breakable crust or windslab you are hurting...and walking. It sucks the life out of you. But in the protected trees, the soft 4" deep snow on singletrack is chocolate mousse. Smooth and rich.

After a day of chores, including waxing the skis for the first time of this winter - and tomorrow's ski with the Redneck - I snuck out for a short ride around the hood with the Hunter. We had just finished a short hike where the poor dog's paws were getting quickly frozen; it was maybe 16 degrees, at the lowest. These are not sled dogs. The conditions look do-able so i got out before the sun set, kinda. Freaking 4:30 sunset these days makes it hard to do anything.

James Peak at sunset

Negative 15

Yeah...not riding in today.