frozen bottles and other fun things about the cold

Reaching down to grab a water bottle only to find it frozen solid in the first ten minutes of a ride is something I should be acclimated to by now. Pulling over and stopping to unscrew it simply isn't an option as setting a foot in the snow not only gets your tootsies cold quick but also is a sure way to pack up your cleats.

And nobody likes there cleats packed up.

 Just after 7am with a slurry of ice still in the bottle Shannon and I began our ascent of a certain snow covered road in southern Rothrock State Forest, Teaberry Hollow. Temps were in the low twenties when we started and only became colder as we traversed the snow packed hollows of the deep woods.

Oh and Merino wool is the shit, if you don't own any go get some now. And no it's not itchy.

Once making it up the initial climb and onto the long open flats of Mule Road, aptly named as mules apparently used to pull timber along the roads, we started really cruising. A truck of sorts had driven the road perhaps the night prior leaving some packed out patches in it's wake, making for some even easier pedaling.

 Shannon explained to me at great lengths  how wakes are man made things? Still not sure what he is talking about

Once past the large stand of hemlocks things began to warm up, or we just started climbing. The vehicle tracks filled with freshly drifted snow and the animal tracks had disappeared as well.

Quiet and soft.
Things got tough.

Much conversation was had between gasps of cold air and awe inspiring natural snow sculptures.

 

No snowmobiles - One Motor Vehicle - Two Idiots 

For all the work the forestry department and other state agencies put into the trails for snowmobiling it was a little disconcerting not seeing any or evidence of any for the three hours we were riding. Don't get me wrong I'm certainly not complaining as this is a tremendous area to ride during the time I used to occupy by balancing on plastic cylinders in the basement. 

The Must Stuff: Defeet Woolie Boolie Socks  - Buff Merino Gator - Craft Baselayer - Garneau Zero Ergo Boots - Garneau Oslo Bib Tights - Craft Lobster Mits - 
The Bike: Salsa Mukluk 2013 Singlespeed geared 22tx22t (gearing was 4t-6t to low for today)
The Camera: Canon D10 

 

go ride tonight.

There is nothing worse than being coop'd up all day starring at bikes and boats in the shop, only to get off and it be pouring rain and 30 degrees. This seems to be the cycle we are working with here in central Pa. for the last week. With no heat or electric at my camper it is even less motivating to put on the super hero costume and make the thirteen mile trek up the ridge and out to the woods. Don't get me wrong once on the bike life is great again but it is that 20 minute mind game of " Do I really want to ride?" before departing that really makes getting going tough.

I have enough riding apparel to fill nearly every cavity of the camper as well as a few totes that live back at the shop. So not riding or not being prepared is not an option.

This is where owning a car sucks and working next to a bar is not a good thing. Both are easy cop outs. The remedy to this short day and cold weather time is simply.

Here it is:

10 miles of road riding gets you 12 oz. of beer
5 miles of mountain riding gets you 12 oz. of beer.
0 miles of either gets you no beer.

Now go ride.

18hrs to philly

I am not from Philly and I guess not even really from Malvern.
My parents live in Malvern and went to high school there.
Philly is simply the easiest way to describe where Malvern is located.

Since moving out to central Pennsylvania 5+ years ago I've felt it be a treat to ride home, just to be able to to   do it. We closed the shop the four days before thanksgiving this year as a means to give us a little time off after an incredibly long but fruitful summer. The bearded fella named, Greg, who worked at the shop for the last two summers decided to ride back to New York from Huntingdon just several weeks prior. His short trek had given me the itch to go a ways.I had been riding way to much mountain and hadn't been doing the same amount of road/ gravel tours I had become used to in years past.

Sunday before thanks giving the Fargo was loaded.
Couple pieces of absolutely wonderful gear for this trip

Jandd Frame Wedge- Keeps everything right where you need it and I have had this one for years without any complaints. Keep the zipper lubed and it works great.
Revelate Designs Visacha Seat Bag- Despite the large size and inability to get behind the saddle on gravel descents, this bag is well constructed and super stable if installed correctly. Only keep lightweight gear inside otherwise handling gets funky when out of the saddle. 
Jandd Micro Mtn Wedge- Again durable reliable and old as shit. Mounted in the crotch of the seatstays and seatube.
Profile Designs micro TT w/ Bridge- being able to relax your core and simply spin on long flats was great. Running the micro defiantly compromises your ability to totally relax as you elbows are not supported, however it doesn't interrupt the path of your knees while climbing as with other bars I've run. 
Continental TourRide with Protection 700x32c Tires- Riding the shoulder for 235+ miles with no flats. Over auto glass, shards of metal, tacks, and all the other stuff out there with no flats. 
Louis Garneau Ergo 0d Cycling Boot- Ok this is not a zero degree boot especially if riding road/ gravel. But it does keep your feet plenty toasty on the road down to about 30 and maybe 20 off road. This is way warmer than the traditional booties that folks might wear. 
Defeet Woolie Boolie Socks- merino wool, super warm, uber dry, and last forever. What else do you want in a pair of socks. Oh and I wear the Large and than if I get way cold run the XL over them for added insulation. 
Custom Micro rear fender- Strutted rear fender light and rattle free. Even over schedule 40 gravel there was no rattle.
Infini Micro Blinkers- Hub mounted, seatpost mounted and helmet mounted. This silicon bodied lights, improved upon the Knog light design by making a very durable, more reliable, and brighter micro blinker. Not to mention the better customer service. 

 

With the bike loaded and cue sheet strapped to the aero bars, mapless I left the shop around 4:30am. About thirty minutes into the ride it starting snowing and sleeting. The sleet started sticking to the bike like a clear epoxy. The entire frame became covered in a small layer of ice. As did much of my now slightly chilled arms.

I had packed a 50 degree sleeping bag in case of emergency.

Fortunately using google.maps I was able to get a sufficent
amount of gravel and b roads in on this light tour. A real treat!

The route I had planned with google.maps suggested it would be right at 228 miles and just over three and a half hours of driving. With only clues and a basic concept of direction to follow I left the rest up to the PennDot with regards to road signs and distances. A functional yet confusing method that left me scratching my head on more than just one occasion.

Comfy and Crisp

Safety Check!

Passing places such as Three Springs, Mcconellsburg, and Clear Spring. Finally around 6:45am the sun popped up and I was now able to see both the road, the farms and the one light towns. Many of the farmers were up already, casting large swaths of light from the barn lights  out across the freshly frosted fields. I had passed under the turnpike and was headed. Unfortunately for my legs I had crossed the Mason Dixon Line. I made a wrong turn in the Dark. Not sure really where but somehow I was supposed to go to Chambersburg which looks like it would have saved about 30-40 miles.

Is this still Pa? 

Crossing the 641 bridge over the Susquhanna will taking a picture.....bad idea.

More Cowbell

Making my way up route eleven towards Chambersburg, the ride was back on track.
If you ever get the chance stop by Mr. Eds Elephant Museum on old rt 30. Yeah the place with over 10,000 elephants and lots of candy.

wind knocked the roof off this place and the silo off the barn.

Did I mention I hate wind. I think I'd rather ride in the snow or cold or dark before riding in head winds. So for something like 40 miles I rode into a headwind. Even crossing the Susquehanna in a headwind. Finally by the time I hit Harrisburg it was time to refuel on an Italian energy bar (fresh pizza w/ green pepper) and some coffee.

Still in central Pa. in this one. 

Having just opened my frame bag to put cash back in the side panel, a younger fella dressed in some authentic urban apparel approached me about some hard times he was having. Immediately turning to him, dressed in nothing but the finest spandex tights and top, I suggested he ask for money elsewhere as a man on a bike is not a man to ask for money or fancy things. After offering me some flack for my lack of response to his request, we went our separate ways. That however did not happen without me flailing and loudly cursing several times at him.He called me crazy several times and than took off speedily. Shouting after him I made him aware of my intentions to finish my ride uninterrupted. The poor fella never looked back.

Approaching Blue Ball. What an aweful name for a town. Apparently it was named

 for a 200 year old inn, that has since been torn down.. Now it is just synonymous with 

prostate fluid congestion. Anyway it got dark things got crazy. It was cold. Somewhere around 180 miles things got really weird. That was before Blue Ball. 

After Blue Ball things really straightened out. I started to recognize the names of places and the terrain seemed more familiar. Seeing the time on a digital Pharmacy clock in Morgantown around 9:20pm made me realize just how long I had been on a bike. It was sorta inspirational. I became really excited, like get out of the saddle and start wailing on the pedals again. It was tremendously emotional, one of those am I crying or just excited inside, sort of times. Crazy stuff. Good stuff. 

The green reflective road sign in front of me read Eleverson. I knew Eleverson I had ridden there before, from Malvern anyway it seemed far away then. Now it seemed close. But at the same time so far. I thought I was closure, I thought I knew I was closure but I wasn't. 

Stopping wasn't an option my speedometer read 186 miles, and I had ridden from 4:30am until nearly 8am without tracking it. Even at 15 miles an hour, a relatively  conservative pace, that meant at least 50 additional miles. So now just outside of Eleverson I still had another eighteen miles. 

mmmm sugar peach rings! 

I knew where the next gas station was. If I could get there I was going to get peach rings. yes a bag of peach rings would do the trick. From that gas station to my parents house is only a few long uphills. Again something inside said I should sprint, that it would hurt less because it was quicker. Wrong. 

Around 10:30pm I rolled onto the back patio tired and slightly confused as to how I had arrived there. So was my father who had no idea I was coming.

18 hrs to philly. 

for the kids

As I have never fathered a child, I am quite happily not a dad.Don't get me wrong kids are nice and everything, so long as they are your's or someone else's.

That being said I wholeheartedly support the notion that it is important to act as a role model and provide a unique environment in which they are able to learn and grow as individuals. This was part of the reason that nearly two years ago at a Tuesday night mountain bike club meeting I brought up the notion of hosting our own Take a Kid's Mountain Biking Day, as part of IMBA's nationally sanctioned day.

 As with any structured or organized event, a certain amount of planning and preparation needs to happen for the even to be successful. Generally planning for DirtFest starts the week after. After formal letters for approval where written, reviewed, and sent off to the ACoE (Army Corps of Engineers) planning was underway. With a lack of children to call my own I felt the planning and organization was best left up to those with real kids. 

Despite my best efforts to be hands off with this mini-event as days drew closer it became obvious that more organization and publicity needed to happen to make the day worth anyone's while. After several phone calls and emails where made, we secured ensure enough Clif bars, water bottles, schwag, and imitation (don't tell the kids) race plates to keep the kids happy. As the last thing I want to here is someone whining.

Well with rain in the forecast and having already fallen that cold morning, we debated cancelling the event, but with no rain date nothing would've happened for the kids. Shortly after 8:20am, keep in mind the schedule start wasn't until 9am, our first participant showed up with his father in tow.

Both where simply excited to be there despite the weather and early rise on what could have very easily have been just another sleep-in late Saturday morning. Shortly thereafter Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day at the Allegrippis got underway with nearly twenty kid's lining up to get race plates, put on their bikes.

Club secretary, father, and retired teacher. Driving force behind TKMTB

" I love my trails " IMBA Sticker application.

Treats and Prizes. Kids apparently love prizes. 

Makings for a derby.

At one point I turned around to see a younger guy geeking out on another ones bike, apparently really impressed by the parts spec and red bell on it. As the fella stood back up, the owner of the bike was standing there wearing an unassuming look. "I really like the color of yours," he said as he pushed his bike up in the race plate line.  The owner smiled an nodded.

this is my only child. 

Sometimes it's easy to forget the simple things. Thanks kids.