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.
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
