Well, we did it. We made it through January! In my opinion, January is the hardest month for cycling. Even though the weather was worse in December, the dark cold days of winter begin to wear down your spirit and motivation after the holidays. It took some discipline to keep riding through January, but strangely enough, January gave me the most miles since last September. Not sure how that happened! Moving into February is motivating. It’s just not very cold anymore, and the extended daylight is very noticeable. Any new snow we get won’t stand a chance of hanging around very long.

Centennial Singletrack

To celebrate the last day of January, Jeff Potter and I did a loop out at the Centennial Singletrack. I got a tip from Big Jon that the mud was drying up, and that the trails were in pretty good shape, so of course we had to get out there before the next series of storms comes through this week. We weren’t disappointed! The ground was wet, but the mud was compacted. There were only a few wet muddy spots, but nothing that bogged you down for more than a few seconds. In fact my bike stayed clean! And by clean I mean that there is no NEW mud on it. I still need to wash off the base layer of Silver City mud from over a month ago in December.

The snow has cleared to the east!

If I remember correctly, this was only my 2nd time riding on dirt in 2010 so far! The sunny days have been few and far between as well. But absence does make the heart grow fonder, and the bike and body were willing to have some fun. I barely felt the rock field at the beginning of the trail I was so excited. Climbing just seemed easier too.

Wild Horses

More often than not, you will see wild horses when riding the hills above Centennial Park, and Sunday was no exception. As we topped the climb, we ran into a herd of about a dozen or more. The final climb up the ravine was a bit slippery and spongy, so it was a perfect time to rest and watch the horses. They paid us very little attention, and kept on grazing.

A little snow and mud on the shady sides.

After thoroughly enjoying the fast swooping singletrack back to the trailhead, we chased the setting sun back to the west. Along the way we returned to the scene of some poor fool’s 4×4 FAIL. Earlier in the day we saw a group of guys hanging around this unfortunate Ford Bronco, but we kept moving. We didn’t want to get involved in a retrieval or vandalism mission, whatever it was they were up to. On the way back though, the Bronco was unattended, so we stopped to check out the situation. The Bronco was beat up. Broken tail light, broken side windows, missing license plates, and up to the running boards in mud. Just completely stuck in the thick marsh clay. Scenes like this really make me appreciate the portability and unstuckability of a sub 30lb bicycle.

Another failed OJ getaway.

Judging by the conditions out at Centennial, Pecos Potter feels it is time to round up the boys for a ride out at Iron Mountain. Stay tuned for dates. Come join the Posse.