Tag Archives: Lunch Rides

Holiday Hike-a-Bike

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It’s been a rough few weeks for mountain bikers here in Carson City. About the only dirt visible is the sand they’ve spread on the icy roads. Under a cover of dark thick clouds, we went out at lunch on Monday in search of something to ride. In my mind, we would get in a quick road ride, and then get back to the warmth of the office.

V&T Trail
Jesse at the top of Lakeview

We rode up the V&T bike path to then end, and then climbed Combs Canyon. Once at the top we decided to go over the top to reach the V&T dirt path. It was our hope that while the top of the mountain may be unrideable, there would probably be decent tracks to ride once down on the other side.

V&T Trail
Unrideable Descent

Only a small portion of the snowy hill climb was rideable to the top. The snow was too crusty and bumpy to get forward momentum. As we crested the top, we hoped that gravity would help get us down the steep canyon. After several attempts though, some of them painful, it was apparent that we’d have to walk all the way down to the bottom.

V&T Trail
Tom Hiking

Once we finally reached the bottom and got onto the V&T trail, it was just more of the same choppy snow. It was a little less deep here, so we were able to ride some of it. Riding just 50 yards was exhausting though, so we alternated between riding and walking. It wasn’t until near the very end of the trail that we actually got to ride some mud and rocks. Just that little bit of dirt under the tires felt great, even if it only lasted a moment!

V&T Trail
Tom hiking some more

We were all very pleased to get back to the pavement, but all happy that we had that little adventure and got some great exercise. Taking your bicycle out for a hike-a-bike is still better than sitting in the office. It snowed again last night, and there is still more snow on the way later this week. I suppose we should just get used to this kind of riding for a while.

V&T Trail
Whose idea was this?

The Health of the Eye

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I enjoy reading old books to see what was on people’s minds back then. Often times, you’ll find that people were thinking about the same things, with only the superficial details being different. One thing that hasn’t changed is the need to get outdoors. I just don’t feel right without it, and even feel sick if I go to long without it.

Clouds

Here’s a passage I came across recently that I enjoyed, and it made me think of the daily lunch rides.

the simple perception of natural forms is a delight. The influence of the forms and actions in nature, is so needful to man, that, in its lowest functions, it seems to lie on the confines of commodity and beauty. To the body and mind which have been cramped by noxious work or company, nature is medicinal and restores their tone. The tradesman, the attorney comes out of the din and craft of the street, and sees the sky and the woods, and is a man again. In their eternal calm, he finds himself. The health of the eye seems to demand a horizon. We are never tired, so long as we can see far enough.

-taken from Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1836

Solo Rides, Rubber Boas, Good-Bye!

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Lunch time ride turnout was pretty thin last week with all the obligations the other riders had. This allowed me to get a couple solo rides in, something that doesn’t happen too often (other than my commute).

Slide Mt.
Franktown Road – Slide Mountain

On Thursday the smoke cleared right around the lunch hour, and I had the road bike with me. I seized the opportunity to grab an 18 miler out to Franktown road and back, and still made it back to work in around an hour.

Creek Trail
Self Portrait – 10 Second Timer

On Friday I knew it’d be my last ride for a few days, so I made it a good one. I rode up the Fourday Trail, and got to see the trail work I missed on Wednesday. Man, this trail is riding good! You guys do good work! I finished off the ride with a descent down the Creek Trail, Postal, and Jackrabbit.

I’d also like to share a couple photos of a snake I found on the climb. This poor guy had probably been hit by a truck, and was laying out on the road. I picked him up and posed him on the side of the road for some good photos.

Rubber Boa
Rubber Boa

After much discussion of my pictures online, we came to the conclusion that this is a Rubber Boa! One of the giveaways is the blunt tail, used to trick predators as a false head. I was pretty shocked that a rubber boa would be in Ash Canyon, but upon further reading, I read that the Eastern Sierra is part of their habitat…the edge of their domain.  I don’t recall ever seeing one around here though. Well now there’s one less of them sadly…

Rubber Boa
Rubber Boa

Well, dear readers. I’m off for a week long adventure, and won’t be making any blog entries for a while. Nor will I be bringing any bikes. It’s time to unplug and recharge the batteries. I’m so ready for a break! I just bought a 2GB memory card for the camera though, and this ought to be plenty of storage for many a good picture. I had to do this so I wouldn’t bring the computer as an excuse to upload photos!

Vaction Time
Vacation Time!

Where are the family and I going you ask? I’ll give you a hint… We’re going to the source of the mighty 8 Ball Stout. Home of the Downtown Brown. The Lost Coast…

See you in a week! Hopefully some of the other Bike Carson contributors will pen some fine articles for you in my absence. Until then, Cheers!

Memorial Day Weekend

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Last week we were having temperatures in the 90′s. The kind of weather that tricks you into putting your warm clothes away for the year. It’s been a different story this weekend though, with a storm system lingering over the area. It almost feels like coastal weather, with gray skies and intermittent rain showers.

Seven Steps to Heaven Trail
Kristy on the Seven Steps to Heaven Trail

The riding in Ash Canyon is fantastic with the wet packed sand and happy green plants; however, bring some rain gear because you will most likely get wet! We had a great lunch ride on Friday with the gang. Fair weather for the climb, and then a mix of rain an hail for the descent. It wasn’t till we got back to town that things started getting a little cold and miserable, mostly due to insufficient clothing…shorts, short fingered gloves, no ear protection, etc.

I’m sure there are some campers that have been bummed out about this wet weather, but I’m loving it. It was just what I needed to slow me down and force me to take a rest. I’ve spent many an hour in the easy chair this weekend, enjoying a book and a small fire.  My batteries are starting to feel recharged after having the life sucked out of me by all the Bike to Work Week planning and festivities.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Trails Report

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The Ash Canyon trails are in great shape. There is only one snow crossing, and I’m guessing that by today, you won’t even need to dismount your bike to get across.

Kristy

Everyday we peer down into the canyon to check the status of the Creek Trail. Unfortunately it’s still a ways off. Especially the trail on the south side of the creek. There is still a lot of snow on that side. You can see much of the trail on the north bank though, and that gives you hope!

Kristy

In the meantime, get up there and enjoy the fantastic views from Baldy Green!

Something to Look Forward To

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My son and I were recently having a discussion about how he didn’t like going to school. I told him I didn’t really like going to work either, but that I made it a lot better by giving my self something to look forward to throughout the day. And for me of course, that something is a bike ride!

I’ve been riding at lunch since 2001. I’ve been doing it for so long now that I don’t know what I’d do with myself if I couldn’t ride. And now with bicycle commuting, I get to tag on a fun bike ride at the beginning and end of the day too.

Work has become the thing I do between rides, almost insignificant in the big scheme of the day. It certainly makes work more tolerable, and I probably even do a better job at it, since I don’t dwell on it.

I had originally thought I’d do a whole “day in the life” photo shoot for this post, but after considering how unbelievably boring shots of me sitting at work would be (although the Cube Self project is kind of fun…), decided to include only riding photos. Here are a few shots of my riding day starting with my commute to work, and finishing with returning home.

8:15 AM

8:00 AM – On the Way to Work

 

1:40 PM

1:40 PM – Late lunch ride with the wife, climbing Combs Canyon

 

 

1:45 PM

1:45 PM – Overlooking Washoe Lake. Yeah! Shaved (most of) the beard!

 

 

2:00 PM

2:00 PM – Heading South back to Work. Hooray! They cleared the bike path!

 

5:20 PM

5:20 PM – Back Home