What Happened to Spring?

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Jeff Moser

I remember thinking Spring was just around the corner back in February, and then we entered the longest period of consistent cold/wind/snow/rain that I can remember having in this area. I’m sure many of you have been up in the Sierras or have seen some of the photos. We got a lot of snow. Here are a couple photos from earlier in the year that my friends shared with me. You can see the houses buried under the snow in the first one if you look close.

DEEP snow up at Lake Tahoe by Julia Sutton – March 29th

Some years, we’re already riding the Flume Trail by now. Here’s what Flume Trail Bikes recently reported on trail conditions up on the mountain:

Record snow pack in the high country this spring. And it keeps snowing. Our best guess is the Flume Trail will be rideable the third week of June 2011.

We plan to open the rental shop and Flume Trail shuttle service Saturday June 18th. If it stays cool that may have to be pushed back a week.

The Tahoe Rim Trail Tahoe Meadows area might be rideable mid July 2011.

Riding out of Tahoe Meadows won’t be possible until AFTER the longest day of the year! That’s right, we’ll already be on the decline back to winter before enjoying that trail.

Flume Trail Bikes has a couple photos of the Marlette Lake area that were taken on May 26th HERE.

Amy Potter at the Flume Trail Bike Shop – March 29th

Fortunately, it looks as though there may not be much time left to complain, as the long range forecast is for 70′s and 80′s and sunny. We may just bypass Spring this year and go right into Summer. Thankfully the local trails are fantastic right now, so there’s plenty to ride while we’re waiting for Tahoe to thaw. Enjoy the coming warm days!

Earth Day

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Jeff Moser

Although it is traditional to be Green on Earth Day, here in Carson City we broke custom and went White. We woke up to the end of a snow storm on April 22nd that left up to a couple inches of snow in some locations. This is not uncommon for northern Nevada, but it does mess with your head when you were wearing shorts and t-shirts just a few days before.

Earth Day Commute

Once again, I had to dig all the winter gear out for the morning commute. Each time I put it away for the year, I’m always certain that I’ll never need it again until next December. I think this is the 3rd or 4th time I’ve had to pull it out of storage. I suited up in my fleece riding pants, pulled on the waterproof snow gloves, and headed out for work. The road conditions during April snow storms are much different than they are in the winter though. Instead of snow and ice covering the road, I had to navigate across big deep puddles that were forming around the clogged storm drains. I was glad I had packed my work pants in my waterproof pack, because I was soaked by the time I got to work.

View from the Evidence Trail

The storm cleared up early in the morning, and the roads began to dry up. I was really itching for a mountain bike ride, so I headed for Ash Canyon to see which trails were rideable. I was pleased to find the trails mostly clear, and I didn’t have to ride through much snow until I got higher up the canyon. There were signs of the sheep by the time I got to Deer Run, but I didn’t hear them until I started climbing the Baldy Green trail. The sheep were all over the hillside making their sounds, but it was foggy so I couldn’t see them well. It made me feel miles and miles away from the basement office I was sitting in just minutes before.

Sheep have switched to eating snow instead of cheatgrass

As I was climbing up Ash Canyon, I was thinking of Earth Day. I started thinking of the conversation I would have with the Earth if we had a chance to sit down together. What would I ask the Earth? What would her answers be? Would she be happy to see me, or would she want to vent her frustration?

Very Singletrack

The conversation might go something like this…

Me: So, uh…hello, Mother Earth. Happy Earth Day! Are you having a good day?

Mother Earth: Um, it’s going OK…

Me: Just OK? Aren’t you grateful that a few of us are taking a whole day out of the year to honor you? I even recycled some glass and plastic today.

Mother Earth: Well, it is a nice gesture, but what about when today’s over? Will you just go back to abusing me?

Me: Abusing you, what do you mean?

Mother Earth: Well for starters you could quit polluting. You need to slow down your consumption. You need to figure out how to get along with each other. You need to remember that you’re not the only living thing on the planet. There are millions of other species on this planet besides yourself, and I love all my children the same.

Me: I’m shocked! I had no idea you were angry. Why haven’t you said anything? You should have given us a sign!

Mother Earth: Give you a sign? How much more do you need? You just don’t want to listen. War, poverty, famine, over population, pollution, climate change, resource depletion, earth quakes, tsunamis, flooding, mass extinctions…I don’t know how to get through to you people. I’m trying to keep pace with your demands, but I can’t keep up! You need to back way off. If you don’t, I won’t be able to take care of you anymore. You don’t seem to understand that you won’t be able to exist without the preservation and conservation of natural resources. You need to live in harmony with the rest of the earth.

Me: So you’re saying that celebrating Earth Day once a year isn’t enough? I’m only one person though. What change can I make?

Mother Earth: There are over 6 billion people on the Earth. Big change can happen from all of you doing little things. You just need to do them. Stop being a consumer. Become a producer. And keep riding your bike…

Sheep Poo

The daydream faded out as the trail got steeper and slipperier. The sheep have been using the trails heavily, and the trails had become slushy yellow brown with frequent piles of sheep poo to navigate around. It was fairly easy to keep clean on the climb, since my speed was low. I knew this wouldn’t be the case for the descent, so I zipped up my jacket and took one last drink from my semi-clean water bottle, taking off the cap and drinking from an unsoiled edge on the top of the bottle.

I had a great descent, carving turns and flying all the way down the mountain. My bike and pants were covered with splattered mud and sheep poo. As I neared the office I wondered to myself if this was normal behavior, and thought that I had better try to clean up a bit before going back inside. I was pretty sure I was in violation of some health code or another.

Clearing a Fallen Tree by Tank the Dog

It turns out the sheep and I weren’t the only trail users out that day. The recent storm knocked down a large tree across the Creek Trail just above the rock chute. Luckily Tank the Dog and crew were on the scene quickly to remove the large obstruction and restore the flow of traffic. Thanks guys!

First Ride of the Year

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Jeff Moser

Rather than party all night on New Year’s Eve, I took it easy and got a good night’s sleep. The real party was on New Year’s Day, and Jeff Potter was serving up another batch of his “Mixed Terrain Rides”. If you’re wondering what the ingredients are for this New Year’s Day concoction, it’s one part asphalt, one part slush, and just a splash of mud. Shaken, not stirred. Best served chilled and sipped slowly. Chased with cold, canned micro-brews.

Taking off a layer as things warmed up

Toby, Kary, Lester, and Jeff P rolled by my house on New Year’s morning, and then we headed north on the bike path, finally connecting to Goni Road. The skies were threatening us as we headed out of town, but nothing more than a mist had fallen all morning. Still, we had a lot of extra gear with us so that we’d be prepared for anything.

Rivulets of Melted Snow

Goni Road is still asphalt for a ways up the canyon and then turns to packed and graded dirt. Big trucks and service vehicles normally use this road to access the mines and radio towers at the top of McClellan Peak, but the road was mostly deserted that day. It wasn’t long before the mud and snow crept onto the road, and then finally covered it altogether.

Top of the Climb

We lucked out with the precipitation. It stayed dry, and the temperature began to climb. While this was great for comfort, it made the snow increasingly hard to ride in. Traction for the remainder of the big climb was found in the little rivulets of melted snow and mud trickling down the middle of the road.

View of Washoe Valley

The climb ended about a half mile past the big switchback where the black volcanic strip mine is. It was getting pretty steep to climb in snow and mud, and we thought we might want to conserve our energy for the trek west. We could see the path ahead down below, and we were pretty sure we’d be walking. We lined up the bikes in the snow bank, and enjoyed the view of Washoe Valley to the northwest.

Walking Time

We descended about a mile the way he had come up. What looked to be a fast ride back down the hill turned out to be a squirrelly mess. Although the snow was only an inch deep, it felt like grease under the front tires. Some of us came off the bike a couple times, and our tracks snaked all around the road.

A short riding interval between walks

When we got back down to our turnoff, we were walking as we suspected. It wasn’t long before I gained full appreciation for my decision to go with flat pedals and waterproof hiking boots. Pushing my lightweight single speed up hill after hill wasn’t so bad when I had good traction and warm feet.

Kary slithering down the slippery Snow Cat tracks

There was much walking over the next couple miles, and when we got to ride here and there it was a real treat. Every once in a while, someone would try to mount a bike and pedal, but they never made it too far. It was exhausting to flounder about, and so most of the time we just took it slow, enjoyed the snowy walk, and took in the views.

Almost Down!

Near the end we got onto a road that a Snow Cat had packed down. At least it would’ve been packed down earlier in the day when it was colder. What looked to be a groomed race course was still very slick, but luckily we could ride much of it. Sometimes the snow would firm up, and it would coax us into going faster. All of a sudden, and without warning though, the front tire would turn and slide into a pocket of slush. After almost face planting in a sticker bush, I decided to keep it under control until down off the mountain.

And hike we did!

When we finally saw East Lake Blvd down below, it looked welcoming like an airport runway on a turbulent flight. We switch-backed down the mountain, and touched down safely on the tarmac. One by one we got down off the mountain, and regrouped at the wetlands observatory of Washoe Lake State Park.

Happy to be back on the asphalt in Washoe Lake State Park

You might think that it was easy going from that point on, but my legs were pretty cooked. Getting up and over the summit of Lakeview burned the last of my energy, and I was ready for the long coast down Combs Canyon. We finished the ride with a visit to Lester’s garage saloon, complete with a comfortable old couch, crazy dogs, and a wide selection of canned brews from the Oskar Blues Brewery. What a great way to start the year!

Mixed Terrain Ride Chasers at Lester’s Saloon

Holiday Hike-a-Bike

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Jeff Moser

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Whose idea was this?

Snowy Trek to Silver City

Posted on December 21, 2009 by Jeff Moser

This weekend we went on what Jeff Potter advertised as a “Mixed Terrain Ride”. The plan was to ride roads, doubletrack, and singletrack, and ride through the mountains to Silver City, Dayton, and along the Carson River. We had only a vague idea of what trail conditions we’d encounter, so we just prepared for anything and would improvise along the way.

Jeff P and Dusty at the Centennial Trailhead

We were able to ride from our houses to the Centennial Trailhead with no problems, but we weren’t sure if the singletrack would be rideable. The snow wasn’t deep, and it looked like hikers had tramped down the snow. We also hoped that southern exposures of the trail would have less snow. We voted to give the trail a shot, and started riding. Less than a quarter mile in though, we were forced to walk. After nearly two weeks of melting and refreezing, the old snow had turned from powder to crusty ice, and prevented our wheels from rolling. We decided to keep walking, hoping that the trail would clear up around the bend.

Hike-a-Bike

As we got further up the trail, the hiking tracks started to disappear, and the snow got deeper. We decided that hiking the the singletrack all the way to Moundhouse would be a death march, so we turned south and followed the pole line road back to Highway 50. As it turned out, we had to walk almost all of this road too. Even the downhill wasn’t steep enough to get momentum through the icy crust. I fell off the bike trying to get it to go downhill, and the bike just stuck in the snow, standing at an angle like a arrow shot into the ground. I suppose this was good timing though, as the sign along our shortcut warned that we were hiking through an archery range!

Beware of Arrows!!!!

Sticky Snow!

Once we made it back to Highway 50, we opted to climb the hill to Moundhouse. At the top of the climb we turned onto the side roads on the north side of the highway. We meandered around the back roads, taking any good road that looked decent and that took us either north or west. We eventually came to snowy dirt roads again, and fortunately, a few trucks had been there before us. We were able to ride the packed truck tracks for quite a ways, only having to walk when it got too steep or the snow got too deep.

Dusty making some progress

I had my 29er single speed, Dusty had his hardtail 29er, and Jeff P brought his Cyclocross bike. After riding the 26er single speed with ice tires the last two weeks, I was impressed at how well the 29er did in the snow and bumpy ice. I think I was even more impressed with how Jeff P did on his cross bike. He didn’t have the flotation or braking power Dusty and I had, but those skinny knobbies plowed through almost everything our fat tires did.

Ha ha! Look at the man with the skinny tires!

We saw many old and interesting structures along the way. Some had fallen, and some were tipped over. Some were spray painted with foul language and riddled with bullet holes. I’ve never understood why somebody would shoot something up of possible historic value. Is it really that much of a thrill to fire rounds at a concrete wall? There was no shortage of old couches either. The fee to dump an old couch at the public landfill must be exorbitant!

One of the many posh dwellings we encountered

Leave me here! Save yourselves!

As we pressed on into the mountains, the snow started to get deeper, and finally the truck tires stopped. It wasn’t too long though before we could see Silver City at the bottom of a canyon. A steep, powdery snow descent got us down to a road that had been well traveled. The wheel tracks were wide and packed, and we flew down the hill. Jeff P’s rim brakes were pretty iced up, so I’m sure he had the most exciting descent of all. I think it was my favorite downhill of the day.

Mush! Mush!

Silver City is just at the bottom of this canyon men!

One of the Best Downhills of the Day

Our Brief Stay in Silver City

We finally reached Silver City! Since there isn’t much to do in Silver City on a Sunday unless you live there, our visit was brief. We bundled up, descended down State Route 341 a bit, and then turned off onto the Dayton Toll Road. The road was maintained only a short distance, and then we were back into the snow. This was the beginning of most of the mud too, as we were dropping elevation, and getting out into more exposed areas.

Dayton Toll Road

As we came to each intersection, we voted on which way to go. Dropping down into a big ravine seemed like the best choice. It would probably take us to Dayton, and there were some tire tracks headed that direction. After we got down a ways into the ravine, we came upon the source of the tracks. A guy was living in his truck and camper, and he had a decent size camp set up. As we got closer, his big dog bounded towards us. Worst case scenario: This is a Meth Lab, and this is the Pit Bull that guards it. Luckily it was a big friendly Yellow Lab, and the camper was friendly enough too. It’s a good thing, because this is where the downhill ended. It was either back up the hill we came, or cross the ravine and climb up a giant switch back in the snow!

Home Sweet Home

Somewhere Near Dayton

As it turned out, the hike out of the ravine wasn’t as bad as it looked. And by not dropping all the way down into town, we were able to bypass the steep road climb out of Dayton. The switchback actually got us pointed the right direction to start making our way towards home too. We rode flat packed snow for a while, and it gave us a chance to dry off and warm up. The temperature was warming up though, and it wasn’t long before our snowy road turned to mud. We rode through one or two miles of mud to get back to Highway 50, and it sapped our strength. My water bottle was covered in mud, and the only way to drink from it was to remove the cover. We considered the amount of daylight left and the strength remaining in our legs, and decided to bypass the Carson River leg of the trip. We’d save this section for a time with less snow.

Would you like some water with your mud?

We finished the ride with several miles of asphalt. We rode up the gentle incline through Moundhouse, and then bombed down HWY 50 into Carson City. It felt strange to go that fast after slogging through mud and snow most of the day! We hadn’t eaten much the entire ride, so refueling was the first order of business upon returning home. Jeff P had some pizza in his pack, Kristy got us started on some New Belgium 2 Belows, and my son brought us out some cookies. While we were refueling, the guys helped me change a flat tire on my 4×4. It seemed like such an ordeal for such a simple task, and made me further appreciate the simplicity of bicycles.

Warming up with 2 Below

In the end we rode and walked over 23 miles. I’m sure at least 2 of those miles were spent walking. There were a a few miles of mud, and several miles of snow. The return trip back into Carson City was on nice clean asphalt. It truly was a day of Mixed Terrain. Looking forward to 2010, I’d like to do more adventure rides like this. Utilize the network of back roads and trails, and get to see Nevada a whole new way.

A few more pictures can be found on Flickr HERE.

Tips for Bicycle Commuting in Snow and Ice

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Jeff Moser

Back in May during Bike to Work Week, our message was for anyone and everyone to get out and ride their bikes. And they did! The weather was mild, and the days were long. It was the perfect weather for being outside. But now we’re in December, and Northern Nevada has received some of the harshest weather we’ll see all season. We’ve had winter storm warnings, deep snow, ice, freezing temperatures below zero, and early darkness. This is hardly weather that conjures up images of cycling. I’m not going to lie to you. Commuting during these conditions is not easy, and there will be times when you question your sanity. It’s definitely not for everyone. But if you are determined to ride your bike all year, or don’t have any other options, I’d like to share some tips with you that will keep you safe, warm, and rubber side down.

Snow, Slush, and Ice

I’m going on my third winter of bicycle commuting, and I have learned much through trial and error. Often times the hard way. Sometimes painfully. Having said this though, some of the most fun rides to work have been in the snow. Here are a couple of lists I’ve put together of things that have helped me get through the toughest season of bicycle commuting.

Gear

Bike – Mountain bikes work best for traveling over the loose, slippery, and uneven terrain of winter roads. I like to use my single speed mountain bike for riding in the snow and ice. There are no suspension parts to ruin, the chain stays clean since there is no derailleur to drag in the snow, and there are less parts to get frozen or jammed. Disc brakes are best, since the rim brakes tend to get iced up. I’m running rim brakes on my ice bike, but they get the job done well enough. I’m never going that fast anyway.
Studded Snow Tires – This has been my first full season with studded snow tires, and I wonder how I survived as long as I did without them! Studded tires don’t help much in deep snow or slush, but they grip to ice and packed snow very well. With the added traction, you can traverse slippery tire ruts, cross icy parking lots, and brake with confidence. Crashing on the ice twice last winter got me to spend the money on studded tires. Studded tires range in price from $90 to $200 for a set. I went with a set of tires from Continental that have tall, widely spaced knobbies, and 240 steel studs per tire. They transition between snow and ice nicely. Riders in locations with very harsh winters lasting for months swear by Nokian studded tires. Their sharp carbide spikes are more durable than the cheaper steel studs of other tires. Since we usually only need studded tires for a few weeks in December and January here in Carson City, I saved $50 on the set and went with a tire set with steel studs. If you don’t have studded snow tires, big knobby tires with deep, widely spaced knobs are your best bet. They won’t help you on ice, but when aired down for maximum flotation and traction, do a good job in the snow. Just be real careful when changing lines and turning, and give yourself plenty of time to stop! Seriously though, get some studded snow tires and you’ll ride with confidence and be much safer!
Flat Pedals – I took off my clipless pedals, and have been using a flat BMX style pedal with good results. They work good with my snow boots, and my response time is quicker when I need to put a foot down.
Boots – While neoprene covered cycling shoes work decent for cold weather riding during normal conditions, I advise wearing boots during the ice and snow. You won’t gain a thing from a cycling shoe during these conditions, but you will gain a lot with a winter boot. Winter boots are generally waterproof, are much warmer than cycling shoes, and are easier to walk in (you will be walking at times!). I’ve been using Sorel Caribou snow boots for the snowiest and coldest days, and my KEEN waterproof hiking boot for the lighter days.

Find Roads with Little or No Traffic

Clothes – You will be tempted to overdress when it’s below freezing, but after a mile of riding, you will be uncomfortably hot if overdressed. Dress in layers, and shed a layer if you get too hot. For single digit temperatures I wear my winter cycling pants or jeans over long underwear. Ideally, I’d like to have waterproof over-pants for my work pants. Up top I wear my work shirt, a fleece vest or jacket, and a wind/water proof shell over the top. I use waterproof mountaineering gloves with gauntlets that cover my forearms. They also have rubberized palms for griping the handlebars and controls. There are a number of good winter cycling gloves available, just look for something warm and waterproof. Warm handlebar covers are also an option if you don’t like wearing bulky gloves. Neck gaiters or balaclavas are good for blocking wind and blowing snow from your neck and face. Check your weather forecast, and be prepared for the evening weather as well as the morning weather. It’s better to carry a few extra items with you than to not have them when you need them.
Helmet – On my head I wear a thin skull cap under a Bern snowboarding helmet. Snowboarding helmets have less vents and are warmer and dryer during freezing temperatures or precipitation.
Lights – These are the shortest days of the year, and you will most likely be riding in the dark one direction of your commute. A bright flashing red light is essential for the rear, and a light bright enough to see the terrain and alert oncoming traffic is needed for the front.
Fenders – I don’t use fenders on my ice bike, because everything is frozen in the morning on the way to work. There have been times when I’ve wanted them during the melting slush of the evenings though. If you don’t have fenders and are worried about getting wet, you can pack your work pants in your pack and change out of your cycling pants when you get to work. Keep a few spare articles of clothing at work just in case.

Studded Snow Tires

Technique and Other Considerations

Determine a Safe Route – Before you set out, determine if you have a safe route. Living closer to town is usually easier, as you generally have multiple options available. You can use the city grid of streets to customize your route and find the safest way possible. If you live along a lone, high-speed road on the outskirts of town, you may want to drive it first to asses the risks.
Allow yourself more time. I can do my 2 mile commute in 9 minutes during the summer. On the worst days of winter, I need around 25 minutes to do this same 2 miles. Even on the best days, I still need an additional 5 to 8 minutes to make it on time. If you live far from work, doubling your commute time may not be practical.
Pick roads with low speed limits. Although it is tempting to get out there on the freshly plowed main roads, this is where the traffic is fastest. Even though the streets are plowed, the shoulders and sidewalks are usually buried in snow. There is generally not enough room to share the lane. It’s safer to find a quiet street, even if it is tougher to ride. By taking a side street, you may even have the whole road to yourself.
Yield to Motorized Traffic – Every cyclists is familiar with the mantra, Share the Road. When you’re riding in the snow and ice though, it’s best to ignore this advice and pull over for the cars when necessary. Snowy roads are narrow, and many times, cars can’t go around you due to the deep wheel ruts. Pull over, let traffic go by, and then continue on your way.
Vary Your Work Schedule – If you have the luxury, alter your work hours to take advantage of safer road conditions. When the sun goes down, the temperature plummets and the roads ice up quick. Riding on wet roads at 4PM is safer than riding on the ice in the darkness after 5PM.
Explore New Routes – I quickly found that my standard route was too dangerous to ride in the snow. I began trying new routes and found ways to avoid the busiest roads and dangerous intersections. You will also find that while one street may be torn up and slushy, the next street over may be easy to ride packed snow. The conditions seem to change daily, so keep exploring!
Read the Terrain – Look ahead and scan the road. Plan your strategy for keeping momentum through the snow and ice. Which wheel rut will take you furthest down the road? Would a dry sidewalk be safer along a particularly dangerous section of road? Watch for ice where you need to brake and turn. Is there ice at the stop sign? What speed can you carry through that icy turn?

Early morning icy road

Why Ride in the Snow and Ice?

I know the advice above may seem overly complicated, but during the winter months, your favorite mountain bike trails may be under snow. Riding to work may be your only option to get some riding in, and is way more fun than riding a stationary trainer in your living room. Riding in snow and ice uses a lot of upper body muscles to stay upright, and I find I get a pretty good workout just riding 4 miles. Use these tips and techniques, and you’ll get to ride your bike through the winter. You’ll stay upright, warm, safe, and have a lot of fun.

Riding in the Snow can be an Adventure!

Your Turn!

What did I miss? What tips and tricks have you learned for commuting to work in the ice and snow? The information presented here was geared towards mountain bikes. Have you used ice tires on your skinny 700c wheeled bikes?

January in March

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Jeff Moser

Just when you think you’re heading into Spring, a January style storm returns to remind you that winter is not quite over. Since our snow pack is alarmingly low, I embraced this recent storm, and decided to make the most of it.

Self Portrait in Mills Park

The morning started off with a slushy commute to work. I got a little wet, but at least the roads weren’t slippery. When I got to Mills Park, I decided to linger in the park for a while and get some pictures. The bare trees, creek, and bridges always look so beautiful in the winter.

Mills Park

Wednesday morning was cold, but I’ve found that I stay more comfortable when the temperatures are below freezing. A layer of insulation with an outer layer of wind-stopper, and it’s hard to go wrong. At temperatures above freezing though, it is easy to overheat. You have to be more creative with your layering. I was a little disappointed to arrive at work so quickly. I could have ridden around all morning and enjoyed the scenery.

Looking towards the Sierras

Luckily that wish came true a few hours later. I headed up to Carson’s west side with Jon and Scott R. We decided to do the Lakeview Loop. An easy road ride up Combs Canyon, and a snowy adventure returning along the V&T grade.

Lunch Ride in the Fresh Powder

Jon spotted a very large bird on a rock above Combs Canyon road, and we’re pretty sure it was a Golden Eagle. You can judge for yourself HERE. When we reached the gate near the top of the climb, I began walking my bike through the snow, as it looked too deep to ride. Soon though, Jon pedaled on past me and disappeared over the ridge. I hopped back on my bike and was surprised to see how much traction I had. I was on the 29 inch wheeled single speed, and was happy with how good the big wheels were hooking up in the snow.

Scott R made the whole downhill except the last 3 feet

The descent down the canyon to the V&T was a blast! Riding through several inches of fresh powder on a mountain bike is quite the experience. Disc brakes help keep the bike under control, since they stay out of the snow and keep dry. Scott R’s rim brakes weren’t doing much for him, and he lost control in a few spots, ultimately crashing three feet before the end of the run! I made him lay in the snow while I got the camera ready.

Jon on the V&T Grade

The snow thinned out as we headed south on the V&T Grade. Near the end, puddles were forming, and we quickly learned to give Scott R a wide berth. He was hitting the puddles straight on, and sending mini-tsunamis towards the edges of the trail!

It looks like we’ll be back into spring conditions next week. That’s what I like about this time of year…if you don’t like the conditions, wait a couple days!

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