The Pass
Archive | Mountain Biking
Random Photo 00001
Random photo from the snowless 2013 Farmer’s Fat Bike race I used for the contents page of XXC Magazine No. 18 (the final issue).
Not Easy, But Not Unenjoyable
I opened my eyes, rolled over and shut off the alarm clock a mere minute before the French ambulance siren on speed screech could emanate from its tiny speaker. I stretched, unfurled my man blubber, let out a loud clack of a fart and tried to remind myself of why I had the alarm set for 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning. Oh yeah, Wifey asked me to set the alarm, because she had an appointment with the Lord, or was at least going to church to meet up with B-Man who stayed the night at a friend’s house and would be attending 9 a.m. mass with his family.
The New Normal
It happened so fast, I really don’t know how it happened…. How did I go from a guy who was more than happy to chime in and talk shit on fat bikes and how there was NO way I was going to spend money on bike that weighs nearly 40 pounds just to ride in the snow and cold, to riding a fat bike just being part of my week? How????
Short & Icy
Today I wanted to make up for yesterday’s non-ride and at least attempt to get out on the road. The ride’s length would be determined by the conditions of the roads. Ideally, I hoped they would have been plowed of the drifting snow but still left with a wonderful layer of tire gripping snow pack.
Well…
Arrowheadishness
It’s Arrowhead 135 time again…
A Little Bit of Jacquie
Because mountain biking is not a sausage party and Jacquie Phelan was and is a legend of the sport… and pretty badass.
Enter The Musk Ox
I had the chance to ride my bike today, and I have to say, it was pretty freaking awesome. For many people this is no big deal, but for those of us who live in the dark Hoth-like recesses of Jack Frost’s frozen polar vortex of a bung hole it can be a very big deal. A very COLD big deal…
Being A Fat Virgin
In my old job at XXC Magazine I was a big supporter of fat bikes, it was hard not to be as they were often the chosen steeds for the races and adventures that many of my contributors wrote about in the articles I had the pleasure of working on. Having said that, for my riding I often shunned the idea of riding a fat bike, I never owned one, I still don’t own one, and earlier this year when I bought a new bike I opted for a 25 pound, full suspension 29er with little or no consideration given to purchasing a fat bike.
My entire fat bike history was one short spin on a two sizes too small Surly Pugsley in a driveway. I had never ridden–let alone raced–a fat bike until this past Saturday when I did both for the fist time on a borrowed bike, that while a capable enough machine, is not exactly considered top-of-the-line. That was OK with me since I am not really considered a top-of-the-line racer, rider, employee, husband, father, person, etc., etc., etc.,..
Making Plans
Here we are, January 1, 2014. I have spent my day watching three football matches on NBCSN, cleaning up a little after last night’s small New Year’s Eve get-together and dragging the hulking carcass of the long dead and cheerless Christmas tree to the curb. Now it’s time to put a big dent into the leftover beer and take a look at what’s coming up for me in the next couple weeks.