It seems like forever since there’s been a legit blog post about me actually riding my bike (probably for the best as far as readers are concerned). There were a couple of days here and there that I may have been able to squeeze a ride in, but scheduling conflicts and/or weather fronts jacked my chances.
Case in point: Saturday there was a fat bike race at Hanson Hills Recreation Area to help raise money for the installation and grooming of a dedicated 5 mile fat bike trail for next winter. I was stoked to do the event, but it coincided with Soccer Fest II, The Wrath of Khan, also known as the 2nd indoor tournament of B-Man’s winter season sponsored by the CMU women’s soccer team (they rock) and the Mt. Pleasant Soccer Club (more rocking). So, instead of racing bikes, I spent my day inside CMU’s Indoor Athletic Center watching B-Man play three matches of Under 10 indoor soccer… and I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else in the world!! Every week I am amazed at B’s progress, grasp and love of the game. As a parent and a soccer football lover, it is pretty awesome to watch. But I digress…
Saturday was a wash, so that brings us to Sunday… There were two HUGE matches on NBC Sports Network this morning that I wanted to watch (Liverpool vs. MUFC and Spurs vs. Arsenal), but there was also another chance for me to do my part and help out Hanson Hills by driving an hour or so north, to do some riding on the (legal to ride for the rest of the season) nordic ski trails at Hanson and share a few paper-type dollars with the fine folks that help keep those nordic and singletrack trails maintained and groomed for we skiers and cyclists. As you can imagine, I embraced my DVR, layered up and headed north to Hanson to ride some bikes. Fuck yeah, bike ridin’!!!!!
The drive up was perfect for putting the falling apart with every new mile xB on cruise control at 79.5 mph and cranking up The Sword for and hour plus. Although I think I strained my neck head banging at one point, a risk I’m willing to take.
When I arrived there were about four cars in the lot, and I think I knew the owners of each one. I sort of expected a bigger turn out but maybe I over estimated people’s want to ride in the snow and 10˚ weather in the middle of March, when it SHOULD be 40 or 60 degrees! Oh well, there were people there to ride, take advantage of the (for now) groomed trails in the woods and help Hanson get some dedicated fat bike trails in for next winter.
Everyone was already out riding when I arrived (including the trail steward/manager as you can see above) so I kitted up and got on the trails ASAP to see if I might catch up with my peeps.
During my first lap I was too caught up with how amazing the trails were and how beautiful the day was to care whether I caught up with my friends or not. Everything was just perfect; sun, blue skies, packed snow and good legs. As much as I pray for 70˚ temps and dry trails, today was pretty fucking perfect.
I did a loop of about 7 or 8 miles that included some nice climbs and some super fun descents through the woods, then headed back to the lodge. Once there, I met up with the group of dudes I know (including the original owner of my Surly Pugsley) and we all went out for another loop.
The day was just perfect, I got to see some folks I haven’t since last race season, ride some awesome trails, get some more miles in on the Pugs and ride outside rather than on the trainer or on ice clogged and muddy dirt roads.
Big thanks to Justin at Hanson Hills for putting together this weekend, I wish I could have put in more mile miles and more money than I did.
With the nordic trails now open to fat bikes for the rest of the season I do hope to get up there again soon to log a few more miles, but I would be lying if I said that I hope all the snow melts and it is 80˚ tomorrow.
Super stoked to know there will be 5 miles of trail available to fat bikes at Hanson next year…. ten or more would be better, but this is a great start. Thank you Hanson Hills for looking into the future and seeing that two wheels can very much be a part of winter sports in Michigan.