Lately, blogging has been pretty easy and my mind has been pretty generous with topics. Sadly, that ended today. Feel free to read on but I can’t promise much (except a bunch of photos and that the blog is even more lackluster than usual)….
I thought about riding the trainer today, for no other reason than I was feeling lazy and didn’t feel like taking 15 minutes to get layered up for a ride. Thankfully that passed and before I knew it I was stuffing my muffin top down into my bibs and cold weather gear. Who knew man-flab was so pliable? You can really mold and tuck that shit in anywhere. I think I had my belly up under my balls at one point.
We had a little bit of snow last night, so there was some added cush to icy dirt roads today. There was also a westerly wind blowing off the plowed snow that numbed the right side of my head like an ice cream headache as I made my way out onto the dirt snow and ice, it then numbed the left side upon my return. Maybe that explains my loss for words.
It seems that I was not the only hulking big tired beast out on the road today. I passed this tractor dude a mile or two back laying down some manure in the fields, then he passed me. Nothing like the warm humid smell of manure to warm you up on a cold day. I have to admit, I don’t mind the smell at all. I grew up smelling it, and am now enjoying it again. It smells… well, it smells like shit. But I still like it. It’s like comfort food… except shit, and you wouldn’t eat it (at least I hope).
I am always on the lookout for a place to call home in the (inevitable) event that Wifey throws me out of our crib. I think with a little work, the camper above would have some real curb appeal.
I really liked seeing the photo above, in fact the pic is one of my recent faves. Some colorful bee boxes (not beat boxes) in the cold snow waiting to do their thing come spring. I wish I would have had a better lens/camera to get closer and get some more detail but this will do.
Speaking of colorful, this time of year it is always nice to see color amongst the greys, browns and whites of winter. Whether it’s a future home, bee boxes, farm equipment or a junked pick-up truck.
The conditions of the roads (and the weather) were better than they have been in a while. The short stretch of pavement to the snirt roads (snirt = snow and dirt) was mostly wet with just a little bit of ice, the snirt, while still really icy in parts, had more grip than earlier in the week . And the temperatures, well they were over 20˚ warmer than on Wednesday and by late afternoon the sounds of melting snow was all around us. I’ll take that. It won’t last, but I’ll take it.
I figured I would end this post with a shot of the Pugsley (code name The Musk Ox) beside a plowed drift along the road. I have to say, I am not huge fan of fat bikes (in that I couldn’t imagine riding one in “normal” conditions and I currently have no need for a carbon or 24 pound fat bikes) but I have to say, the purchase of this heavy assed used Pugs has been a real boost to my winter survival and would recommend one to anyone who lives in a wintry climate with access to snow-covered dirt roads, snowmobile trails and fat bike racing. In the short time I’ve had it, I have put over 150 miles on it and that is 150 more miles MORE than I rode this time last winter. Yeah, I have ridden the snow packed dirt roads on my 29er, in the past, but now I do it with way more confidence, less crashes and less time walking. So, if you are a hater, keep on hating, I could really give two flying fucks. Don’t buy one! All I know is that I am out on my bike in February and have been riding my trainer less and less. If I can get through ONE more month, I’ll be golden.
OK, that’s all I got. I am two Hop Slams (and a Torpedo in), have a FULL day and night at B-Man’s indoor soccer tournament at CMU tomorrow and I am getting increasingly hungrier for pizza by the minute.