Fat Sat

New signage out in South March Highlands.

We rode all of Ridge despite it being post holed.  From the Annex turn-off it was actually much better.  Outback, from the Huntmar side, hadn't seen hardly any traffic at all and we didn't ride it.

Great ride on Saturday.  Anyone who tells you that fat backs are sluggos are wrong - we were flying, or at least Fritz was, 

Fat Robbie Burns Day Ride

Inner Thigh (the old name) was a luge run without the ice - smooth and fast.

Further along on Ridge, near the beginning of Annex/Gateway the trail was less packed down.  Numerous hikers walked the trail when conditions were wet and soft, the result - post holes. 

Beaver dam crossing

Tip of the day:  don't eat yellow snow.  I need to work on my "penmanship" . . . had to add loads of saturation so you could read it.  Can you read it?

Two Big Fat Events

I already am fat and have a fat bike. . . but you don't (aren't . . . unless you are), so should go.

Hoping to make two of these (won't make tonight unfortunately) . . . . and it's an "event" not a race - schweeeeet!

Fat is where it's at

Messy winter storm on Sunday/Monday made for some sch-weet riding conditions on yesterday.  Though the trails were hardly used, from what I could tell sometime early Monday, the crunchy snow was no match for the monster tires.  There was some 'trail breaking' but it wasn't terribly difficult at all.

Thanks Fritz for the lend of these Lake winter riding boots.  Big improvement over my regular mtn bike shoes, layered with old wool socks with the bottom cut out for the cleat and neoprene bootie over top. 

I rode for a little more than an hour and a half in -17 C without them getting cold.

Not used to packing for winter riding - had to go sans helmet as I forgot to load it into the bin in my rush to get out the door.

Went off the trail a wee bit on an approach to a little climb and crashed.

Almost got skewered through the left hamstring when I fell on-top of this buried beaver punji stick.

Took Pete's Wicked to what was formally known as the beginning of Outback.  Trails were bloody fantastic.  With all the new developments out in the SMH I am not 100% certain what it's called anymore.  Either way it was rideable and gwad awful fun to ride. 

Shield.  Not much wildlife today . . . three or four deer on the trail, a few hikers who didn't hear be coming up behind them (which totally astounds me with the crunchy snow and rolling fatties).

Speaking of wildlife . . . Robbie, a devoted "Follower" of this blog from Down Under saw my porcupine and raised me an enchilada.

Whoops, rather an ECHIDNA.  I wonder if it tastes as good as an enchilada? Probably less filling but mores spiky.

* And a new blog and new event in town.  Check it out. *

Freezing Cold Fun

Project "GOYFAGORTW", which could also include "Getting off my ass in a general way", hit the ground running skiing and biking this weekend.

Saturday:  Classic XC Ski with Curvy Butt and Declan -

"Declan!  Stop your whinning.  Freezing temperatures builds character."  Frigid afternoon temperatures had us starting at about 2pm in - 28 C.  P10 up the Fortune Parkway to Huron.  Beauty day out!

New dump of snow and excellent grooming made the track set pristine.

Huron Shelter.

Doh!  A deer . . . a female deer. About five of them actually feeding outside the cabin at the birdfeeder picking up the spill over from the Chickadees and Jays.

Sunday: Fatbike Ride with Fritz -

Scheduling conflicts had us start early at 9 am with -31 C temperatures out in the South March Highlands.  Frig-gin cold!

Fritz's Fatback and my Mukluk on Pete's Wicked.  Second ride on the Mukluk - got out Thursday night during the dumping we got in and around my neighborhood.  Man, what a work out - between the resistance of the tires and the snow, you work like a pig dog, but so much fun! You should buy one two.  Huge thanks to Kent and Dave at Phat Moose for hooking me up!

Fatties for a fatty.

Fritz nailed the apparel with a ski helmet and goggles.  My feet got pretty cold wearing cycling shoes, a pair of old wool socks with the bottoms cut out around the cleat and a pair of neoprene booties over top.  The old just come through the bottom of the shoe via the metal cleat. 

Despite the frigid temps I remained warm - and why wouldn't I ?  You work hard.  But what's not to love - you're outside, on single track, getting a workout in and it's fun as hell.  I'm glad I sold the trainer and am not sitting in my basement watching TV going nowhere fast.

This porcupine that we passed didn't seem to mind the temperatures or us. 

Me on M-Line.

 This winter is going to be so much more fun with the addition of the fatbike.  Whoot - bring on the snow mutha fuggas. 

Nothing better than a bubble bath, baguette sandwich and a coke after an early morning winter ride.

Project GOYFAGORTW is almost complete

Project "Get Off Your Fat Ass & Get Outside Riding This Winter" is almost complete.  Project "GOYFAGORTW" is a financially restrained, so to save $$ and in attempts to lighten the build up I choose to drill out my own rims instead of going for the pre-drilled, much easier, less stress, non-hair pulling, my drill is a piece of crap, Rolling Darryl rims.  X marks the spot.

A little pre-drill to line up the centre, use my handy dandy 1 1/4 hole cutter dealie-o, and ka-blooo-eee . . . rims are drilled out.  Wasn't exactly that easy nor that quick.  As I said above, my drill is a piece of crap and drained both batteries in 15 minutes each allowing me about 30 mins to work. 

Rims weight pre-drilling:  approximately 1030g.  Post drilling: approximately 860 g.  Once the holes were drilled I filed out both sides of the rim to make them smooth and pretty and ready to go for the big ass rim tape. 

Might be able to use these in vending machines.

Rims were dropped off at Phat Moose late last week and I pick everything up tonight to be built.  Whoot!  If all goes well I'll be riding with Fritz on the Secret Trails Thursday night.