Fat-tastic Ride

There's climbing in them thar hills.

Marsh near Lac Brown.  White bars?  Yep, they were in the schwag bag we got back in 2008 from the BC Bike Race.  Keeping the fat bike build as economically affordable as possible I ended up putting as many 'spare parts' on it that I had in the workshop.  Normally much too high rise for my liking, but with the stem flipped and a negative rise and the right amount of spacers I've managed to have a comfy ride position.

Ice Fishing.

*Photo tip of the day*: when creating a panorama image in Photoshop, wait to fuck with the sky after you've merged all the photos, not before.

That's the problem with riding alone, there's never anyone to push me on the 'ol rope swing.  That's the price you pay when you're really slow and nobody likes you.

Only came across one axe wielding maniac on the trail . . . and some snowshoers.

Mmmm, left-over cold pizza.  If I had more time I would have started a fire in the pit to heat my lunch.

Shhhhhhh!  Don't tell no body where I rode!  Freak'n best snow ride of the season for me.  Trails were amazing.  Lots of climbing paid back with lots of twisty, swoopy downs.

Thought that I snapped a chain near the end of my ride when I heard a crunch and my pedal stroke slammed my nads into the top tube.  Nope.  Worse. 

I did a scan from above of the P15 parking lot searching for the No Compassion for Cyclist (NCC) cops before dropping back to Cross Loop Rd. Rumor has it some fat cyclists got busted Monday (on Family Day of all days!) out near P19. 

Now you know why they call me 'big ring'.  Pfffft. 

Comments

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Fuck. 

Warm Wednesday Ride

Fat rides and Rumours

Thursday's night ride in the hills left my legs feeling a little tuckered out.  Seemed me and Fritz stood around more than normal shooting the breeze - maybe because we were both feeling it.

No bird in the tree.

Just one in Fritz's hand.

Who's fat?

At the end of the ride on Friday I was starving, so I gobbled down whatever I had in the bottom of my bag.  Cliff Builder bar was remarkably good!  But then again, when you're starving the arse end of a dead rhino would be appealing. 

Saturday I was a bit pooped and had a bunch of stuff to do around the house so decided to take the day off and get some things done.  I did get out for a short ride in the freezing temperatures Sunday with Peter and Tanya (the cyclist formerly known as the Vegan Vagabond).  Overnight the water main on our street busted open due to freezing up after a warm spell and we ended up with no water all day/night Sunday.  With no water to fill my pack I had to resort to using club soda.  Meh.  It did what it was supposed to do - hydrate - but I was burping the entire ride.  I also forgot my camera, but Peter shot a nice little video of part of our ride.

That big fat tire, and the big fat arse just above the tire is moi.  

What I found interesting from Sunday's ride was the rolling speed I had compared to Peter and Tanya.  Peter was on a 26'er, Tanya on a 29'er and me on the fattie.  Conditions were hard packed - so much so hat Peter was running studs.  On the flats where the two skinny tire riders would coast, I had to peddle just to keep up.  Not really a surprise considering: I had a heavier bike, I had big fatter tires and contact patch, my gut is bigger than the two of theirs combined.  That being said, I think that I still had more fun!

Do you read Bike Rumor?  I usually go there two or three times daily to get updated on new bikes, parts, industry news, etc.   I thoroughly enjoy the site.  So much so that I even sent in a photo from a recent ride that Kristi posted up - check it out.

Fat Wolf Ride

Trails were super packed down.  You didn't need fatties to ride them, but it certainly was more fun!  Such a fast roller coaster whoopie of a ride.

What sign?

Full red glowing moon in the trees seen from the over-look on Wolf.

Fat Sunny Ride

You can ride Ridge all the way to Huntmar. The entrance to Outback from this side is still not worked down.

Somebody is running Nates.  If I had the chance to set up my bike all over again I would have up-graded to them.   Next year I'll be booted up with a set.

You don't get views like this sitting in your basement on your trainer.  Sucks to your trainer.

Heron Lake - South March Highlands

Busy beaver taking sticks down his exit/entry hole.

Lac Phillipe Skate Ski

Lac Phillipe is the northern most entry point to the park and about a 45 minute drive from Ottawa.  I normally get up here only once or twice a ski season.  It was my day off, sunny skies, and a quiet drive by myself were in order.

Trails were firm but super excellent shape. 

Lac Phillipe.

What's so nice about skiing this far north is a sense of isolation.  I think I saw maybe six people the whole day. 

A deer was unlucky.  I didn't see it at first near the side of the trail.

What I did see was this large tuft of hide and hair laying on the trail.  At first I thought a squirrel got smoked by the groomer.  Then I noticed the carnage off in the woods.

Feaux hawk? Most likely a group of coyotes, a couple of wolves or the reclusive Gatineau Yeti brought the poor thing down. 

I was able to take a photo of the normally recluse Gatineau Yeti in the parking lot at O'Brien a couple of years ago.  In the summer it sheds it's fur revealing it's freakish body, yet it still maintains it's foul body odour. 

Healey Cabin

Had it all to myself with a fire already blazing.  Had a bite to eat, dried my jacket and toque and kicked back to relax before the 11 km return trip.

Track my workouts on Endomondo.