Super Bowl Sunday ice ride

[radair]

Much like getting an alpine start in the desert to beat the summer heat, winter riding sometimes requires the same tactic. The recent "warm" spell coupled with cold nights provided fine ice/snow riding if you got up early enough and knew where to go. Super Bowl Sunday was one such day.

My friend Michael was the subject of the photos, in the 2nd shot riding a narrow line on a sick ice bulge. It is as steep as it looks, with thin ice and open water if you blew it off right. The guy is pretty amazing, particularly for being in his 50s. His only hesitation was that his seatpost was frozen and he couldn't lower it. So he did it anyway.

Hope your weekend was as rewarding as mine.

http://forums.mtbr.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=54866&stc=1

http://forums.mtbr.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=54867&stc=1

http://forums.mtbr.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=54868&stc=1

[C.P.]

Hey Radiar - looks like you guys had fun.

I have a similar story. Sunday around 10, my wife returns from her road ride, and announces that she saw people loading their mtn bikes as her paceline flew by the main parking lot at Foxboro..."you saw what?! no way - I'm there!"
So, out the door I went albeit skeptical - but exited to possible get a ride in the woods in. Well, the trails were definitely packed down, and the looks I got were something of this nature - ??? and ::) - again they were rideable, but barely - I got a late start & temps were climbing to around 45 or so. Conditions would have surely been better if I started early - as temps were at or below freezing Sat night.
Anyways, here's the only 2 pics I took. I also got a video of riders perspective while riding across the pond in the second pic below - which was inspired by the video Jason Record recently posted - it came out petty cool too.

Also, I hope this isn't considered a thread hi-jack - it's just that the thread title worked well...

[C.P.]

pond ride

[MMcG]

good stuff and great photos.

CP - your Heckler looks pretty mean looking with that Sherman up front on it. How are you liking it?

[radair]

Defiantly NOT a thread hijack; more pics = more color! The early start was key, we were riding by 7:30 and things were still frozen 2 hours later when we finished. If I hadn't stayed up all night watching Patriots interviews I'd have tried to get out this morning.

That's a burly looking ride you have there CP, really nice! I had an early ('97) Heckler that I loved - would have kept it if it had disk mounts. Does yours have the chain-stay bottle opener? (or am I imagining such a thing?)

[Mt.A TODD]

No worthy biking conditions at Agamentigus yet. Here's my pre-game ride.

[bdee]

pond ride


Hey, now I know who's tracks those were! Stacy and I hiked the Acorn trail from the lot to the big Warner trail sign area and back. We saw your tracks on the pond and on the trails here and there. We went out a little late too (1:00), traction hiking was a little crappy but doable. I'm gonna try to hit Franklin at lunch tomorrow for some snowshoeing before the snow cover gets too thin.

[C.P.]

CP - your Heckler looks pretty mean looking with that Sherman up front on it. How are you liking it?

I like this fork a lot. It's relatively new to me - so long term quality is still a mystery to me - I hope it lasts like the Z1 forks I've had in the past. 150mm travel, and the larger axle to crown height inspires confidence on drops, shutes, fast downhills in a big way.



That's a burly looking ride you have there CP, really nice! I had an early ('97) Heckler that I loved - would have kept it if it had disk mounts. Does yours have the chain-stay bottle opener? (or am I imagining such a thing?)

Thanks radair, I had a 2000 Superlight (same basic bike as the older Hecklers) and I loved it too - It's just that I kept breaking swing-arms...So the burly build this Heckler has ended up being a great replacement... and yeah -there's that attention getting bottle opener on the frame - definitly a crowd pleaser/attention getter. I actually use it too, but usually in a parking lot post ride ;)

[slapheadmofo]

Sweet pics Radair.

[bdee]

Tom, where were you guys, Florida?

[AA]

Its official.......... I hate Tom!

Just kidding, I dont hate you I'm just green with envy. Cool pics for sure.

[AA]

AA: Don't be envious - you too can become a Certified Sponge Expert.



Dont be silly, I was refering to the Gyro and greek salad......

[Mt.A TODD]

Tom your ride was not on ICE!...and you should have just rode your bike to the Superbowl!

Hijacker!

...please more sponge pictures.

[C.P.]

pond ride


Hey, now I know who's tracks those were! Stacy and I hiked the Acorn trail from the lot to the big Warner trail sign area and back. We saw your tracks on the pond and on the trails here and there. We went out a little late too (1:00), traction hiking was a little crappy but doable. I'm gonna try to hit Franklin at lunch tomorrow for some snowshoeing before the snow cover gets too thin.


Yeah, and I saw NO other signs of bikes on the trails! So my wife may have witnessed an aborted attempt when she saw bikes being put up on roof racks at the main lot earlier.

Now, only if we'd get a huge freeze, then we could enjoy one of those unique experiences where you can ride ANYWHERE your heart desires in the woods...course studded tires are needed.

[punishment]

Thats it!! Im moveing to Florida.

[AA]

I didnt get to go ice riding like Radair or become a sponge expert like mtbtom however I did manage to have some fun this weekend. At the last minute me and my wife decided to head to NH to get away from the house (we are in the process of selling one house and buying another). Sat we headed for Bretton Woods for some spring condition xc skiing. It was a little mushy but i didnt care. This was the 1st time out on skis all season & I was just happy to be outside.

The views of Mt Washington were great.

[AA]

Here is Susan heading Up the B&M trail

[AA]

Here I am smiling while trying catch my breath at the Coronary hills (damn I'm out of shape)

[AA]

Yes this thread has been totally hijacked, however I rode my xc skis over some ice close to where radiar went ice riding on super bowl Sunday. That is good enough for me.

[MMcG]

Thanks for sharing those photos AA! Good stuff!

[Z]

Radair, that third pic is really cool! You're a talented photographer.

I also enjoyed seeing Mtbtom's photos, although I could have done without the CU on the greek food. yuck. Nice outfit, too, with those pink hawaiian shorts and orange jersey.

I think I've lost my apettite! :P

I've done enough posting of my own pre-superbowl pics on the AZ thread, so I'll spare you!

[radair]

Radair, that third pic is really cool! You're a talented photographer.

I also enjoyed seeing Mtbtom's photos, although I could have done without the CU on the greek food. yuck...

Thanks, Todd says I'm really good at pushing the button on a camera. I think I just get lucky once in a while. Todd's pretty good at pushing buttons, too.

What is it with close ups of food? Don't you guys (Tom) feel a little odd shooting pics of your food in a restaurant?! And how come there's no ice in your photos, don't you drink in FL?!

I welcome the hijack, it certainly shows the diverse activities of everyone's weekends. And I'm willing to bet AA & Susan encountered some ice at BW, even if it doesn't appear in the pics.