Jisch
February 18th, 2007, 06:14 PM
Lazy xpost from MTBR Passion:
Last night I took my back country skis out for a quick spin behind the house. I was only out for 20 minutes or so, but the conditions were amazing. I was this | | close to calling Slider and telling him that I wasn't going to bike, with ski conditions this good. I held my thoughts, it was the first (well second) ride for Slider on his new ride... How could I not ride when he's got a new bike.
We discussed where to ride and we went to the place I suggested. I'm worried that the snow wouldn't be strong enough to support us there. We get to the ride and the snow is awesome, we're riding on top of the hard snow with the loose snow providing just enough traction to do just about any hill out there.
There's enough snow to cover all the rocks, the normally technical trails are smooth and flowy. The downhills are like skiing on a bike. I've seen all those ski bikes that are supposed to be like mountain bikes, but you know that they won't move going up hill. This was exactly what ski biking should be - fast and flowy, with no problems going up.
Definitely one of the best winter rides I've ever done. You gotta love that about New England, the four seasons give you all kinds of different conditions to ride in. Today was almost like Fruita came to town for a day.
Couple of Slider on his new ride, he's got a Dean Ti HT, but IMHO this bike fits him soooo much better...
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02031.jpg
Check out the lean on this turn:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02033.jpg
Today's conditions rewarded fat tires. We both spent a certain amount of time recovering or walking after doing this. Sometimes you could jump up and get back up on top, other times you just had to get off and find stronger snow. Slider weighs a good 70 lbs heavier than I am, so he spent a bit more time here than I did.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02026.jpg
Obviously a multi-use trail. Four different "user groups" represented here - can you name them?
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02037.jpg
When you're first ones out, its important to leave tracks that tell a good story, unfortunately some of the stunts would not be used today:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02038.jpg
First tracks...
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02042.jpg
Off camber stuff proved to be interesting.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02051.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02053.jpg
After I got back to the house, LRR and I went out and skied out back for an hour and a half. Great conditions - also an amazing time. It will be difficult to decide what to do tomorrow morning...
John
Last night I took my back country skis out for a quick spin behind the house. I was only out for 20 minutes or so, but the conditions were amazing. I was this | | close to calling Slider and telling him that I wasn't going to bike, with ski conditions this good. I held my thoughts, it was the first (well second) ride for Slider on his new ride... How could I not ride when he's got a new bike.
We discussed where to ride and we went to the place I suggested. I'm worried that the snow wouldn't be strong enough to support us there. We get to the ride and the snow is awesome, we're riding on top of the hard snow with the loose snow providing just enough traction to do just about any hill out there.
There's enough snow to cover all the rocks, the normally technical trails are smooth and flowy. The downhills are like skiing on a bike. I've seen all those ski bikes that are supposed to be like mountain bikes, but you know that they won't move going up hill. This was exactly what ski biking should be - fast and flowy, with no problems going up.
Definitely one of the best winter rides I've ever done. You gotta love that about New England, the four seasons give you all kinds of different conditions to ride in. Today was almost like Fruita came to town for a day.
Couple of Slider on his new ride, he's got a Dean Ti HT, but IMHO this bike fits him soooo much better...
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02031.jpg
Check out the lean on this turn:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02033.jpg
Today's conditions rewarded fat tires. We both spent a certain amount of time recovering or walking after doing this. Sometimes you could jump up and get back up on top, other times you just had to get off and find stronger snow. Slider weighs a good 70 lbs heavier than I am, so he spent a bit more time here than I did.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02026.jpg
Obviously a multi-use trail. Four different "user groups" represented here - can you name them?
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02037.jpg
When you're first ones out, its important to leave tracks that tell a good story, unfortunately some of the stunts would not be used today:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02038.jpg
First tracks...
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02042.jpg
Off camber stuff proved to be interesting.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02051.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC02053.jpg
After I got back to the house, LRR and I went out and skied out back for an hour and a half. Great conditions - also an amazing time. It will be difficult to decide what to do tomorrow morning...
John