Last Sunday...

snow rollers

dave's winter ride

mike and dave checking out the rollers

inside of my pocket

It's too cold for me to want to ride today, so I'll write about last weeks ride.

Last Sunday Dave, Mike and I went for a winter loop ride in Middlesex. The weather looked iffy, 40-60 mph winds, sleet and rain. We met at the park and ride and decided to go for it. We reversed the original route to avoid a possible high wind headwind ride back. After some bike chat and getting ready, we headed to Montpelier on some dirt along Three Mile Bridge road. We rode into Montpelier and then UP and out of town. After the healthy climb Mike got an SOS text from home regarding sick kiddos. So he headed back. We were right to reverse the loop, it turned out he ended up trackstanded (yes it is a word) by the wind.

Dave and I continued on. Lots of up and down. With some help from a fellow who lived in the area (from whom we learned that Molly Supple Road is Molly "Souple" Road as in Campbells, we made our way through some hike-a-bike and then more onward and upward. I added a few miles of climbing with my miscalculations. We ended with a great soup lunch at the Hen.

Great dirt/snow/hike/ride 20 miler...

when the going gets frozen the frozen get going

headed down the class 4

 Mike emerging from the mist with the lovely sound of studded tire bacon sizzle

At the top of the mighty last hill on the class 4

trail aka north bear swamp rd.

yep

icelandic horses

Met Mike this morning at the Moretown park and ride and then headed out on a wonderful hilly loop. Up north on some dirt/freeze to Middlesex near the Rumney school and then back to the west . Then a bit north and back south on a mile or so of snowy hike a bike. Then a few more climbs and a bomber descent back to chicken curry soup, croissants, coffee and grilled cheese. Yum. A perfect January thaw day!

Tomorrow's ride...

A very nice climby route from Red Hen up the back roads of Middlesex. Should keep the body warm until returning to the hen for soup!

Bar tweak...

Just installed a pair of Nitto noodles! Very excited about the new bars. The old ones were Salsa Moto Ace Short and Shallow. They were ok but I am looking forward to spending way more time in the drops now. I also love the way the shape allows you to angle the brifters in slightly so my hands rest naturally on them. They just feel right.

Winter afternoon ride

An afternoon plucadandbot (plumbers, carpenters, and designers and builders of things) ride.

Clifton riding up the hill

McCullough Hill Road Middlesex

BC Ski

Mike breaking trail

Crossroads

Over the 6" bridge

Tea break

Big

Me breaking trail

History lesson

Coffee/lunch

Ice globber aka ski cicle from stream

Sled dog action

Begin the descent

Went for a great ski with Mike today at Little River State Park. 6 hours of fun.We met at the Waterbury Park N Ride and headed to Little River. Got there around 7:30. Headed out on some gentle rolling park roads past the lake and dam to the ranger station. After a snack we headed out and up Hedgehog Trail and up up up. Amazing powder and traces of a former skiier. We stopped for Jetboil coffee and snacks and then bombed down to our starting point. Heading down was iffy due to being forced into a narrow track about 12" deep. Several times I resorted to the butt brakes as my connective tissue is not as limber as it once was and I had visions of torn ligaments as my speed increased with no room to turn or snowplow. Worked pretty well as long as I bombed down and did little mini plow/tele turns. Sloppy and ugly but it worked. A beautiful day greatly enjoyed.