Do You Wanna Ride A Fat Bike

Do you wanna ride a fat bike?

And ride our bikes around the trails?

I think some company is overdue, you’ve started talking to the people on the Web

Hang in there, buddy

It gets a little lonely, all those miles in your room

Just watching the hours Zwift by

(Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock)

Friday's forecast had snow in it, the real question was how much would we get. Being in the Midwest, forecasts can and do change daily and snowfall totals often range from 0-10" depending on if that butterfly in Malaysia flaps it's wings at just the right time or not. One thing that was a constant in that ever changing forecast was that it was going to be cold, really cold if you included the wind chill. I know that Zwift is all the rage these days but riding outside, even in the cold and snow, speaks to my soul in ways that a trainer never will so I was excited to get out. I wasn't the only one super excited for a good ole fashioned winter ride however and was greeted by this fur missile at the shop. It is possible she was more excited to see people than the actual ride but I'm going let myself think it was both.




As far as snow totals went there was just enough to cover the ground but not much else, dressed like colorful mummies we headed off towards Wilderness Park and hopefully some shelter from the wind.


Snow sweeper guy was already out clearing off the N Street Protected Bikeway, there wasn't a bunch of snow in most spots but it's always appreciated to see them out clearing the snow that is there.



Winds weren't too bad on the way out since it was a tailwind for the most part but once we got stopped by the train, if you turned around to talk you could definitely feel the bite that we'd be facing on the way back.


Things heated up quite a bit though when Todd decided to put on a show while waiting for the train.





The trees did help cut down the wind chill a bit, still wasn't exactly warm but it was a little more bearable and the trail was in great shape with the exception of the frozen horse hoof divots in the trail bed. Hikers, bikers, runners or horses; I do not know why anyone would be so self centered to use public trails when they are obviously not ready for use. All of the groups do it at one point or another and it's super disrespectful to all other users of the public space.



Dodging all those post holes sure can work up a thirst, so naturally we stopped for a drink'em if you got'em stop at the bridge. And as crazy as it sounds, a little cool down to try to help prevent from sweating too much.



We continued down the trail until a stolen bridge forced us to stop and turn around, hopefully they find that bridge soon since it kind of cuts the park into two halves.


First time I've had to break out the bar mitts this year, yeah it was that cold and I am glad I put them on even if they are a PITA to get on and off at times.





The ride back was a quick and cold one heading into the wind but an Abe's burger hit the spot and cured all that ailed us and ending the official ride for the week.





Saturday was also Stout Fest at The Happy Raven so naturally we pedaled over there for a taste of one or two of them, thus ending the ride for another week... well officially ending the unofficial part or the ride.