Fat Tire Build

I know there are some fat tire snow bike fans that occassionally stop by the blog, so I am going to throw this out here.  It is looking like a group of us are going to build up some fat tire bikes.  These will most likely be of the non-offset version.  We do have the ability to make adaptations to some of the issues that arise.  We will most likely be building everything from a single speed to who knows what.  We have had discussions of single speeds to multi speed hubs from Alfine to Rohloff with chain OR belt drive and on to the 1 x 9 up to the full 3 x 10.  For me, a straight single speed will be out of the question.  I intend on riding this ride some in the summer as well winter.  We all know everyone has different ideas that work for them and may not work for the next person...i.e. saddles.  So, please do not be shy as any ideas from handlebars and gearing to geometry will be greatly appreaciated. 

Any advice out there?
Anything that turns your wheel?

We would like to hear it ! ! !

"The Ultimate Battle"

This is a video I stole from You Tube that should serve as a reminder to us all of just how fragile life is.  This very fine young man at an age of 24 is now gravely ill.  He is the son of a co-worker.  This co-worker and I have been friends for about 30 years as he and I share the same duties at work.  The immense struggles they have endured and how they cope should be an example we can all learn from.  I have witnessed this the last 3 years and I cannot begin to put into words to describe how wonderful this family really is.  I think some of us take life for granted sometimes and when something like this comes along, it is a sober reminder of how life is.  We sometimes let little things bother us a little more than we should, when if we just take a second to ponder, most things really aren't that big of a deal.  This young man enjoyed baseball and lived his life around it.  So get out do the things you enjoy, for you and I and the people we surround ourselves with could be gone in the next minute.   




Edit: RIP in Adam

Heart Attack Snow

We awoke this morning to a small layer of snow.  It continued to snow all day and is still snowing yet tonight.  We have had about 6 to 8 inches of wet heavy heart attack snow.  It is the type of snow good for making snowmen.

With the snow coming down, I worked on the fixed gear in the garage.  I changed out the chain and rear cog, put the studded tires on, mounted the lights and put a rack on it. 

The tires are directional and I mounted the tire for the fixed side.  It has a flip flop hub, but I have never used the coast side.  I am going to try it out sometime.

I went for a little ride today...in the truck.

These are some of the gravel roads I ride in the summer.  This is Road 4 which in December will become a snowmobile trail. 

I snapped the snow photos for the benefit of some that don't get snow. 

A snowbike is in my future.  These are some of the trails I will be riding.

I had planned on posting this much earlier, but we were out of power for a few hours today.  The heavy snow brought down trees and power lines. 

So after the power come back on, the DSL decided to take a break.  The net was down something like 5 or 6 hours this evening. 

 These little trees came in naturally after they logged it a few years ago.  It doesn't look like it in this picture, but this stand of little Jackpine is about a mile square of some very thick and tough walking when there is no snow.  A sane person would not want to attempt walking it on a day like today.

All of these pictures are just a short distance south of our home. 

Another Night Ride

I asked the guys at work what I could do to get some more time from the headlight. Eric, who built the light, and Brandon both thought a 20 watt bulb rather that the 30 that was being used would be the way to go. Brandon was nice enough to donate one to the cause, so I put it to the test on another night ride and I am pleased to say I got a solid 90 minutes from the headlight.  Now I need to learn how to dress again...too warm tonight.

Day into Night

Daylight savings ends so that means back to riding in the dark during the week.  I had an hour and fifteen minutes of daylight when I got home from work and I chose to sit on the deer stand.  After sitting on the stand, it was on to the bike for an hour.  I need to work on my lighting.  I have a very good home grown bright light for 45-60 minutes.  I need to find a way to stretch that out.  Stats for tonight...saw 1 little deer on the stand and 5 while riding the bike...and two cars.    

Lost in the Forest

It was during the recent wedding weekend that I headed north of Rhinelander WI to ride the Smokin Spoke mountain bike trail system in the Tesomas Forest.  It was worth the drive up there as the trails were in great shape and some features that made this a lot of fun.  I don't know how many miles are in this system, but I rode for over 3 hours and I am sure I didn't hit any trails more than once.  

I am sure some of the trails I was on were not on this map located at the starting parking lot off Crystal Lake Road.  Study this map well because the trails were not well marked and it didn't help that the first area I went through was being logged.

The trails were in excellent condition and as you can see in the above picture they were recently raked.

Some rocks and some hills.

Nothing too technical, just single track fun for the most part.

I came across two of these.  They did have a bypass if one desires to take the easy way.  I came up to this one kind of fast, took the go around, looked it over, back tracked and went for it...twice.  It was a fun little feature.

There was some area on what I think was the west end of the trails that wasn't raked yet.  Rocks and other inconveniences hide very well in this amount of leaves.

The trails pass through some very nice northern Wisco scenery.

As I said at the beginning...bring a map or allow extra time to find your way back.  I snapped a picture of the map at the parking before I went on the ride.  It helped, but I am sure many miles of trails are not on that map, as I was lost in the forest for sure.  Well, maybe not lost...just didn't know exactly were I was.  Besides, as I look at the above picture I conclude, there are not many places nicer than this to be lost.