Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Under Pressure

First ride of the year with the bike club here in town last night.
A big whopping 2 people showed up!!
Me and my good buddy Mike F.
Start Time:6:00p.m. End:7:30
Start Temp:39 End Temp:28
Wind 10 MPH out of the east throughout.
Distance:10.5 miles
I also did something I've never done on my Pugs last night, I rode with more than 10 PSI. in the tires. Since i've never put more than 10 PSI or lower in the fat tires, i was interested to see how it handled higher pressure. I knew before i even put more air in that the ride would be harsh, I just wasn't expecting it to be that bad!! I mean really, what was I expecting???!
15 up front, and 16 in back. Every bump/crack in the road was magnified that much more. I left the tires where I had them for my ride to work this morning. Yup, still just as harsh and very unforgiving at those pressures. Sometime today I'll be dialing them back into what (for me), is the perfect set-up for year round pedaling of the fat bike!! A 6-10 PSI. front tire, and a 8-10 PSI. Rear tire. To each their own, but I like the plush ride of the Pugs with the pressures where I have come to like them. Yes, I may have to work harder than the other person, but what the hell, big deal!! In the long run i'm becoming stronger, and building a better base?? Lol Yeah, yeah that's what I'm telling myself......... (from Pugsley) Shhhs......Don't tell him, but he's full of crap, and that's just his way of covering up that's he slow as hell!!! ;)

Saturday, April 16, 2011

I Spoke Too Soon!

Ah, life in northern Mn.!!!
I woke up this morning to 4-5" of heavy wet snow.
It was a silent peaceful pedal into work at 4:30 this morning. Just one set of vehicle tracks, and at the end of our street, they went right, and I went left; to make my own fresh set of "Fat Tire" tracks!!
As of right now it's still snowing, and I'm still working!!
The snow is already starting to melt, and it should be a sloppy pedal home.
As far as the trials go, it'll start the drying out process all over again come Monday, when it hits the low 40's..... High of 56 by Friday.

Peace

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Things are Drying Out Nicely!

It's taken awhile, but the majority of the snow is gone, or just about gone. Now we have some big red iron ore mudholes to navigates around, along with the odd red sink holes that will suck up the unsuspecting skinny tire bikers!! ;)
Hell, the super soft red stuff gives even the 4" tires a run for their money!
Good thing my motor has a super low gear!! ;)

My miles to date for my Geocaching series, "Pedal On" are up to 30 miles, as of placement of two more cache's yesterday after work. The miles should start to really rack up as I place more further from home.
I think this weekend the boys and I will be placing two, maybe more, if their young legs will allow them to.
I know Thomas will be due for a good pedal,(Godspeed Jake!!), and Zack is always up for an adventure, and bombing through the big red puddles!! :)

Peace

Monday, April 11, 2011

Pedal On; A Marraige of Biking and Geocaching = Perfection





For those of you that don't know, I enjoying Geocaching, with or without the family. It's just another relaxing pass-time.
Since I haven't hunted in over 10 years, Geocaching gets me/us out in the woods, and that's always a good thing!!
I love caching with the family, mainly watching the kids go banannas when we make a find!! ;)
So accordingly pedaling a bike while Geocaching is a natural. I've started a new cache (cash) series called "pedal on." it's going to start in the old Whitney Tailings ponds, just north of Vic Power Park here in Hibbing. When it's all said and done, it should be right in the neighborhood of 25-30 miles. How many caches am I gonna put out? I do not know, but I'll space them out nicely after the 1st 4 or 5. I for one don't like getting on the bike, only to get back off in a .10th of a mile, so expect 1/2 to 3/4 of a miles between caches.
So this little project should get me out turning the pedals more, and making quite a few more hides!!

Peace

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Lazy People!!!

Dude, your license plate told me your from Nevada.......
Here's a tip.....for northern Mn. Year round!! ;)

When you see a thick frost on roof's around where you live, 99.9% of the time you won't be able to jump in your car and drive away!! 

Also, right now, i said RIGHT NOW, go invest in a windshield ice scraper... Because the next person you almost plow into, while your looking out the small hole you scrapped (in your windsheild), with your credit card, probably will not be as on the ball as me!!!! 
Also, rolling your window down and saying your sorry for being such a lazy ass.... Would go a long way!!

Peace

Monday, April 4, 2011

Spring, Where Are You??

Woke up to another couple of inches of snow on the ground this morning..
Ah, spring in northern Mn.
Last week I got a chance to do a small loop not far from our house.
Since work sent all 4 of us home at 1pm, (we had been starting at 5 a.m.), only 8 hours a day we were told, nice!!
I figured I'd check how things were melting, and see if I could get the boys on their bikes anytime soon.
Well, at 1st it looked ok, then after about a mile I was pushing the bike about as much as I was riding. There still is about 1' to a 1' 1/2 of snow in the woods. When I got into shady spots the riding was no problem, until I hit the soft sun drenched snow that is. I was able to pedal maybe 30 yards, then it was pushing time.
I'd say we are about 2 to 3 weeks behind where we'd normally be at this time of year. We hadn't had this much snowfall for quite a few years, and in a way it's a good thing.
Even the gravel roads are a mix of mushy oatmeal, and frozen slop.
I do see the forecast is calling for some 50 degree days this coming week. That's good enough to finish the melting on the paved trails, and maybe enough to firm up the gravel roads a bit.
Don't worry boys, (Thomas and Zack), we'll be pushing the pedals before you know it!!!