Went on possibly the last mountain bike ride of the season*

"PowderHound" (PowderHound)
11/04/2020 at 20:12 • Filed to: None

It’s supposed to start getting cold and snowy around these parts and with the days getting shorter I don’t know if I’m going to make it out again on this bike. I will still be commuting by bike until the roads are slushy trash and it starts hitting 0 in the morning. This ride was fairly short, probably an hour and a half with some rolling elevation compared to usually just busting up a mountain and bombing back down I usually do

*unless I squeeze in a desert trip

DISCUSSION (20)

VincentMalamute-Kim > PowderHound
11/04/2020 at 20:23

I just did the same at Devil’s Backbone. Haven’t ridden for a month due to smoke and wow that kills your fitness. Hadn’t been there in a year and technical skills suffered too. Santa Cruz was a popular brand out there today.

nermal > PowderHound
11/04/2020 at 20:27

This daylight savings time crap and getting dark at 5pm is really hurting my biking opportunities.

PowderHound > VincentMalamute-Kim
11/04/2020 at 20:39

It’s crazy how even a week or two will kill your biking fitness. I’m a big fan of my Santa Cruz, it’s up there in years but still rips. You see a lot of Santa Cruz, specialized and pivot around here. I did see a nice looking evil in a yellow green go by when I ran in to a friend out there.

skimaro > PowderHound
11/04/2020 at 20:40

I don’t know what your trail use situation is like in winter, but I’ d recommend trying to get out at least once when the ground is frozen and there’ s a few inches of snow. I t might be slow uphill, but trails become hilariously fun when you can drift every corner with minimal consequence and at reasonable speeds.

PowderHound > nermal
11/04/2020 at 20:40

Count me in as not a fan. Not a fan at all

Nom De Plume > PowderHound
11/04/2020 at 20:45

Nice looking Green bike there.

F/W 20: Welcome to the second indoor training/e-racing season of the year.

PowderHound > skimaro
11/04/2020 at 20:59

Trail use is kind of dependent on snow. The mountain trails are a bit rough right now because they are blowing snow. There is another area, where I rode today, that sees a decent amount of sun and could stay open longer. The double tracks actually get plowed out there for xc skiing and fat biking

PowderHound > Nom De Plume
11/04/2020 at 21:00

Thanks! It’s single pivot so there are less rattles to track down

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > nermal
11/04/2020 at 21:25

Last week I got a ride in after work.

This week it was dark when it was time to go home.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > PowderHound
11/04/2020 at 21:26

I got a good couple rides in last weekend but the rain started and we are expecting snow by Friday, so probably done here too.

PowderHound > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
11/04/2020 at 21:44

I mean, I’m stoked for snow! but at the same time I kind of hate this bit of transition between the seasons. I’m still waffling between putting my snow tires on and keeping the sticky guys on to sneak in another canyon run before the passes close. I’m in m any states of confusion with everything thats going on currently

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > PowderHound
11/04/2020 at 21:58

I put my snow tires on in early October because it snowed 4” and was 5 deg F for two days. Last weekend I took the Z out in 50 degree weather.

VincentMalamute-Kim > PowderHound
11/04/2020 at 22:51

I see a lot of Specialized. I still want a new bike. Which Santa Cruz is yours and what kind of riding is it good for?

VincentMalamute-Kim > PowderHound
11/04/2020 at 22:53

oh yeah, I’m happy to see a non-black bike. Good point about fewer pivots. I’ve got a new creak that I suspect is one of my pivot bearings.

PowderHound > VincentMalamute-Kim
11/04/2020 at 23:16

It’s a Bantam from about 6-7 years ago. I think they stopped making it with the 5010 being the closest thing now. Super fun on about everything except super steep technical/huge drop stuff. It’s on the lesser side for travel but very playful

VincentMalamute-Kim > PowderHound
11/04/2020 at 23:22

That’s actually what I’d be looking for. Short travel all-rounder for moderately technical terrain but staying away from stuff that’ll leave me broken.

stuckMTB > PowderHound
11/05/2020 at 08:29

Contrary to what the bike industry would have you believe, you don’t actually need a fat bike or studded tires to ride in cold/snowy weather.

I ride my 27.5" MTB with 2.8 tires (non-studded) year round here in Michigan. Granted, the trails are mostly flat but it’s completely doable. The extra challenge of maintaining traction makes for a very entertaining ride. Just dress somewhat warmly with adjustable layers, as if you’re going XC skiing.

G ood wind resistant gloves and either full boots or neoprene shoe covers to keep the wind out there too.

OPPOsaurus WRX > PowderHound
11/05/2020 at 08:50

solution:

Kinja'd!!!

PowderHound > stuckMTB
11/05/2020 at 12:10

I’ve certainly done it while crossing bits of snow but it’s usually on something that has some sort of foot traffic so the snow is slushy, rutted, and I honestly just didn’t enjoy it for more than 20-30 feet at a time. I’m sure if I got out early enough when everything was frozen it would work but I’m not quite that ambitious.

PowderHound > OPPOsaurus WRX
11/05/2020 at 12:13

I have briefly thought about them but I would rather buy several snowboards before dropping fatbike money