Monday, March 09, 2009

What a strange day it was....

Last night the plans were laid, and by golly we were going to keep them. The forecast called for a high of 37 degrees and partly cloudy. This morning Brett aka the Beard, man I must get a pic this year, picked me up and we were off to meet up with Brian, I can't find my stuff cause I just moved, for a ride. I expected Anacortes to be cold, brisk and muddy. I did not however expect it to be near white out mountain pass conditions with patches of ice...that was just the drive, the trails were a winter wonderland with 2 to 4 inches and more in places. We were all a little worried on the way up, but none of us wavered in our commitment to the plan. I must say I am glad that we went. We ended up riding about 15 miles in two hours and twenty minutes, which we were happy with. The sun came out, the wind blew snow at us, and by the time we drove home a short two plus hours later, the roads were clear and dry in parts. We commented that it felt like two completely different days based on our travel to and from the ride. I hope to have a few photos Brian's camera worked for a bit, then the batteries died...

Things I learned today:
With each step you take your feet pick up more and more debris, soon you have ice and dirt shoes, ensuring a ride spent with one or the other foot clipped in but rarely both.

If you want bladed spokes simple strap your bike to the back of a car drive in near white out conditions on the highway....Its cheaper than the alternative, and oh so impressive...note about this it is very temporary as when the temperature rises they disappear quickly.

Hidden roots make for tough traction and are really slick.

Lake winter boots rock! Best investment this year, so far.

Partly Sunny in Washington can mean anything, snow, sun, ice, we had it all.....hope the rest of the week isn't more of the same. You can never trust the meteorologists. They after all do have the best jobs, they can be right 30% of the time and they are doing an amazing job, that doesn't cut it at my job...imagine if only 30% of the time you got the right beer...ouch.
Changing your clothes outside while it is snowing is not the best idea.

I will leave you with this parting shot, I don't think I have posted it before but if I have I am sorry....think posture, model posture. At a recent or now not so recent festival at work we wondered if I could balance a beer on my head...well the answer is yes, that and walk the length of the bar twice...my prize I got to drink the beer, imagine that...Here you are...one of my many talents....
Photo credit to Matt who was a regular at the bar and is now traveling the world....
Tomorrow or this evening I get a new bike...I am so happy, not a mountain bike, I get my fixie hipster, work logoed bike...pics soon...