Still with the riding....

Well, I have no photos to prove it, but we did indeed get out for an awesome ride at noon on christmas eve. Chris, Scott and I rode just shy of 14 miles at boyne in what could only be described as just about perfect conditions (if such a thing can exist for mountain biking in northern michigan at the end of december). It was windy and in the mid to upper thirties, and the trail was 100 percent open and rideable. While I'd much rather be xc or downhill skiing at this time of year, it sure beat riding on the trainer. If the lack of snow continues, I plan on riding new years day (just to say that i did) after we close the store at 3:00. That should give anyone interested time to shake out the cobwebs and join me. Give me a call at the store sometime during the day on the first, and I'll let you now if I'm down for the ride. Take care, and happy holidays.

Yoga anyone?

Hey all, hope everyone is having a good holiday (in spite of the lack of snow). I just got the winter schedule for Northwoods Yoga, and it looks like it may finally fit into my weekly plan. There is a class on wednesday nights from 5:30 - 7:00 at the Blackbird Elementary gymnasium. It's a beginner/mixed level class that meets for 12 weeks beginning the week of Jan. 8th. I've heard for years that yoga is great for strengthing your core and improving flexibility, and this winter I plan on giving it a chance. If anyone else is interested let me know. We could even pretend like it's the WNR and go to Turkey's for dinner afterwards. Take care and think snow.

And you thought the bike season was over....

I got to have a rare treat on this past Sunday: the ski/bike double header. Normally, this only happens a few times a season (albeit usually in April). But at any rate, I got out skiing first thing Sunday morning for an hour or so. Then, in the afternoon Sarah and I got together with Chris, Scott, and Hugh for a 13 mile ride in the woods around the house. We were also able to sample Hugh's fine singeltrack at his house on the way home. He's definately packed as much trail as he could into the available space, and it was a ton of fun. We'd rather have been out at Middle Village skiing, but you've got to take what you can get. It was certainly better than watching the Lions get their asses kicked.....again. I believe they are now 2-12. If this unseasonably warm weather continues I'll be ready to go out Saturday or Sunday so give us a shout if you're interested.

Last '06 Bike Commute

So this is how my bicycle commuting ends in 2006, riding home in 6+ inches of snow December 1, 2006. Yes it was a bit of a challenge but I made it home following quite a few astonished looks from my 4-wheeled road companions. You may ask why I biked to work in the first place but I had dry pavement in the morning and it didn't start to snow until around 10:30 a.m. that day. With this generous amount of snow, I have switched to two-track commuting (a.k.a. x-country skiing) and so far it has been going well. Hope to see everyone out on the trails this winter - Keep thinking SNOW! and Honk if you like xc-skiers!