WNR # 4

Attendance: Riders-Myself, Benson, Matt, Rob, Kevin, and Charlie. Hikers-Sarah, Jess, and Amber.

Weather: Cool, but dry.

Trail Conditions: Very good, but the grassy sections are still a little rough this early in the year (esp. the cart path climb up to the 95 acres). That hill never gets any easier.

Good ride, good grub, good beer. I'd write some more, but I just finished up ten hours in the truck. I'm beat, and I need a shower. Sarge, sorry I didn't specify where I was heading yesterday. My mind was already on the road. At any rate, I'm heading here. Edo, I would love to come and visit you two and the little one on my way home if you you're going to be around. I should even have the energy for a couple of rides. I'll call you in the next day or two. I'll try and post up some pictures and trail info. once I get a couple of rides under my belt. I should be there shortly after noon tomorrow, and I'll be ready to ride for sure. Take care. Over and out.

Adios

I'm hitting the road before sun up tomorrow. Got the bikes tuned up, and so far the weather forecast down there is sounding pretty sweet. High's in the low 70's, and dipping down to the high 40's at night. I'll have nothing to do all day but ride my bike and chill out. I've got a couple of new books from the library. I've got a nice selection of DVD's for the computer. I'm officially ready for vacation. Hope to see a few people brave the chilly weather for the WNR tonight. Otherwise, I'll see you in a couple of weeks. Cycling mileage this year: 334.28. Over and out.


Shi**y iPhone camera.

WNR # 3

Attendance: Myself, Secret Steve, Rob, Seth, Sarah, Chris NGNB (new guy not benson), Matt, Doug, Sherri, Bobbi, Benson, Amber, Kevin, and Charlie. If I forgot anyone, sorry but that was quite a crowd last night.

Weather: Damn near perfect. Mid 60's and sunny.

Trail Conditions: For this early in the spring they are unbelievably dry. I heard a couple grumbles from behind that it was a little dusty breathing coming up the first big climb. I don't normally wish for rain, but it's time to start. So I hope it rains soon (at night).

So we had the biggest WNR crew in quite some time last night. I was a little shocked to see so many show up for a Kipp Rd. WNR this early in the season. Those first 2.5 miles with over 600 ft. of climbing are a real mother fu**er. The trick is to remind yourself that it'll be that much easier next time. It doesn't hurt to think about how much fun it'll be to rip down it at the end of the ride either. Anyway, good ride for me and from what I heard everybody else too. Next weeks WNR @ HQ. I'm pretty sure Sarah doled out food assignments last night, but if she didn't and you'd like to bring something give us a shout. Over and out.

Raking and Riding

Yesterday morning, Sarah and I got out for two and a half hours of trail maintenance/trail building. The whole trail is now leaf blown and raked. Also, there is a new addition to the trail. We closed out a small, steep hill that was getting pretty rooty and eroded. In it's place, we put in a sweet new section of singletrack that works it's way up the same hill in a much less steep and much more fun and twisty way. A nice treat for the next HQ WNR in a couple of weeks. Obviously I couldn't do all that work on the trails and then not go for a ride. So I did. An hour and a half on the singlespeed felt so good.

In other bike related news: I just signed up for this last week. You can click through to see all the gory details, but the basic idea is this: Entry fee is a donation to fight cancer. The event is to ride 100 miles on rollers/trainer or on an infuriatingly small loop outdoors on May 8th (in my case 9th). 500 folks signed up for this second annual event. My plan so far is to do it at Hugh's place. There is a .75 mile loop of trail that I would need to ride 150 times to complete the event. It really did sound like a good idea at the time. But as mind numbing as it may become, it still beats sitting on the rollers for 100 miles.

WNR @ Kipp Rd. this week. Weather forecast so far is most excellent. Ditch the excuses and grab your bike instead.

WNR #2 - 2010

The early spring is affording some fantastic riding and giving us a chance to enjoy our beautiful Northern Michigan single-track. It is still hard to believe that we have enjoyed 2 Wednesday rides and it is still March! The ride was planned for the Boyne trails starting in the Meadow. As the ride approached, I was feeling like I might be the only rider who would make it. Almost everyone else had other commitments and PG was out sick. In order to keep the early streak going, I loaded up and headed for the trail head, figuring that there had to be at least one other WNRider that would make it & if not, I'd go it alone. Fortunately, as I was unloading my bike, Secret Steve pulled in and someone got out of the truck I parked next to looking to join. So it was me, S-Steve & our new rider Chris. We headed up the valley & got in a nice easy ride...partly because Chris was new to the Boyne trails & it's March. The trails are in great shape, still in need of some lumber-jacking (only in a couple of spots) and quite a bit more melting at the North Peak. One unconfirmed rumor is that the North-Ridge, sweet downhill section has been logged in is un-ridable. Hopefully that's bad intel. To finish out the month of March, we'll be heading to the NCT @ Kipp Rd. next week. See you there!

Another Bike/Ski Day

Yesterday was the second time this year that I was able to ride my bike and ski on the same day. Matt and I met up with Secret Steve and Will to mountain bike at Boyne in the morning. It was pretty cold, but the riding warmed us up quickly. The trails are all in remarkably good shape, so the WNR there this week should be a treat.



It's always fun this time of year to see people getting off of the lifts when you were able to ride on dirt to the top.



Matt and I headed over to Nub's in the afternoon. We made a few runs before retiring to the sundeck for a couple of beers and snacks. That's about all I have to report.

2010 cycling mileage: 176.92

WNR @ Boyne.

2010 WNR # 1

Attendance: Myself, Benson, Rob, Hugh, Matt, Kevin, and Sarah.

Weather: Mostly sunny and approximately 47 degrees.

Trail Conditions: Good to Excellent (especially for this time of year).


Well, the first WNR is in the books. And just over a month earlier than last year to boot. I don't know if the weather will allow us to continue a streak through to the fall, but the early start should give us a shot at besting last years total of 32 WNR's. We just rode a little bit of the trails at HQ before heading down to Hugh's house via Surfwood. At Hugh's house we did two laps of his killer trail. It's a great ride with tons of tight, twisty corners and ups and downs that keep you on your toes constantly. After that we retraced our path home for dinner and stouts to celebrate St. Patrick's day. Sarah also whipped up some Guinness chocolate mousse for dessert. It was delicious. Next weeks WNR @ Boyne. 6:30 start. Dust off your bike, pump up your tires, and get out there. Have a good weekend. Over and out.

2010 mileage: 149.22

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Another Cold One

I got out for a good long cold ride yesterday. The best part of the ride was that at least 30 % of it was on dirt. We've got a good portion of the trail at home raked, and that's where I started the ride. From the top of the hill onward there are obstacles scattered here and there along the trail, but it's almost all rideable up the bottom of the 95 acres. I encountered a bit of snow there on the north facing slope so I cut out to Five Mile Creek Rd. I rode up through the golf course at Birchwood for the first time. It's way, way more fun going down. From there I cut through town for my own little private urban singletrack loop. Then up 119 to Lower Shore and up on the Loop to the top of Angel Farm. Then I went down Wasson's Grade and home through Surfwood two track. Almost 25 miles in a little over two hours.

2010 mileage: 108.22

ALERT: Due to unseasonably warm temps. and the fact that this Wednesday is St. Patrick's Day, and with the trails being rideable and all..... we'll be having WNR # 1 just over one month early this year. So, WNR this week @ HQ. Start time is 6:30, come early if you want to preride. Just let us know if you're coming and we'll put together something for dinner. Bring some beer or a small donation for the keg. Stone I.P.A. is currently on tap. You know the drill. Be there or be square. I'm super pumped to be on the bike again, so don't be surprised if you get a phone call reminder tonight or tomorrow.








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Calendar Updates

My biking legs are coming around, and the ski season is drawing to a rapid close. Both races were cancelled this weekend, and the snow in the woods is melting fast. If I get out on skis again this season, it will most likely be a few turns in the afternoon at Nub's Nob followed by drinks in the sun on the deck below the race course. That is always a good way to spend a spring afternoon.

I've updated my race calendar to reflect the cancelled ski races of the season and to note a few changes in the bike schedule. The Mohican 100 is out and Hanson Hills is back in. You may also notice that the LBJ 100 is back on the schedule but on a different date. A handful of us that got shut out due to the sell out decided to do the race anyway, just a week early. As much as I wanted to do the Peak to Peak race this year for the first time, it wasn't meant to be. Sarah's step-brother is getting married that weekend in Vermont, and we will be there instead. The weather forecast is calling for a high of 58 tomorrow and 60 on Sunday. Is it really possible that we'll be riding in short's this early in the season, and perhaps even in the woods? Maybe. I'll report back on Monday. Have a good weekend.

Hugh Ride

Went for a nice longish ride on the road yesterday with Hugh. Just under 30 miles in a little over two hours. Mountain bikes are still necessary since there are still some patches of ice here and there in the shade, but all in all the roads are in pretty good shape. The weather was delightful, 54 degrees and sunny. Other than that, I have very little to report. Total bike miles to date this season: 67.

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