Be my Fat Valentine

 

It has been over a month since I last rode at Pine Hill. Last weekend, I brought my son up to Killington to go skiing for three days and I could have went Monday because he was too sore to ski after 14 runs on Sunday. Went equipment shopping instead and I bought him a new pair of boots and rented skis for the rest of the season. Ann was riding on the trainer today so I headed out to Pine Hill.

Last month I put bar-ends on the bike and I finally got to try them out today and for the most part, they were great. The only issue is they don’t fit well with ski gloves. I have another set back in Connecticut that I am going to switch them out with that I think will be better. Riding with them on the bike was great because I got a lot more leverage for climbing  Moving from the bars to the bar-ends is like second nature after riding with them over the years on my other mountain bikes.

Today’s kit selection was lighter due to the warmer temperature, which was around the freezing mark. Absolutely balmy compared to -8° last weekend. I had on a short sleeved base layer, half zip long sleeve running shirt my light flannel Poncho shirt.  I started out with a down vest but knew it would be coming off soon. 

I climbed up Furlough, because it was groomed, but it turned out to be a mistake. I learned quickly that while a newly groomed trail is great for descending it is awful for climbing.

I was slowly climbing and all over the trail, as soon as that rear wheel hits the edge of the groom it falls off and stops you.  Needles to say, it was a Napoleon’s Death March climb up and the layers came off quickly.

At the next intersection, only Lonely Rock was groomed and the give-a-shit meter was almost pegged but I had plenty of time so I pressed on. This part was flatter and I was able to keep up some speed to stay in the middle of the trail.

I wanted to take Dewey Wood Road because the G-A-S meter was pegged at this point and it’s a flatter trail but it wasn’t groomed and I was left with the choice of more climbing on Strong Angel or a flatter ride on PA4J. I am sure you can guess which route I took. It was still a little climby but still a good respite from the steeper stuff I had already enjoyed.

While on PA4J I met up with another rider named Kelley. He didn’t have much to share on the conditions of the trail he’d already ridden but while following his tracks it looked like he had a similar experience.  The sun came out for a few minutes and the dull light suddenly brightened making the forest look a lot nicer.

His tracks weren’t enough to firm up the trail. 

Finally, I got to Svelt Tiger which was really firm, I think because some snowshoers came up it earlier and maybe another rider, too. Not a lot of distance to show for a two hour ride but always a good time. I was knackered and in need of a beer that I got later at the Angler Pub.