Getting Fat at PHP

 

It's been a month since I was last at Pine Hill Park and after doing work around Ann's house in the morning, making some adjustments to the bike shed I rode out to PHP and the first thing I noticed was the new sign.

Summer Fat Biking at PHP

I had three interviews on Tuesday and the last one went into extra innings. Afterwards I needed to clear my head so I got kitted up and headed out on the Tracker towards Pine Hill Park.  I headed to another entrance to the park because I new there was trail work going on and I didn't want to feel guilty that I was riding and not helping.

Back to Pine Hill

 

Got back to Rutland yesterday and couldn't wait to head over to the PHP on the Cujo after getting the rear wheel fixed by JT at Rutland City Bikes. Originally, I was going to convert the Cujo back to tubeless last year but then I got sidetracked and bought the fat bike.  The last time I rode at the Park I had to take the full susser because I re-discovered that I never did anything about it.  

Third from First

 

Since my Fat Bike was down due some shifting issues and the rear wheel is out of true, I pulled the Cujo out of stable and I discovered a broken spoke while putting air in the rear tire. I pulled off the wheel to take it to the shop later and then I pulled the Stump Jumper out of the stable. Of course it had a flat tire, too. I put air in it and hoped it would hold air.

Apres Ski with Ned Flanders

Driving down to Rutland I took care of a few things before hopping on the fat bike and riding over to Pine Hill Park.

FBBS

 

Fat Biking Before Skiing!

40 degrees in Rutland this morning and I hit PHP for a quickie before going skiing. I am wearing just a sleeveless base layer and my old Angler Pub Sweatshirt and it was the perfect combination of clothing.

Birthday Fatty Ride

 

The Nor’easter in southern New England effectively stranded me in Vermont Monday and the word from the office was don’t even bother to come in on Monday. I worked from Ann’s house and then borrowed her truck to drive over to PHP for a quick ride at lunch. I needed a break from putting the bike on the MINI.

First Tracks on a Fresh Groom

 

I drove up Thursday night after work knowing that if I didn’t leave when I did I wouldn’t have made it to Vermont on Friday. Friday’s snow forced the cancellation of the 4th Annual Cold Rolled Fat Biking Festival here in Rutland which I was planning on attending. I did get a little skiing in after work on Friday, 12 runs in 2 1/2 hours.

President’s Day at PHP

Snow Dog, PHP’s grooming machine got an upgrade - it now pulls the driver on a metal sled which is heavier and compacts the groom even more. That was evident today. Just about everything I rode on was perfect. 

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.

Buttah!

We got around an inch of snow overnight in Rutland and I waited till noon on Sunday for the temperatures to warm up a bit. I got to PHP around lunch time and it was still around 19 degrees. Heading out I was making the first tire tracks on Escalator. 

19° at Pine Hill Park

I wanted to ride Pine Hill Park on New Years Day but the high was 15 degrees and I thought it would be prudent not to ride in such cold temperatures. After today's ride I am don't think it would have mattered. Headed out to the park after grocery shopping. The sun was out and it was a blue bird day only by the time I got on my kit, put the bike in the truck and drove out to the park I had sun for all about 5 minutes.

Riding with Studs

Had to wait until after lunch to head over to Pine Hill Park today because I wasn't really excited to ride when it was 10 degrees.  I got my tire pressure dialed in and my new frame bag secured. Loaded the bike in the truck and drove over to the park. I wore my hunting jacket, a Columbia Wind Stopper Fleece with zip pits. This used to be my go to winter riding jacket and I brought it up to Rutland to give it a try.  Once again, I went with a short sleeved base layer, long sleeved thermal shirt, and a thin long sleeved riding jersey and I was sweating while climbing up Pond Hill Road today.

Fat Bike Upgrades and Accessories

You know what they say, get your kids into mountain biking and they will never do drugs, because they won't have the money!

More than a couple of people that I have spoken to over the past week recommended that I get studded tires. After my last ride at the Park, I totally agreed. I looked on FB Market Place and online but couldn't seem to settle on a particular brand or size. Also, I hate changing tires on wheelsets so at the same time I was looking for another wheelset, too.

2nd Fat Bike Ride

 As luck would have it, all that good snow last week got washed away in what I call the Vermont December Warm Up. Saw this last year skiing at Killington, we were skiing knee deep powder the first two weeks of December and then there was a warm up and some rain, and then freezing temperatures to reinforce the meaning of Ice Coast skiing again. Apparently, there was still some snow at Pine Hill so I threw the Fat Bike into the back of the truck and headed over to do some riding.

New Fat Bike Day!

For the longest time I have avoided buying a fat bike because I didn't want it to interfere with my other winter activities but I finally pulled the trigger on one.  Mountain biking was my first love and this year that love has been reawakened at Pine Hill Park in Rutland, VT. In the winter, Pine Hill is off limits to tire sizes less than 4 inches which prompted me to get a fat bike. The Park Manager put me in touch with Doon at Green Mountain Bikes in Rochester, VT who hooked me up with this great deal on a SevenPeaks Tracker 11 Fat Bike.  It's a discontinued model but a new bike, for around $1000 with 4.5" tires and a dropper post, I couldn't pass it up.

Stick Season at PHP

 

Like every other state in New England, Vermont has four seasons but unlike those states it also has two bonus seasons: Stick Season - after all the leaves have fallen but before any major snowfalls; Mud Season - when the snow melts and the trails and dirt roads get soft and muddy. 

PHP in Autumn

With ski season coming next month in November Ann and I took our last downhill mountain biking laps at Killington around lunchtime. Then we headed back home and I rode over to PHP for some unassisted ascending  

New Dropper Post Day!

After a few rides and having to periodically stop to change my seat post height either for climbing or descending I decided it was time to add a dropper. I took the bike over to Down Valley Bikes in Rutland. It was a little pricey but it was worth it and they did a great job. Of course it took a bit longer than it would have taken if I had it done in Connecticut but that’s Vermont for you. 

July at PHP

 

I brought my hard tail up to Vermont in July to ride at Pine Hill Park, because I was keeping my Specialized up at Killington and I wanted to be able to ride the park Friday afternoons when I get up to Rutland.