Fat Amy doesn't like it deep

I got out of work on time and high tailed it home. It was so warm today I figured that the snow probably melted enough that I was hoping it would be rideable on Fat Amy.

I was grossly mistaken.  The ride was more hike-a-bike than anything. In the deeper snow there just wasn't enough traction to get keep moving at a decent pace. In the shallower stuff it was good but the bad spots out numbered the good by quite a bit.

The trail gnomes took care of the blow down by the Snowtober Reroute. They did a great job creating what looks like a pretty challenging log ride.  

Over by the Three Bears Roller my front wheel dished out in some deeper snow and I experienced my first slow mo endo in which I landed on my palms.

While the ride totally sucked the workout benefit was great.  I came home hot and sweaty, and feeling fantastic. 

RAW on the Spring Equinox

I met Gavin for a quick Ride After Work starting from Aspetuck Park and heading up to the top of Sport Hill and back.  It seems that Old Man Winter is not giving into the coming of spring to easily.

Temperatures today were in the 50s but as the sun set the mercury began to fall and by the end of the ride is was 37 degrees!

There is still quite a bit of snow on the ground but hopefully the warmer temperatures this week will cause this to melt.  The snow and the warm air cause some really interesting temperature inversions.

Once at the top of Sport Hill we rode over to North Park Ave on Stepney Road.  Not my favorite because it has two blind curves but its your only choice.  What I love about the route is how straight both Sport Hill and North Park Ave are.

By the time we neared the Easton Library it was time for lights but the spectacular sunset and clouds off in the distance made for some breath taking views.

After words I enjoyed a nice Berkshire Brewing Company Cabin Fever Ale.

Ménage et trois avec Fat Amy et Nor'easter Stella

The Blizzard of 2017, or Nor'easter Stella as it was called by some in the weather community came on gradually Tuesday morning and by the time I got dressed and ready to ride we already had 4 to 5 inches of snow.  I went for little lighter attire this time around because my orange, Columbia Windstopper Hunting Jacket is just way to warm for anything greater than 25 degrees F.  However, rather than lobster gloves, I went with my OR overmits (sans liners) and a pair of ski glove liners.

Not only getting down the driveway Tuesday morning was a challenge but the road I live on wasn't plowed yet and riding on it was tough.  By the time I hit the dirt road that leads to the state forest I thought of turning back but I was still optimistic that the riding would get better at some point. It didn't.

The section of the Poly Brody that is usually wet this time of year was a frozen sheet of ice that I had to walk.  Further up the access road I stopped near the same spot I stopped on Friday to take a few pictures.  Below is a Friday vs Tuesday.

After the intersection with the Kissing Oak Trail (aka White Trail) I realized that my back brake was frozen. I think snow had gotten into the caliper and then froze.  When I discovered that I decided that I would just ride the fire road.

Having only the front brake meant I had to hang my rear as far back off the seat as I could to prevent an endo. I stopped near the Old Jalopy for a sip of water and then headed down to the road.    

The road was finally plowed which made riding a lot easier. It was still slippery, though.

I think next time, in snow this deep I will XC skiing or snow shoeing.

Fat Amy has Kung Fu Grip

 

Woo Hoo, snow!  I didn't think I was going to see any snow until next winter and this morning we got a couple of inches of snow when I headed out at about 6:30 AM and it was still snowing.  I rode over to Upper Paugussett State Forest, and headed in from the Echo Valley Lot.  The Poly Brody was pretty sloppy for the first 100 yards but then got better.  Climbing up the back side of the hill was no problem with these big meats and running 20 psi there was absolutely no issue with traction.

The Gussy was really smooth in the snow.  This time I remembered to unlock the fork but it almost seemed like it wasn't needed.  No one has done anything with the blowdown yet.  If someone does bring in a chainsaw I hope they cut the top piece because the larger part of the trunk would make a real nice skinny.  I rode all the way down to the Jeep Trail and then came back up the Gussy.

I stopped at the same vantage point on the Unmarked and Unsanctioned Trail and took a picture so I could compare it to the one that I took the other day of the Gussy.

I purposefully stayed off the Upper Mulikin because after the rain earlier this week and today's wet snow it's going to be really sloppy.  I noticed some people had ridden it the previous evening and I am trying to get the word out. I might have to make some closure signs. Coming back down the mountain I took the Mr Ed Trail but stopped at this Widow Maker to make a bit of a go around and open a nice little roller on the side of the trail.  Mr Ed turns into the Purple Nurple Trail which then runs into the Lower Mulikin trail which I followed almost all the way down.

Right before the blue trail my eye caught a line of the Old Jalopy Trail that I rode last week so I took it. It's not marked and the only way you will know it's there is if you can still make out my tire tracks. This is my snowshoe route that I like to take when the snow is a lot deeper and it makes a great by pass of the blue trail.

Trailforks:  Upper Paugussett State Forest

If you want to see an interactive map of the trails at Upper Paugussett State Forest, check out the page on TrailForks.com.

Ride after work: Happy Hour

I wanted to ride to Ovens of France this morning but it was raining.  Seeing that the expected high temperature was going to be pushing almost 60 degrees by 5 PM I brought the bike to work and decided I would stop on the way home and get a little riding in. 

I think had I gotten to Aspetauk Part 30 minutes earlier I would have donned shorts but as I was getting ready it just didn't feel warm enough for shorts.  In fact I was going to just wear a long sleeved jersey and then changed my mind and when with a riding jacket instead.

It was a shorter route on roads that I have ridden before but since it was rush hour I tried to minimize my exposure to those that were heading home (North and East).  I switched from flashing light to steady beam on Park Street because it had finally gotten dark.  I will have to go back and see what I can tweak in this route to get a little more mileage out it.