Sorry, but eMTBs are not MTBs

All kidding aside, according to the State of Connecticut, an electric Mountain Bike is still considered a motorized vehicle and thus not allowed on the trails at Upper Paugussett or any State Park/Forest in Connecticut.  There are two exceptions: (1) Thompson Dam and (2) Patchaug State Forest.  These two areas permit motorized vehicles.

An eMTB has a motor and thus it's a motorized vehicle. If your LBS told you otherwise, they are lying to you.

I am also disgusted by the The International Mountain Biking Association position on eMTBs:  

IMBA is supportive of Class 1 eMTB access to non-motorized trails when the responsible land management agency, in consultation with local mountain bikers, deem such eMTB access is appropriate and will not cause any loss of access to non-motorized bikes. IMBA recognizes that changes in design, technology and the numbers of eMTB users is evolving, and believes these bikes can be managed in a sustainable way for both the environment and other trail users.

Dave Wiens, IMBA Exec Director goes on to say:

“First and foremost, we advocate for access for traditional, non-motorized mountain bikes. IMBA does not advocate for access for eMTBs. But, IMBA and mountain bikers need to be at the table for all conversations that discuss access for eMTBs to non-motorized trails that are open to bikes,”

So which is it Dave, are you for or against eMTB?  My interpretation is that IMBA is just kissing up to the industry because they probably get a lot ($$$) support from them. Being against eMTBs would clearly rub the industry the wrong way and cost them support. 

Well, this wishy-washy position will cost them in the long run, too, by declining membership.  I canceled my membership and if you are reading this and a member of IMBA I urge you to cancel your membership, too.

The Virtual Cyclist

Shortly after New Years I came down with an upper respiratory infection that kept me off the bike for a week and the really cold weather following meant no more hot dates with Fat Amy. So, that meant back to the pain cave which I usually cannot tolerate but due to an unfortunate accident that befell me in the latter part of the prior year prompted me to get hooked on Zwift.

Then Mr Murphy showed up again while I was Telemark skiing at Mohawk Mountain on Martin Luther King Jr's holiday and I broke my right ankle! I felt like Joe Btfsplk from the Li'l Abner, the character with the dark cloud over him all the time. Right at the height of ski season, too.

Two weeks later the doctor gave me the all clear to start riding indoors on the trainer again and I have been going all out!  Riding Zwift, I went over 10K miles on Synapse and this month I am going to break 500 miles and I might even be able to take Fat Amy out again by the end of the month!

So, does this mean Anne-Margaret is not coming?

I had to drive to Newton, MA on Friday to pick up my daughter from a friend's house so I asked a friend who lives in the area if he wanted to meet in Milford and do some mountain biking at Vietnam.  Joe posted the ride on Facebook and a few others in the area said they would join us. Also, John Goeller, whom I have met in the past on various Route 66 mountain bike races was also there. He happens to live less than a mile away from the trails and knows them like the back of his hand.

The guys on the real fat bikes tore off and we were playing catch up, mainly because, as I discovered a 3 inch wide tire doesn't have the same float as a 4.6 or 5 inch wide tire. Also, I started out with too much pressure in my tires and had to stop a few times to let it out. John, Joe, and I broke off from them because Joe and I, on our 3 inch wide tires were still having a hell of a time, even with the tires adjusted. Since the trails weren't broken in really well it was a Napoleon's Death March three quarters of the ride. 

Fat Amy's White Christmas

As luck would have it we woke up to a white Christmas.  After the presents and everyone was ensconced in their electronic distractions I headed out to Upper Paugussett State Forest to take advantage of the perfect conditions for riding in the snow.  We got around 3 inches of snow and it was light and fluffy but still grippy.

I am an Uphill Junkie

While I enjoy just about all the different forms of skiing, skinning up a mountain is one of the most gratifying experiences in the world, to me.  After breaking my ankle almost 3 months ago I was a little uncertain about what the first time out would feel like, so I took it step by step (pardon the pun). Saturday, I decided to do one uphill adventure at Windham and then meet Robin at Mohawk on Sunday for more fun.