The Rest of December

...has been amazing! Lots of riding! Including first tracks on a trail here in Omaha that finally got snowed over. Strapped on a Maxxis Minion DHF on the front and a Michelin Grip'R on the rear- tubeless at about 16-17psi- and thats been working pretty good in the 4 inches or so of snow on the ground. More fun than I thought it'd be without a snow bike! At 4" the rail is completely rideable- even without enough other riders to pack it down. Each ride creates a new track in the snow so the luggier tires really help in the powdery stuff.

Other than that, Colorado Christmas vacation included ski days at A-Basin and Breckenridge and were amazing as well. Skiing those mountains just rocks- that Colorado Pass was well worth the investment. Colorado's climate is so sweet too...Christmas week I also spent 3 hours on two separate days riding Heil Ranch on the Mountain bike in 50 degree weather. It is SO hard to leave that place.

I pulled the trigger on a membership to Lifetime Fitness too. Wasn't sure about that one at first. But its been pretty sweet so far. Its helped expand my options for crosstraining when I just really dont feel like going outside at 2 degrees to workout. I'm having a lot of fun with the workouts and TJ's been setting them up great! Consistent hard training more than in full force...

First Night Rides and First Race

Night riding is fun! I've never really done it before- hiked with head lamps to the top of mountains and ridden probably too late into the night on trails sometimes with no lights- but finally riding into the night with a headlamp on the trail. It does take some getting used to!

Saturday evening I went out for a few hours at Tranquility Park so I had the confidence of riding that trail A LOT- I still nearly wiped on a few corners- those pesky ones with the cupped inside edges! Really fun stuff though. Riding in 15-20 degree weather with the winter gear and the headlight a few times reminded me of riding a snowmobile deep through the woods...of course with no snow here yet though...yet...

Consistant training has definitely started in full force again. And I think I found my first "non-sanctioned" race of the season on January 9th at Hillside Park in Elk River, MN- The Cold Bear Challenge- Yeppers! In da snow! First of a three race series- the next on January 30th and then February 20th. I don't have a snow bike but hopefully the Superlight with some meatier tires will do just fine. Should be a killer time regardless!