December Riding!
This has not been the greatest year for riding. Not that the riding has been bad, but that getting out and riding has been difficult. With the economy the way it has been, I have focused more on keeping the financial fires burning, than my riding habit. I'm hoping next year will be much different.
Today, however, I found myself out and about in Palmer Park. This is a great place to riding during the winter in Colorado Springs. Most of the year the trails are nice and foot-packed, enabling for a good ride, especially if you're on the full suspension. I wouldn't recommend it on a fully rigid single-speed, which is my normal equipment for summer riding in the park.
The conditions were pretty nice this morning at 7 a.m. Even the temperature of 25 degrees wasn't all that bad, once I got moving (the key is to start with a climb). Since the park is rather quiet on a Sunday morning, in the best of times, this Sunday proved to be even better. However, I was surprised to find that I was not the only person on the trail. I passed what appeared to be a married couple working their way to a divorce. At least that's what it sounded like. If they were just dating, the language would have been much kinder. I did learn, however that Joe is a sissy, and Mary is a slave driver. Either way, they were out riding, so they may have hope.
I made it around all my favorite trail in the park. Templeton Gap was nice and foot packed. There there was ice, you could easily make your way around it. I had no slippage at all, except on the steepest of climbs. I have actually found that riding the park in winter, makes for a better ride. The loose rocks are now frozen in place, and the normal idiot traffic isn't there. There are fewer dogs to negotiate, and the pot heads seem to be inside checking out the lava lamps.
I know most people around here think the only place to ride in the winter is Pueblo Res. I like Pueblo. I don't have the prejudices that most of the Colorado locals have for the place. But for real mountain biking, I prefer climbing to flat land, and high winds. It makes for a better day.
That's it until next year.
Happy Holidays everyone!
Rex
Today, however, I found myself out and about in Palmer Park. This is a great place to riding during the winter in Colorado Springs. Most of the year the trails are nice and foot-packed, enabling for a good ride, especially if you're on the full suspension. I wouldn't recommend it on a fully rigid single-speed, which is my normal equipment for summer riding in the park.
The conditions were pretty nice this morning at 7 a.m. Even the temperature of 25 degrees wasn't all that bad, once I got moving (the key is to start with a climb). Since the park is rather quiet on a Sunday morning, in the best of times, this Sunday proved to be even better. However, I was surprised to find that I was not the only person on the trail. I passed what appeared to be a married couple working their way to a divorce. At least that's what it sounded like. If they were just dating, the language would have been much kinder. I did learn, however that Joe is a sissy, and Mary is a slave driver. Either way, they were out riding, so they may have hope.
I made it around all my favorite trail in the park. Templeton Gap was nice and foot packed. There there was ice, you could easily make your way around it. I had no slippage at all, except on the steepest of climbs. I have actually found that riding the park in winter, makes for a better ride. The loose rocks are now frozen in place, and the normal idiot traffic isn't there. There are fewer dogs to negotiate, and the pot heads seem to be inside checking out the lava lamps.
I know most people around here think the only place to ride in the winter is Pueblo Res. I like Pueblo. I don't have the prejudices that most of the Colorado locals have for the place. But for real mountain biking, I prefer climbing to flat land, and high winds. It makes for a better day.
That's it until next year.
Happy Holidays everyone!
Rex
posted by Sir RexALot at
11:45 AM
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