Rail Trail Snow Fest

2 hours on the trainer today was just not going to happen. I needed to be outside. So despite warming temps (in this case a bad thing) I decided to hit the rail trail for a couple hours. I'm no fan of the rail trail but it's usually a good place for me to spin along at 16 to 19 mph in zone 2 or 3. Today with about 2 to 3" of wet snow on the trail THAT was not going to happen.

What did happen was a nice, harder than usual workout outside. I think my max speed only hit about 13 mph and my average speed was about 10! The white of the snow did it's best to cover the anti-scenery that is the Boston/McKeesport leg of the rail trail.

Usually I throw the Reba in lock out and hammer pretty steadily. Today hoof prints in the melting snow from hikers, cx skiers and dogs, made it a bumpy ride and it was nice to have the Relish in my rear (eeww) and the Reba in the front to soak up the chatter.

As I expected the Rampage 29ers that I'm rolling plowed through the snow and hooked up well. Granted I wasn't exactly doing any climbing, but I still didn't want to take a snow naps.

I was most concerned about my clothing choices. I don't ride in the cold often so I don't have a ton of cold weather gear. 35+ degree temps aren't hay-noose, but I'm still no fan of chilly/cold temps. I did wear my new Craft jacket and it freaking ROCKED! I couldn't be happier with it. Granted it's a rain jacket, and I haven't tested it in rain yet, but it's also wind resistant and really kicked ass today.

I was also finally was able to use my Bikeman.com cold weather skull cap again. Kept the noggin and ears toasty and because of it's snug fit over the ears I was able to use iPodious and not have the ear buds falling out like they usually do. It's made by Champion Systems, the same folks who are doing up are team gear this year. Nice noggin warmer.

The downfall was my tootzies. A wicking sock base/wool sock outer in regular old Sidi's wasn't the best choice. Fine at first or for cool and DRY, but after about an hour of wet snow on them they were soaked and freaking cold. As I neared the end the ride they were freaking wet and FREEZING. Couldn't wait to get 'em warmed up in the Soob.

All in all a nice ride outside in the snow. Not my first choice, and I may need to work on some water proofing of the tootzies, but as my late mother used to say it's nice to get outside and "blow the stink off you".

That's it, a nice 2 hours of saddle time, so now it's me to crack open a couple and enjoy the evening.

Now here's a little photo blogging...

The Dos Niner taking a rest.

The Rampage's 2.35" tracks look like freaking MOTOcross tires!

The boring rail trail made slightly less boring with the snow.

Had I got hungry I had an XT Snow Cone at my disposal.

After a HOT shower it was time to hang with the B-Man.

Later.