"Arctic Blast" = ?

For us? A good day for a ride. The plan was hatched as Brian - visiting from California - really wanted to give Oliver's Pugsley a ride on some snow.  Oliver and I, being insane Nebraskans who like to bike, figured we might as well make a Saturday ride of it.  The trail above - usually pavement, and usually a stretch I rock in the 42x11 gear, was probably some of the best trail conditions we saw.  

But man oh man was it fun! 

So the plan was hatched.  Oliver chose his studded-tired Volpe, and lent the Pugsley to Brian, while I chose the ever faithful snow cat Hardrock.  Destination was Monkey Wrench Cycles, then maybe on to Cycle Works to peruse the various offerings they had.  This wasn't about the destination, no in a day with the temperature hovering in the single digits, and wind chills in the -20 range it was all about the journey.  

Our average speed was, while my cycling computer actually worked (before it froze and refused to power on), around 8mph, so the 16 mile trip was around 2 hours of riding.  Why so slow?  At best the conditions were like above, a snow/ice mix that provided little (but at least some) traction for B and I.  Oliver's studded tires were amazing, at one point on an icy sidewalk uphill, the two big tired bikes were being walked while Oliver stood up out of the saddle and rode up.  A little wheel slippage, but not much.  Absolutely amazing.  Studded tires, I must have ye.  

Two of us feel once in a comical moment on glare ice at around 3 mph.  While comical, it wasn't nearly as comical as this: 

Which was, you know, a visual aid showing why the SUV is definitely NOT invincible, even if their drivers think they are.  And why I'd rather be on a icy bike path than on an icy street, in a car, any day.  

In the end, it was a great ride.  We beat mother nature, and beat her good.  We enjoyed ourselves and saw a side of the city - an icy, snowy side - that many won't see as they run to avoid the arctic blast.  Was it cold?  Yeah, really cold.  Cold enough that by 10pm, after a couple beers, I had finally beaten the chill that I seemingly couldn't get rid of.  But I'll definitely do it again as I learned a lot and enjoyed myself.  Sick to say it was fun, but it was fun.  

As an aside, lately I've noticed that the Hardrock really is a bit too small for me, and my suspiscions were proven Saturday.  I raised the saddle (well) above the "minimum insertion" line then took it for a quick spin - it felt great.  So I think a longer seatpost and a longer stem may be in order.  Other than that, it makes an awesome icebike.  Maybe by next year I'll get some studded tires because man, Oliver looks like he's having way too much fun with his!