Second last...

... ride of 2012, possible the last.

Todays ride consisted of pure "ride cause I love it". Legs were pretty much empty as I woke up, but with most of my holidays in freezing temperatures and soon back to work you just can't give up a day of riding when the sun is shining!

Shawn and Craig was probably on time based on their clock and after a good breakfast and Mocha we got on the bikes for 10. With no real plan in mind other than Fish Creek as a destination we rode some single track and roads down to Glenmore, and eventually Fish Creek. I'm barley hanging on (well,  I'm probably not hanging on, but they kindly wait) but when on the trails it doesn't really matter, I'm still enjoying every minute of the hard work. Legs haven't felt this nice and tired in a long time. While the boys seemed like they could go on and on - duking it out on a big hill in the park - the well covered up guy was not too impressed with two guys on bikes trying to steal "his" line and with his bear spray you probably wouldn't want to pick a fight.
But the bigger adventure of the day was probably trying to find a spot for lunch. Shawn finally made the call and it was a success! Farmers market! And while Cindy and Erik is over there enjoying the real European way of living, we got a taste of the same stuff. Violin playing live, gelato served and other great foods, free tasters which Shawn took advantage off, and an great Mocha!

Ride home was just a push of the last I had in the legs. Managed to get on a little single track Erik showed us a while back and then path back to Bowness.

Happy Riding... maybe one more.. maybe not this year...

Glenmore single track

Shot captured...

The guy playing the violine and Gelato served.... what more can you ask for!?

oh yeah and food... lots of food.

3rd last ...

... ride of the year was nothing less than perfect.
A few minor technical difficulties to start the day didnt seem to affect it even though it included no mocha until cochrane!
After a good breakfast the group of Craig, Thomas, Shawn and Craig M. agreed that north route through Tuscany would be a great way to start. Sweet single track and pretty much zero road all the way to crowchild (or 1A). From there Shawn had a plan. A little bit of road and off to some brand new trail for me. Great little connection almost to the train track truck trial we hit after crossing the river. It did include a little jump though a back yard and some minor grass wacking. Shawn took a moment to create some beautiful art with his mtb...cross looking bike.
The train truck trail was driven once or so hence in perfect shape for narrow ride to park entrance. Awesome.
Then the park path. Almost got use of the SOL when Craig almost ducked under the ice, wet feet he could handle, tough guy. Very icy and scenic ride. The hill out was harder than ever. And my slowest strava time is on record. The Mocha could not come any sooner. Nice lunch at our regular spot.
Back roads back to city was plan, little detour through city water line which started off as a highway packed trial but of course it couldn't last. Not sure my convincing fact about it being the most direct route home was believed by all. But the trail was just nice enough to allow as to keep pedaling though to the  end of it. So far zero highway (ah guess tiny bit out of cochrane), another new backroad and the regular route pass our doggie friend Londons house. In to Bowness Craig had not had enough so took us on the upper route back in....which on a good day...on mtb...in the summer .... I sometimes clear oh actually Ive never cleaned it all and today was definitly not it either. Legs were really happy but really tired and so was the mind. Survived an awesome ride and even made it though a doggie walk and bike wash (it is at least ready for tomorrow)....
2 more days left of 2012.... Two more great rides is possible, but today will be hard to beat :)
Happy riding!

Cool new connection - thanks Shawn!

Craig M still on top of the ice...

Awesome river overflow - the path is under there somewhere

Looked much cooler in the real world...

really...

Christmas ...

...2012 was chilly but as always super great to spend some time at home with no schedule to follow.

SQ have hung out and had a small surgery to get her back in running mode. A few chilly hikes at COP and a ski with Katy up Skogan (though as i learned after downloading Gps racks...not so much... More like Mamut creek or something like that)...
Today it finally warmed up, almost a week since my last ride with Jon in sub 20... Craig and I enjoyed their the best snow rides yet. Sticky single track; so sticky Craig got so much confident he ended up on the grown ... :) but no hurt... This was after a smashed and bent dropout on his bike. Quick stop at my house ... Good thing for fancy tools... Then some more great trails. A few more days in 2012 and my guess is equally many good rides!

Happy riding and holidays!

December ...

... rides; and a longer stint up north.

First weekend of December was a cooler one a couple of us managed to bundle up and get a couple rides in. First Saturday Thomas and I did the Fish Creek loop and with similar weather on the Sunday Cesar, Ryan and I ended up doing the same loop. It starts out with single track right from the start in Bowness and with some more around Glenmore and off course Fish Creek. Great ride all within city limits.

Then it was off to the north for almost two weeks with return for a couple of great rides this weekend. Great turnout on Saturday but a little chilly (-15start) so a few kept it short. Road up Tuscany ravine and after such great condition we agreed on a city single track day. Included Stoney, Bowmont, Edworthy with a stop as Rosso; and back through Edworthy and Bowmont. So awsome!
Sunday it warmed up so Cochrane seemded like a Grwat choice. Craig, Erik and Cindy joined and we got to enjoy the Bearspaw lake crossing and riding a little bit of skating rink. The path through the park was in great shape and the coffee stop as good as it alwAys is. The return trip included a tail wind so strong we barley had to pedal up the hills! So fun! End this new classic loop with some tacky single track back into the city.

So lucky to go through weekends of all sorts of winter weather and always have a riding buddy; makes riding what it is suppose to be....

Happy Riding!

It took a while...

...but looks like a set up that might work.

Trial run tomorrow night.

Happy Riding!