Maple Hill Park, Northern Mn. U.S.A.
Peace, Joboo
<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_du_SwbX5nTI/TDvYJfpZ0PI/AAAAAAAAA20/Yo6-2THwRUg/s1600/DSC03010.JPG" width="800">
The bike was cleaner when I got back from my ride yesterday than when I left. That can only mean one thing - snowbiking season is here. Just two inches or so at the 700-800 ft level, but it was enough that I had to drop tire pressure to keep from spinning out on the steeps. When I heard the crunch of snow under fat rubber I realized how much I missed that sound. Three cheers for winter! vb
here are a couple from my summer:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40010668@N06/4879878741/" title="0731001940 by alang60, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4879878741_0fddc2d393.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="0731001940" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40010668@N06/4880491450/" title="0801001652 by alang60, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4880491450_9030941825.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="0801001652" /></a>
looking forward to getting out on the mountain this winter. maybe even do a wintry bikepack.
Nome AK 64° 30' 4" N - 165° 24' 23" W. You'll recall from the last election that we can see Russia from here. I sure wish they would haul off their junk and mow the grass cause it's hurting my property value. Musk oxen are as common as cows up here. A fellow rider jokingly referred to them as "cockroaches" the other day after locals complained to the newspaper they can't walk their dogs without getting charged. I still love seeing them, though. vb
Thanks for the kind words. I am also a fan.
It was made by Curtis Inglis out of Napa California.
He makes bikes under the name Retrotec and Inglis.
This was his first Fat build. I had it built with the Fat winter/29er summer mentality.
Hey VB, have you ever ridden out to the Last Train to Nowhere site? (Solomon, is it?) Love to see pics if you've got them...
I have Last Train pics somewhere but all are from motorized excursions. Sounds like you've been up this way before? Here are a few other shots from around the area. vb
I have Last Train pics somewhere but all are from motorized excursions. Sounds like you've been up this way before? Here are a few other shots from around the area.
Have not been, but would really like to—looks like very scenic country. I ask because Last Train to Nowhere is pretty famous in photography circles. Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to make some snaps for us with a fatbike included for scale...
Here's my contribution from this morning's ride to work:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mababo/5102285123/" title="Fatbike in the Wild by Mauricio Babilonia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1202/5102285123_104183a23e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Fatbike in the Wild" /></a>
Nome AK 64° 30' 4" N - 165° 24' 23" W. You'll recall from the last election that we can see Russia from here. I sure wish they would haul off their junk and mow the grass cause it's hurting my property value. Musk oxen are as common as cows up here. A fellow rider jokingly referred to them as "cockroaches" the other day after locals complained to the newspaper they can't walk their dogs without getting charged. I still love seeing them, though. vb
As common as cows? But they're not domestic like cows right? Or are people tending them for their fur or something? Also, I thought they circled up when threatened, not charged. Guess I'm misinformed. I've got to get to Alaska one of these days. I feel crowded in Vermont, and it's pretty rural...
kikinik - what handlebars are those? I like the wrist angles of my Space Bar and my H-Bar, but they both have equipment mounting disadvantages. Your bars look much more friendly toward my only complaint.
(That bike is stylish as hell, and the bars even complement the excess joint appearance)
As common as cows? But they're not domestic like cows right? Or are people tending them for their fur or something? Also, I thought they circled up when threatened, not charged. Guess I'm misinformed. I've got to get to Alaska one of these days. I feel crowded in Vermont, and it's pretty rural...
Or perhaps I should have said vastly more common than cows since the nearest cows are probably 400 miles away. Certainly they're not as common as cows in Vermont. These guys are wild, but hunting them is restricted around Nome and the population has grown dramatically in the last 10 years. There are three herds within 20 miles of town totaling maybe100-150 animals. A coworker had some in his yard the other day. You're right, they typically circle when threatened, but people with dogs have been getting charged lately for some reason. The local animals usually ignore me on my bike, or trot off 50 yards and stare. No crowds here, man, and no fences for 500 miles. But then there's not much else either. Can make a person feel small and insignificant, which is a good way for humans to feel now and then. Cheers and thanks for taking an interest. vb
Thanks for the kind words. I am also a fan.
It was made by Curtis Inglis out of Napa California.
He makes bikes under the name Retrotec and Inglis.
This was his first Fat build. I had it built with the Fat winter/29er summer mentality.
M
Your bike was featured at the Handmade Bicycle show, right?
Open space has that effect on me. Above treeline, bald mountains, even just pastures. Can't imagine what it's like with 500+ miles of tundra. I like looking off into the distance, and seeing no sign of humans. I often try to picture a landscape as it would have looked before we screwed it up. Vermont isn't too bad, but there's not many places (besides deep in the woods) where you can't see signs of people. Our biggest mountain (Mt. Mansfield) has a ski resort (Stowe) on it's flank, and an old road almost to the summit. The Long Trail traverses it too, but trails are another matter.
There was a storm coming so we made a quick dash to get in a ride before it hit.
The light was amazing and we had a tail wind the whole way.
Almost ran over a sleeping sea otter that looked like a rock until it woke up and hissed at us.
We backed up and let it slink off to the sea.
The snow line is dropping everyday. Cant wait to hit the trails.
pugs came along on the biz trip to MN and we rode the river bottom trails last night. totally sweet since the river flooded this summer and dumped a ton of sand on the trails
BTW registration opens for the 'Puffer 24 hour on Friday at 10.00am. Be poised on your computer, the solo entries are likely to go within 5 to 10 minutes. (I want to see a few fatbikes there this year)
If you're not already registered with Sportident it's a good idea to do it in advance, because while you're filling in the registration the places are all getting filled.
Nice set-up!
So how are you liking the Pugs? You weren't too sure about going down this road initially, as I remember it.
ps - your blog looks very interesting, I bookmarked it!
Nice set-up!
So how are you liking the Pugs? You weren't too sure about going down this road initially, as I remember it.
ps - your blog looks very interesting, I bookmarked it!
I'm liking it very much. It will probably end up my favorite bike beside the Salsa Fargo. Originally i had three goals with the Pugsley and I have the feeling that they all have been achieved:
1. Snowbike capable of a week long self supported trip in a place like this. This is something I've never doubted, though I have yet to try it in snow. I really look forward to this.
2. "Stupid bike". This doesn't quite have the same ring in English, but it would be e.g doing a 24H event with it or some longer road events. The Pugsley isn't really stupid at all in terrain, but it has already been talk about taking a group of Pugsleys to a longer road event, which in turn would be stupid.
3. Week long self supported trip in uneven terrain in the summer. I was uncertain about this, but now I actually think it might be a good idea. In sustainable touring speed, the big tires provide about the same comfort as a 100 mm FS bike. It weighs a lot more, but on the other hand it enables riding without a large backpack, which I'm sure would be worth it for me.
I have endless envy for this thread. I wish I had a fraction of the scenery in some of these pictures. Can't wait to start my fat biking adventures next summer. Keep up the pictures!
With several inches of snow on the ground, I spent last weekend roaming around the Nome area on the fatback checking on trail conditions. Not too many slednecks or dog mushers out yet, but trails are slowly emerging. Did some walking and pushing, too. All in all a great weekend on the bike. vb
With several inches of snow on the ground, I spent last weekend roaming around the Nome area on the fatback checking on trail conditions. Not too many slednecks or dog mushers out yet, but trails are slowly emerging. Did some walking and pushing, too. All in all a great weekend on the bike. vb
Ever take your skis with you when your ride up that way?
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gomez_lakeraven/5165451446/" title="The Return of the Pugsley by ~gomez~, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/5165451446_36cb7947f4_z.jpg" width="619" height="640" alt="The Return of the Pugsley" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gomez_lakeraven/5165451446/" title="The Return of the Pugsley by ~gomez~, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/5165451446_36cb7947f4_z.jpg" width="619" height="640" alt="The Return of the Pugsley" /></a>
Scotlands coastline aint too bad aswell
this morning at Yellowcraig,East Lothian,S.E corner
1st beachride with F&R Larry`s and there ace, this bike is twice as good now!
First snow in Minnesota today. Wet, wet, very wet. So wet that it took down a lot of branches and knocked out power here and there. I was lucky that my home did not lose power, nor was my roof damaged, after a large branch fell.
I was kinda lamenting not having studded my Larry tires yet, but, with the layer of slush at the bottom, they wouldn't have reached through anyway.
Learned a valuable lesson: if you can't walk on it well, you can't ride it well. Very slow and wobbly ride. Time to wait for some powder.
Also learned that Power Grips aren't going to do it for me.
Drew, In my somewhat limited experience if there is any snow at all the studs won't reach through. You only need them on glare ice or totally iced over snow. But when you need them you really need them. In AK it is seldom we need them so most go without, but there are times ..... I just wish Nokian would make some bike tires out of the rubber they make their studless car tires out of!
Today's efforts were no-track stuff. Trying to ride cross country where there are no tracks or just deer tracks. Did more than my share of pushing. The trash left after forestry operations makes life difficult.
Came down the hill in the background. The lower section is fairly deep bog, hike a bike stuff.
As little bike as possible, as silent as possible.
Latitude: 57º36' Highlands, Scotland
It's cooling down here now. Not long before the snow (-5ºC here today)
Tried a bit more no-track riding. A bit easier when the boggy bits are frozen, but the bits of branch etc still makes it difficult, and it's mainly hike-a-bike still.
As little bike as possible, as silent as possible.
Latitude: 57º36' Highlands, Scotland
Sunday everything was nice and frozen for her second ride on "pinky". the baseball boogie trails were rad! at least i think that's what they're called. they start above speedway and shoot down toward elmore where there are a bunch of boardwalks.