Mountain Biking - Returning to the Dirt

I bought my first mountain bike back in 1995.  It was a rigid Schwinn Frontier - it was what I could afford at the time and before I knew anything better about mountain bikes.  (Before the days of when you could just "Google" it.)

1995 Schwinn Frontier

For years I rode that bike.  It went with me when I left Wisconsin for North Carolina and then Florida.  I rode that bike along the ocean during low tide and high tide.  Brought it with me when I moved back to Wisconsin and took it on trips to ride in Acadia National Park in Maine and on the trails around Stowe, VT.

It's been on the John Muir trails and the Milwaukee River trails - it was my bike and it was fun.

Giant Anthem 3 Upgrade

2006 Giant Anthem 3

Then in 2006 I finally decided it was time to upgrade to a full suspension.  After renting one in Vail, CO to ride down Vail Mountain on some blue and black runs I was hooked.  When I got home I started researching and talking to friends about what was a good bike.  I ended up finding a great deal on a Giant Anthem 3.  Wow, what a difference the full suspension made.  Riding John Muir with a full suspension versus a rigid was such a smoother ride.

Vacations were now going to be upgraded.  In spring 2007 I started making annual trips down to Moab, UT to ride the infamous slick rock and trails in the area.  Amazing.  Any where I went I brought my bike with me.  I loved riding this bike.  Every weekend you'd find me at the trailhead.

Riding Burnout

I did that til about 2012/13 and then I hit a wall and burned out from riding.  I still rode some but managed to not look at the bike like I used to.  I pretty much put it aside and picked up a new sport - rock climbing.  I kept looking at the bike thinking I should really get it out but just didn't have the desire.  I almost felt guilty for having it and not riding it.  

In November 2014 I started talking to and hanging out with someone who rode mountain bikes.  These discussions revived my guilt feeling for leaving my bike hanging in the basement.  In December I finally pulled the bike down and took it to the trailhead.  I'm so glad I did.  My burnout period was over.  It was time to start riding again.  But now what - winter was coming.  

Winter Riding - Fat Biking

Fyxation Blackhawk

With winter coming and finally getting beyond my burnout period I wanted to keep riding.  To do so I bought a Fyxation Blackhawk fat bike.  It was awesome - riding in snow.  I was able to ride all winter.  And I even decided to try racing - something I was always afraid to do.  It was fun, I took home a few 2nd places and I was addicted.

Spring 2015 - Back in the saddle

This spring I took the Giant Anthem 3 to my local bike shop - Fyxation and had a tune up done on the bike.  New tires, new rear shock, new derailuer hanger.  Back in the game - it was time to head back out to Moab, UT and ride.  I didn't realize how much I had missed riding the slick rock.  But I did realize how much I needed to work on my riding to get back to the level I used to be at.  And I think my Giant Anthem 3 was starting to show its age of 9 years old.  Even with the tune up - I managed to do something to the rear brake when I was out there and had the brakes replaced upon returning home.  Then the next trip over Memorial Day weekend to ride the CAMBA trails I started to have issues again with the gears jumping all over the place.  I finally decided it was time for the next upgrade.  And that this bike would become my project bike.  Something to use to learn how to work on bikes and drive trains.

Salsa Spearfish Upgrade

2015 Salsa Spearfish

It was time, I reached out to the owner of Broken Spoke Bike Studio who I made a comment to about a month earlier and let him know.  I did some research before contacting him and new what I wanted and could afford - or at least I thought I did.  

That conversation ended up going in a direction I hadn't thought it would and I happened to contact him at the exact right time and had an opportunity to upgrade the original upgrade I thought I was going to do.  I ended up getting a custom built bike that was built to race in the WORS (Wisconsin Off Road Series).  It was actually my dream bike.  Wow.  But now - I have a bike built for racing.  I've never raced a mountain bike.  And WORS is a pretty big series with some pretty serious competition.  Not like the fat bike races I did during the winter.  Do I do this?  This is crazy.  Do I do this?  I guess I knew deep in my gut the answer.  As I said above racing the fat bike was addictive.  Yes - I will do this.  Starting this August - I will race my new bike.  It's a little stressful, but if I could do the fat bike race, I can do this.  My goal for my first race - finish it.  

I'm so glad my burnout period is over.  I've been training by riding as much as possible.  Riding on dirt as much as possible and getting out with other people to get used to riding with a group.  Riding my road bike when I can't get out on dirt and working to push myself as hard as I can or as hard as riding in the city allows.  Yes, I'm nervous.  But I'll let the nerves drive me forward and get over my fear.  

"Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world."  John Muir

I'm going to keep exploring between the pines and looking for new worlds to explore whether it be hiking or biking.  

Fat Biking - A New Winter Adventure

"Life is either a great adventure or nothing."  Helen Keller

How do you live your life?  Me - my life is all about the adventure.  And adventure for me typically means I've walked out the door and am on my way to do something in the great outdoors.

Seasonality doesn't stop me.  I do many of the same adventures year round.  Summer / Winter Backpacking, Rock and Ice Climbing (I need to more of these), Bicycling, Hiking, Snowshoeing and on and on.  I'm always open to trying new sports and activities and this winter is no different.  Over the last couple of years I've seen the occasional Fat Bike riding around in the winter and have always been intrigued by them.  Being a cyclist both road and mountain bike, this seemed to be a natural progression.  Well this was the year.

Fat Bike Leap

This was the year I made the leap.  After renting a Surly Pugsley for an afternoon I was hooked.  I knew I had to have one.  Two weeks of researching, talking to people who have them and expanding my knowledge of the Fat Bike world I found exactly what I wanted.  A Fyxation Blackhawk.  And lucky for me - Fyxation was in the process of moving their headquarters into my neighborhood.  I was able to walk down and get it set up for me.

Fyxation Blackhawk

Fyxation Blackhawk - John Muir Mountain Bike Trails (Blue)

My new winter adventure.

After a couple of days of waiting patiently it was built and ready to come home.  Waiting for that first weekend to ride was hard.  But once it arrived - I jumped on and never looked back.  I was hooked!  My bike, my FAT bike. I was riding a bike, in winter, in snow.  What could be better?

Fat Bike Adventures

To quote Dr. Seuss:

"Oh the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all"

That's kind of how I felt (except substitute bike for ball).  Adventure awaited.

• I rode in my first ever bike race and took 2nd place.  Then I immediately rode in my second race.  And I was hooked on the thrill of racing.  
• I rode on the John Muir Mountain Bike Trails.  In Winter. On Snow.  How incredibly fun.
• I took a road trip chasing the last of the snow to Michigan and rode at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and on the NTN Trails in Marquette.  

And I've met some of the nicest people along the way.  The Fat Biking community is incredible.  

The snow may be gone (or do I go in search of more snow?), but the Fyxation Blackhawk will not be going into hibernation.  I'm sure there may be a summer adventure along the way where I'll want to ride a fat bike.  

"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt."  John Muir

Or in this case snow.  But whatever you do - get outside and find your own adventure.

Related Posts:

• Autobiography Title - In Search of Snow
• Never Giving Up - Adventure on the Trails