Team Bechtle Slade Winter Training Camp

Bozemans newest bike team managed to get three riders out on the roads today.



Ryan, Paul and I headed ten miles west of Bozeman in the car and hopped out of the truck onto dry roads and countryside that didn't have a flake of snow. We filled the shoes with toe warmers, put on our fuzzy ear muffs and filled the bottles with watered down whiskey.



We set into our ride marveling at the 30F temps, lack of traffic and lack of snow.



After an hour of riding, three dirt roads, one interstate and one small town we noticed that the wind was picking up and the temp was dropping. Ryan suggested we turn around and hit up a different route on the way back to the truck. 4 miles later we were back at the small town and it was dumping snow. We stopped at the gas station, warmed up, ate food and explained to the locals that since we could balance on our bikes there was no need for chains on our tires.



The last hour of the ride was cold and the snow kept picking up. By the time we reached the truck the roads were actually turning to ice. I think another half hour would have seen us falling over.



Despite the snow it was great to be outside and it reminded me that I can ride all winter without snow by driving 10 minutes west to town. (The snow that fell today will be gone in a couple of days).

The Hair of Christmas Past

You can only be referred to as a low income central minnesota tree branch removal specialist for so long before you realize that maybe your shaggy hair is no longer "Mountain Man Shaggy" but has made the transition to "NASCAR Stupid".

Thanks to Mulv for making the final trim with the clippers.

XMas Ride 06/07

This is not a post that trail advocates would appreciate. My only comment is that we were not the only ones on the trails that day. It was fun, it was cold, it was muddy, it was rainy and I gained three pounds at IHOP afterwards. Showing up to IHOP covered in mud is great.

It should be mentioned that this post constitutes an admission of my admiration for single speed bicycles. Before this day I had spent significant amounts of breath, time and energy expounding on the frivility and "fad" lameness of single speeds. I freely admit I was wrong and now stand wholly corrected. Thank you Ben. That Surly was some of the most fun I have had on two wheels in a long time. While I don't think that a SS is right for me out in Montuckey right now, I am sure that one will find a home here soon.

Grandstay Cylcing in no way endorses riding on sodden, muddy single track. I like the jacket, it's warm, the team is great, I still wear it.