January wrap up

 The weather was so good in January this year that we were able to take the kids riding almost every weekend. Ashton is getting faster every time. Who needs Xbox?

 The Bell family has been joining us on our weekly rides. Here Lara leads the pack down Buckbrush loop at Glory Hole.

 We snuck up to Downieville for one last ride before winter shows up. I asked Eric why he is always smiling and he said "How can you not smile we're in the woods riding our bikes". I can't argue with that. Sean drove us up to the North Yuba trail. It was 25 degrees at the start. Awesome ride, cold but awesome.  

 I scrounged up some Christmas and birthday money to buy a new mini pump and XL sized pack. The first test of the Lezyne mini pump was a bit disappointing. The little black button you see above is called the A.B.S (air bleed screw). I think some Stans got stuck in the valve. If it wasn't for Arch with a different pump the flat I got in the first 2 miles would have sent me walking back. After taking the valve out and cleaning it everything seems to work fine.  

 It surprised me to have problems with a Lezyne. Everything the make is innovative and of the best quality available. Here you can see the whole pump. Billet aluminum easy Schrader/Presta change over, and lots of air volume. Hopefully it will perform up to expectations.  

 After a couple misshaps on the trail I have been wanting to start carrying a first aid kit. The added bulk of a first aid kit and camera, jacket, tubes, tools, water, and what not was just to much for my old pack. I picked up an Osprey Escapist 30 pack to handle the extra stuff. This pack has room for everything you could want on even the longest rides. The hard part will be not taking to much crap.

 The kids pulled out the bikes after Ashton's birthday party and started playing on the downhill above the house.

 I took both my boys up to Lyons for the first time all the way from the house. It was the most climbing they have done at one time. After all the whining and crying they made it.

 The Bell's kept us company and had amazing patience dealing with my boys struggling. 

 Ashton making another run at the house even though its almost dark.

 I was amazed that the boys forgot how tired they were from climbing up to the lake as soon as we got to the Dam. They talked us all into hiking to the bottom. There was very little whining the whole way home. They had enough fun that they remember the downhills more than the up.

Only the Federal government would spend the money to put a gate 20ft from another gate.

Good Day

 Today was an awesome day. I took my family up to Sardine Falls. We went over the pass (it is January right?) and hiked up to the frozen water fall and had lunch with lots of friends. The girls were nice enough to drop Eric and I at the top of South Fork trail so we could ride home.

 Eric on the last bit of South Fork

 I couldn't get over the sky as it got dark on us. Everything looked so cool. Night riding in the winter is definitely on another level.

Something about boys and playing with flashlights, apparently we never grow out of it. We just get better lights.

Hows that for a tree topper?

January Downhill

 I don't think it has ever been possible to shuttle down from Strawberry in January before. We had to get a little creative getting around some ice but everything else (weather,traction,trails) was perfect. Eric is standing in front of a waterfall with a nasty drop that we had to circumnavigate.  

 Bobby and Eric on our "bypass". Even Katie had trouble on the super smooth ice.

You would have thought it was late April down at the bottom. All three of us were worn out after this one. Southfork to Spring Gap to Sand Bar to Lyons and Home. 30.23miles, 3526 calories, 5:53hrs, 2980ft gain.