Made it out for a nice hike-a-bike this morning. Man it was cold out! Did a good bit of trail cleaning on the way (it makes for an excellent excuse for a newbie to get off the saddle and pant for a while
) Cleared some large branches and a lot of wrist sized stuff. The plan is to stop by W-mart and get a nice collapsable saw tonight, i hit a large patch of limbs near where the trail is close to the water and turned around, if i get a chance they will get cleared out.
NEWBIE REPORT 1: Winter riding, personal opinions only!
Your hand will freeze for the first half hour no matter how many gloves you wear, but by the time you come back a glove liner will be enough.
Wear lots of layers, but remember you will get HOT!, and frozen sweat is not a friend. Make sure you can pack out what you wore in.
Camel back bite valves freeze.
Snot rockets are the rule not the exception
Stuff any kind of style man antics, wear the pac boots, ride flat pedals, frozen toes cut great rides short.
Opinion only: Buy a three dollar full face shield or balaclava. Along with an ear warmer they allow the top of your head to breath, and it helps regulate body temperature easier. (IF you have hair
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