February Fat Challenge (via STRAVA) Winners!

Ok, you all want to know who won before anything else, right? By random draw, here's who takes the Strava Premium 1-Year Subscriptions:

Marco D
David Bilenkey

Winners were drawn from a mug by my daughter.

I will drop off the voucher cards inside a handy Strava JerseyBin at Tall Tree Cycles for pick-up any time after Monday. If either are unclaimed by the following Tuesday, and I've not heard from either winner, I'll redraw.

Now for the stats.

Iain Radford pulled massive mileage, totaling 322km for the month of February, almost exclusively on singletrack! Yariv Wolfe and Brad Kukurutz flirted with 200k at 196 and 190, respectively. Here's the rest, in no particular order:

Jay Heins: 168km
Janine Gorman: 110km
Marco D: 147km
Rod Diaz: 147km
David Bilenky: 117km
Thom Johnson: 134km
Matt Surch: 140km (no, I was not in the draw).

Our grand total was thus 1669km, the distance between Ottawa and Little Seldom, Newfoundland, you know, if you could ride there in a straight line.

All in all there were many more miles logged on fat bikes in the Ottawa area, but not everyone is logging rides on Strava, and not everyone on Strava submitted totals. Better odds for those who did. It was clear form comments I received that this Challenge was a good motivator through the month. That's exactly what I was hoping for when I set the point of entry at 100k, which could be attained in 10 rides of 10k. Doable, it adds up. Thanks to Strava for providing these prizes; I'll aim to repeat the Challenge next season, and I will keep the focus on participation, and away form competition.

Thanks to all for being part of the Challenge! Lets see if we can shatter our collective total in 2014!

The Inaugural Wakefield Icebreaker

Fat road.

Its late February, as you likely know, and that means what it always means: its time to get some miles in on the road, one way or another. Today's way broke with tradition: we drove to Wakefield to ride the good stuff, the snow roads. Iain, Marcel, and Robbi-from-the-internet gathered at Pipolinka, obviously, to kick off the ride.

Ahhh, home away from home, Pipolinka. Is the coffee a-flowin? You bet it is! Vegan choc-chip ginger muffin to boot!

Robbi, Marcel, Iain. Matt behind the ol' SLR, i.e., iPhone 4S.

We remembered our bikes....phewf. Robbi's mtb was smaller.

Obligatory covered bridge shot. Marcel, on the way out.

Its tough riding packed snow on a fat bike with 20psi. Huge difference versus 5psi.

Our foray up an unplowed road from the bridge was ok for the fatties, but not Robbi's regular mtb. Back down to try another link up to the 366. That one was also ok for us; Robbi had a solid hike.

Marcel cleared the bank too, ready for the next challenge.

Marcel rolled on a Larry and Endomorph, ideal tires for the snow roads, which were quite hard-packed, idea, really. With a temp above zero, some sections were quite wet. Under zero, they'd be perfect.

First ride of the season on the open roads, you gotta stay on top of eating. You don't want to bonk out there.

Wrong turn, good for a pic.

All-day pace....except up Woodsmoke! Here we pass through the Wakefields.

Staying dry(ish) required staying on the snow.

Heading back into town, after about 3:20 out on the roads, and 55k.

Well earned coffee and smoothies at La Foret, a brilliant compliment to Pipolinka, just next door.

The verdict? Amazing ride. We've talked about trying the roads in the winter before, but never driven up to try. Riding from home and back is 80k, so that would be the whole ride, and a wet, flat one. Driving up to Wakefield puts you right in the good terrain and salt-free snow covered dirt roads, away from traffic and spray, as long as its below zero. The fat bike is extremely stable on this sort of surface, and shockingly efficient with 20lbs pressure in the tires, even aggressive Surly Nates. Yes, climbing roads that are tough on the best of days are yet tougher on a 26-35lb bike, but the traction is good, and there is no pressure to hit a PB. Its all about putting in some beautiful hours on the bikes with good company. I can't think of a better way to build the fitness required for the challenges spring brings.

Next winter we'll get up to the Wakefields to ride more often. If there is interest, we'll put together a group ride or two. Between -10 and 0, it won't be hard to stay comfortable out there, especially with wind buddies!