Snow stomping with snowshoes, then...

With the snow finally gone (hopefully), this video is a little late. But we have the snowshoes to do some snow stomping, just need that other key component to do like these guys in the video.

Watch the snow endo at 3:17.




Saw this video on the Milltown Cycles blog

3 hr bike ride to work

Outside magazine article about a guy that commutes three hours to work, by bike! Doesn't ride back home the same day. But still. Wow. Check it out.
http://outsideonline.com/adventure/travel-ga-201103-new-york-bike-commuting-sidwcmdev_154507.html

THOR Annual Membership Meeting

You like to ride! You like to play in the dirt! You want to help build and maintain the trails in the Omaha metro area. If true, then join us at the THOR meeting this coming Saturday. Thought I was going to be out of town...but now I'll see you guys there! Link to T.H.O.R. here

THOR Annual Membership Meeting
Time: Saturday, February 26 · 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: National Park Service
601 River Front Drive
Omaha, NE

SB ride

That stands for Standing Bear ride on the Steel Bike. After a long night of partying at Loom at Nomad Lounge last night (I'm talking get to bed at 5am), I decided to skip the ride to Zorinsky with the gang. Didn't think my body could take the abuse. After watching two episodes of Sons of Guns on Discovery, I checked the weather and found out how crappy the weather will be this week. I better get off the comfy couch and do some riding.

Got out around 3:30 and realized that the temps had dropped about 13 degrees since noon. It was no longer 50 degrees out. Yikes! Twice I had to run back inside and put more layers on. There was a strong wind blowing from the north, I felt sorry for Paul and gang on the Papio! And yes Dave N, you are correct. People walking their dogs at Standing Bear need to clean up after their dogs! Piles of dog mess everywhere!

Salvation Army Night Watch

Last Thursday, I was invited by my friend Lindsay to help volunteer with this awesome program. I had heard of it before, but had no clue what it was about. Every Tuesday and Thursday, the Salvation Army sends out two huge trucks (bigger than an ambulance) filled with food, drinks, coats, gloves, scarves, and even socks out to both North Omaha and South Omaha.

I happened to be on the South Omaha one last week. It's super easy volunteer work if you are guys are looking for some volunteer opportunities. Lindsay, Melissa, and I actually just stayed inside scooping already prepared food into take out containers. We then handed them outside through the little side window to the Salvation Army workers that handed them out to people in need. Easy as that! They do the driving, they know the stops. We were done in two hours and the time just flew by.

It was kind of sad seeing the 2-3 dozen or more folks standing outside the truck waiting for a hot meal. Even families with small children just needing meals. Many even asked for clothing, nothing fancy, but even just things like clean socks and gloves! My friend Lindsay said it is much worse when it is colder out and the truck runs out of coats to give out.

I know that times are tough for everyone with today's economy. Here is some proof. After you do bell ringing, they send you a letter stating how much people donated during your shift. This past season, people donated about $78 during my four hour shift. Btw, thanks to all who donated their time and money. But a few years ago, my total during a four hour shift was over $240! I think the Salvation Army was several million short from their goal for the bell ringing campaign.



Have a nice weekend folks!

Came across this quote

Made me chuckle.

"You know you're addicted to cycling when...
You view crashes as an opportunity to upgrade components."

-the Edmonton Cycling Club web site-

Nike commercial with some trials riding

Pretty cool commercial by itself, the trials riding makes it even better! At 40 seconds.
Link to video here since blogger chops the ends. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYFaqYJbzrs

Snowboarding in CO with some craziness mixed in!

Why would there be craziness you ask? Because that's how we do! Is there ever a normal weekend or a normal trip with friends? Heck no! And once again, this trip to Breckenridge confirmed that! We had eight of us in a cabin just outside of Breckenridge. Can you say private hot tub? Screw the community pool/sauna/hot tub. Private is definitely the way to go if you ever plan to rent a place out there. What does a private hot tub provide you with? It means that you can drink in there until 5am, party hearty, then wake up in less than three hours to hit the slopes all day! Then repeat! Come one, those of you who know me and have read this blog know that we always give 120% effort on the weekends!

 Josh and Eric getting their lift tix at Copper Mountain. 

Cody and I on the chairlift at Copper 

Love that view! 

Umm yeah. $10 Canadian beers. But I think they actually eased the pain the second day on the slopes

After much thought between a few of us, we decided to start with Copper Mountain on Friday, then hit Keystone on Saturday (Josh and Scotty hit up Breck instead). In our group, we had all levels of experience. From Josh who had absolutely zero time on skis but ended up loving his time on them. And up to Cody who was disappointed that he missed the snowcat so he hiked up the mountain and snowboarded his way down on his own. Conditions were great. We got a lot of fresh powder on the second day that we were there. It was definitely a new experience. Yes, you go a little bit slower, but at the same time it is a lot harder to turn if you're not use to it (as you'll see in my new "Oh sh*t videos"). I took some hard falls, and Cody and Eric witnessed them on both days. Fell on my head one day, only to see my snowboard and legs up in the air above me (reminded me way too much of my mt biking mishap at Lewis and Clark). Luckily, I was wearing my new helmet. The helmet saved me once and that is all that I ask of it!

It was super busy at Keystone 

Wiping out at Keystone from Misterlime on Vimeo.

 Unfortunately, that branch was not staged!

Eric's turn to wipeout from Misterlime on Vimeo.

Cody tearing it up at Copper Mountain! 

Another pic of Cody 

  Yup, that's me!

Close call with a tree at Keystone from DJ Chi Wai on Vimeo.

Eric and sis Steph at Keystone 

Eric and I making it down Keystone, yes he falls again from DJ Chi Wai on Vimeo.

Eric snowplowing his way down

Cody pointed out that the slopes spell the word Sky 

The next day, first fall I took was landing on my stomach. That actually hurt the worst. Didn't have time to get my hands out and my stomach cushioned my fall. Just imagine doing a belly flop in the pool, except the mountain doesn't give way like the water does. OUCH!

A coincidence that my last name also means King? 

Drinking at the Motherload in Breckenridge 

Private cabin in the woods 

 Barb with her humongous bottle of wine

Barb and Josh eating "Pork Wings" at Breckenridge Brewery. Josh also discovered Rolling Rock beer that night.

Scott and Jenn at the cabin

The drive out was pretty terrible. We took two vehicles out, Eric and I rode with Cody in his Suby. Can you say black ice once we passed North Platte? Made for a long and interesting drive. Nothing like seeing a silver Volkswagon fly by you only to see it sliding all over the lane not even 100 yds later. Yikes! Then the drive back, not much better with the amount of snow that they got in the mountains before hitting Denver. Loveland Pass had just reopened, cars were sliding into guardrails, and the tow trucks were out left and right. Thanks Cody for getting us home safely!

Night number two in the hot tub. Yes, I wear my sunglasses at night in the hot tub! 

Okay, the hot tubbing stories. First of all, there is nothing cooler than sitting in a 103 degree hot tub while it is snowing at night and only 8 degrees out. Yes, that was our first night there and we were in there until 5am. The second and third nights, we were just as loud but ONLY stayed out there till 3am. The difference being that I decided to change it up a bit. With that I mean jumping out of the hot tub and running to the snow. Once there, I proceeded to make a snow angel with nothing but swim trunks on. Wow it was cold!!! Can you say brrr? Can you say crazy mofo? After realizing how cold it was, I would then run back and jump into the hot tub. Weird thing is that it feels like pin pricks all over your body. Like a shock treatment. I would be lying if I said my angel's wings were as good a Victoria Secret model's wings. But hey, I wanna see them do snow angels with next to nothing on. Okay really, I would like to see that!!!

Warning, attempting somersaults in the snow will put snow in your hair and all over your body 

Sometime around 2am

Making snow angels in the cold, freezing, snow! from Misterlime on Vimeo.

It was Eric's idea the first night, but he never followed through. Asian persuasion got him out there on the third night!

The last night there, my friend Natalie joined us for dinner, brews, card games, and finally the hot tub. I was very impressed with her snow angel making abilities. Definitely a trooper. But of course, I had to up the ante. This time around, snow angels were face down and I even tried doing somersaults. Keyword being TRIED. When the snow is two feet deep, it is really hard to do any sort of tricks in the snow. But you gotta at least try to impress the ladies, right?

I'm not sure if Natalie knew what she was getting herself into when she agreed to meet us that night!

And this ain't 30 degree temps, more like in the teens! 

Good times folks! I can't wait to do it again next year. Okay, so I've done all the playing in the snow that I care to for the year. Time for the weather to warm up so I can hop back on the saddle!

 

At first glance, the sign says Eat Dogs. Also points out how "You Are Nowhere" 

Motorcyclist camera rolls during accident

Crash boom bah! Check out this video from a helmet mounted cam of a motorcyclist getting hit!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Here is your language lesson for today. "Gong Hei Fat Choi!" That in Cantonese means happy and prosperous new year! Want to impress that hot Asian girl at the Chinese restaurant you eat at everyday? Well there you go!

Year of the Rabbit this year! Happy Chinese New Year folks! I'm off to Colorado to carve some snow with the Burton! We'll throw in some hot tubbing and partying for good measure!

My first ever gravel ride...

I was excited and yet a little nervous at the same time for our ride yesterday. It's cold out. How do I dress knowing that we'll be cranking over those hills? Will it be muddy with the temps being in the 30s? Will I be able to keep up after a winter of casually hopping on my rollers in the living room. Well sometimes, you just have to dive in wheel first and find out! And it wasn't too bad!

Lots of tough hills to climb, but it feels great knowing you made it to the top. Until you see the next one right ahead of you!

For the ride, we got in about 14-15 miles worth of gravel and icy neighborhood streets. Only one barking dog that stayed close to the house along with a doggy that wanted us to play in the snow. The ride consisted of Aaron, Paul, Dave, Brian and myself. Good temps, good company, and good eats and drinks after. It is funny how the first real ride of the year kicks your butt from the very start and shows you how bad of cardio shape you are in. Those hills were killer and I was secretly hoping that I wouldn't have to hop off the bike and walk some of them. Kudos to Aaron for leading the pack all the way while riding on his singlespeed. Not sure you how do it man! Can't wait to do it again fellas! I need a few more of these before race season starts. It was nice to get out and hop on the bike after a cold winter.

Aaron led the pack the whole way 

 Somehow I was still smiling after climbing those hills

 Passing by Mt. Michael on 216th street

 Pavement was a little bit easier, but not much.

Group picture from Paul 

A much needed warmer background to stare at

I love the snow because it means I can snowshoe and hopefully get out on my snowboard. But I hate the cold and how my white car looks almost black. Also miss the singletrack and the weekly rides. I put up a sunny Florida background to cheer everyone up and to remind them of warmer times.

Yellowstone turns away riders on snowbikes

I have yet to own a snowbike and have only hopped on one for a few brief seconds at Potter's after the snow. But here is an interesting article where snowbikes were turned away from Yellowstone national Park because they are not approved means of travel in winter there.

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_fce2182f-cf96-5958-872a-e2490e6a31b1.html

pano stitch

Was kind of bored, still haven't gone through my Florida pictures. But I decided to see how the panoramic picture looks that I attempted from last weekend. I'm too lazy tonight to change the exposure settings on the left side of the photo to make it match. Oh well...

Photos of the day

Speaking of photos, the background image on blogger isn't sizing correctly and it is driving me nuts!!!

Saw on twitter that Bikemag does a reader submitted photo of the day. And I have always loved Bike Mag for their awesome photography. Check it out here.
http://www.bikemag.com/photos/

Lots of snow after we went snowshoeing

The goal for me this winter was to try and be a little more active during these cold winter months. I'm still getting in my gym time, but I wanted to get off of the couch and be a little more outdoorsy on the weekends. I've now been on my snowshoes three times and I love them. Deep snow? Not a problem. You practically float on it. Icy slope up the hill? Not a problem, the teeth on the crampon will dig in and keep you heading in the right direction.

 

Proof that Aaron actually had the things on, even if for only a short time 

 

Got some people together to hit the trails at Hitchcock Nature Center just north of Mt. Crescent. Saturday morning wasn't too bad. There was a small amount of wind that you cold feel at the top of the bluffs, but otherwise it was just about perfect. The scenery out there is amazing. The Loess Hills (pronounced luss as Dave and I found out) are spectacular land formations that were formed by the wind. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy day out. If the skies would have been blue, it would have been even more of a sight. I'll have to venture out there in the spring or summertime. Darn, no bikes allowed!

Got some slower shutter speed action going to get this picture.  Synchonized snowshoeing between Paul and Dave

The views were magnificent. Click to enlarge. 

Lots of hills, lots of trails. Saw a few Cardinals. The rental snowshoes are a joke. Aaron immediately took his off and strapped them to his back. As did my coworker and her husband who showed up later in the afternoon. But they still got in a good snowy hike. Paul, Dave, and Amanda kept their "stamped milkcrates" on their feet. It was funny watching Paul kick snow up over his head. Afterwards, we stopped and had some good grub at Henry's Diner in Crescent before heading to the carshow. Lots of shiny metal there, everything except Nissan. That was weird.

Aaron giving my Tubbs a try on a steeper section

I immediately knew what Aaron was up to. Strapping the snowshoes to his back.

All smiles up on the observation deck 

Thanks for coming out and keeping me company fellow snowshoers!


 Here are a few pics from Paul's camera:

Group shot! You put your right foot in, and you shake it all about 

Tall guys in back!!!