Hey, Let’s Go On A Ride
You know what’s stupid? It’s stupid that I have this blog about cycling, and you read this blog about cycling, and yet I’ve actually gone cycling with about 0.0001% of you.
That’s got to change.
This year, I’m going to set up some Fat Cyclist group rides. Like maybe something at Gooseberry. A Mount Nebo road ride. Maybe a Moab trip. I’ll give enough warning — and a reasonably honest appraisal of the difficulty — that anyone who feels like they want to be there, can be there.
Let’s start with a ride on New Year’s Day.
Kenny’s Second Annual New Year’s Day Squaw Peak Climb
Last year, a bunch of us rode the Squaw Peak road on New Year’s Day: click here to read about it.
It was a hoot. So we’re doing it again. Here’s where it is:
Some Info You’ll Want
Cleverly, I realize I have so far given you almost no information you can actually use. For this I apologize. Here’s what you need to know:
- When: January 1, at 10:00am sharp
- Where: Squaw Peak Road, Provo Canyon
- What to wear: Cold, cold, cold weather riding gear. Unless you’re Jill Up in Alaska, in which case, early autumn riding gear will do fine.
- What bike to bring: Your mountain bike, with very low pressure in your tires. Most of this ride will be on snowmobile track.
Last year we were able to ride up to the top. I understand that may not be possible this year.
I look forward to riding with you.
PS: I shall resume my regular writing schedule (ie, most weekdays) starting January 2. I hope you’re having as nice of a break as I am.
Comment by Mark | 12.30.2007 | 10:02 pm
Whenever you’re ready to schedule a ride here in St. Louis, I’ll be here waiting for you.
Seriously. Why are you laughing? C’mon, it’s not that bad here…
Comment by Kris | 12.30.2007 | 10:44 pm
Hmm, it’s so crazy it’s actually tempting.
I’ll put on the fattest tires I have, but I’m sure I’ll wish I had fatter. Check out Chris Holly’s sweet rope “chains” – http://tinyurl.com/3cmk3y
I’ll bring my cross country skis as backup. It’d be a nice ski, but that’s too sane, right?
Comment by phaty | 12.31.2007 | 3:10 am
Well if you make it to Italy – and I know you will – I jump over the Alps and join you there for a ride!
Comment by Mike Roadie | 12.31.2007 | 4:50 am
This time of year, you should be riding in Florida with us!!!!
http://www.southbrowardwheelers.com
Happy New Year!!!!!!
Comment by cheapie | 12.31.2007 | 5:15 am
woohoo! if it fits my schedule, i’ll come out and ride with you for sure! i’ve got miles sitting in the bank for just such an occasion! =)
Comment by Lins - Aust | 12.31.2007 | 5:28 am
I can sort of join you for one of your rides as there’s a Mt Nebo road ride here in Brisbane. When you announce the date and time that you’re doing your Mt Nebo ride I’ll do ours. Any other readers in South East Qld feel like joining in and starting from the Waterworks Rd/Settlement Rd roundabout?
Comment by Flahute | 12.31.2007 | 5:43 am
Will there be beer (or as cold as it’s supposed to be, bourbon) involved?
Comment by Boz | 12.31.2007 | 6:16 am
I’ll be doing a new years day ride tomorrow, might as well start getting the ‘08 miles started. With a high of 10F, it will be brisk. The local club does it every year, so the after party is supposed to be fun.
Comment by TomE | 12.31.2007 | 6:35 am
Come on over to Denver this spring for some riding!!
Comment by Anonymous | 12.31.2007 | 6:51 am
can’t really make it across the atlantic but will be out on the bike tomorrow so will spare a thought for you and everyone else indulging in the ame ny day activity. getting out and about wih people you don’t know is a great idea – far better than writing about it!
Comment by chtrich | 12.31.2007 | 7:28 am
Hopefully Kenny will remember his helmet.
Comment by Lifesgreat | 12.31.2007 | 9:06 am
I have this thing about riding in subzero weather, so I will plop myself on my trainer instead. Maybe I can make one of your other rides.
I will watch for y’all out of my living room window. Wave to me when you get to the top! ;)
Comment by KT | 12.31.2007 | 9:50 am
Hmm, except for the fact that you’re in Utah and I’m in Oregon, sounds like fun! :)
I’m hoping to go on a ride tomorrow as well; nothing gets rid of a hangover like some good exercise. Plus, I haven’t had a chance to put my new gear to the test. And, I’m not following my new year’s resolution as made on Halloween: to ride at least 20 miles every weekend, or 2 hours, whichever we feel like at the time of the ride.
Happy New Year, everyone! (read this part tonight or tomorrow)
Comment by monkeywebb | 12.31.2007 | 10:23 am
Add me to the list of “when you’re in the neighborhood” people. We have quality road and mountain options around Redding, CA, and would love to introduce a couple new people.
Comment by will | 12.31.2007 | 10:38 am
Could you please post driving directions from France (I may be a few minutes late)?
It’s a great idea, I was fortunate enough to ride with 11 people I met via my blog this year, always good fun.
Comment by Ian | 12.31.2007 | 12:03 pm
I would love to join your gang for a ride on my next Utah road trip. I seem to manage about one every 10 years. I also invite you or any of you readers to come and ride in Rossland BC. (See Bike Magazine’s trail of the year) or http://www.imba.com/epics/seven_summits.html
I wish you and your family a very happy New Year.
Ian
Comment by UtRacerDad | 12.31.2007 | 12:10 pm
Great training for the Frozen Hog :), I’ll be there.
Comment by Kris | 12.31.2007 | 2:18 pm
On my way back from some cross country skiing with the family at Soldier Hollow, I stopped by Squaw Peak to see what the road looks like. And what did I spy? A white Jeta with a roof rack with a big Mad Dog Cycle sticker on it. Was it the Holly-mobile? Now this person will probably claim they were just selflessly doing recon they intended to pass along to everyone, but it smells like “getting a leg up” to me. I didn’t know this ride was so serious! Just teasing, whoever you are.
OK, some condition details: The road past the gate is snow-packed. Looks like plenty of ATVs (4-wheelers) have been on it. It seemed pretty solid, but up higher it could be very different. It seems like a bike to go on it OK, but I’m not an experienced snow rider so I can’t say for sure.
Not much parking. Practically zero down at the turnoff of the highway. Up near the closed gate (where the snow/fun begins) there were cars parked along the road. The road up to the gate was mostly clear, just wet pavement, but parking could get ugly because there’s not a lot of it available. Please carpool. Should we park at Canyon Glen Park or the new Timpanogos Park and ride the road up?
Comment by Born 4 Lycra | 12.31.2007 | 2:40 pm
I’m in wait the missus says I’m not. Something to do with the international date line, mowing the lawn, never having ridden in snow and being a useless hill climber oh and of course $$’s.
New Years Resolution is to ride minimum 5 days a week, improve hill climbing (originally it was to be come a climbing god but as I got more blood back into my alcohol stream the power of reason came back to me) and to enjoy my family more.
Happy New Year everyone all the best Susan.
Comment by Kris | 12.31.2007 | 3:29 pm
Fatty, reading the post from last year I can see I’ll be doing you the favor of coming in last so you don’t have to bear that title again. You’ll probably have to photoshop me into the made-it-to-the-top group shot (if I actually make it) because I wouldn’t expect anyway to wait so long for me to arrive. Oh, well, somebody has to be last, might as well be me. So, all you other merely-mortal cyclists, think you can wrest the last place crown from my head? You better show up and thrown down the flab and pico-watt muscles with me! ;-)
Comment by Rocky | 12.31.2007 | 3:52 pm
I have the fattest tires of all. But then I have the year-end crud, too, which I am actually glad for since it is plenty-six degrees below optimal riding temp. At least.
You have yourselves a lovely time on the Squaw Peak snowathon.
Happy New Year!
Comment by Miles Archer | 12.31.2007 | 4:37 pm
Have a great ride! I hope to ride up my local mountain too. Thank goodness it’s supposed to be in the low 60s.
Comment by Tony O | 12.31.2007 | 4:58 pm
Are you talking Mount Nebo in Arkansas?
Comment by Clydesteve | 12.31.2007 | 7:16 pm
I will be riding in Oregon on New Year’s Day with my son Daniel. We may get up north far enought to cross paths, KT – Amity area, right?
I have to tell you folks about the killer deal I got on http://www.craigslist.com on a road bike for Daniel for Christmas. $450 for a XL size 2006 Specialized Elite $1100 to $1300 retail, depending on where you check) with all of 5 miles total on it. The seller hurt his back, then had his new Elite stolen. Insurance company would replace, but would not supply cash. So he replaced it. He rode it around the block about four times, each time concluding he neede to switch to a ‘bent for his back. This Christmas, he decided to get some cash to go towards the ‘bent and I snagged it. It was not getting inquiries because too many of the bike seekers were afraid of the XL size. But it is acutally a fairly small XL ~60cm equivalent – just right for Daniel.
He is was jazzed – took it for a 25 mile solo ride in windy sleet. Having his hard-core card punched, I am obligated to a 40-miler with him tomorrow! Can’t wait!
Comment by Scotxc | 12.31.2007 | 7:25 pm
r.e. Mount Nebo ride in SEQ, Aust – prefer to do it on the MTB from the Gap Creek Carpark………
Comment by Lins - Aust | 12.31.2007 | 10:58 pm
Scotxc – MTB is my preference also but I’ve never done the Mt Nebo road ride so when Fatty mentioned it I thought it was a good enough reason to do a ride I’ve been meaning to do at some stage.
Any other takers for a MTB ride from Gap Creek to Mt Nebo and return (40km)?
Comment by Bluenoser | 01.1.2008 | 1:09 am
Well Fatty,
If thats the case then come to good old NS any time and not only will I put up your family with a view of the ocean to kill but we can ride the 50k loop.
Serious.
-B
Comment by Dutch Girlie On a Bike | 01.1.2008 | 2:06 am
If you come to The Netherlands I will take you on the straightest and most wide-open ride on the flattest roads on earth! OK so it’s not as fun (!) as climbing a mountain but boy can you go FAST!
Have a Happy New Year!
Comment by Kris | 01.1.2008 | 7:46 am
It’s 8:30 AM here in Orem, Utah and it’s 12 degrees outside. 12 D-FRIGGIN’-GREES!!! I was hoping for something in the 20s. But maybe it’ll warm up by 10 AM. Ya, that’s the kind of unrealistic optimism that’s gotten me into many an “epic”. Oh, well, I haven’t done anything stupid in a while, and I will do something stupid eventually, so it might as well be today. Frostbite here I come! ;-)
Comment by Little1 | 01.1.2008 | 9:26 am
Hello New Year!
Woohooo dude snow tyres? what are these? Currently riding before 7:30 am to beat the heat. wishing all a super new year, heading up into the Drakensberg (Mountain Range in SA) for a little camping trip and of course the bikes they are all (Mom-in-laws, Husbands, mine and brother-in-laws) getting taken. Will send some pics of the sun and fun!
snow tyres? please post a pic or three to help this little blonde work that out?
Comment by Judi | 01.1.2008 | 1:28 pm
Fatty-
Happy New Year! Glad you are back! Hope Susan is feeling ok!
Comment by Kris | 01.1.2008 | 3:37 pm
I’m sure many of you are dieing to know how the ride went, but I won’t tell you. ;-)
OK, I will tell you it wasn’t 12 degrees when we started the ride, IT WAS 6 DEGREES, with some wind coming down the canyon! I bundled up enough, but my finger tips were still cold until about half way up. We did get some sunshine in places that helped warm us up. Maybe too much warming – by the last mile I was sweating – and one member of our crew solved the over-heating problem in an effective and decisive manner.
I’ll leave the story telling to Fatty, as he does it so well. He’ll give you the full account, probably with some embellishment to add flavor – just like food! (If he had a Mad Max style battle going on last year, I can’t wait to read what happened this year!) So consider this the appetizer, or maybe just the stale stick of gum you found in the car before walking to the restaurant. ;-)
Comment by Tom | 01.1.2008 | 3:47 pm
I’ll be waiting here in Portland, Ore in my winter gear and my fat-tire bike. Bring rain gear! Unless you’re here in June, then bring rain gear. Or maybe you can come in October. Bring rain gear.
Comment by Joe G | 01.1.2008 | 4:58 pm
Dude, put me on the list for “future ride” or when you are in the area. I’m over in VA, so the quick drive over to Utah won’t be happening for a while!
Hope yall had a good ride.
Comment by axel | 01.1.2008 | 6:38 pm
if you give enough advance warning rawrod or a weekend in moab/fruita/gooseberry would be well worth the trip from central tx.
but in mid winter I’ll stick to our fine roads and trails…
Comment by buckythedonkey | 01.2.2008 | 5:41 am
Dear Fatty, Happy New Year to you and your family. Thank you for an inspiring year’s reading in 2007 although a dull and uneventful 2008 won’t be something any of us will complain about, I imagine.
I’m delighted that Katie wants to get into Mountain Biking, that’s fantastic news. Too bad that the best kids mountain bikes in the Cosmos are made in the UK (send your begging letter to Isla at http://www.islabikes.co.uk).
So here’s to you, to Susan, to the kids and to 2008! Good luck to the lot of you and…
…cheers!
Comment by Donald | 01.2.2008 | 6:13 am
Great idea! I wish I could have hopped a plane from Raleigh, NC to be there. Maybe next year.
Comment by Boz | 01.2.2008 | 6:41 am
Our New Years group ride was great ! 17 people, -20F windchill, froze both my middle finger tips at the end, but got in miles in ‘08 already. The only thing toasty was the Quizno’s subs at the post ride gathering. Fun, fun, fun!!
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