How About Riding a Hakkalügi in Sonoma County?
A Note from Fatty: You don’t have much time left in the “Win any Ibis, Take it Anywhere You Want, And Ride it With Andy Hampsten, Chuck Ibis, and Fatty” contest. Details are here, and you can go enter the contest by clicking here.
I’ve asked Scot Nicol — AKA Chuck Ibis — to describe which bikes he’d take to what places. This is Part II in “The Great Bike and Trail Pairing” miniseries.
The Almost Unbearable Lightness of Being…On a Hakkalügi in Sonoma County
Being from the wine country in California, I am constantly hearing about parings. Furthering our pairing discussion of yesterday, here’s a wine country pairing suggestion for our future contest winner: Get a Hakkalügi…
…and ride it in Sonoma County.
I know that the “Lugi” is technically sold as a ‘cross’ bike, but it’s unlikely that our winner will want to waste a chance to ride with “the legend of the Gavia” in the form of a 45 minute cross race.
So I have a better idea. Let’s go on an “Adventure Bike” ride, right here in my backyard, an hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge.
This ride will be as tasty as PB&J (another great pairing) and as unlikely as vanilla ice cream in root beer (I think I’m salivating). And it might be more memorable than either.
Our “adventure” rides extend the variety of riding we normally do by allowing us to weave in long stretches of dirt…
…in the middle of a nice road ride.
Bonus: no cars on the dirt.
The photos you see above are from a 72 mile stint we did that was about 2/3 pavement and 1/3 dirt. Lots of scenery. One Pacific Ocean. One Highway One (briefly).
Yeah, you could do worse than choosing the a Hakkalügi / Sonoma County pairing.
There’s just one problem. You can’t win this bike or go on this ride with Andy Hampsten, Fatty and me unless you enter the contest. Which you should do. Right now. Click here, already.
Comment by Big Boned | 10.17.2009 | 9:27 am
This has gone from bad to worse! First you were suggesting a sausage fest, now Scot is recommending having a hand job at the sausage fest.
I’m getting uncomfortable…if I win, I may just take a pass on the ride!
Comment by Miles Archer | 10.17.2009 | 10:32 am
Now I know I’m not worthy. That last picture is Coleman Valley road, (or maybe Bay Hill). You guys would kill me on that road.
It’s a beautiful area for ride. You don’t even have to ride on any dirt to avoid traffic.
Comment by TimRides | 10.17.2009 | 4:09 pm
Cool, a rare Saturday post!
I know that I’d have to train for a year to go on any of the rides suggested so far. As a flatlander, the LS Austin ride is going to have hills a’plenty for me, and it has the smallest vertical component of any of the LIVESTRONG rides this year.
Still, when I win (notice that positve attitude), I’ll figure out something that I can actually finish…even if it is waaaaaaay behind the other three!
LS
FLS
Comment by Lindsey | 10.17.2009 | 6:29 pm
*cries*
That’s my hometown! I miss it:( I continue to drool over the bikes you post.
Comment by Jamieson | 10.17.2009 | 6:53 pm
Like TimRides said – Riding with the likes of Nelson and Hampsten is quite a challenge. This Nelson guy dropped me like a bad habit in Philadelphia.
Comment by MVSC | 10.17.2009 | 8:39 pm
Winner: stay an extra day in Sonoma and ride the LevisGranFondo route… you won’t regret it. (Well, maybe you will regret it on the Coleman Valley Hill but you’ll be happy after the fact…)
Comment by leah | 10.17.2009 | 10:19 pm
Aaah…Sonoma, home of amazing riding on road and dirt. I just rode in Sonoma county today! However, I was on my lovely fat tires at Annadel park (which I’m sure you know and love). Perfect conditions thanks to that big storm we just had.
If I win the contest, will you make me a teeny tiny Mojo? My male mountain biking companion has one and I lust after it (and him, but that’s neither here nor there). I’m 5′2. Think about it! Or maybe even if I don’t win…think about it. Small ladies like myself want a Mojo so we can get rad too.
Comment by Jenni Laurita | 10.18.2009 | 6:38 am
I’m in.
We can donate to our own pages to still be entered, right?
YES! – FC
Comment by Daner | 10.18.2009 | 8:52 am
Just got back from a ride on my steel Hakkalügi through a sea of colorful fall leaves here in Stockholm. If the carbon version is an upgrade on my old faithful, the winner is in for a treat!
Not everyone can win, but everybody can get in on the fun of dreaming about it, so sign up and make a donation before it is too late!
Comment by AngieG | 10.18.2009 | 12:58 pm
All- being from Mendocino County, a county north of Sonoma, there are some fantastic rides in both counties. I agree this looks like the view from Coleman Valley to the ocean. A killer climb!!!!
MVSC has a great idea, combine this with the Fondo next year and I guarantee you will not regret it. The Fondo is an AWESOME ride (The folks at Bike Monkey did an amazing job organizing), and a great opportunity to support two great causes (Forget me Not Farms and bringing the Fondo back to Sonoma County). If I win, I’m not going far from home!!
Comment by Monica Dickey | 10.18.2009 | 5:36 pm
Looks beautiful, both the ride and the bike!
Entering that contest for sure
Comment by yeagermeister | 10.18.2009 | 5:59 pm
That’s exactly what I had in mind!
Comment by Chris in San Diego | 10.18.2009 | 9:48 pm
This is exactly the ride in the exact place and, of course, the exact bike I’ll choose!
Comment by Big Mike In Oz | 10.19.2009 | 2:54 am
Some may call it a ‘Lugi. I’d call it a bike stout enough to handle the double whammy of my 255 pound carcass and the 2350 watts I can briefly generate when I’m angry, scared or starting a championship kilo.
Comment by Born 4 Lycra | 10.19.2009 | 4:36 am
Hey Big Mike I had to laugh I was not sure what a championship kilo was and in fact was thinking gram rather than metre. Sorry bout that.
Also JT from the day before when you asked was the runner hot did you mean FC or the lady running with him and FC when you said yes did you mean the lady running with you or yourself.
I know its been a slow day here.
FLS
Comment by Mike Roadie | 10.19.2009 | 4:42 am
You may have noticed my total slowly but steadily increasing. Now, I am a pure roadie, but Sonoma or Napa might just be the perfect place for me to break in MY new Ibis ride!!!!
FLS
Comment by Marla Gnarla | 10.19.2009 | 8:16 am
About to click and donate:))
Comment by Fuzzy | 10.19.2009 | 8:17 am
Fatty and Chuck.
For reasons known only to SWMBO, I wouldn’t be able to join you even if I were to win. I must say however that the Hakkalugi looks like a bike to kill for. That brake cable ferul holding thingy is absolutely cool as a cool thing chilling at the North Pole!
Luv ‘n Stuff
Fuzzy from the UK.
Comment by Jennie | 10.19.2009 | 10:40 am
I totally want to do this but I expect it would take me 7 or more hours depending on whether or not we stopped for lunch…
Comment by VeloLoser | 10.19.2009 | 11:21 am
Yeah. Hakkalugi. That’s what I want.