Why tubeless is the way to go, and why you should do it right

     About 15 years ago a french company called Mavic finally brought us a rim that was designed to run specially designed mountain bike tires without tubes. The great advantage is that you are able to run your tires at a much lower pressure since there's no risk of pinching the tube. That adds traction and decreases rolling resistant. UST (Universal Standard for Tubeless) is still the easiest system to use. The rim bed is completely sealed, and the rim hook is designed to lock safely with a UST tire rim bead. Simply install a valve stem in the wheel, mount the tire and pump it up with a floor pump. That's it!

     As you probably already know I started taking cycling more seriously in 2000 and started racing in 2005 but I was purely on the road. Off road riding was a light hobby and I didn't even get my first bike shop quality mountain bike until 2009, even then it was an entry level model. Road tubeless wasn't invented until 2006 and it remains a troublesome system. As a result I was ignorant to tubeless technology until only a couple of years ago.

 

   Like any bike rider I have fought flat tires my entire life and living in Arizona means that running a regular tube and tire isn't really an option. Usually tubes are good for one ride in a normal mountain bike tire. To combat this I ran Bontrager Hardcase tires on all our mountain bikes. They were lined with Kevlar from bead to bead and under the tread featured three layers of puncture protection. They were heavy, narrow, and more road worthy than trail worthy but you could run over a cactus (I tried) and ride away like nothing happened. I still maintain that these are these are the toughest tires on the planet and wouldn't think twice about putting them on a commuting bike but they were holding my real mountain biking back. I raced on them in 2011 and even though they did better than they should have I began to wish I had a wider ranger of tire choice.

    When I got my Superfly I had to set it up tubeless. Current tubeless systems even if they are UST (which doesn't need it) use a form of liquid latex sealant. This isn't that green goo you may have tried before (which doesn't really work), tubeless sealant acts fast and in most cases you won't even realize you had a puncture. The problem is that tubeless wheels are expensive. Retail costs on a mediocre set start at $500 and go way up from there. The other popular alternative is known as ghetto tubeless. By using Stan's rim tape and sealant virtually any set of wheels and tires can be converted to tubeless. To be safe I bought a pair of tubeless ready tires, which feature the safety of a UST bead without the added weight of a fully sealed tire casing.

     The set up worked but it took four hours, an air compressor, soapy water and a lot of frustration to set it up. Because the wheels were never meant for tubeless the tires had a hard time seating to the bead and if the tires ever lost air the bead was immediately lost as well and I'd have to start over again. Once I got it fully set up it worked pretty good and the sealant worked amazing. I once had a six inch screw go through the tread of my rear tire. It fully stabbed through the tire and was clanking on my frame when I discovered it. I pulled the screw out, bounced the tire around and it sealed right up. Most of the time I never even noticed thorns or other punctures. I knew a real tubeless set up was better but up until a few months ago I didn't realize just how much better.

     Last year we bought my wife a 2004 Cannondale Jekyll, even though it was used it was a major upgrade from her old bike and it came fully set up with Mavic 819 UST rims and UST tires. Tire choice was a little strange with one tire being a chunky (and nearly new) Specialized Captain 2.2 and the other being a very worn and narrow Michelin. I ordered a new Captain but in the mean time decided to move the good tire to the front for better control. Both tires mounted up with just a couple shots from the floor pump and held their pressure for months. When  I finally got the new tire it was the same story and when I let the air out the tire locked to the rim meaning that if I got a big enough leak out on the trail I could simply pump it up with the mini pump and let the sealant finish doing its job. I was hooked! (no pun intended)

     Wheels were still expensive but I saved up and began shopping around. It was highly recommended that I get wheels with DT Swiss or other high quality hubs and spokes that way just like my road wheels it would be a one time purchase. The cost of a Mavic set or Bontrager Rhythm Elites or Race X Lites was still daunting in new form so I turned to ebay. It took some digging but I finally was able to win a reasonably priced set of 2010 Bontrager Rhythm Elites with DT Swiss hubs. The Bontragers have the special tubeless bead hook but require a rim strip. No messy tape though; Bontrager's plastic rim strip snaps into the rim and seals it perfectly. I got some rims strips, a couple valves and two new brake rotors from the bike shop (only because my brake rotors used the newer style) and I went home to set them up.

   
 I mounted the tires and within two minutes had them both seated and sealed, they were as easy as as my wife's Mavics and in the process I got on upgraded wheel. I still don't have to worry about flats and now I have a reliable system that I can change anywhere, no need for an air compressor. Tubeless was invented for cars in the twenties and became commonplace in the forties. We would never think of putting a tube in our car tire so why do we mess with them on our bikes? On a road bike I use a slightly heavier race tire and in the past 8 years I've had two flats, one of those was with a 5 year old worn out tire and the other was with a crazy light race tire that I had lying around. As a result I have little motivation to go tubeless on the road but on the mountain there's no question. If you want to run a tire other than a Bonty Hardcase or a Specialized Armadillo then there's only one solution. It's worth the money to do it right and it's worth doing.

Outdoor Dates

     It has come to my attention over the last couple of years that love isn't a set it and forget it proposition. A loving relationship is full of grease fittings and molded plastic parts that if not maintained regularly will crack and fail in a puddle of leaky dreams and shattered hope. As my wife and I have begun to understand this we have made an effort to go on more dates together. And even though we both managed to not cry during The Fault in Our Stars we need something more than a run of the mill dinner or movie date. For us, a good date is one that you remember, one where you can actually enjoy each other's company and connect, not just share someone else's plot in a summer blockbuster.

     For us, outdoor dates have been a great way to accomplish this connection. This last weekend we both decided it would be a great idea to mountain bike from our house in Clay Springs 14.7 miles on old double track forest trails to Taylor, AZ where we would have breakfast at a local eatery and then drive back home in the pickup I had left there the day before.  Celisse was understandably apprehensive as she hadn't ridden that far in some time but we were both excited and looked forward to the adventure.

   

 Saturday morning arrived, my wife's cousins came to watch the girls and despite not being able to find my wallet, and needing to add sealant to my front tire last minute we set off basically on time. We enjoyed the ride, I refrained from racing and we walked the hills when we had to. We talked about the scenery, about life and about the large forest fire we could see in the distance. It took roughly an hour and forty five minutes to get there but it felt much shorter. Not only were we able to reconnect with each other but we were able to forget, at least for a time, the big things that were happening in both of our lives. Breakfast was great and the rest of our day was just that little bit better. As the day flew by I couldn't help but day dream back to the fun we'd had on the trail.

   The breakfast ride was our biggest ride together so far but I'm sure we will top it soon. We have been mountain biking together throughout our marriage, but up until this year have taken little time to take our bikes out together. Outdoor dates are becoming common again as well. Our dating years were full of epic hikes, runs, picnics, and even campouts. Celisse first introduced me to Cultus Lake Oregon in 2010 and I suppose marriage became pretty much inevitable at that point. Children and other responsibilities have had a knack for taking up our time and we started to see how little time was being put back into our relationship. I'm certainly no love doctor and am still learning myself but outdoor activities do seem to bring a level of honesty out of two people. Enjoying a certain level of hard work and suffering brings renewed respect for one another and so as far as dates go, outdoor activities seem pretty top notch.

We always try to pair any exercise related activity with something relaxing like a picnic or dinner. Couples that can go riding or walking every morning are doing great but to make that jump to "date" status add some other element. Whether it's stargazing in the back of a pick up, roasting smores by the fire, or riding/hiking a beautiful trail these kinds of dates are great for couples who enjoy the outdoors. I'm certainly grateful for the beauty that God has given us in this land and sharing that with the girl I love makes it that much more special.

Chevlon Canyon Forest Road 237

Forest Road 237 lies just west of Forest Lakes Arizona near the edge of the Mogollon Rim. http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/asnf/...44659&actid=34 The road offers many free dispersed camping opportunities with limited facilities. An inexpensive area to set up camp during the summer, the road is just a short drive or hike from Arizona's popular Willow Springs Lake.

This is a great area for many different outdoor enthusiasts. Campers will appreciate the ease of access and large areas available as well as the relative seclusion compared to the nearby 300 or Rim Road.

Hikers and Mountain bikers can enjoy the wildlife protection area immediately west of the southern portion of the road between FR 237 and Willow Springs. The area is closed to motor vehicles and provides many routes to explore. The end of FR 237 provides the fantastic Larson Ridge overlook of Chevlon Creek and primitive but stunning trails provide access to the water below.

Backpackers and Climbers will enjoy the limitless opportunities for exploration found in Chevlon Cayon beyond the end of Larson Ridge.

Jeeps, 4x4's and ATVs will also enjoy the 8 mile long forest road. Though unpaved from start to finish the first six to seven miles though rough are easily traveled by all manner of vehicle including passenger cars and large RV's. The last one to two miles become increasingly rugged and are a fun challenging to off road drivers.

Camping

This road offers many different opportunities for camping. Just a quarter of a mile after turning off the highway campers will free but designated sites dispersed to the right side of the road usually with included fire rings. This is also the location of the one and only restroom in the area. The sites provide great access to trails within the wildlife area and is a short three mile hike to Willow Springs Lake, or a short drive if you prefer.

Continuing along the road stick to the left. FR 237 is a designated dispersed camping area. Though dispersed camping is available all throughout the Sitgreaves, this designated area allows vehicles to stray further from the road than is normally allowed. Nearing the end of the road more scenic camping spots become available as the road follows Chevlon Canyon. Reaching these more scenic camping areas can be achieved in almost any vehicle assuming caution is observed. The road gets steadily rougher near the end and the last half mile requires four wheel drive and will be a real challenge to most vehicles.

Mountain Biking

The Willow Springs Loop Trail head begins at the vault toilet located on the left side of the road just a quarter mile after turning off Hwy 260. The loop consists of abandoned forest roads also commonly referred to as two tracks. Much of the loop is gentle and will not challenge experienced riders but it does offer scenic views, relaxing fitness rides and access to Willow Springs Lake. The entire loop resides within in a wildlife protection area and is completely closed off to motor vehicles.

Although it is open to vehicles FR 237 itself is a great place for mountain bikers to go. Most of the road is wide and grated but the last mile offers more technical obstacles and stunning views. 

Hiking and Backpacking

While you can hike anywhere in the National Forest it is suggested that you stick to the trails. The Willow Springs Loop offers an easy going route as discussed above but there are also great primitive routes available at the end of the overlook. To reach the trail that leads down into Chevlon Canyon you can drive to the round about at the edge of the overlook or park anywhere along Forest Road 237 and start from there. Most vehicles will be able to make it to the end of the graded portion of the road in good weather which will put them within a mile of the actual trail.

Finding the primitive trail that leads down to the water is not always easy as it is very underused. At the very end of the road this is a small round about where vehicles can turn around. Hikers should head over the hill to the right side of the round about and head down the hill to a well defined and rocky ridge. At the end of this rocky ridge is a trail that leads down to Chevlon Creek. There are usually cairns placed every so often but the trail is remote and following it takes some care. Though it is only about a mile down to the water this trail can be a challenge in both directions especially those that are navigating it for the first time. Keep in mind that there is a canyon on both sides of the trail but it is only the canyon to the west (left heading down) that contains water, knowing this is helpful when finding the trail.

At the bottom of the canyon hikers can follow trails along the water in either direction and though the creek is quite shallow in most places there are several good swimming holes along the way.
 Chevlon Creek is rarely visited in this area and as a result is packed with Craw Dads. Those experienced in cooking these small crustaceans will find a feast at the bottom of this secluded canyon.

Hikers and backpackers should be aware that this is a rarely traveled area and it is very difficult for emergency personnel to reach. Anyone venturing into this area should leave a detailed plan of where they are going and when they will be back regardless of how large their group is. Wildlife are also common in the area, mountain lion and bear can present a dangerous situation to hikers who happen to surprise them.

Flooding is also a risk to the area. The canyon is fairly wide but flash floods are still a possibility especially during the monsoon season of July and August.

Jeeps, ATV's and 4x4's

Forest Road 237 offers fantastic views of the forest and of Chevlon Canyon all along the way. Those that do not want to risk the more challenging obstacles of the last mile will still enjoy the safe and scenic drive of the first seven.  Muddy conditions do present a hazard, especially on the last mile and even experienced off road enthusiasts should avoid this section during very wet periods. Luckily mud as much of a problem as it is in other areas of the White Mountains as the soil tends to stick together quite well.

 The more technical section of road starts with rocky some rocky ledges and a tight winding trail. Four wheel drive is required for vehicles especially on the way out. Due to the tight twisting nature of the trail large vehicles will have a very difficult time manuevering between the rocks and trees  along the way.

The first few gentle obstacles will quickly weed out any cars and small cross over vehicles. Some of the obtional obstacles in this section will scrape the bottom of many stock 4x4's including a four door Jeep Wrangler. Stock Jeeps and other four wheel drive vehicles should have no problem negotiating this section as long as they proceed with caution.

The next major obstacle referred to as the S turn is difficult to pass through and a three point turn is often required in two sections of this 25 meter obstacles. Large rocks on both sides will damage any vehicle that is either two large or in two much of a hurry. 

The S turn is followed by more rocky terrain. A large downed tree long since blocked the original road and provides a great place for stock or less capable 4x4's to park and walk the rest of the way.

The trail now heads around to the right. Another tight but beautiful section isn't so bad going down but can be very difficult to climb back out of if not properly equipped.




Loose rock makes returning very difficult. A tall ledge about halfway down the hill requires good ground clearance to descend and is the most difficult obstacle to overcome on the way out.




Those who make it down will be presented with fantastic views. Another loose and tight climb will allow them to reach the convenient round about so that they can return and head back up the hill. Before heading back be sure to take in the view and relax before the challenging return trip.

Why is this a big deal?

I have been cycling as a "cyclist" since 2005. I've been cycling for the adventure since 1999 and before that I was just like any other kid on a bike. I've seen and done a lot of things on my bike and as you probably gathered from my last post I am pretty competitive. Strava and dailymile are my main outlets for this and they truly do seem to offer some serious inspiration.

Since I started using Strava last September I have been creating and attempting to top every segment in Clay Springs and the immediate area. If a segment already existed I was trying to top it, if a significant portion of road or trail didn't have segment I created it and as you may know strava builds the leaderboard from all past and future attempts. The mountain segments were easy, since my wife and I are really the only ones out here. The road segments on the other hand vary from a good challenge to a substantial record. A sanctioned road race runs through here every summer as does the bike section of a major triathlon.

For this reason one segment in town has eluded me. The Sawmill TT is .7 or just about 3/4 of a mile long. I sold my Time Trial bike at the beginning of October in order to get my mountain bike but before I did I went after this segment. I was pretty out of shape and failed miserably. I was completely cooked too. I don't normally get sick to my stomach on a bike but I did that day. The average speed was far out of my reach that day even though I was fully capable of those speeds in the past. I waited until November of last year and went for it on my road bike. I averaged 31.8 miles an hour and had the third fastest time (but was ten places back because of numerous ties) I started out great hitting a top speed of over 38 mph but I just couldn't keep it going over the last quarter mile. I couldn't hold that effort for that long.

Finally after riding consistently on my road and mountain bike (mostly mountain) over the last few months I decided to go for it again. I found that I had much more stamina and was able to keep it up until the finish. I averaged 33.9 mph with a time of 1 minute 18 seconds and put a significant gap between myself and the rest of the field. Surprisingly I believe that I can actually beat that time by a good margin. I blew out my tire on a ride at the beginning of the week and had to borrow my brothers wheels until I get new tires. Not only was I not on aero rims and high quality hubs like I normally would be but I was riding on heavy and old thorn resistant tires. Couple that with the fact that I didn't commit to the segment until it had already started says that there is quite a bit of free speed to be gained. With increased fitness I think I can establish a really solid time.

One of my goals this year is to better all of my times on these segments. The following video is from back in the day when I rode with the Strada Cycling Team before the days of strava. This is from the Burger Shop to 260 segment. The Sawmill TT is in here but in the opposite direction, you'll see the interval training and the cool downs in between. I currently hold the record on this segment at around 23 mph (easily beatable now) I don't know how fast I was in the vid but the TT bike was always very fast.

Why I don't race anymore, and how I feed my competitive hunger

Races and other endurance events have become outrageously expensive in the last few years. It wasn't like they weren't always expensive but in the past those prices were a little easier to ignore. It was just me after all, and my only goal in life was to go to the Olympics and be the greatest cyclist ever.

My priorities have changed just a little as I've gotten married and started a family. Having two beautiful girls makes you realize what is really important and what is extra. Sure I'd be thrilled to stand a top an Olympic podium but it's not a priority. I thoroughly enjoy watching the Olympics almost every night with my family and sharing that experience together.

Having kids doesn't mean your not competitive, it just means you are less likely to understand the value in paying someone $100 to ride a public route and get a T-shirt. I can ride or run those routes for free on any other day and a nice T-shirt can be had for far less. Every time I see this level of entry fee I start to think of all the upgrades I could do to our bikes, or the things I could add to our fitness quiver. For perspective that is a new pair of running shoes for Celisse, or a Mavic 821 tubeless rim, or a pretty pricey helmet. These are all retail prices mind you. An internet, or back of the bike shop savvy used shopper could end up with much more. I just don't know how I can justify sacrificing long term tools for a 2 hour race.

Even $10 to $15 dollar races require serious consideration. For the family man athlete you must consider just how many pounds of bananas you are sacrificing at this local event. I recently saw bananas as low as 50 cents a pound! Going to that race could literally be costing you 15-30 pounds of mid priced produce! That's not counting if you have to drive to an event. There is still value in these events of course and I usually try to participate in my local runs because they help support things I care about. I even put on a $15 event in 2012, The Clay Springs Christmas Run. These races can be a ton of fun, but I consider each and everyone of them individually these days.

I'm still fiercely competitive though. I love to just get out and ride without the pressure of competition but I can't help myself when it comes to competing. To this day I have passed every random cyclists I ever came upon on the road and have never been passed myself. On a few occasions I even started a ride simply to catch a rider I saw going down the highway. Most of the time I rely on a couple of wonderful websites to keep me happy. The first is dailymile.com where I track all of my total mileage from running, hiking, biking and kayaking. Today I saw that one of my friends was one mile ahead of me in the yearly mileage standings so I made an extra ride just to beat them. Strava.com is the next site I use. I have my 5 year old Garmin GPS to track my speed, distance, and location as I ride along. People create segments on all the significant portions of riding areas and I love to compete for the fastest time. Having the fastest time on the local hill is much cooler to me than winning a race once.

I'm not a total loner. I love to ride with groups and exercise with other people I just prefer that it isn't sanctioned and charged. Plus riding with friends in a social setting is much more fun than riding with them in a competitive one.

Am I saying you shouldn't race? No, racing is fun and it does help to improve the sport, but so does buying
new parts. Regardless of how you look at it I'm simply sharing how I've come to see it. You may not have realized some of these things before. Maybe you were like me and didn't think you could afford good parts because you spent all your money on racing. I'll still do a big race from time to time I'm sure, but you won't see me justifying it very often. I'm pretty happy to just be able to ride everyday and continue to improve my own talent.

Trail Sampling with the Family

The family and I had a great time exploring this past Civil Rights day. We started off by taking a tour of the brand new Gilbert Arizona Temple. It was an incredibly gorgeous building, and Alcie (our two year old daughter) was absolutely tickled to be there.

Although I have to go to the valley once a month, the girls don't make it down very often  so we decided to do a little exploring on the way back up. We took Power Rd up to the Bush highway and stopped at the Hawes Trail System for a little hike. I had ridden the Hawes once before a few months ago, but Celisse and the girls had never been there. Alcie was very intrigued by the Saguaro cactus lining the trail and Celisse noticed how grass only grows in the shade. It was hotter than we expected so we only hiked about a mile total and continued our drive up the mountain. I don't always notice it but the scenery between the valley and Clay Springs is pretty epic and we greatly enjoyed it on this drive as a family.

We made it through Payson and up to the Mogollon rim with just enough time to stop for a short hike on the Highline trail at the 260 Trail Head. We would have taken more pictures but we kept forgetting the camera and the smartphone in the car. If the Hawes was on the warmer side, the Highline was definitely on the colder side. Also unlike the Hawes, which can be identified by nothing more than an indescreet dirt lot on the side of the road, the Highline is marked by a sign on the highway and provides a restroom, trash, small horse pens, and a nice log book.

As the sun was on its way down and we had the girls with us we weren't able to hike very far on the Highline either but we still probably got a solid mile in. The trail was beautiful. The trail itself is in much better shape than it was a few years ago, but the scenery of the rim above and the view below is always the main attraction. The last time I was on this trail was around 2006 when Wes and I went backpacking on it. In those days it was littered with loose rocks and severely washed out in places.Seeing it now I can't way to come ride it. It's still technical and rocky but almost all of it looks rideable and you just can't beat the view.

We may not have gone very far, but outings with the family are always the most memorable, we had fun and the girls got to see things that excited and intrigued them. You can't beat that.

New Year, New Goals

     Despite major set backs last year I was able to accomplish much of the goals I had set for my self last year. I traveled over 1100 miles last year all under human power, whether it was by bike, foot, or even kayak. This year I again want to travel at least 1000 miles but I want to do it in half the time. The minimum thousand miles a year goal will probably always stick with me, I feel it is something I should always be able to accomplish. The main mileage goal for this year is a little bit more complex though. For 2014 my goal is that combined with the mileage of Celisse we can match the miles we put on our car. Living in a rural town and being in the Marine reserves makes this a difficult task. We have been known to put up to 10,000 miles on our vehicle in recent years and with all our other responsibilities that becomes a big chunk of miles to match, even for two people. The first part of this goal then is to ride, run, hike and paddle a ton of miles, but the second part of this goal is to drastically bring down the mileage put on our car.
 
     Why am I doing this? The main reason is that I love to ride my bike and I hate buying fuel. The bottom line is that it is good for our wallet. We can save and spend more money for the important things instead of throwing it at gasoline, auto repairs, and tires. It's also good for our mental and physical health, staying active improves our mood and makes our home a happier place to live. As little effect as my driving habits probably have on the environment it is always something to consider. If doing my part to take care of the environment also takes care of me, then it's not a political stance; it's just common sense.

     I was able to ride many of the trails that I set out to do in 2013 and some I hadn't known about. My favorite are probably the trails near Show Low but I have a special place in my heart for the trails I ride most often around Clay Springs. I hope to finish riding all the official trails in the White Mountain area this year. I still need to ride Los Burros, Land of the Pioneer and a few others. Even though I took a small hike on it this year I also want to ride a good portion of the Highline this summer.

 

 The trails I most want to ride are in Oregon. I've ridden some of the trails around Cultus lake but there are still much more to do in that area. In addition to Cultus I would like to ride the Sunriver to Bend trail, and portions of the Umpqua and Mckenzie River trails. Celisse will hopefully be game to come along as we just got her a new mountain bike which will be more suited to actual mountain bike riding. The bike itself is actually a 2004 Cannondale Jekyll but the PO did lots of upgrades. It has a Deore XT crank, Sram X9 shifting, Mavic 819 UST rims, Shimano Hydraulic brakes, and Sun Ringle hubs. I added her saddle from her old Giant, a Kona two bolt seat post and a Bontrager Race Lite handle bar. We also through in some snazzy green pedals. It has some things yet to do. I just rebuilt the rear shock and we will be replacing the front suspension fork (a bent Manitou Black) with a Rock Shox Reba. Once everything is finished she'll have a better mountain bike than I do for less money. Am I jealous? A little, but I love my Superfly.

     I've put over 600 miles on my Superfly since I got it with probably 90% of those miles being unpaved. I converted it to tubeless using the Stan's tape and Bontrager sealant. They were a bear to get set up but have performed pretty much flawlessly since. Tubeless is definitely the only way to go up in this country unless you want to run a stiff an narrow hard case tire. We ran hard cases for awhile and loved them, but as the performance of our bikes have gone up we've opted for more performance oriented tires to match them. I was fairly satisfied with my tubeless system and for the most part still am, but then I had to mount tires on Celisse's Mavic UST rims. UST is the full on tubeless, not just tubeless ready. Instead of sealing the spoke holes with tape or other device the rims just come standard with sealed rim beds, no spoke holes on the inside. In addition to that the bead interface is designed for tubeless and as I found out it works much better. My rims took lots of trial and error with an air compressor to mount. Celisse's older tire took a small shot from the compressor to seat up while the newer Specialized tire took nothing more than a floor pump. When the tire does run out of air (I've found while deflating them) they stay glued to the rim so that all you have to do is patch the hole (flats are rare with tubeless however) and fill it up with a mini pump. My rims do not hold the bead when flat so I am required to use either an expensive CO2 can (which might not work) or throw a tube in it until I get home. Both situations are undesirable. This experience has prompted me to start saving my pennies, because the first upgrade I'm making to my bike is new Mavic 819 (or 821) UST rims.

  Finally a fun shot from my and Celisse's 3 year wedding anniversary. We rode our bikes up to a local trail and had a picnic. Sparkling Cider and picnics go great together and apparently they go great with mountain bikes too.

Well, that's my goals and outlook for 2014. Hopefully my next post will be an actual adventure report!