Visit

I have been coming to this spot on this river for over 15 years, sometimes as regular as once a week. Several years ago the property changed hands and the new owner put up signs and a gate to keep people out. I tried to respect this, telling myself if I had a large tract of land and I wanted to keep people out I would want them to abide – and maybe understand. But I also know from the other side what a connection with a place can mean, so I wonder if I could ask that of other people. I have done my best. I think it’s been over a year since I have been here. Today I rode down and washed my face and hands in the river.

Spring in NB

Ah, New Brunswick spring. I ordered some bike swag to send out to homies from a local merchant and of course bike swag should be picked up by bike. So I saddled up the Troll on the day of our usual spring snowstorm and got on with it.

Hovering at 0ºC, alternately snowing, raining and sleeting, it made for messy and interesting goings. Exactly the conditions that my buddy Matt spec’d this Troll for because he somehow had the prescience to know that it would be here one day. Not a thing out of place, it did not disappoint. 2″ of wet snow/slush on the ground and the Troll was eating it up. The SKS Blumens fenders are game-changers in conditions like this. Terminally groovy.

Oh, the time we had. Swag collected. Ride bikes.

January Check

The Missus finished a batch of masks for a coworker so at lunch today I decided to hop on the Cross Check to deliver them to the office. I looked out the window and saw the sun, but it was deceptive – it was really cold out with the wind. Got to the office and was happy get my hands under some hot water in the sink to warm them up a bit. Whew but it stung though. Remember to check the wind chill, kids.

I took this photo and then on the way home was wondering if I’d ever had this bike out in January before. Dug back through the ride logs and photos and only found one other time back on January 26, 2019. I’d say it was global warming, but it was still damn cold today, even though we haven’t had much snow this year.

Was nice to spin the skinny tires on the ‘fast’ bike for the first time in a long time. Here’s the snaps from the ride in 2019.

The Cross Check remains the most versatile bike in the stable.