I started today with a trip to the orthopedic doctor in Boulder. My shoulder has been banged up and hurting me, more than I've admitted, since crashing in Oklahoma and wanted a professional's opinion which is probably a bit more reliable than my self diagnosis via Google. I got good news, I think, in that it appears to be just a partial tear of the tendon that attaches the bicep to the shoulder. I've been doing most things, just with more pain than I wanted, but I wanted to make sure that I wasn't doing damage by riding.
So with assurance that I was OK to keep on with my normal routine, I decided to get out on the bike one last time before we turned the calendar page. Trails are still buried, heck even the side roads and paths are still buried, so I headed out on the dirt roads.
Breaking some new trail
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| From Last Ride of 2009 - Niner Snow Ride |
A new meaty 2.35 rear tire was much more effective in the snow than my worn out Hutchison Python
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| From Last Ride of 2009 - Niner Snow Ride |
Dirt roads were a mix. Some were sloppy with mud, other sections were still snowpacked
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| From Last Ride of 2009 - Niner Snow Ride |
It was less than warm out today, self portrait all bundled up
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| From Last Ride of 2009 - Niner Snow Ride |
I didn't really have any set route or agenda, just started pedaling east. I did my "typical" winter route but then added on the new bike path through the Sandstone Ranch back up to the house. I started down my secret, albeit less than legal, shortcut that lets me avoid a mile of pavement but had to quickly abort as there was an unexpected visitor, so I stuck to the pavement today. Not a big deal as it would have been a tough mile of breaking trail anyway.
The big wheels are really impressive on the snow/ice
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| From Last Ride of 2009 - Niner Snow Ride |
These two divots are from where the camera bounced out of my pocket. Oops. Glad it was my old beater point and shoot.
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| From Last Ride of 2009 - Niner Snow Ride |
Miles and miles of snow packed dirt roads. I saw more farm animals than I did cars.
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| From Last Ride of 2009 - Niner Snow Ride |
Traffic was moving a little faster on the cross streets (I-25) than on my stretch of dirt.
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| From Last Ride of 2009 - Niner Snow Ride |
Pulled up to the driveway right at 2 hours after I left, a nice spin through the countryside. Got in 24 miles of singlespeed bliss, just love the simplicity of that bike. Nancy performed admirably, and had the frozen badge of courage on her downtube to prove it.
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| From Last Ride of 2009 - Niner Snow Ride |
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| From Last Ride of 2009 - Niner Snow Ride |
The bike I always ride with the car that never gets driven
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| From Last Ride of 2009 - Niner Snow Ride |
2009 is in the books. I'm sure I'll do the mandatory recap blog post, but its going to have to be in the new year. Here's wishing you and yours an even better 2010.
