On Saturday I headed out to Whitetail Ridge to ride with Don, Curt, and Jose with special guest Susannah. I got there about half an hour before our planned ride time and set out for a quick lap. There were to snowshoer's in front of me, but they took the first cutoff. After that it was all fresh tracks for me. It was almost easier to ride in the fresh snow because there was no packed groove to try and stay in. It was just free riding. I tried to take a few pictures, but the iPhone gets too cold and then doesn't want to work :(. I finished my lap and then met up for a full lap. The snowshoer's had may there way around on my fresh tracks and packed the trail in a little more. Everything was rideable with the exception of the last 100 yards of the trail before the long straight away. I think that the wind had blown a bunch of snow into the area.
The long skinny was much more ridable than the last time I was out there. I made it to the end of the first log, but the days champion, Jose, made it to the end of the first and second skinny. It was a good ride capped off by some Chipotle.
After that I had to get to our hockey game. We played Hudson and it was the worst ass beating we have taken this year. After beating Apple Valley 5-1 on Wednesday I thought the kids would be motivated, they were not. Final score 15-3. Embarrassing.
Sunday morning we had a 8:10 practice at the coldest arena in the Twin Cities, West Side. The kids got a beat down. We have lost games before where not everyone was trying their best, and we as coaches just moved on. This practice was different. No pucks, just skating hard the whole time. We ended with one of Herb Brooks famous drills: "Red line, back. Blue line, back. Far blue line, back. Far red line, back. And you have 45 seconds to do it."
After that the horn sounded and practice was over. We'll see how they respond at practice today and the game next weekend.
Then it was off to the bike swap in Blaine. Curt came by the house and we were off shortly after. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, but had an open mind going in. I started with a quick lap around just to see what everyone was selling. For the most part, it was just old stuff that I'm sure gets hauled to and from the swap every year. There was a lot of nice stuff, but I think some people wanted a little to much money. For example, there was a Campy carbon crankset that was well used and had no BB and they wanted $300 for it. you can buy this part online brand new for $354. If I'm spending that much on a crankset, I'll put up the extra $54 for brand new. The part that got me the most was a hex lock skewer from the same table. I had bought a DT Swiss skewer for the SJ for $1, but liked the simple look and security of the hex lock. They look like this
The pictured skewers, as a pair, go for $14. The ONE skewer, with no brand name on it, this table wanted $25. When I heard the guy say that I held my look at him for a second longer, then set the skewer back down and walk away.
I ended up getting two brand new saddles that sell online for $99 each, for $35 total. One white, one black.
I am putting the black one on the Pugsley/Monocog and the white one will go on my new MTB, whenever that day comes. I also got the guy to throw in a Crank Bros. eggbeater repair kit, but it turned out to be for the old model pedals.
All in all it was nice to go out there and see what was available, and find a couple good deals.
After that it was back home to start getting all the food prepared for the Super Bowl and a couple beers.
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