Chasing The Sun: 2016 Version

Had an incident which thwarted my attempt.....this time!

Last year I did a quick out and back to the lake in the Green Belt to catch that "magic hour" when the Winter Sunset is about to occur. Last year I made it. This time? Not even close.

There are a few tricks you learn when you are a fat biker in cold temperatures. One of those tricks is that you throw your bike outside several minutes before you leave. Fifteen minutes is ideal, but when I finally got free to do my ride Sunday, I took things at a bit more hurried pace. First mistake. I got the bike outside alright, but it was out there less than ten minutes. The reason this was a mistake is because air pressure is affected by cold air. Yes, you may think otherwise, but you'd be surprised to find out that it is true, and I was reminded of this very soon into my ride.

Starting out, I was okay, sure. However; after about five to ten more minutes, I could tell I was in the lower single digits of air when the tires finally acclimated to the negative air temperatures. I figure it was around -1°F at the time of my ride. I also figured on traversing some post-holed path way on my way to the Green Belt, so I tried to smooth out my cadence and lived with things as they were. I reached the snowy, frozen bike path, and the wheels were doing okay, but with so much ice, and that frozen into sharp shapes in many places, I think I ended up pinching the front tube, just a wee bit.

I did get a glance at the Sunset, but it wasn't the view I was looking for.

 So, I got a lesson in sub-zero flat repair. I was all set with everything I needed, and so I got right to work. Things were going smoothly until I reached about 300 strokes with the Crank Brothers pump I have on this bike. I thought maybe it was frozen, or the valve was stuck, or something was amiss, because after I got the tire to a semi-flaccid state, it seemed I wasn't gaining any ground. Then I remembered something........

Crank Brothers put a High Volume-High Pressure function on this pump. I checked it...... Yep! Set to high pressure. Doh! Switched to high volume and got things squared away lickety-split. Okay, now to add some air to that too low rear tire. Got it! But by this time, I had used up my window for getting out to the lake by the Sunset, and I was expected back home before dark. Bah! 

They say some riding is better than no riding, and I guess there is the fact that I know how to run my Crank Brothers pump correctly.........again! There is also the fact that I have some experience working on a fat bike tire in sub-zero weather now as well. So, not a total loss, but it wasn't the ride I was thinking I'd get in.

Next time......