Ferrous Spotted in the Wild!

Hmmm...What's a Ferrous? Well I was not too sure myself until a few days ago when I stopped at B&L Bicycles for some "stuff" I "needed" and there it was...a Gary Fisher Ferrous 29er mountain bike that just so happened to be my size and received by the shop that morning (odd how they always seem to have received my size the day I show up - hmmm...conspiracy?). Well I tried to leave several times without it, but somehow it jumped into my Subaru before I left. Odd how that happens to me...

Ferrous means iron containing material and the Fisher Ferrous is a steel (iron) framed bike -
This usually means a much nicer riding frame (due to steel's ability to flex). Aluminum on the other hand is ultra stiff frame material (i.e. hard on the old soft tissure in the neither region of the body). Another cool aspect about this frame is it's versatile design - it can be run with gears or easily converted to run as a single-speed (one gear). When I saw this bike on Fisher's Website a while back I thought - It's just another bike. Well it seems I had an opinion change after seeing it and riding it briefly down the sidewalk at the shop. It's one of those bikes that just "feels" like a well fitting glove or pair of jeans - yes I could tell right away it would be going home with me sooner if not later (I am so weak).

Yesterday morning I converted it into a SS (single-speed) - who needs all those gears? Such a waste to shift so much... The conversion took about 20 minutes with a coffee break in the middle. I also put on some of my more favorite components I had convienently laying around. After that a real ride was done on snowy trails out at Hells Gate State Park. I found the ride of this bike to be like no other hardtail bike I've ever known...forgiving. The steel frame provides a super ride...so good that I was wondering why I ever rode aluminium...it also had me thinking that my aluminium bikes were now totally useless and obsolete. Let's just say that I am having serious thoughts of selling my Fisher Rig SS and my older Fisher Supercal 29er (both Aluminium butt sores). I just hope that I never have the opportunity to ride titanium bike...I've heard they ride better than steel...

Hell Freezes Over...Almost

I've been a bit lame lately posting here, but nothing exciting has been happening beyond some so-so rides and lots of work. I'm only supposed to be working 3-days (yes I'm whining) a week, but lately I've been "called in" to work extra shifts nearly every week - that means I am volunteering to make mega $$$...it also means less time to play and enjoy life.

Well today was my only day off in an eight day stretch of 12-hr shifts to have some bike time. This morning it seems Hell had frozen over though. At noon it was a whole 18-degrees (F) outside when I decided to venture out with plenty of layers on. The street in front of my house was a sheet of ice so I decided I would mount up my Kenda studded snow tires on the Fisher Rig Single Speed (I've had these for 2 years and never used them until today). I found these tires perfect for the icy roads and bike path to Hells Gate State Park. They were a bit harsh on the trails at Hells Gate - too skinny for comfort (that means my soft butt was suffering a bit more than usual). However, I must say that these tires provided nothing but traction both up and down the steepest, snow-covered trails at Hell Gate (I even went down the snow-covered Devil's Slide with no problems).





Here is the way up to the top for a view of a frigid Hell...something I had to see...









Up on top looking up towards Hells Canyon with the Snake River in view...The top of the Devil's Slide (the steep trail down) can be seen here also...





There's not much better than seeing Hell froze over...Oh yeah this is the life...

Up the Slickpoo

Riding in the last weeks or more has been hit and miss with the weather dumping snow, then melting away with coupious amounts of rain and some winds strong enough to blow out the fires of Hell. This pic is from last week when I snuck in a ride between the yuk weather stuff...








Today was an exceptionally nice day out, cool temps but overall a nice sunny day - perfect for a bike ride. So while the rest of the world was experiencing the Monday blues the SeanMan and I were out riding the local backcountry enjoying the sun...and it was perfect. As usual any ride with the SeanMan involves plenty of vertical riding. Today we kind of just winged it and eventually found ourselves climbing up Slickpoo grade just off of Mission Creek up to McCormack Ridge. We'd never been up it and the SeanMan had only been down it once.




The SeanMan looking back at the great view on Slickpoo Road....








Looking up towards McCormack Ridge from Slickpoo road...






This is the good life...

Brrrr....

The weather, to say the least, has been rather disturbed over the last week. Today (a Monday for all you working people) started out sunny and beautiful. So the SeanMan and I arranged a ride to take advantage of the situation outside however the weather tried to take advantage of us it seems. We started on a ride to Cloverland and beyond with both of us riding Fisher 29er Supercals, but of different vintage. The wind picked up just before we started (of course it was a headwind as we were going up hill) and later snow squalls rolled though all around. The wind was kind of cool (that means it had some bite), but we pushed on eventually crossing into winter above the snow line.

At the high point of our ride a crowd of elk (yeah I know most people would call it a herd of elk) greeted us. Even with the snow and wind the views were totally worth the ride up.

SuperCal #2

It seems that I just could not help myself (again). Apparently a new full-suspension Gary Fisher Supercaliber 29er with my name on it mysteriously found it's way to B&L Bicycles. B&L's secret agent out in the bike aquisition underworld had some idea that I needed one of these things sooner than later and ***Poof!*** there is was.

I already have a Supercal 29er - the original model Fisher introduced as a 29er in 2002, but it is a hardtail. Full-suspension (like the new Supercal model) is a butt's dream and let me say that my butt certainly likes having good dreams...having both front and rear suspension on rough trails or on back-road rides greater than 60 miles is a great way to keep a smile on your face and the angry soreness away from a soft butt.

I put the new bike through to its first test on the Asotin Creek Trail (some sweet single-track with plenty of "bump" to test the suspension). The ride up on the road to the trail I intentionally hit every bump and wash-board to get a feel for the suspension's ability. Impressive is all I can say...I was not expecting such a plush ride on a bike designed primarily for cross-country racing. Up on the trail it's only disability was me - the bike was a top performer on everything from rock-gardens with 4-6 inch rocks to flying over studder bumps. It railed though corners without drifting or loosing any ground - which means the suspension did it's job of keeping the tires planted on the ground. I have been on FS bikes that had inherent drift in corners due to suspension abnormalities that would allow the tires to "soften" their bite in a corner.

The final thought after the first ride is nothing less than smoooth.

Dog Gone

Our last dog is gone. After 14-1/2 years, old age finally caught up to my friend, Jasper, who has been with us for the last 14-years after we found him in the Bozeman, MT animal shelter. Jasper was a kind friend and good companion who loved being with us. I hope that he is happy running in doggy heaven with his pals that proceeded him - Jessie, Cajun, and Harley Davidson. He is missed...

Another Fall Sub-Epic

It has been really nice out the last few days so I have been taking advantage of it by pedalling around the country-side enjoying the fall scenery. Yesterday was no exception...I decided to explore the South Fork Asotin Creek Trail. I was told it would be a cool place to ride, but the person telling me this must not have actually biked up it. After noon (when it was pleasantly warm out) I rode the 23ish miles up Asotin Creek Road to the trailhead. Right after I hit the trail I found a skull, which later I think was a sign to go back. The trail follows the creek bed up and requires several creek crossings. The fall colors were spectacular, but the trail was like riding one long rock-garden....the pic here shows the trail by the skull...yes there is a trail there...

If you need training on how to ride a trail made exclusivly of loose, fist-sized rocks covered with a mat of yellow fall leaves then go there! After a mile plus of riding this jarring, slippery trail (plus two more skull/bone piles) I decided I had enough and turned around. It may have been better on my full-suspension bike and I may try it sometime (probably not).


On the way back I spied a cow trail that traversed the hillside above the creekbed trail so I took it and was back in a flash - I finally found truth in the saying "Beef it's not just for dinner"...Moo!









At the bottom I decided to reward my dissappoinment by climbing up Smoothing Iron Ridge Road for a better view of the world. The road climbs the ridge between on the North and South Forks of Asotin Creek.



The pic here shows the canyon were the Asotin Creek (North Fork) Trail runs...a Cadillac trail compared to the South Fork trail...I was amazed at how rugged it was, something you don't notice riding through the trees on the trail below.









Up on top, late in the afternoon, the views were totally worth the long, steep climb up. I sat an had a snack under this huge old dead tree.

Sun + Rain + Ice + Mud = FUN???

This morning the sun was shining and the air was crisp and cool...another perfect fall day here on the edge of hell. By noon the beauty of the day was calling me to ride somewhere on the dirt. So I packed up Baloo in the Subi and made my way to Moscow Mountain for some inspirational single-track riding. The weather was forecast for rain today, but I bah-humbugged that thought and ingnored the clouds on the horizon as well as the rising winds. I made my way to the top and uncontrollably hit as much single-track as possible including exploration of some unridden trails I had noticed on previous rides. Let's just say that I was having way too much fun to notice that clouds had turned the sky an angry dark gray. What caught my attention was the ice pellets that were stinging my skin...Whoa...instant reality check...time to go down off the mountain now. I was grinning all the way down because there is nothing more thrilling than a fast, twisty single-track decent on wet trail with freezing cold rain soaking you, mud flying in your face, and ice pellets stinging your skin...

The Fountain Grade Epic?

We're going where? All I heard was lots of climbing so it was, "yeah let's go!" It was another SeanMan epic ride into the unknown...Well after we started the SeanMan gave me one eye-popping little detail he neglected to tell me about one of the climbs - As he had put it, "I was happy that I didn't drop below 3mph..." Wow was all I could think...that must be one steep pitch up and it was a gravel road. Well you know hill steepness to bike riders is sometimes like the size of the fish that got away to fishermen. Then bit later as we are pedaling up a 12% pitch (which means steep to you) he says this is nothing compared to what's to come. Just as we top another 12% pitch he stops and points - "The Wall," otherwise known as Fountain Grade.





It can be seen here in the distance (look close and you see the SeanMan riding in the foreground - Click the pic for a better view)












Yep it looks steep and yes it was steep also - the SeanMan said he saw 16% on the altimeter. What a great climb and long (very long) to boot.

Up on top we cruised through some rolling hills and found the ultimate Buba Redneck hangout. There is a place up in the middle of the woods called the Forest Saloon and the parking lot out front was stocked full of Buba SUVs and big redneck pickup trucks plus one Isuzu - I later wondered what happened to the poor sole that drove that one.

We continued our journey in a cool, light rain past Soldiers Meadow lake then home. Total climbing today was 6300 feet - most of that in one stretch.

It as another awesome day of off road riding - beats a boring road bike ride any day. The cheering section at B&L (that would be you Bruce) or anyone interested in epic off-road rides can join us anytime.