Michael Clark is a superb photographer, and happens to take a fair number of "adventure" photos, which include mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking, backcountry skiing, and so on. If anything, take a gander through his "Adventure" section of his portfolio. There are some really stunning shots in there.
January 2008 Archives
Check out this new event, the Tahoe-Sierra 110 (or 100 if you're riding it solo). The course/map is not available until race day. It sounds pretty interesting, see all the details on their site.
Here's a fun blog entry over on Big Wheel Building, about ski bikes. In particular, ones from Lenz, who also makes really nice mountain bikes. In fact, you can put his ski setup onto a regular mtb, although the ski bikes are a better setup. The blog post has video of some guys ripping (including taking them up lifts at a ski resort - many Colorado places at least allow this, according to the post).
Looks like another way to have fun to me. Given that I love mountain biking, and skiing, it's an interesting combo. I don't know if I'd like it as much as the individual sports, but I'd sure as heck try it!
I read with joy, this Bicyles and Icicles blog entry, about how weather isn't bad, unless it'll kill your house or similar (e.g. hurricane), it's just otherwise weather. Tim rides in nearly all weather, and was commenting on how folks will offer him rides, or say he's crazy, or just think weather is bad. I feel the same way though, I like all the different kinds of weather. I love the rain (otherwise I wouldn't have moved to Oregon) -- the sounds it makes, the way it cleans up the surrounding environment, kids splashing in puddles; love a wicked snow storm -- it creates a superb quiet that I love, as well as makes for great pow skiing. I'm not as big a fan of huge wind storms, but again, it's just weather.
When I lived in Northern California, I rode in any kind of weather, and some friends often called me Aquaman, because I'd go out and do road bike rides in rainstorms, whereas most guys opted to not ride, or ride an indoor trainer. I hate exercising indoors, so to me, and riding in the rain has never bothered me. On the mountain bike, riding in the rain can be awesome - it creates new/different technical challenges. I don't like super sticky mud, but that's easy, I ride somewhere that doesn't have that :)
Matt is experiencing some seriously cold temps lately in Silverton, CO, waking up to -13 degrees F this morning. I kind of wish I was there, it's just sort of interesting to me.
Ok, so is there anything I don't like, well, of course! I hate the heat. I still ride in it, and live, but I left the area of Nor Cal where we were in part because of it. The funny thing is that I think there is almost nobody who thinks severe heat is "bad weather"! At least, if there are, I don't think I've met them. Maybe when temps are into the 100-teens, and people start dying, ok, maybe then they'll say it's bad, but 105 and they're out tanning. Yeesh. Ok, so I don't go out and tan anyway, but I likely won't ride in this either, since it could actually hurt me - but in that case, it's just what it is, and it means I need to ride early in the day or at night.
Obviously, as you can tell, I actually love weather, weather changes, the seasons, etc. I grew up where there were no seasons (on the beach in Southern California) - you judged weather by waking up, looking outside, and if it looked cloudy or foggy, you added a sweatshirt to your likely shorts-and-t-shirt wardrobe. But now, I simply cannot live without seasons, it drives me crazy when it's essentially the same all year round. I do definitely *prefer* cooler weather, but like Tim said, most weather is simply that, weather, not bad weather. End of rant, move along now...
Pearl Izumi makes a pair of winter cycling tights with their Amfib fabric. I've had a pair of the bib tights for a couple years now, and they are finally showing some wear/damage. I plan to buy another pair, as the short story on these is that they are simply the best winter bib (they make a non-bib version as well) tights I've come across.
So, what's so great about them? Well, it really boils down to the Amfib. In this application, they are very warm, and I won't say waterproof, but as far as you can tell, they're waterproof and wind proof. I have never needed more tight, or additional layers while wearing these, which includes riding in temps in the 20's, while it was snowing. I've also spent countless days in the rain with these tights. I use them both on the road and off.
In terms of warmth, they can be quite warm, as they have a Thermafleece lining to them. I use them if the temps are in the 50's or lower on the road bike, and on the mountain bike, it needs to be a bit lower, maybe low-50's and below, otherwise they may be too warm. When the temps really drop, say into the lower 40's or lower, I tend to also use embrocation in conjunction, but again, I've yet to feel cold in these in any conditions I've ridden in.
Fit wise, they are excellent for me. Comfortable, perfect fit, with no excess material or bunching anywhere. Plus, the front portion (and the back) of the bib/torso area have much more coverage/come up higher than your typical pair of bib shorts/tights. I've found this to be a very welcome edition when the conditions are crappy. They also have ankle zips for easy on/off.
As compared to other tights, these are my goto tights anytime the conditions are wet, or particularly cold. In warmer, and dry conditions, I may just wear a standard pair of De Marchi bib tights, or wool tights, etc. but nothing beats the Pearli's in foul conditions. Furthermore, this has been backed up by several riding friends who also have the Amfib tights. Everyone has agreed, hands down, and explicitly raved about them. Usually nobody really says much unprompted, but I've had 3 people tell me how great the Amfib tights are.
So, what's so great about them? Well, it really boils down to the Amfib. In this application, they are very warm, and I won't say waterproof, but as far as you can tell, they're waterproof and wind proof. I have never needed more tight, or additional layers while wearing these, which includes riding in temps in the 20's, while it was snowing. I've also spent countless days in the rain with these tights. I use them both on the road and off.
In terms of warmth, they can be quite warm, as they have a Thermafleece lining to them. I use them if the temps are in the 50's or lower on the road bike, and on the mountain bike, it needs to be a bit lower, maybe low-50's and below, otherwise they may be too warm. When the temps really drop, say into the lower 40's or lower, I tend to also use embrocation in conjunction, but again, I've yet to feel cold in these in any conditions I've ridden in.
Fit wise, they are excellent for me. Comfortable, perfect fit, with no excess material or bunching anywhere. Plus, the front portion (and the back) of the bib/torso area have much more coverage/come up higher than your typical pair of bib shorts/tights. I've found this to be a very welcome edition when the conditions are crappy. They also have ankle zips for easy on/off.
As compared to other tights, these are my goto tights anytime the conditions are wet, or particularly cold. In warmer, and dry conditions, I may just wear a standard pair of De Marchi bib tights, or wool tights, etc. but nothing beats the Pearli's in foul conditions. Furthermore, this has been backed up by several riding friends who also have the Amfib tights. Everyone has agreed, hands down, and explicitly raved about them. Usually nobody really says much unprompted, but I've had 3 people tell me how great the Amfib tights are.
This is a really fun little time waster mountain bike game on the web, check it out!
Andrew Skurka impresses me, big time. He has completed several massive "hiking" journeys, including the one he just completed in November 2007: the Great Western Loop. This loop is 6875 miles long, yes, that's right. He did it in 208 straight days, averaging *33 miles per day*. Granted he is not explicitly running, but he is practically race walking those 33 miles each day (I believe he said he usually walks about 15 hours a day), but that's like doing 1.25 marathons a day. Nutter.
Two interesting tidbits from this journey... He blows through massive calories each day, but can't eat enough to replace them. So, he lives on energy bars and the like for several days during the hike, then when he hits a town, he binge eats to make up for it, and then repeats this cycle. I don't think I could do it, but in this journey, he ate 1200 Balance Bars! Second, and just kind of a fun fact: he went through 17 pairs of shoes to complete the journey.
The physical aspects of this are very impressive of course, but I'm also impressed with his demeanor, psche, or general outlook. National Geographic Adventure magazine had a good article on him, since they named him 2007 Adventurer of the Year. He seems like a no-nonsense, friendly guy, who loves to be outdoors, loves the solitude (but isn't a hermit or anti-social), and just purely enjoys these adventures. From what I've read, and the podcasts of his that I've listened to, I just don't feel he's one of these folks who "must conquer Everest", or prove something to anyone. Sure, it's a feat, there is no doubt, but he just seems like he is heavily motivated by the sheer love of the adventure.
Finally, the other thing I love is that he is a proponent of going lite, but he isn't insane about it. He does it, in my observation, partly out of necessity, and partly simply because he can, but not for the sake of it, if that makes sense. Check out the Gear Talk section of his website for some recommendations and general info.
p.s. here's an article on an even longer trip he did in 2004, the transcontinental sea-to-sea route (7700 miles).