December rides...

[Crankin]

We thought about fat bikes, but decided we wouldn't use them enough to justify the cost. And I couldn't do a 29-er..
Right now, I just want to x country ski, but it might be another week. I just saw it may be ok for riding on Xmas, so while everyone else is celebrating, we go ride.
The wind is sure whipping it up out there.

[north woods gal]

I do hope you get to XC ski. Has a lot in common with winter biking, but still very different, too. I find it almost spiritual at times with its beautiful flowing rhythm. Truly more graceful a thing than plowing a fat bike though heavy snow. Love them both, but with a big storm headed our way, my fat biking will now be limited to plowed roads or groomed trails.

[Crankin]

I love skiing. For some reason, although I really want the season to start, I am not feeling as crazy about it as usual. I think i am just burned out on exercise, and today my back was hurting in tabata class, so I feel like I just want to chill. Tomorrow's a rest day, but not sure what will happen this weekend. It will be snowing Sat. morning, when we usually go to the gym in this in between season, so maybe a snowy short hike or snow shoe. And then we will be visiting with my son all weekend, too.
My favorite nordic ski area is open (the one about an hour away), but not up to full speed. The good thing is, when we get to Franconia for New Years, it should be really nice and snowy.

[north woods gal]

I was a little reluctant to start XC this month, too. Really wasn't mentally ready to give up on my fat biking, I guess. Kept the biking going right up to where the fat bikes get bogged down and wouldn't go in the ever deepening snow. Of course, once I put on the skis and started the old rhythm, I wondered what took me so long. Anyway, enjoy it when the time is right for you.

[north woods gal]

Yup, crazy old lady me is still riding her fatties out on the snow packed roads, a bit. That probably says more about how much I dislike riding, indoors, on the trainer than anything, though. Another 5" plus of snow, last night, so the snow is way more than the fatties can handle on the trails. It's all skiing, now, on the trails. Sigh! I really miss my trail riding, even to the point where I fantasize about stealing hubby's snow blower to clear trails. Of course, if I broke it, I'd be in the doghouse, big time.

[rebeccaC]

For the last weekend we are going to be home until January we spent Friday and yesterday night in Los Olivos to ride the quiet country roads in the Santa Ynez valley yesterday. Had a small storm/cold system come through southern ca. the end of the week but we had a beautiful sunny low 60’s day of relaxing and riding in this wonderful valley of lightly traveled side roads with no hard climbing…..even though it took some mental strength for me not to want to ride Mt. Figueroa.

It felt good after the last few weekends of climbing feasts to just be in the quiet moments of feeling blessed to be with Alex on the roads I’ve come to know and enjoy so well over the last few years……and taking time to relax together before our holiday trip….and of course having a wonderful hotel with the best spa and masseuses outside of L.A., excellent healthy food and friendly, engaging people. We rode from a little after 8am to 4pm, some highlights were visiting the Mission Santa Ines, visiting some wineries, watching baby goats doing their crazy dances in a field and having the best squash soup and a nutritious salad for lunch. Didn’t keep track of mileage as this wasn’t about any of that this weekend.

Hoping all here have a holiday season of feeling togetherness and caring…………….

[north woods gal]

That's my kind of list, Rebecca. Wonderful.

Our best to everyone, too, from up here in the frozen north country.