Well, from sand to snow. Big storm coming in, tonight, so we figured to get in one last ride before it hit. Got the Trek 29 plus bike out of winter storage, yesterday (great timing), so after giving it a tune up, last night, Bill and I headed out for a ride around the neighborhood paved roads. Just as we left, it started spitting snow. Bill called it good after a couple of two mile laps, but I went to six laps and a good 12 miles. Figured it best to say close to home, in case it really started to snow.

My Trek Stashe is now one of three 29x3 bikes I have. Yeah, that's going bit overboard and I admit it, but this is a very unusual 29 plus bike, nothing at all like the other two. It's also not replaceable, either, because Trek changed the geometry on the Stashe the very next year, not to mention this first year Stashe 5 was the only version ever offered with this fixed carbon fork. These days, all models have suspension. Old retro me, though, still prefers rigid bikes.

What it all boils down to is that the Stashe is super light as MTBs go and rabbit quick in its handling and acceleration in the way no suspension bike can be. Even makes my Krampus seem a little on the slow side. Reminds me very much of the way an old 26" MTB handles, though, of course, this has much bigger wheels. It's not a bike I would choose for long distance road work, though. That super fast handling means you have to pay constant attention as it heads down the road. Not a bike that forgives a little day dreaming as you ride. Not at all a bike like the ECR. That bike tracks straight as an arrow and almost guides, itself.

Love the color, too. (Taken last summer)