This past weekend, "Winter Storm Jonas" dumped almost 2 feet of snow on us. This meant the end of singletrack riding for a little while (or until we get some trails packed in) and the dawn of the age of snowmobile trail riding. Luckily, there are a number of options, and since the snowfall came …
Necessary.
I like to be outside. I like to ride my bike. I like to run. But these things are more than just hobbies. They are necessary to my existence as a happy human being. I wouldn't call myself "naturally happy." It seems like happiness comes so much easier to other people. Despite the fact that …
Frozen Fat, Part 2: The Purple Dragon.
The morning began with coffee and bagels at Rothrock Outfitters. Then a drive out to Allegrippis, where fat bikes just kept pouring into the parking lot as we suited up for the second day of Frozen Fat: Sunday Funday. Sunday's ride focuses much more on silliness than endurance. It's a rolling party. Costumes are generally …
Frozen Fat 2016, Part 1: Fire & Rain
This year was my third Frozen Fat, and it was definitely my favorite one ever. More fun, less "race-like," and at this point, I know most of the people who keep returning year after year, so the event has the feeling of a reunion. The "frozen" part was missing more most of the weekend, so it was …
Push through the mud.
I'm going to risk sounding like an egocentric, self-obsessed, narcissist for a minute here. I love this photo of myself. Of all those that exist, it's remained a favorite ever since it was taken in November 2013. Evan and I had decided to ride from our cabin to town via the shoreline of Raystown Lake, a …
Bejeweled.
The weather lately has been perfect for creating some incredibly beautiful frost in the mornings. The camera has been coming out a lot to document such beauty. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Therapy.
For a while, I was convinced that I'm not a people person. Large crowds freak me out. I need plenty of alone time in my life to feel sane. A lot of people tend to sap my energy. In the extrovert/introvert scale of things, I've always pegged myself as an introvert. But to be honest, it's …
Ride to Thanksgiving: The Bike & GearÂ
Since we purchased our Salsa Powderkeg tandem in June, it's seen several different incarnations. First, we set it up as a full-on mountain bike, but a plethora of mechanicals proved that it's a ride way more suited for mountain touring than singletrack shredding, and so that's the direction it's been moving. Then we decided to …
I ran today.
Before I was big into biking, I was a runner. Then I fell in love with being on two wheels and started spending more time riding and less time running, until it basically petered out of my life altogether. I attempted to get back into it, but knee pain stopped me, as I didn't want …
Ride to Thanksgiving.Â
The sun dipped low on the horizon as we pedaled out of Huntingdon and down Rt. 22. It set as we crossed the Juniata River, tossing cotton candy hues into the sky and bathing the few puffy clouds in a pink glow. The world grew darker. The first 40 or 50 miles flew by. Through …
helena kotala 