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Tag: 20 commutes in 2020

Posted on February 6, 2020February 4, 2020

20 commutes in 2020 — #1: Ice, ice baby.

I was sure glad I had studs because Kepler was a sheet of ice. Not a smooth sheet, but one that had been churned up by car tires and turned by the daily freeze-thaw cycle into a jumble of babyhead-sized lumps. It was like riding on slippery cobbles. I knew it would be a little …

Continue reading "20 commutes in 2020 — #1: Ice, ice baby."

Helena Kotala

Lover of bikes, outdoor adventures & sharing my experiences. Map-maker & other duties as assigned at the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Central PA based.

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Past Adventures

Stuff I Dig

  • Challenge to Myself: Ride 365… on Alan's Mountain Biking Adventures
  • 2019 in Photos: Charging Forwa… on 

Snippets of Life

I love planning routes, poring over maps of places I’ve never been or searching for new ways to link together places I have. From a map, you can get a sense of what a place is like but you never really know until you go explore for yourself, and there are always surprises. That’s what makes it fun. Most of the times, the rides turn out pretty darn good, but this Saturday’s ride was great. 🔥 Cowan’s Gap to the Abandoned Turnpike and back.
Back in the office today but still full of stoke on an incredible weekend in the desert. Stay tuned for bloggage and some articles on @singletracks to come!
Sunrise light at #24HOP. Playing double duty bike racer/journalist meant some sacrificed sleep to capture these moments but it is so worth it to get to do this.
Night laps at #24HOP were super fun! Racers were more spread out, so there were many moments of solitude before coming up on another person. The stars were amazing. Then you get back into #24hourtown and there’s a party happening all night long.
Holy rip these trails are so fast! 16.5 miles of singletrack in less than an hour and a half is definitely not something I’m used to. My first race lap started around sunset and it was GORGEOUS. Navigating cacti-lined trail at night while going fast requires such mental focus and it was incredible. If you can’t tell, I’m loving every minute! I was crushing too hard to get pictures on my race lap so here’s one @jeffcoylesatx snapped of me when we pre-rode this morning. Time to try to get some rest before heading back out around 3 am.
Scenes from the desert. I am fascinated by this landscape that is so different than home.
Out here with some sunshine and cacti in the Sonoran Desert for the weekend at 24 Hours of Old Pueblo! 🌵☀️ I’m on assignment with @singletracks for my first press trip in a couple years and excited to dive back into doing some freelance writing. 😃 Thanks @simbolpr @hustlebikelabs @archercomponents @kaliprotectives @pivot_cyclesusa for the opportunity!
Fresh tracks. ❄️😃 Thanks for the 📷 @moshannonshannon!
A weekend well spent playing in the snow. ❄️ Fat bikes are so fun. 🤗
Pavement -> gravel -> singletrack -> bushwack -> singletrack -> doubletrack -> gravel -> pavement. Some of my favorite rides lately have a little of everything and there is no “right bike.”
Commute 2: Obligatory Wampler Vista stop on the way home. 💜
Enchanted forest.

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 256 other followers

Pick A Topic

Past Adventures

Stuff I Dig

  • Challenge to Myself: Ride 365… on Alan's Mountain Biking Adventures
  • 2019 in Photos: Charging Forwa… on 

Snippets of Life

I love planning routes, poring over maps of places I’ve never been or searching for new ways to link together places I have. From a map, you can get a sense of what a place is like but you never really know until you go explore for yourself, and there are always surprises. That’s what makes it fun. Most of the times, the rides turn out pretty darn good, but this Saturday’s ride was great. 🔥 Cowan’s Gap to the Abandoned Turnpike and back.
Back in the office today but still full of stoke on an incredible weekend in the desert. Stay tuned for bloggage and some articles on @singletracks to come!
Sunrise light at #24HOP. Playing double duty bike racer/journalist meant some sacrificed sleep to capture these moments but it is so worth it to get to do this.
Night laps at #24HOP were super fun! Racers were more spread out, so there were many moments of solitude before coming up on another person. The stars were amazing. Then you get back into #24hourtown and there’s a party happening all night long.
Holy rip these trails are so fast! 16.5 miles of singletrack in less than an hour and a half is definitely not something I’m used to. My first race lap started around sunset and it was GORGEOUS. Navigating cacti-lined trail at night while going fast requires such mental focus and it was incredible. If you can’t tell, I’m loving every minute! I was crushing too hard to get pictures on my race lap so here’s one @jeffcoylesatx snapped of me when we pre-rode this morning. Time to try to get some rest before heading back out around 3 am.
Scenes from the desert. I am fascinated by this landscape that is so different than home.
Out here with some sunshine and cacti in the Sonoran Desert for the weekend at 24 Hours of Old Pueblo! 🌵☀️ I’m on assignment with @singletracks for my first press trip in a couple years and excited to dive back into doing some freelance writing. 😃 Thanks @simbolpr @hustlebikelabs @archercomponents @kaliprotectives @pivot_cyclesusa for the opportunity!
Fresh tracks. ❄️😃 Thanks for the 📷 @moshannonshannon!
A weekend well spent playing in the snow. ❄️ Fat bikes are so fun. 🤗
Pavement -> gravel -> singletrack -> bushwack -> singletrack -> doubletrack -> gravel -> pavement. Some of my favorite rides lately have a little of everything and there is no “right bike.”
Commute 2: Obligatory Wampler Vista stop on the way home. 💜
Enchanted forest.

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