Goal Achieved !

Hit a goal recently -- to complete a Winter fat bike race. I had planned two different races last Winter, but Mother Nature wasn't my friend, with a fickle Winter with inconsistent snow.

This year, my first opportunity was the Fat Chance race at Crystal Mountain on January 20th, part of the Short's Brewing Fat Bike Series. Now, January in the Upper Midwest is an interesting time. I've seen 50F degree days, and as I write this, it's currently -9F with wind chills in the negative 30's.  This race was no exception. Raceday forecast called for a high of 4, with 10-15mph north winds. Yummy.

I threw it out to cycling friends on social media and got some very solid input. Wear layers. Try ski goggles and helmet. Silk liner with a wool sock. So I adopted these, plus some others I'd already used on cold weather rides (half shot of vodka keeps that water bottle from freezing). And then I signed up!

Race day was cold, but didn't seem awful. At least, for a few minutes loading up the vehicle. But I was surprised by how comfortable I felt. The race was either 90 minutes or 45 minutes on a groomed 2 mile loop. Perfect for my first race - not like getting stuck a dozen miles into a 20 mile ride.

If you've not ridden a fat bike in groomed snow, it's interesting. It's cool and quirky, with a very different feel from traditional mountain bike trails. The scenery is beautiful. And it's a LOT more work!!!

The start was pretty entertaining as dozens of not-so-nimble fat bikes, ridden by dozens of not-so-nimble riders in bunches of layers fumbled off onto the trail. The first lap was mostly just finding my groove. I've not done a ton of groomed snow fat bike riding, so the simple act of cornering was a learning experience. Curiously passing (which I was not doing a lot of) actually seemed easier than in a conventional race. I guess that's the slow-mo nature of the fat bike.

By the end of lap one, I had cold fingers, so-so toes, and a rapidly overheating core. Also a feeling that I was going to be happy to finish two laps. But lap two found more confidence, an increased pace, more passes, and just generally more fun! Oh, and I learned that I think the ski helmet/goggles were too warm for this aerobic of an activity. Yup, hot head and foggy glasses.

As I wrapped up lap two, my hardy (or perhaps foolish?) girlfriend was cheering me on, so I figured "what the hell, let's do this..." and rolled off on lap three. This lap was considerably more difficult. First I was cold and fatigued. Second, with the glasses fogging, I had only the vaguest sense for where I was going. But somehow, I persevered, sucked it up, and finished the third lap right near the 45 minute mark.

Exhausted. Cold. Tired. But I did it!!!! This kind of goal setting has become key as I move into the land of the midlife athlete. Set the goal. Train for it. Attempt the goal. Succeed. Set the next goal.

So... you're asking what the next goal is?

How about completing the Iceman Cometh on a single speed? I have to commit by March 1st. So time to train!

-Sean-

New Brain Bucket - Giro G9 Helmet First Impressions Review

Been thinking for a while about replacing my decade-old Giro ski helmet. In addition to being at least ten years old (with the potential to have its protection compromised), the advent of MIPS helmets which protect against the rotational injuries the produce concussions is pretty significant. And, I'm guessing that a few other things have advanced in helmet technology as well.

I started looking last year, but pricing for MIPS helmets from Scott, Giro, and POC were all still pretty high.This season, most manufacturers seem to have brought this technology into their mid-range helmets. Pretty early on, I became interested in the Giro Nine MIPS model. I've generally had pretty solid experience with the Giro brand in terms of fit, quality, and performance. Also, they generally have solid audio solutions - a key element to me.

A local shop is kind enough to have a 20% off sale so a Nine MIPS and a set of Outdoor Tech X Wired Chips is secured in a stylish Smurf Blue color to match my Marmot and Marker jackets. So, was it worth the money? In a word, absolutely!

Safety
Helmets are made of polymers and expanded polystyrene for impact absorption. Both degrade with time, with UV exposure, and with a gazillion impacts large and small. I learn while reading the Giro manual that helmet life is considered 3-5 years. Oops. This, plus the MIPS features have me feeling much better about my safety in the event of a fall or hit.

Comfort
My previous Giro helmet was fairly comfortable, so that was never an issue. The only real problem came when I bought some Oakley Canopy goggles. The larger lenses of this google were great as they fit nicely over glasses and gave an awesome field of vision. What wasn't so good was that due to hitting the helmet, they pressed down pretty aggressively on my nose and cheeks. By the end of the day, not so comfortable! From the get-go, I could tell the new helmet was a huge leap forward in this area. Giro has clearly recognized the trend toward larger goggle frames, and addressed it. Also, as a side benefit, the helmet really is a bit more comfortable fit!

Audio
In a word, mixed. The Outdoor Tech Chips sound OK. I don't think the bass is as robust as my previous Skull Candy pads. And the controls to change volume and mute/stop my iPod don't seem to work. I did swap out the cable to my old one so at least I could mute my jams if riding up on a lift with someone. I did just notice something about a "10 hour play time" on their web site. So, perhaps I need to investigate if I'm missing a battery or something... ah, user error.

Overall
I'm glad I waited, and equally happy that I didn't wait any longer. The price came down, but having the latest safety technology, as well as the better goggle fit are totally worth the investment. I suspect that I'm the issue with some of the audio problems. If you're looking for a new helmet, give the Giro Nine MIPS a look -- I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Product Review: Oakley Canopy Goggles

Being a skier who requires corrective lenses is a pain in a$$. I used to just ski in contacts. That worked out just fine, but eventually I decided the hassles and discomfort just weren't worth it. I've tried skiing with just sunglasses and found that without some eye protection my eyes just teared up too much for any visibility.

And over-the-glasses (OTG) goggles are godawful. Only about three models available. Almost no lens choices. And ugly as hell. Sweet. Some great options there.

Enter my longstanding fave - Oakley.

These guys just make the sweetest gear. Totally stylish. Wonderfully functional. I've got a ton of Oakley stuff and it's all da' bomb. Last Fall, I'm reading some pre-season ski porn when I spy the new Oakley Catapault snow goggle. Hmmm, those are pretty mammoth -- bet they'd fit over my glasses. A visit to the local ski shop proves this true. But the price -- ugh -- $160. Ouch. Turns out they've got a price with a little defect in the lens for half price. Score!!!!!

Mine are the Tanner Hall Signature model. Badass graphics, super-cool Fire Iridium lens. These are a truly stylish goggle.

Now that I've got a half dozen days in with them, I have to say I'm pretty pleased. Typically awesome Oakley optics, decent interface with the helmet, and no fogging issues. The frames are a touch large and press down on my cheeks, but this is inherent in OTG goggles, I think.

I love the look of the Iridium Fire lens, but when it's dumping  an inch an hour at Vail, they were pretty dark. Same for Sunday's flat Michigan light. Fortunately, on my last day in Vail, I scored High Intensity Persimmon lens -- much better. Herein lies my only criticism of these goggles. Lens changeout is a PAIN IN THE ASS. My hope is that it will get easier with time. The folks at Smith have it figured out. Oakley needs to follow suit.

Oh, and one last thing. You do look a bit like a bug in these bad boys. Check it below...