Hey friends a quick note before I get to the bike adventuring details. I hope you all have been having a great holiday season so far! We are getting ready to launch our Winter adventures! If you are interested in our Winter Fat Bike Adventures (even if you don’t have a fat bike, demo/rentals are available) you will need to update your email preferrences. Otherwise this will be the last you’ll hear of our Winter adventures in your email. Choose BKBKFTADVHR to keep getting emails about these winter fat bike adventures. You can do that here:
BKBKFTADVHR?
What in the 6th isle of Ikea is goin on here? Is it a british license plate number? Appearently it’s what everyone has decided to call the Winter version of the Bicycle Club Adventure Hour. Is there going to be a theme like the Bridget and Kelsey Adventure Hour? (definitely) Is the BKBK thing just some initials? Do I just say the letters or do I say BOK-BOK like a chicken? So it looks like the long form is The Barb and Kelsey and Bridget and Kevin Fat Adventure Hour. Ok, I get it. I mean I still have so many questions. Why don’t we just call it the Fat Bike Adventure Hour? We can still use the super cool abbreviation you guys came up with. Part is, I’m just not going to say all those words at once in person, is all.
So where are these BKBKFTADVHRs?
When are these BKBKFTADVHRs?
Are we really gonna call them BKBKFTADVHRs?
This Winter Bridget, Kelsey, Barb, and Kevin will be leading weekly fat bike adventures on Thursday nights. Those Thursday nights will happen at Millstone Trails, The Barre City Cow Pasture, and North Branch trails depending on conditions and weather. We’ll also have a once a month field trip on Sundays starting January 5. Each field trip will be to a unique desination outside of the normal fat biking network in our area.
That means only:
For those of you who do not have a fat bike, and are interested in fat biking, Vermont Bicycle Shop will have rental bikes available exclusively for use on our adventures. The rental is $50 and Vermont Bicycle Shop will provide transportation of the bicycle to the adventure, so all you have to do is show up and be ready to go. Be on the look out, some of the BKBK crew will have a limited number of free fat bike rental tickets.
Also, if you decide to buy a fat bike within two months, the rental cost goes toward your purchase!
I already have a fat bike, what else do I need?
Well, if it is your first time joining us on any kind of bicycle adventure and you like to be well preparred, check out the Things to Know Before Joining Us section and the list below. If you don’t like being well preparred maybe fat biking in the dead of Winter isn’t the thing for you?
- A helmet.
- Hydration back pack, hip pack, or water bottle and cage. Some way to safely and securely carry water with you and hopefully in a way that it won’t freeze.
- A helmet that fits over a way to keep your head/ears warm.
- Equipment to fix a bicycle flat. This usually includes tire levers, a tube, some kind of travel inflation device (we like mini-pumps/frame pumps), and any tools needed to remove your wheel.
- Extremely warm gloves.
- Clothing that is comfortable and warm, yet not too baggy. Bicycle shorts with padding and a bicycle jersey are best, followed good warm clothing. We like to many light layers instead of trying one big bulky thing. Sporting goods “tech-tee” shirts are a primitive version of bicycle jerseys that work great for first time riders. Wool long johns are a great second layer. Followed by a good insulating layer with a little room, then last a good wind blocking layer.
- Did anyone mention a helmet yet?
- If you have experience dressing for hiking, snowshoeing, or other light excercise in the snow, then you have a good idea on how to dress for fat biking. You just also should replace your underwear with some bicycle shorts.
- A patient presence. All experience levels will be on this ride; a slow pace, regrouping often, re-riding fun or interesting sections of trail, and generally encouraging everyone is a part of this experience a helmet.
SO HOW ABOUT WE GET TO THE BIKE RIDE PART, DARREN???
FIRST, it’s time to renew your rider waivers. If you haven’t done that yet, or have not filled out a rider waiver before, you must do so before riding with us.
You can do that here.
Please do so before the day of the ride!
The details:
Sunday, January 5
11:00 Meet at the Plainfield Park and Ride, here’s the googley mapsy
11:15 tires rolling. Studded tires are a good idea on this ride. Tires must be at least 4 inches wide for this ride. All other points from the original “Things to Know Before Joining Us” article apply as well.
We will head out the Plainfield railbed towards the Marshfield ledges. Who know what we’ll see? Who know what will happen? At some point we will turn around and head back to the park and ride.
Listen, the railbed is stunning and usually a pretty fun ride in the Winter. Sometimes it is wet and it is *always* colder than you think. Dress accordingly and bring something with you that will allow you to shed and put back on layers as needed.
Be sure you have warm and waterproof boots.
If your fatbike doesn’t have mudguards then a waterproof ourshell and jacket are a good idea too.
Leave the blundstones at home for this one.
If you have any questions about the adventure feel free to call the bicycle shop or send me an email at darren@vermontbicycleshop.com
Remember, if you want to stay in the loop for future winter adventures you need to sbscrb to BKBKFTADVHR below.