2010 has arrived and, as is the Scotto tradition, we are in Rome, NY visiting Carla’s parents. Because of this, it has become my tradition to do my first ride of the year in Rome, NY. The temperatures are often colder than Boston and there is a ton snow.
The key to a successful ride is always the gear. I equip my cyclocross bike with 700×32 knobby tires filled to approximately 50 pounds of pressure. It was warmer this year (32 degrees – usually 10 degrees) so I didn’t need 5 layers. Just a base layer, jersey and corsa jacket. Off I went.
My favorite place to ride is the snow mobile trails. I discovered this a few years back when riding in below zero temperatures one January 1st. It is a great way to keep the heart rate up (keep the blood flowing) and generate body heat. Plus it turned out to be a ton of fun. This year was no exception. I cruised through the city of Rome enjoying all of the Christmas decorations as I head to Lake Delta State Park. The roads had a slight covering of snow, but my 32 knobbies were eating it up. I finally entered the park.
Riding snow mobile trails is fun, but one needs to relax and go with the flow. The bike will gain and lose traction every few seconds sending you swerving and fish-tailing at a moments notice. As long as you keep pedaling, you have a 95% chance of staying on the bike. If you fall off, you end up in a snow bank. No big deal.
Since the snow was not very deep I was able to ride at a faster speed than in previous years (10-12mph). It was as much fun as I remembered. Suddenly I heard a voice in the distance “hey dad!” I turned around and saw my 10-year old son Andre on the back of a snow mobile with Mike, a family friend, heading toward me. He was having fun and thought it was cool to see his dad out there tackling the snow. They sped off and I continued flying (side-to-side) along the trails.
I concluded my traditional ride by stopping for coffee on the way back. It is always interesting to see how people respond when you appear from a snowy side road on what appears to be a “street” bike. Not to mentioned the fact that I’m dressed in my racing kit which doesn’t blend in well with the local attire. One guy, also getting some coffee, made a comment about riding in “this weather” and I mentioned my enjoyable escapades on the trails. He paused and slowly turned to look at my bike leaning against the outside of the coffee shop. He turned and looked at me again with an odd grin as if suddenly realizing he should not have started a conversation with a certified crazy person. He gave me the standard quick-parting line “well, have fun” and ran for the door.
Another successful January 1st ride completed and a great start to a new year. It was a time to appreciate my health, family, friends and the numerous blessings I experience on a daily basis.
I hope you are also having a Happy New Year!
