DIRT ROCK N ROLLER (THE BALLAD OF DAVID PIKE)
Posted January 18, 2017 @ 12:49pm
This is a story of remembering, reminiscing, rejoicing, and dirt rock and roll. TURN THE STEREO UP!D Pike on the Maah Daah Hey TrailRolled out to Boulder, CO this past weekend with H-wood, K-wood, and Crossmax for our pal David Pike’s memorial, a celebration, a reminder, a rejoinder, an affirmation of life and love for our fallen friend. The temperature is well below 0° for our 9pm departure. Hollywood is driving all night long, Minneapolis to Boulder, in our rental mini van, four people, four bikes in a straight rock and roll onslaught, serenaded by satellite radio stations Ozzy’s Boneyard and Hairball Nation. Driving at night makes the miles seemingly roll faster, a nocturnal illusion punctuated with stops at Kum & Go, and Dunkin’ Donuts. By sunrise, we’re ensconced at Grannie’s Diner in Ft. Lupton, CO for early morning juevos rancheros, breakfast burritos, and biscuits & gravy....
Winter cycling has been going on forever. And it certainly doesn’t require any special equipment to do it. But whenever it’s mentioned that you cycle in the winter, out trots the inevitable question: “do you have one of those fat bikes?” “No,” is my response. And, I must admit, I often feel inclined to add, “nor, am I into to cross-fit. Or vegan.” See, that’s what generally gores my ox about fat biking. People won’t shut up about it. On and on about tire size and rim width, studded tires? Tubeless? Carbon? All this usually just for a jaunt across town, whether riding to work, the grocery store, coffee shop, or even the bar. But I get it, man, I really do. Fatties are fun. When conditions warrant, and especially with good snow, you truly can ride them almost anywhere. So when Surly Bikes brand manager Paul Zeigle asked me, “do you want to bike pack Duluth Traverse on New Year’s...