Marc Kitteringham
I was following a fatbike. He was a bit ahead of me. I rushed to keep up, pumping over snow-covered jumps, berms and trail features. I was lead to a patch of single-track trail. The fatbike must’ve been able to do a lot more than my hardtail could. I came down a steep section of trail and my front tire washed out on the ice. My first ride of the year led to my first crash. I ended up sprawled in the snow between two trees. It wouldn’t be the last crash of the ride either.
Sunday morning. The first good one of the year. The sun glinting off the snow was practically begging me to go out and ride.
And ride I did.
I started with no set plan, headed towards Edmonton’s river valley and hit the trail. The first half hour or so was known territory. I hit my old stomping ground with gusto, flowing through the familiar trails and hearing the crunch of warm spring snow under my studded tires.
I started getting further and further away from my home. Into the unknown. The original reason I started riding came back out. I was exploring again. Edmonton’s river valley is full of single-track, climbs, descents and extremely varied terrain. The snow didn't help mitigate the trails at all. However, I am willing to put my bike through hell in the name of radness.
The ice and snow sent me tumbling a few times. I ended up sprawled on my side time and time again, trying to get through the slick snow-covered trails. There were a few trails that my little hard tail simply could not go, so I had to double back. Also a few icy climbs made me give up and hike-a-bike up the slick slopes.
I eventually ended up in the Strathcona Science Park. In the summer, the park is a haven for local mountain bikers. But now, it was filled with dog walkers and myself. The snow made many of the trails impassable, and I got stuck at a dead end time and time again. After a few hikes and leg-killing climbs I got onto a more paved road and headed for civilization.
My halfway point was a pizza place in Sherwood Park. I was dead tired and needed the hour or so to stop my legs from shaking. I think I stayed out too long because as I was getting back on the bike the sun was beginning to go down.
My way home was a little bit more direct. After the sun went down I was reminded that it was indeed still winter. Everything was cold. I wanted to get home as quickly as I could. Unfortunately, that meant at least an hour or two of riding. I stuck to more familiar routes on my way home, keeping to easy and flowy trails, fewer climbs and eventually riding home through the downtown core.
45 km later, I subsequently collapsed and crawled back into hibernation for a few more weeks of winter.
