Alaska

I've traveled home for the holidays, back to the "last fronteir" they call Alaska.  Normally bike riding isn't something one associates with Alaska, especially when the show falls, but due to an increase in snow bikes people are changing their tune.  There are two shops up here that have started producing their own fat tire bikes, and the cyclists are going nuts for them.  It's so great to see small shops create a new niche and help keep their lights and heaters on during the cold months.  Coming from a motorcycle shop background up here, I'm more than familiar with the issues and stresses of running a seasonal business.  The ability to branch into once before uncharted territory for boosting profit margins, is a huge win, especially when there is no transfer or scale costs.  Those shops are still selling bikes, therefore the tooling is the same, the knowledge is similar, and come spring, they just change to road/mtn bikes, albeit with most of the same customers.

I don't own a fat bike primarily because I'm seldom in Alaska, but I did build a snow bike of my own to leave up here.  I was able to pick up an old Klein Rascal mtb frame for fairly cheap, and it came with wheels.  The frame is structurally fine, but has plenty of nicks and scrapes.  I used parts laying around, and a few purchased to make my own winter cruiser.  I already had some studded tires so the project went together pretty easily.  The fat tire bikes are great for fresh snow, but they don't make studded tires for them.  Most trails in Anchorage, especially after a cold spell, are cleared and frozen, thus making studs a wonderful option for some winter training.  Granted it's not the same as riding with my coach and a couple local motors on my road bike, but in a pinch it'll do just fine.

Training and Bikes!

Too much time has passed since I last posted. I have since recovered enough to start riding, and continue my therapy with some mild lifting in the gym. I have a few new updates to the herd, and some great training stories, stay tuned!