Cold Temperatures / Snow doesn't discourage riders
Though the temperature dipped into the teens in the early morning hours of Sunday December 6th and some snow still covered the trails from the accumulation on Saturday, the forcast for clear skies and lots of sun sparked the urge to ride for many Mid-Ohio Valley mountain bikers.
I arrived at the marina parking lot at Mountwood at 12:45pm to meet with regulars who ride there nearly every Sunday at 1pm and the temperature was only 29 degrees. A group was already on the trails from a ride that had been posted for this morning. It had begun at 11am.
While we began getting ready to ride more of our group started rolling in and in no time we had our group of 7 riders to hit the trails already inhabited by some of the earlier group. Notice we found our way to a sunny spot while we waited for the last of our group to join us (he's in the background about ready to go). Also notice all the vehicles in the parking lot.
By the top of our first climb no one was shivering any longer and a few even had to shed a layer. After the short pause it was off for our first snowy ride of the year. A big change from last month and the 50 and 60 degree temps every weekend.
I was impressed, after counting the riders we met on the trails and then discovering how many were on the earlier ride, there had been 20 riders, I know of, on the trails between 11am and 2:30pm when we met our last rider on our loop. I noted there were a couple other vehicles in the parking lot when we returned which likely could add to the count. Pretty impressive for a cold day with temps never reaching above 32 degrees at the park and a slight snow covering on most the trails. Apparently the sport of mountain biking is becoming more of a passion for others as it has for me, judging by the turnout at Mountwood on such a day.
Gotta love it ! It's all good !
