After my sense of time froze up during yesterday’s ride, I promised myself and my wife that I’d be keeping today’s ride short. The night had brought more snow and the sun managed to poke through the clouds once in a while. The temperatures had risen from yesterday so the day offered another great opportunity to go play in the snow. In the morning I went to Le Panetier to get a loaf of sourdough, a bunch of croissants and a few other baked goodies. After a late breakfast I took off and headed out the same way as yesterday. The ride was much harder though, due to the snow being wetter, heavier and lacking a firm base. On the steepest sections, that are a mad workout without snow, I had to push the bike a few times. I rode some technical single track towards the Twannberg, then turned off to the right to swing back to Magglingen. I spent some easy miles on pavement only battling a cold eastern wind, then had to find a rideable way to the Hohmatt as my usual trail was impassable. The Hohmatt being the highest point of my short excursion into the snow, I stopped to slip my cap under the helmet. I now had the choice to bomb down an easy fire road or to drop into a single trail that a few snow shoers had used earlier in the day. Well, I looked at the single track, walked the first 10 meters of it to inspect the snow surface, then jumped on the saddle. Holy cow! I was sliding down the trail, front and rear wheel constantly sliding off to one or the other side and I counter steering like a madman to keep the bike upright and on track. The first 50 meters balancing my bike, I thought about hiking back up to the fire road, but the slipping and sliding suddenly turned into fun so I continued on. That downhill was the craziest thing I’ve done in a while. Glad I did it, though. There’s just no better way to hone one’s bike handling skills than riding situations like it. The winter season is starting to become my favorite biking season of the year. It’s undoubtedly the most challenging riding season of the year.
★ collideous
