Holy Heavy Batman!

 Wow a brutal few weeks here in the DC metro region.  The snow-ice attack on the 25th of January was a much more  major event than 6-8 inches normally is due to it being 2-3 inches of Sleet/Ice in the top layer.  Then major freeze/minor melt off due to sun turned the top layer into Snow-crete in a way I've never really seen.  Just saw we had the 10th or 9th coldest period on record with 9 days below freezing in a row that ended Monday the 2nd.   Last similar one was in 1989, which I have a vague memory of.  

Did some necessary bike maintanence on the MTB.  Pulled down the drive train and fully cleaned and re-lubed BB and cranks and cleaned up half the rear pivots.   Also tried cleaning and lubing seat rails to see if it made the seat less creaky.  Couldn't really judge on the snow ride on Thursday the 29th.   Also did a re-wax on both Ichigo and Betty.  Ichigo had some weird results, I think due to a lack of riding it had very little penetration and most of the lube just didn't respond/bond in.   

Switched the studdlies onto Ichigo on Monday and finally rode into work on Tuesday.  The CCT was great down to DC Line, DC inward it was clear generally down to the bottom with about 60-70% fully clear.  On the way home due to the warmth I'd say DC section is now at near 90% clear minus re-freeze on melt off/etc.  Down at the start is the worst where DC only plowed 1.25 lanes.   DC itself?  Pooh.  Roads are you friends, bike lanes are terrible.  Intersections suck!  

A very long and slow ride back had to stop and change my listening a few times.  

So today I weighted Fred (The Newness) and Ichigo with winter setups.  Fred without GPS but everything normal (No rack or bag), is currently in at 27.3 LBS.  While Ichigo (with GPS) was at 28.5 LBS.  Jeez, the studs really do ramp up the weight!  I'd say maybe an extra 2 to 3 lbs at least and that's mostly in the wheels.   When I put the front wheel back on BB I plan to weight her with lights, bottle and bar mittz.  But I already know she's a thick lady, she's lasted better than any of the other Salsa Pony Rustler's frames.  Though I still miss the 130/120 geometry.  150/130 is just too much for me really.

 

Fred continues to surprise, though I do feel like at some spots I do miss the longer/wide range of gears on the 2x11 the 1x13 does have a lower range for those long slow climbs back up Mt. Bethesda.   Maybe I'll shoot out for a quick ride at lunch.   

Another shot of Fred: