Had my first sub twenties commute of the year. I felt much warmer than last year. Ninjaclava from Outdoor Research was a plus, as were the Cyclone Booties from Pearl Izumi.
However as I had some new gear on that seems to be working out, I thought I would point out a few losers from last year that I thought would work out well but ended up failing miserably.
I bought two of these as base layers. They were comfy and next to skin good for about two days. Both of them developed holes in the armpits that grew in size. Either I have acid in my sweat like a Geiger alien, or Pearl Izumi needs some QC/QA.
Thermafleece Tights Pearl Izumi discontinued. These started out warm, snug, and terrific. They now have developed a hole in the arse and in the crotch. Again is it acid eating sweat, or poor QC/QA? Do the people that rave about Pearl Izumi all the time actually use their gear at all? For the price, almost double HIND or Sugoi gear; they better last more than a season.
Louis Garneau Cycling Gloves-these things suck as cycling gloves. They do not block wind in anything below 45 degrees, and they are not water resistant.
I bought two of these to replace the Pearl Izumi tops. One year on, they are still taking the abuse of my acidic alien armpit sweat. I’ve worn them under drysuits, ski jackets, and cycling jerseys. No rips no runs, still like new.
Great carving machine, many many fun rides in this downwave maniac. I can’t say enough good things about Mega’s surf boats. More fun than I am legally allowed to have.
I’ve been out skiing with Laura and the kids over the last few weeks. Gabriel and Isabella have taken to it pretty well. They are always really excited to go. I remember my Grandfather Keith Wikle and my own father teaching me to ski at Shawnee mountain in the Poconos when I was a kid. I loved every minute of it. The kids never seem to think it gets old. Gabriel has been twice but is already scooting down the slopes on his own. Isabella who is a little smaller is making rapid progress too. When my knees and thighs ache from snowplowing down the slope with her in front of me, I try to remind myself she won’t be six forever. She will soon be on her own like Gabe and I will have to track her down rather than take her down.
But I keep seeing telemark skiiers at the slope and my wild Wikle brain is going hmm, that looks like a challenge.
This quote from Hemingway in the Nick Adams stories does my literary imagination no good at all, and I smell a pair of telemark skis in my future if only to try it.
“Coming down the mountain in the telemark position, kneeling one leg for-ward and bent, the other trailing: his sticks hanging like some insect’s thin legs, kicking puffs of snow as they touched the surface and finally the whole kneeling, trailing figure coming around in a beautiful right curve, crouching, the legs shot forward and back, the body leaning out against the swing, the sticks accenting the curve like points of light all in a wild cloud of snow.” Ernest Hemingway.
Check out this telemark video for what an ideal powder day looks like,
Michigan is a land of seasons. Dichotomies of seasonality appeal to me. I don’t think I could live in a place where there were no seasons. Summer is obviously important, that’s where I get a lot of time on the bike and on the water. All of my paddling trips are done in summer. Fall and Spring are really the best running and surfing weather. But winter, winter is for skiing and backpacking for me. If there is to be winter, I say bring on the snow. The more the better. At a baser level I think seeing the world silently encased in a layer of cold snow is reassuring. It makes me feel that everything can and will change. I know the snow won’t last. Summer will come again. And I will see the other Michigan. The one of muggy summer heat, mosquitoes, and tourists.
Last winter there was only enough snow to go skiing once. I’ve been out twice already and hope to get out again this weekend.
Cross country skiing like everything else I love is about getting from point a to point b under your own power.
Al Sabo trails is probably the best place to get in some nice trail time in the Kzoo area.
The best hope is to enjoy where you are. I always hear folks moaning about Michigan. I know they love summer, the warmth, and the sunshine. So do I. But I couldn’t love them, unless I knew that a cold north wind might blow, and six to eight inches of snow might dump. I like the thought of being forced to wax up my skiis to go get groceries. I might feel differently as I get older, but for now I love both Michigan’s, the cold snowy arctic one, and the steamy bright summer on the lake one too.
By the way sorry about all the self-portraits. I am not really this vain. I’m just that uncool, couldn’t find anyone to ski with. And as you’ll notice finding winter paddling partners is rare and crazy too.
