The Shoulder Season

[LivingProof]

Late March! Still can ski, but the weather tells me that it's time to turn to other things. What a weekend in the east. 80's and sun. Got my first 50 road bike miles in, my first round of golf, did shorts for 3 days and opened the beach house for summer. Still, I need to ski. If the weather cooperates, off to Killington for 3 day starting on Wednesday. Damn rain is falling now. I'd love to feel the hard, fast snow of winter or experience the hype of the first few days on snow. Too soon to say good-bye, but, that day is coming for this season. Many great memories, some more to come and some need to wait till next year. I'm thinking of the old Warren Miller line, " If you don't ski it this year, you'll just be another year older when you finally do it". An emotional roller coaster for me.

How do you feel as the season plays out? For the  last two years, my last ski day was with friends ( Gary at Holimount and Phil at Stowe ) on a great sunny day. The season ended, as it should, on a high note. I need to find that day...to say good bye.

[jbotti]

Every year I find Spring skiing to be very depressing. It has less to do with the conditions than the feact that reality is setting in and winter and ski season is ending!! The last 2 years in Montana we have had winter conditions right up until they closed the mountain, which made things a lot easier. This year we had some very warm weather last week (tenps in the upper 40's and low 50's) and it was really depressing. It's not so much that I dislike spring conditions (which in general is the case) but again reality hitting home that it won't be long before it all ends.

Eventually, the weather gets awesome out here and the biking get super and I forget about skiing at least until September!!

I am headed back to Montana for one last weekend over the Easter Holiday weekend. They are getting a foot of snow today and tomorrow, so I feell a whole lot better right now!!

[ToddW]

LP,

The skiing at Killington was sweet yesterday.  For the most part the base is holding up okay.  It should survive the two days of rain and still be lots of fun when you get there on Wednesday.

[Ron]

abasin, LL mid-april, and in May,, Chile in August.  Mtn Bike season is here too!  gotta love some great single track. My guess is most here are roadies though

[midwif]

abasin, LL mid-april, and in May,, Chile in August.? Mtn Bike season is here too!? gotta love some great single track. My guess is most here are roadies though

Do I detect a self righteous note there ??
Nothing wrong with being a roadie. Different bikes, different skills.
Remember, its' not what's in the tool box, its the skill of the craftsman.
I would love to try mountain biking, but my neck of the woods doesn't support that.

Sad to see the ski season end early in the mid-atlantic area. Personally, I do not care for the sticky conditions of spring.
I worry about knee injuries with catching edges. There are those who can wax eloquently on the joys of spring skiing.
I wish I was one, but alas, no.

LP, what a jump start to the biking season! 50 miles. WOW!

[Ron]

self-rightousness? um no, just figures, off piste skiers, mtn bike, groomers roadies. it just fits.

[jim-ratliff]

LP:  Wow, you really jumped on it (the bike that is).  I took a couple of short rides, but I am completely humbled to hear your first week numbers of 50 miles.  My hat is off to ya.

Ron: That mtn-bike/off-piste connection is a rather interesting thought.  For me, it's whichever is the most convenient arena for exercise.  I loved doing the Farm Ride last year, but no way could I have done those 78 miles on a Cross or Mountain Bike (but there are some interesting 5-10 mile trails around here that the "roadie" keeps me off of).  However, in the DC area the VAST majority of trails are blacktop.  I like the range that I get on a road bike.

[LivingProof]

The decision making process sucks!
Vt. weather
Wed - mostly showers and wind
Thr - Sun, 50
Friday - Winter returns, hard freeze.
Not worth the drive, last day is postponed.

The biking this weekend was a major surprise, just great weather and no wind. First day, 15, then 15, then 20 miles. Just cruising along the flat shoreline roads, it just returned easily. For sure, much, much easier than a year ago when I returned to biking following a decade away.

The love-gap between roadies and off-road bikers may be closer to the gap between skiers and boarders. An opinion is that each goes out of the way not to understand the other. Something like our elected officials. Philly has some nice off-road areas and I need to spend more time on them. I'm considering trading my cross trainer for a mtn bike or 29er.

I think Ron has a point in that if one likes to live on the edge, mountain biking has more appeal, although riding in city traffic is also living on the edge. A personal opinion is that you need to be a little introverted to like road biking in that it's a great opportunity to have a conversation with yourself.

[Ron]

LP:?

Wow, you really jumped on it (the bike that is).? I took a couple of short rides, but I am completely humbled to hear your first week numbers of 50 miles.? My hat is off to ya.

Ron: That mtn-bike/off-piste connection is a rather interesting thought.? For me, it's whichever is the most convenient arena for exercise.? I loved doing the Farm Ride last year, but no way could I have done those 78 miles on a Cross or Mountain Bike (but there are some interesting 5-10 mile trails around here that the "roadie" keeps me off of).? However, in the DC area the VAST majority of trails are blacktop.? I like the range that I get on a road bike.

[/b]

Jim, no offense but you are joking right?? You have or mtn bike XC trails than we do by far!? http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=10214? here's a bunch for you!?Theres actually easier access to mtn biking from NYC than from here as well! You aare right thogh, you don't use a mtn bike on the road and you don't use a road bike on single track! An excuse for another toy-!!!?BTw- Road biking is fine and I pan to get back into some of it to cross train and for a change of pace. This is? a huge road bike community ! Most of our parks prohibit any bikes in them.? But if you want to train for off-piste skiing, MTN biking is a superb way togo go. I thikk I jumped a notch by ridng at least each weekend last year. learing to ride with speed, handle tight openings, body postioning and timing are all benefits. plus, nothing like getting sweaty and muddy!

[jim-ratliff]

Ron: Nope, wasn't joking.? I followed the link and will expound on the first several trails to make my point.? You are right, there is a lot of off-road biking in the area, it just doesn't work for me.

Balls Bluff Canal Ride.? 31 mile loop, 90 minute drive to get there.
Burke Lake Loop. 7 miles, no terrain, unpaved trail surrounding a small lake. have ridden it in the past - boring.
C&O Canal. Beautiful trail between the canal and the Potomac.? However, the paved Capitol Crescent Trail is right next to it (I've ridden that) and there are road bike connecting trails to get to it.? I've ridden Capital Crescent from home (about 45 miles round trip).
Centreville Power Lines.? Not interested in riding under high tension power lines.? Maybe not justified, but not interested.
Cheasapeake & Ohio Canal.? I've heard its gorgeous, its 2-3 hours to get to it.
Difficult Run to Great Falls. I've heard this is a great ride, even though only 12 miles.? Only a 45 minute drive.

Your second point, about single track helping your skiing approach - yes, makes sense.

[midwif]

self-rightousness? um no, just figures, off piste skiers, mtn bike, groomers roadies. it just fits.

Based on a false assumption to begin with my fit friend.
Let us know how your biking goes this season. Enjoyed your pics last year.