Happy Monday

Big Tire Days Return

Is there really a need for Fat bikes in the Edmonton area anymore? With a small dump of snow which came down a week ago by the time I got out the trails were more than packed down. I coulod have used any bike in the quiver and been fine. This seems to be the case for most rides nowdayas. Even in heavy snow with the amount of fat bikes out there the trails are packed and ready with a few days.

That thought was on my mind as I was out on a scouting mission to see how a very sore rib can handle things on a bike. I could have just rode locally but guys... Beaumont is pretty lame.

So the quick loop was done from OIld Timers to the Walterdale and back across the Low Level and than Old Timers again with a proper ending on West Coast trail.

Six kilometers isn't worth ride postingn but I took pictures kids.

Beer Friday. Payette. Pistolero Porter

Beer Friday done live on an actual Friday!? Do we wait for the nostalgic  Lonebiker Parade to roll through? A grumpy led procession  of sorts complimented with poor sentence structure and periods that end way the fuck over here          .

Oh I'll just be nicer to my old self. The grumpiness will keep coming though. I cannot control that. The first couple of days have not had any riding and I'm sorry. I did have a rib injury at work where it was diagnosed there is either a slight fracture or the muscle in the area is heavily bruised. The injury was not the real reason for the lack of riding, it was the lack of readiness the Winter bike is in. An emergency brake bleed was in order which included a handlebar change. Yes things are getting a bit narrower all for a good reason. So here is hoping a ride is coming soon. Breathing in heavily is quite hard with the ribs so we will see how it goes.

Payette brewing is located in Boise, Idaho. We are pretty sure this is the first time Payette has been on here but can't quite nail it down. Of course that would mean searching through the archives which none of us feel like doing right now. Not even those greasy interns.

Taken from the perennial series of beers from Payette. This one was aged twelve months in a barrel which has me on edge for the opening and first, second, and tenth sip...

The pour gave a very dark beer that poured into the glass with the mischief of an ancient Viking. A small head formed and was gone which evaporated into a lake of froth which sat on top of my glass eying me like a bad college professor eying his female students on a Friday night at the local pub.

Once we all settled down a sip was taken and I was quite taken back by the incredible that was happening in my mouth. Smells of sweet caramel and mountain almonds (does that even exist?) are evident. That first sip you ask? Dark chocolates and day old espresso. It hits your palate and then asks if you want more. 'Yes' you answer and boom. Toffee and roasted malts come at you.

This one is perfect for the current weather we are having. Wet, cool and shitty. Go on... Find this.

This beer gets 4 suds out of 5.

Happy Saturday

One badass song complimented by an incredible video.

This one right here is fullscreen watching with headphones only.

Fall is Falling Fast

A quick roll through Terwillegar this late morning had me thinking I should have been out earlier. The frozen mudded trails were good until I was midway on Flat Pete and the frozenness turned into grossness. My rear derailler pulley quickly plugged up and I started leaving tracks... gasp! I was one of those people!

Once off the singletrack I rode paved back. Although I did take that trail that runs parallel to the trees back cause it was rideable and momma never raised no pavement rider!

Well... I do ride a lot of pavement in murky conditions.

There ride was short but incredible. I don't want to go to work tomorrow now.

this bottle might still be sitting after the ladder bridge on f.p

The Altitude Let Me Down... Again

The ride today was supposed to be a gooder by any means necessary. Than at approximately the 3.84km mark my pedals spun and there was nothing. On a trail I really needed some forward momentum in areas (Machete) it never happened and I fell hard cause of it. Same thing happened in Fort Saskatchewan. I thought it was just the gunk collecting up.

Nope.. Guess not.

Here is a bit from the ride I wrote while I was able and not walking, riding down hills...

'The ride up six shooter was somewhat of a challenge. 4.5 rest breaks and a stop for a potty break marred the trip up. Well I guess it would have been marred it if I cared and was in a hurry.

The trails looked wet but were fine. A look outside this morning bred panic and after much deliberation with executives and brethren members it was decided to take the trail bike and smash some trails.'

Not sure why the text is so big. Anyways... A ride up Six Shooter and than Machete and it was over. Something to do with the freewheel I'm guessing. Funny how the expensive wheels I have bought over the years have never had problems... 

Fort Saskatchewan in the Fall, Bitches

A Meet up with the original Brethren member Gord... Wait a minute.. Is he? Yes it was him. An awkward MTBR meet up in the days when complete strangers would meet up alone in the woods together. I mean what was I thinking? Luckily though, Gord is not an axe murderer and it turned out to be a good meet up as still in two thousand and eighteen we are still rolling together on mountain bikes.

Jason came a round about a few months or so later in the Fall. And Kent... Well he joined oh man. A few years after, thats why I only have him for t-shirt giveaways down at Lonebiker headquarters. Bah ha ha ha ha!

So Fort Saskatchewan was ridden in the late Fall. I stumbled about over the simplest of trail features meanwhile Gord had the Superhero cape on and made 'difficult', his bitch.

The trails were ok. Some tacky awesome, some dried out root goodness, and some areas of absolute dumpster fire grease which quickly made your bike unsteerable.

In the end, a very Fort Saskatchewan ride. Very typical of all the rest that have been in short.

Amaze.

Credit Gord Brenner.

pics from top down #2, #6, #10

Pavement Trolling, Woodpecker Dodging.

Sorry, no write up. A boring ride on the paved to try and streatch out the muscles.

Forty Days

A ride after what is hoping to be the end of a rather nasty muscle strain. Forty days ago was my last roll which was a rather poor showing in the cold as I was typically unprepared.

Today though. The weather was unreal and a ride in Mill Creek to the outer reaches of Mill Creek (Old Timers) went down on the Rocky Mountain.

As per all the other long ride breaks this was much akin to the others.

*Sore lungs.
*Quickly tired legs.
*A struggle on the technical.
*Clumsily paced hard climbs.
* An overall sense of belonging (Awwww.)

In the end. It felt awesome. Writing this now with no leg strain issues other than knowing it is still there (with very little pain) I am hoping for round two tomorrow.

Giddyup kidlets.

trees came in handy today for rest spots on the climbs

Happy Monday

Beer Friday. Wild Rose Brewery, Barracks Brown

From the great foothills of Calgary we bring you Wild Rose Brewery. A brewery that prides itself on using all natural ingredients which was formed in nineteen ninety six making them twenty two years old. The year me and Mrs Lonebiker decided to start hanging out and I put the moves on her like a sultry James Bond.

Well.. Truth be told. She had to put the moves on me as I was a bit scared. Now though guys. I'm a regular Charles Bronson when it comes to making Mrs Lonebikers wildest dreams come true.

Well... Again, truth be told. between work and when I am riding bikes things can be a little... Wait a minute. This is none of your business! Why the hell am I typing this? I know we just laid off a bunch of people cause of the slow times but really...

Barracks Brown was poured into our trusty beer tester mug to the amusement of my Mother and pet bird (remember I said lay-offs? Things are tough right now.) and a darkened brown beer filled the glass armed with a strong two thick fingered head that would make any beer snob froth at the mouth. Hints of toffee and malts were a delight for the nostril. Tastes of dark chocolate mixed with coffee and toffee round it out. Hints of nuts seem to envelop the mouth as you swallow.

A very nice delightful beer to round out a Monday night beer write up for a work post.

This beer gets 4 suds out of 5.

Happy Train Geek Tuesday

Photo Dump Saturday

This from a few weeks ago when I was more mobile. Sorry but no riding for a long time most likely. That would only prolong this.

Please send complaints to Kent@lonebikerindustries.com

He will handle all the complaints with free t shirt give aways or nude selfies. Your choice.

Beer Friday. Grizzly Paw Brewing, Grumpy Bear Honey Wheat

Another seamless flow from Beer Friday to Beer Friday on this here un-bikerless plagued blog. With a hard week of nights behind me with a sore leg I am done and wondering what is next? Do I just ride my bike? I was advised not to last time I was off yet I was told to do many other things to help it get better which I did and nothing changed. I think after eight weeks of this I am just going to accept this and just go with it. I mean.. I can still ride right? I just limp when I walk.

I'm happy with this... I'll just be that middle aged limpy guy (not that kind!) You know... The one who walks around the local bar with a cigarette clutched in his mouth. Limping across the floor making derogatory comments about his ex wife.

I'm on that road kids. It won't be long. It starts with the never endless limping.

We poured this honey wheat ale brewed in Canmore Alberta into our trusted Lonebiker Beer review mug and it showed a murky wanting to be gold but not just right there yet beer. It sat in the glass and looked at me and I looked at it. It knew I just finished a hard week on site with a bum leg and I felt the sympathy pouring out of it's suds. 'Drink me' it cried as I looked on.

The nostrils enjoyed the honey that was quite evident in this one making the taste buds anxious for a sip. The taste gave a good shot of you guessed it... Honey. Nope! Lots of grains and hops in this one with a honey aftertaste. A finely played out tasting in regards in how the honey came in a honey wheat ale, I was expecting an overpowering first shot. Instead it came as an afterthought in a way. Sounds and it is it is actually quite Impressive.


This beer gets 3.5 suds out of 5.

Beer Friday. Molson Canadian Cider

"Beer team Assemble!"

That was the call out on the Lonebiker employee radio to the masses involved with the Beer Friday operation. One by one they showed up at the door at the Beer Friday testing lab in their usual great spirits. These folks get pumped for Beer Friday and with testing being few and far in-between lately this was quite really the best way a Saturday night could have gone down!

"What in the actual Mcfuckballs is going on here!? A cider! I got excited and dropped my Tinder date for this!? A cider!?" Yelled one of the photographers from the back.

I calmed him down and the situation was tense for a few moments. After a few Bruce Lee kicks to the groin by yours truly to the millennial photographer he was willing to cooperate. Actually, you know something? Millennial's are a lot older than people think. They tap out at 37 (2018 year only of course.) Maybe it's the younger versions of millennial that everyone complains about. Most of the older ones are quite top notch. Ironically this photographer... 22.  And oh boy, did I go Ric Flair on him.

Yes a cider isn't a beer but they can be delicious. It was in the mod yard a couple years ago where I met a fine chap who drove me in the direction of these fine fermented apple juice beverages. I had promised to do more reviews of these but you know what? Delicious craft beer got in the way.

We poured and observed this cider from Molson Canadian. Canada's premier beer maker who are swiftly wanting to take over the cider market in Canada. It was golden and looked crisp and clean. Like a mountain stream, albeit a mountain stream stained with something to give it that light golden hue.

The first sip was quite nice. Although this would be something one would want to drink on their patio on a hot summer evening. It works on a cool September night as well. It does seem a bit watered down though. The apple is there and is fine. Oddly the last few sips were had and the watered down opinion has been thrown out the window.  No other notes worth mentioning. It is quite sweet though so you might want to stay away from having a couple in a row.

This beer (cider) gets 3 suds out of 5.