Biking the Doldrums

No I'm not talking about the equatorial region that struck dread and sometimes insanity into the hearts of sailors for hundreds of years, although the effect can be the same. I'm talking about the doldrums of February and March, a time when biking is scarce and the  good snow for skiing or snowshoeing is quickly melting. 

Lets get something out of the way right now, over the years we have become what some might consider "snow snobs". If it is not deep, light and refreshed frequently we don't like it. This year we have only strapped on the snowshoes and skis once.  Don't get me wrong, normally we have been snowshoeing and skiing, for 2-3 months now, but this year has been pathetic. 

In other years mid February rolls around and the excitement of snowshoeing has worn off, but the trails, even the lower ones,  are still snow covered, or too muddy for any real riding. (Fat tires not included, having not fallen for that 'trend'  yet). Leaving one or even two dreaded months of waiting. 

This year has been different, there is some lousy snow high in the mountains, but surprisingly some of the lower trails are open, and the afternoon temperatures hover around 55-65 degrees allowing for some afterwork and Saturday rides.

It began a few weeks ago when I noticed that my normal winter starved Strava feed began filling up with rides,  from riders who don't own fat bikes. Some were on roads,  others on dirt. I decided it was time to try. 

Surprisingly the trail was mostly dry,  even dusty in places.  But it was one of those evenings when it is just good to be on a bike with nice temperatures and nicer trails.   It gave me a glimpse of another good year of riding and exploring one trail at a time. 

I couldn't help but thinking of those sailors who sat for weeks or even months waiting for wind.  Sure the comparison is slim. We have food and water and are not likely to die.   But,  for those who really love the outdoors and specifically putting foot to pedal,  the insanity can be the same. 



2013 Stumpjumper EVO Comp VS. Aluminum Santa Cruz Bronson

In seeing the popularity of the Santa Cruz Bronson (which is an awesome bike if you’ve read my review) I decided to write up a review on the 2013 Specialized Stumpjumper EVO comp and do a little comparison to the Bronson.  I know some people may be as surprised as I was…maybe even upset..

I rode the Bronson for a while and found I was always comparing it to my old EVO.  One ride, I ran into someone with an EVO and we switched bikes for a bit as he wanted to try out the Bronson.  While riding the Evo, I remembered how much I liked that bike.   With the 27.5 wheel craze and popularity of the Bronson, decided to sell it.  I soon found a used Stumpy evo with 26” wheels and bought it.

On the first few rides, I thought I would feel awkward on the bike and smaller wheel.  I put on a short stem and wider bars and immediately felt at home.  I did notice the smaller wheel, but after a few pedal strokes, was already used to it.  We have some good trails with a lot of variety by our home.  They have some really steep climbs, some dirt roads, lots of smooth single track, some technical trails and a few that are really rocky.   I’ve ridden this bike a ton locally, in Moab, and St. George and every ride is a blast! 

While climbing, the bike feels light and goes up easily.  On really steep sections where I felt I was fighting the Bronson, the Evo scooted up surprisingly well.  After long steep climbs, I found I actually had more energy than I did on the Bronson.  You could feel the mid-sized wheel roll over things a bit better, but the FSR suspension was so plush, it kept traction and was really enjoyable climbing.  It wasn’t a 22lb racer, but for a bike with 150mm of travel and 26” wheels, it shouldn’t do as well as it does going uphill.  When the trail was flat, the Bronson held speed a little easier than the Evo, but I was blown away at how well it climbs.

Like the Bronson, when you point the bike downhill you see what the bike was made for.  The suspension was so supple and plush you can just fly over rocky terrain.  Where the Evo is a bit more playful and can hop and play over rocky trails, the Bronson has more of a, “I’m going to plow over stuff and not even worry about it” attitude.  Cornering on this bike, with its low BB and short stays is so much fun!  However, I think this is where I preferred the mid-size wheel a bit more.  If the corner was really loose and rocky, the smaller wheel had to be guided through a little more where the 27.5 wheel held the line without too much worry.  Both bikes were a blast going down, but the Evo seemed easier to ride aggressively and just have fun while the Bronson was a little bit more business.  With that being said, on every single Strava segment, my fastest times were on the Stumpy Evo.  Was it the bike or was it because I was just having a freaking blast?  That is a good question.

After riding many bikes in many different areas, these two were my favorites.  If I had to pick a favorite bike of all time, it would be the Stumpy Evo for how much fun it is to ride and how well it handles everything from XC loops to shuttle trails.  The Bronson is an awesome bike and super fun to ride, but I would give the edge to the Evo.

It seems every ride, I stopped caring about wheel sizes, latest bikes, being fast and just had fun riding and that is what it is all about.

So, go ride your bike..