"When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels."
- Unknown
Leave it to MILES PEDDLED (MP) to provide its loyal subscribers with a third choice: that is FAT TIRE BIKING. As all of the loyal subscribers to MP will surely recall, the December 2021 Edition of MP addressed the issue of why you should embrace LIVIN’ THE FATTIE LIFESTYLE. See the digital version of MP at: https://www.milespeddled.com.
The December 2022 edition of MP is entitled LIVIN’ THE FATTIE LIFESTYLE – THE SEQUEL or as the French say: VIVRE LE STYLE DE VIE FATTIE – LA SUITE. It just sounds prettier in French. Playlist suggestion: J’AI DEUX AMOURS by Josephine Baker. The title of this song translates to “I Have Two Loves.” This is one of the mottos at MP – love of biking and love of its loyal subscribers.
Before we get to the subject matter of this Month’s edition, Management has some issues that need to be addressed and a postscript from the grandiose November 2022 GIFTING GUIDE.
Please recall that the tagline for MP is “Ride, Relax & Rejoice”, affectionally abbreviated as “R, R & R.” Unfortunately, as usual, corporate America lacks imagination and cannot come up with their own taglines. Hence, they tend to imitate (some would say steal) from well-respected publications such as MP. Case in point - Management recently ran across a publication from WILDERNESS VOYAGEURS (WV) which used the tagline: “Ride. Relax. Connect.” Management has referred this matter to the legal department at MP who will be sending a cease and desist letter to WV. Playlist suggestion: CEASE AND DESIST by Courtney Paige Nelson.
As an aside, please note that the delusional election denier KARI LAKE was served with a cease and desist letter by the estate TOM PETTY over her unauthorized use of Petty’s song “I WON’T BACK DOWN.” As with most bullies, Trumper Kari Lake did back down.
Now onto something a little more pleasant, a postscript to the November grandiose GIFTING GUIDE. Specifically, when enjoying the fattie lifestyle there is no better time to plug in some wireless earbuds and enjoy the Miles Peddled playlist which can be accessed at: https://www.youtube.com. Search for Miles Peddled. This will provide you with a potpourri of curated songs from Master MP.
To maximize the loyal subscribers’ enjoyment of the MP playlist, the MILES PEDDLED INSTITUTE (MPI) recently tested several affordable wireless earbuds with the following 3, all of which are under $100.00, providing the best acoustics:
· Least Expensive:
For about $40.00 the TRANYA T20 earbuds have no frills but provide surprisingly decent acoustics. They are also waterproof.
· Budget Earbuds:
The EARFUN AIR PRO SV have excellent sound with a well defined bass and good clarity. They are also lightweight and comfortable. Normally priced at about $90.00 they are currently on sale for $54.00.
· Best Sounding Earbuds Under $100.00:
The best sounding of the group was the SONY WF-C500. In addition, they are splash proof and offer 10 hours of battery life.
Now on to Livin’ the Fattie Lifestyle. Management at MP has always lived by the principle of “La Vie Est Belle” which roughly translates to “Life is beautiful – embrace the moment and squeeze all the juice out of life.” This is basically the essence of fat tire biking. Seize the moment and get the most of out of your winter biking.
The reasons to embrace the fattie lifestyle were delineated in the winter glögg December 2021 edition of MP. In brief summary they were as follows:
· Fitness:
Winter riding on a fattie will keep you in shape. It will stop you from becoming the fat man. Playlist suggestion: FAT MAN by Jethro Tull.
· Fun:
Riding the fattie is fun. You will have a happy day. Playlist suggestion: OH, HAPPY DAY, by the Edwin Hawkins Singers.
· Forage:
A fattie will take you places that you have never been to on a bicycle. You will get out and enjoy the day. Playlist suggestion: LOVELY DAY by Bill Withers.
Where do you go to stay in shape, get happy and enjoy the day? Below are the answers which are the trails. As usual, Management will rely upon its loyal subscribers to use Google maps or the more enhanced DMAPS.
I. PAUL DOUGLAS FOREST PRESERVE
· Trail:
Before we discuss the trails, the natural question is who was PAUL DOUGLAS (PD)? According to DMANOPEDIA, PD was an unconventional liberal. He started as a Republican, then became a Democrat, turned Independent, and then came home to the Democratic party. He served as an alderman in Chicago and three terms as the U.S. Senator from the State of Illinois starting in 1948. He was a passionate crusader for civil rights (Dr. Martin Luther King described him as “the greatest of all Senators.”)
Please recall that in the November 2022 edition of MP, there was a video of the opening up of 13 miles of new fat tire bike trails in Paul Douglas Forest Preserve (PDFP). In total, there are over 20 miles of fattie trails that are well maintained and marked. Most of the work is done by the CHICAGO AREA MOUNTAIN BIKERS (CAMBR) which includes the MAD VIKING (MV). If you go out to these trails, make sure to contact MV and demand that he makes you some of his wonderful chili which recently placed second in a chili cookoff.
· Playlist:
In honor of the unconventional liberal PD, the playlist suggestion is: GET UP, STAND UP by Bob Marley and the Wailers.
II. LEMONT QUARRIES
· Trails:
The trails are located at Lemont Quarries, 1001 Main Street, Lemont, Illinois. On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. there will be the FORGE FAT TIRE BIKE RACE AND TOUR. There will be a 10 mile long course and a 5 mile short course. Google: The Forge at Lemont Quarries for more information about the race.
· Playlist:
GO HARD OR GO HOME, by Wiz Khalifa featuring Iggy Azalea.
III. VILAS COUNTY, WISCONSIN
· Trails:
In the December 2021 edition Management outlined numerous fattie trails in Wisconsin including CamRock near Cambridge, Wisconsin; several in Madison, Wisconsin; and the Premier Trails in Marquette, Michigan. Adding to that list are the WINMAN TRAILS and the LUMBERJACK TRAILS in Northern Wisconsin’s Vilas County. The trails are groomed all winter long and provide a healthy mix of scenic peddling, flowy single track, and fun rollers.
· Playlist:
A HAZY SHADE OF WINTER, by Simon and Garfunkel.
IV. DULUTH, MINNESOTA
· Trails:
Hardy Minnesotans, which include loyal subscribers SANDERELLA; RIGHTEOUS MAMMA (RM); and, THE ICE MAN (IM), will tell you that when the mercury drops the party starts. The fattie scene in Duluth is second to none. Check out MISSION CREEK or for something a little different try SPIRIT MOUNTAIN where the lift will take you to the top of the mountain and you get to fat tire your way down.
· Playlist:
WINTERTIME by the Steve Miller Band.
Time for this Month’s Trivia/Quiz section. Below is a brief history of the development of fat tire bikes followed by four quiz questions. The answers to the questions will be in the postscript section.
According to DMANOPEDIA, a fat tire bike (a/k/a a “fattie”), is an off-road bike with extremely large tires that run between 4 to 4.5 inches in width. The tires are run at very low psi generally between 10 to 30. Most fattie riders credit STEVE BAKER who was with Icycle Bicycles in Anchorage, Alaska with developing the first modern fat tire bike. Here are your quiz questions:
1. True or false: Fat tire bikes are only good in the snow?
2. In what decade were fat tire bikes first developed? 1900, 1940, 1970, 1990.
3. Who made the first commercially popular fat tire bike? Salsa, Trek, Surly or Specialized.
4. Who is the better fattie rider? The Mad Viking or Master MP.
TEASE TIME: The next edition of MP will be a combo edition putting together the months of January and February 2023. The subject matter of the edition will be WELCOMING WARM WEATHER BIKE TRAILS. Playlist suggestion: HERE COMES THE SUN by The Beatles.
Time to go but remember: “The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.” – Charles Dickens (Nicholas Nickleby). Happy Holidays and until we meet again, remember to R, R & R!
POSTSCRIPT:
Answers to Trivia/Quiz Section:
1. Snow Only:
The answer is false. At approximately the same time that Steve Baker was developing a fat tire bike in Anchorage, Alaska to ride on snow, Ray Molina had commissioned a local bike shop to build bikes that he could take tourists on guided tours through the soft sands of New Mexico. Master MP once led an intrepid group of explorers on a fat tire adventure through the Florida Everglades. See the gallery section of the digital version of MP for a picture of the group. You will note that one of the participants lost a finger to an alligator.
2. Decade:
Surprisingly, the first fattie was developed in 1900 but they did not become in popular until the 1980’s.
3. Commercial Fat Tire Bike:
The first widely available commercial fat tire bike was made by Surly and was called the “PUGSLEY.” It was released in 2005 in an audacious purple color with 3.7 inch tires.
4. Fat Tire Rider:
The answer is neither, they both suck, but it is not how well you ride your fattie, but how often. Playlist suggestion: THE ROCKEFELLER SKANK by Fat Boy Slim.