Welcome to 2009!! I hope this note finds you healthy, happy and already getting excited for another great riding season. I know many of you may still have snow on the ground where you live, so your riding season has likely not officially started up yet. But heck, that doesn’t stop us from thinking about riding, getting our bikes all ready to go or maybe even getting out on a brighter day, right?

In a funny way, a New Year is like the ride I had the other morning. It had snowed overnight and I was the first one out in it. Fresh tracks! I love it. I left my place just after 5:30am with snow still coming down. Luckily it was only a couple of inches or so (4 or 5 cm for you metric folks) so pretty easy to ride in still. I love how quiet it is when there is fresh snow on the ground.


There is something very pleasing about being the first tracks of the day in a park that probably would be well trampled out by noon. You can’t help to have a great ride when you are the first tracks of the day. But then I spotted a fresh set of tracks crossing our trail… first one, then 2 or 3 more. These weren’t Nevegal’s or Small Blocks though - they were other forest critters scurrying around out there. Over the next 1/2 hour I counted 4 sets of rabbit, a couple of raccoon and one set of deer tracks all crossing over our trail – coming from the forest on one side and disappearing back on the other. It was awesome, once again reminding me that there is lots of animal life despite being in a forest park somewhat surrounded by housing.

With my lights dancing off the fresh snow I started thinking how the New Year is similar to laying down fresh tracks -- it is a time you can hit the reset button. There is no frozen ruts or muddy tracks already there you have to follow, no old goals, it isn’t raining and bleak. Its a great time to just make changes and new goals. To me, making these fresh tracks is just like a clean slate, the snow beautifully hiding anything negative.

I am usually not a big one for New Year’s resolutions but there are some things that just make sense. I think once again I have to ride more and enjoy getting out regardless of time or place. It is so easy to forget how lucky we are compared to many others around the world. The fact that I can even think about "riding more" is amazing. Enjoy every day my friends!

Don’t just talk about it; go lay fresh tracks in 2009.

Seeya out there !

Steak Sauce