That’s flats AND beer, not flats OF beer.  Although with all the flats today, it might have been a good idea to bring more beer.

We had a very simple plan.  Drive to snow line and ride back to town.  We got pretty far up; all the way to Cow’s End.

Looks like a moderate year up there for trees down.  Quite a few on the trail around the Cow’s End/Sidewinder junction.  Clear from Rusty Muffler down.

Uh oh…first flat.  That’s a pretty sick ride Footie got yesterday (Carbon Enduro, anyone?).  Got a few shakedown kinks to work out though…

Still, a good excuse to crack one open.

As usual, the riding in the Mice was terrible…just terrible.  Oh, and I was testing out a 650b bike from Intense.  First ride in almost 6 months….hmmmm.

Yeah, that’s another flat tire (number three I think at this point).

And we were outta beer by now.  Just as well.  The boys were all riding strong, and I’m happy to report that 6 months off the bike made almost no difference, even with an unfamiliar bike. 

Also happy to report that the 650b bike is on first impression that happy compromise between the 26 and 29.  Pedals noticeably better than the 26, but still rides quite sporty.  This will probably be the wheel size of choice in the long run for trail bikes.

There’s the snow line.  Looks like about a week or so until we’re dropping in from the top.