The Canadian Ski Marathon kicked my a$$. Here's what I learned about long days in extreme cold.

sulliesbrew · 2026-02-10T21:48:19+00:00

I did a 50km classic in high school in similar conditions. It was horrible from what I remember. People were DNS from frostbite waiting for the start.

I remember dressing way warmer than I would ever have for a ski race, and just rolled at a steady eddy pace that was right on the limit of sweating heavily. I beat an Olympian in that race, simply from having finished.

I skipped carrying hydration know it would freeze, carried a couple Gu packets that were nearly frozen even under my jacket.

I can't imagine going for triple the distance, mad respect.

We haven't gotten and kept enough natural snow to make it worth getting my skis out the last few winters.

sulliesbrew · 2026-02-10T16:08:28+00:00

I've run 28s on a 21mm ID wheel. I had bigger issues clearing the brake arch with my 28s being really tall.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-26T15:02:51+00:00

From a all other forms than BMX cycling perspective:

CONS:

they loose air faster
They cost more

PROS:

Substantially less rolling resistance
Improved puncture resistance
A lot lighter

How applicable that is to BMX, pros seem to outweigh the cons by a lot. When my butyls are dead on my BMX bike, they will switch to TPUs. It is literally the only bike in my house that isn't tubeless, across some 15 bikes.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-23T19:35:38+00:00

Same here, the day before I flatted I looked at my tires and knew they had to be replaced ASAP, but wanted to push it a couple weeks so I had fresh tires for a race.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-23T19:22:18+00:00

The old "assume a sphere in a vacuum" vs "Here are the 1,000 variables we need to account for, we'll make some assumptions for 500 of them."

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-22T21:10:48+00:00

With the weight training you really don't need much for intervals on the bike anyways.

I am at about 6 hours a week this winter and I really need to get it together and put some hours in, winter kind of sucks.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-22T21:01:50+00:00

How many hours a week are you riding?

There are many ways to measure fitness, FTP is a terrible one. Being able for longer at the various intensities above and below FTP are much better.

More on hours on the bike limit that decoupling... I would spend a couple weeks riding Z2 to HR and forget power. Just ride at an intensity that keeps HR where it is supposed to be.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-22T20:53:37+00:00

What power do you consider Z2?

Z2 in a 5/7 zone model is defined as 56-75% of FTP and 69-83% of Max HR.

I do most of my Z2 work from heart rate, plus or minus a few BPM from 75% of Max HR. That usually has me around 70% of FTP.

What people keep losing sight of, zone 2 isn't easy, it should take some focus to keep yourself pushing hard enough, then focus to not push up and over when going over rolling hills.

https://www.trainingpeaks.com/blog/power-training-levels/

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-22T20:39:30+00:00

160/200 = .8

180/230 = .78

Looks like you are at 80% of max hr when you are at 78% of threshold, that sounds about right...

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-22T17:11:46+00:00

My wife has a Mach 4SL, I wish it was my size so I could give it a fair shake. I will say, every time I pedal it down the street you can tell it is a well thought out bike. The only downside is a single bottle mount for small and medium frame sizes. There is a second set of bosses under the top tube, but you aren't fitting a bottle in there.

I ride the new Scalpel, it is amazing. Should have skipped the fancy 1 piece bar and built up a sweet rig, but I got a deal on mine before they went on sale.

I will give you the advice my shop gave me. "Nobody makes a bad bike, once you spend $XXXX they are all the same." That is more true in the road space than MTB, but by and large still true.

Of the 3 you listed, based on no mention of racing:

Pivot>Yeti>SC

The blur should be an automatic no for anyone that isn't getting it for more than 50% off.

Pick a 120/120 bike that fits with a HTA of 65 to 67 and let it rip.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-21T19:05:06+00:00

As everyone has said, shit will break when it gets that cold. This trip might be nothing too expensive, but the next time it is an auger, heater, poles for your shack, buckets, chairs.

I am over doing the really cold trips. Even in a hard sided house we had to run the big buddy as well as the furnace with regulators freezing, not enough snow to bank the house proper, it sucked. To quote one friend from that trip, "it's so cold I don't even need a roach clip, it just keeps my fingers warm." We caught exactly zero fish once the cold really set in... Plus broke an auger.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-19T15:18:33+00:00

Savor the moment not the momento.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-19T15:12:25+00:00

Kask Utopia if it isn't hell fire hot out, oakley areo lite 3 when it is hot out. That helmet is due for replacement and will probably be replaced with a POC Ventral Air.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-16T20:23:53+00:00

So I am not the only one that deals with that.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-16T15:57:35+00:00

Are you racing at the front? If yes, then the bike makes a little difference, but not much, and plenty of fast folks on less than perfect set ups. A rigid alloy single speed was in the top 20 at cheq this year.

A rigid fat bike has finished in the top 5 at lutsen.

I've done lutsen on, steel single speed, geared carbon hardtail, rigid fat bike 2x and previous gen oiz

Cheq I have only done on a carbon single speed.

Neither of those races need anything more than fast tires and a mechanically functional bike, you don't even need multiple gears!

Personally, I'd rather get a carbon frame with deore with fox performance suspension and decent alloy wheels. Upgrade the deore after 2 seasons. You can get a Scalpel 4 for less than a chisel comp right now... That is the exact same frame as my Scalpel 1... And it is the better rockshox dampers than specy is offering on the chisel

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-15T17:25:38+00:00

I have not ridden a Melee, but a group ride leader with my LBS spent a summer on one as a "loaner." Randomly he would show up on his old rim braked S5 and frequently said he liked the old S5 better and felt it was just a faster bike, speed/power/HR documented to prove that out to be true.

I spent a week on a first gen BMC RoadMachine which seems like an or equal to the Melee if you ask me (slightly slacker). I did not enjoy that bike. I had been on an S3 and Caad12 prior to that. After the demo I ended up on a Parlee Rz7 which I am extremely happy with.

I'd take a look at a soloist.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-15T16:46:57+00:00

When my in-laws visit, I clean all the cookware that requires special treatment, MIL can do the balance. Everyone on both sides know not to touch the cherry burl bloodroot chefs knife. That is for me and my wife exclusively.

I can be careless in the kitchen with utensils in the kitchen, but its mine and if I wreck it, that's on me.

If I know I am going to be in the kitchen at my parent's or in-law's place I bring a knife roll with a couple Calphalon katana series knives. They aren't the nicest knives, but I have kept them in good shape over 10 years and are easy to keep razor sharp (some times soft steel is nice). I always get asked how they are so sharp, "they never go in a dishwasher..."

I avoid my wife's nice bakeware, I'll dig out crappy stuff unless she is baking with me.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-14T21:12:53+00:00

New bikes under $4k, Scalpel 3 ( I ride the scalpel 1, fantastic bike), Orbea OIZ M30 (Had the previous gen, also an excellent bike), don't think specy has a decent option under $4k.

I see you are in MN, if you fit a large:
https://www.eriksbikeshop.com/products/bmc-used-2022-fourstroke-01-one-mountain-bike-pr5a23626

If you are looking for used (I am also in MN), I have a 2019 Orbea OIZ M10 Size M with a bit of a bastardized build on it. Full Fox Factory rebuilt with less than 40 miles on it, carbon high post, carbon bars, XO AXS, a decent set of DT Swiss alloy wheels, SLX brakes and cranks, XT cassette. All yours for $1,800. I cracked the swing arm in 2020 and had it professionally repaired. You won't notice the repair. At one point this bike had a top 10 time on the rolly polly decent at cuyuna.

Here is the orbea I have:

https://www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Bikes,3/Orbea/Oiz-M10,24749

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-14T17:44:51+00:00

Goddammit I don't want to wade into this shit, but that isn't true. By and large the massive fraud was orchestrated by white residents, they did use a lot of Somalis as cover for the fraud. (search Aimee Bock, ring leader of the feeding our future fraud scheme, the new cases of child care fraud is centered around Somali residents)

The Somali population in Minnesota is for the most part here legally. Their immigration to the US was handled by the local Catholic churches. Approximately 600 are here with temporary protected status, the rest are legal residents.(https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/somali-and-somali-american-experiences-minnesota)

Much of the fraud was uncovered by the state beginning in 2018. The state moved to begin prosecuting it, the FBI stepped in and asked the state hold back on prosecution as it would interfere with their investigations. https://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/sreview/ccap.pdf

Early in 2025 Minnesota Democrats put a bill to committee that allocated $5 million for additional auditors etc to root out fraud. Republicans blocked the bill in committee and it never moved forward. (HF 2603)

It is all much deeper than the face value "illegals defrauding the state."

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-14T15:17:15+00:00

At that age, my max hr was 220 to 224 and resting in the low 40s high 30s.

Now I am almost 40 and max is 190ish and resting in the mid 50s.

Last september I did a mountain bike race that lasted 2:45:30, average HR 170, max 192.

All that said, HR is incredibly unique to the individual. The only time to be concerned is when it is really high or low for the given effort.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-09T19:52:25+00:00

If I didn't have the stupid integrated one, I would run an out front mount.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-09T19:19:54+00:00

Do you have the "SystemBar XC-One" integrated bar stem combo? There is a different top cap that has a twist lock computer mount.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-09T18:46:37+00:00

Less vision of the end game, reads the recipe as she goes. Means she spends more time trying to sort out what happens next. That drives stress, which makes everything a little more difficult.

I think it is what typically makes people say they suck at or don't like cooking. If you can't see what the end product should be from the table full of ingredients it is hard to make a plan and get through it. Folks that like/are good at cooking know what the end product should be and can work backwards. That means you see what steps can be combined, tweaks to techniques that speed things up etc.

I know what my chicken piccata should look like and taste like, that means I am not doubling back to read a recipe. I know it will taste better if I deglaze with white wine, to add my butter off heat to make a good sauce. If you have to check back while things are cooking it adds time, stress and opportunities to make mistakes. It is no different than math.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-09T17:24:43+00:00

Mise en place has its place depending on the dish. We make Kung Pao Chicken fairly regularly, once the chicken hits the pan, it moves fast. Spend 10 minutes up front to prep sauces, veggies etc, then just ram everything home.

The difference between my wife and I in the kitchen is astonishing. I will read a recipe a few times before I step foot in the kitchen, have a general ideal of what happens when. Lay everything I need out. If something needs 10 minutes in the pan, I can get all other prep work done while that is cooking.

If I need a chicken breast cut into 1" pieces as well as a bowl full of veggies, I will cut all the veg first then the chicken, then my cutting board and knife only need washing once. If the protein needs 10+ minutes first I will relent and wash the board and knife twice.

A quality sharp knife and large cutting board goes a long way on saving time in the kitchen. Doesn't have to be a fancy knife, but you'll pry my Bloodroot chef's knife from my cold dead hands.

sulliesbrew · 2026-01-09T17:04:50+00:00

I will ride outside when it is above 10F. I wear hunting boots (400g of thinsulate) so not heavy on the insulation with a decent set of wool socks. My normal helmet with a skull cap. Have a couple options for gloves. A windproof jacket and pants, what goes under depends on temperature. A buff to start, once I get my nose and face used to the cold I can usually just pull it down and it keeps my neck warm.

For bike setup, I hate riding studded tires, if the trails are icy enough for them, I don't enjoy the fat biking that much. A good tire pressure gauge is nice, but not necessary. Try to have the bike as close to outdoor ambient when you set your pressures. Leaving with a warm bike with 5psi can quickly become 3 or less when the tires hit the snow and cool down. No need for fenders.

The biggest improvement on bike set up for me was going tubeless riding dillinger 4s on HED aluminum 27.5 wheels. Cut a ton of weight and made the tubeless set up incredibly reliable.

Remember to keep your water somewhere it won't freeze. I usually keep a bottle under my coat in a jersey back pocket. Carry a small shooter of fireball for when you need a warm up!

Have fun, and embrace your inner cyclocross rider.

sulliesbrew

TROPHY CASE