Winter Sanity

Up here in Alaska we like to brag a bit about how tough our winters are. We scoff when friends and family in the lower 48 complain about cold temperatures. But for all our bluster and braggadocio, winters are hard. Days are short, temps are cold, nights are epicly long. Those of us that live up here have our own little tricks for staying sane. And my own sanity rests squarely on the knobby surface of the 4.8 inch wide tires of my fat bike.

Yesterday the local cycle club hosted the first in the winter race series. There isn’t a lot of snow on the ground so the course through the local mushing trails was a bit bumpy. Despite the conditions 20 some people showed up to race their bikes. I opted for the shorter race, and then spent some time photographing the other riders as they came into the finish line. Here are a few snaps. (Oh yeah and see that lovely low-angle light? All these were made just shortly after noon. Like I said, days are short.)