Finally trailered up to IP. Things very scratchy at lower elevations but good to excellent up high. Island Pond had groomed all of their trails last night, and they had set up well in the cold temps. We did 125 miles in just a few hours of really good riding, but hard to go anywhere off the hills. We did get down to Chez Pigeon for lunch, but very thin cover down there. If we could get a little snow it would really help. Even without it I'd say this is as good as it's been this winter.

Picture from 111B this morning:

Looks nice :div20: Quick question, do you have studs on your sled?

No. I haven't studded my sleds for the last 4 years.. I had too much damage with the high miles with studs. Don't miss em a bit.

I rode most of this season without, the screw ins on the 1-3/8" track beat up my heat exchanger, I swapped tracks went to an 1.25 Ripsaw, most to of my riding this year has been in WI and MI, icy trails so I've missed the studs, but have done OK. Going to Ontario on the 11th for a seven dayer and have been debating whether to stud or not, thanks for your answer :div20: :beer:

:drunk: shit, rob. nice trail there, wish i could have gotten out more. been loaded up to my eyeballs with school work, and not much extra spending money either. really feelin bummed right now about that. i really can't believe it at all. probably my worst riding season yet.


on a side note, i've run studs on my past sleds, but put a rip-saw on my viper this summer. with not enough room for the tall lugs and heat exchangers both, i had to go without studs. i don't like being without the studs much at all. a lot of the corners can be icy (especially around home), and what a difference it makes to have the studs. 144 of 'em really keeps your rear end glued and you don't shoot across to the other side of the trail without slowing down too much. those icy corners can be a bit hair-raising sometimes. i've had a few wrecks avoided by being able to break on iced trails, too. i have to be a lot more cautious now, which is better i guess.

i'd like to get studs on the ripsaw, but not gonna but new drivers, new gearing and the studs can you say expensive? ouch. heh, new heat exchanger protectors too.