Unicyclists in Alaska's Susitna Snow Race

gbarnes · 2005-02-22, 04:19 AM

I'm still unpacking and recovering, but I've got pictures and a rough trip report at:

http://www.gb4mfg.com/snow/

What'd you do this weekend?

scar_head187 · 2005-02-22, 04:31 AM

you were in alaska too!? thats so cool i live right here in anchorage. do you live here? if so you should come to the alaska unifest in the summer.

- jesse

john_childs · 2005-02-22, 04:32 AM

Wow! Riding in snow is so hard, especially when you sink in on an ungroomed trail. Wow!

Next weekend I'm going to go ride 50K in the Chilly Hilly.

DigitalDave · 2005-02-22, 04:57 AM

Quote:

I'm anxious to see Surly's new 4" tire, I suspect it could have increased the amount of trail we rode.

4" tire ..? ... can't find it on their site

DigitalDave · 2005-02-22, 05:34 AM

Ahhh Ha! ... I found it mentioned in thier catalogue

S_Wallis · 2005-02-22, 05:45 AM

Good job George and Brian! That had to be exhausting. It is always cool to do something first.

Scott

TonyMelton · 2005-02-22, 06:35 AM

Amazing job George and Brian! The Iditarod race has a legendary reputation amongst cyclists (the 2 wheeled kind) for being an incredibly tough race. I'm staggered that you guys took it on and finished successfully on unicycles. This is uni-history in the making!

[My weekend: On Saturday I rode my unicycle on stage for a Vodafone employees' family day. And on Sunday I went riding with Andrew 'Rail Ridin' Carter. ]

____T()|\|>-

lilschu · 2005-02-22, 06:55 AM

Well, it was a great experience and definitely took a lot of energy to complete.

Here is just another photo to add from a little training session the day before the race in Anchorage, AK.

If any should follow in our footsteps, Good luck. Just being a part of the race was worth the trip and all the planning that came with it. Just remember to bring some food other than energy bars!!

And let me say cheers to George, for allowing me to be included in this experience. You’re a good friend and riding partner.

markf · 2005-02-22, 08:10 AM

you guys are nuts. seriously. also can you post some info about the unis. they aren't your normal rides and it looks like a sweet new design. George, what're some specs and/or new stuff on those?

GizmoDuck · 2005-02-22, 08:51 AM

Wow! That's so awesome! I'll second what Tony said- the iditarod race is legendary- I remember reading about it many many years before I learnt to ride a unicycle. I'm so happy to hear it's now been done on unicycles. Well done guys!

My weekend: not nearly as epic. Rode my new roadbike- have one week to train for the Chch to Nelson race (445km)

tomblackwood · 2005-02-22, 09:04 AM

Nice going George...really like the website, and the detailed write-up.

Can't believe nobody has commented on those BAD ASS frames.

Peace,

Tom

World's Happiest Unsponsored GB4 Rider

jagur · 2005-02-22, 09:22 AM

must have been a very mind numbing ride. did you guys ever get very far apart from each other?

GB, did you use plans from Steve Howard or build it from scatch?

U-Turn · 2005-02-22, 12:14 PM

Congratulations, George and Brian! That is a very demanding challenge.

In most years, bicyclists have to do a certain amount of pushing, a lot in some years. Did you find pushing a unicycle an advantage in that respect?

In some years, bicyclists beat the skiiers, so it is partly about the conditions in a given year.

Tigger · 2005-02-22, 02:22 PM

Congrat's George... How much was the trip, maybe I could start saving for it. Can't wait to get the new frame, that would be awesome for that race... Oh guy's on that 4.0 tire from Surly it will not be in stock till mid July-Aug. there testing and tweeking it right now, also do in the same time is the bike frame dubbed the Pugsly HEHE. I saw it at the show in interbike it was sweet.

gbarnes · 2005-02-22, 04:57 PM

Quote:

must have been a very mind numbing ride. did you guys ever get very far apart from each other? GB, did you use plans from Steve Howard or build it from scatch?

The frame was very much SH inspired, but my own design. I wanted something collapsible and corrosion resistant. I made it while still at ISU on their CNC machines. They're not available.

We pretty much stayed with each other for the entire race. We'd take turns leading. I for one wasn't going to be seperated from Brian - he had the Toblerone!

Quote:

Did you find pushing a unicycle an advantage in that respect?

Probably, though they could ride slightly more than us with their increased flotation.

2005-02-22, 04:19 AM	#1
gbarnes www.gb4mfg.com Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Denver, CO Age: 31 Posts: 472	Unicyclists in Alaska's Susitna Snow Race I'm still unpacking and recovering, but I've got pictures and a rough trip report at: http://www.gb4mfg.com/snow/ What'd you do this weekend? Attached Images __________________ George C. Barnes IV http://www.gb4mfg.com/

2005-02-22, 04:32 AM	#3
john_childs Guinness Mojo Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Posts: 12,420	Wow! Riding in snow is so hard, especially when you sink in on an ungroomed trail. Wow! Next weekend I'm going to go ride 50K in the Chilly Hilly. __________________ john_childs (att) hotmail (dott) com Team Never Wash Your Muni My Gallery :: Unicycling Bookmark List :: World Clock

2005-02-22, 05:34 AM	#5
DigitalDave Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: lalaland Posts: 1,217	Ahhh Ha! ... I found it mentioned in thier catalogue __________________ My will to live was stronger than my will to die. - Iggy Pop That which does not kill me, makes me stronger. - Friedrich Nietzsche 1899 If it's popular, then what's it got to do with us? - Mens room wall My Gallery

2005-02-22, 05:45 AM	#6
S_Wallis ....... Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Antonio, Texas Age: 54 Posts: 680	Good job George and Brian! That had to be exhausting. It is always cool to do something first. Scott __________________ ------------Use my Email, not PMs please--------

2005-02-22, 08:51 AM	#10
GizmoDuck Uni Hour Record Holder 29.993km Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Wellington, New Zealand/ Middle of NSW, Australia Posts: 3,408	Wow! That's so awesome! I'll second what Tony said- the iditarod race is legendary- I remember reading about it many many years before I learnt to ride a unicycle. I'm so happy to hear it's now been done on unicycles. Well done guys! My weekend: not nearly as epic. Rode my new roadbike- have one week to train for the Chch to Nelson race (445km) __________________ Adventure Unicyclist Unitour Slideshows: SINZ: The South Island, New Zealand Unitour Induni: The India Unicycle Tour Monguni: The Mongolia Unicycle Tour

2005-02-22, 04:31 AM	#2
scar_head187 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 87	you were in alaska too!? thats so cool i live right here in anchorage. do you live here? if so you should come to the alaska unifest in the summer. - jesse

2005-02-22, 06:35 AM	#7
TonyMelton Proud owner of Kris Holms old shoes Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 1,006	Amazing job George and Brian! The Iditarod race has a legendary reputation amongst cyclists (the 2 wheeled kind) for being an incredibly tough race. I'm staggered that you guys took it on and finished successfully on unicycles. This is uni-history in the making! [My weekend: On Saturday I rode my unicycle on stage for a Vodafone employees' family day. And on Sunday I went riding with Andrew 'Rail Ridin' Carter. ] ____T()\|\\|>-

2005-02-22, 06:55 AM	#8
lilschu Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 49	Well, it was a great experience and definitely took a lot of energy to complete. Here is just another photo to add from a little training session the day before the race in Anchorage, AK. If any should follow in our footsteps, Good luck. Just being a part of the race was worth the trip and all the planning that came with it. Just remember to bring some food other than energy bars!! And let me say cheers to George, for allowing me to be included in this experience. You’re a good friend and riding partner.

2005-02-22, 08:10 AM	#9
markf movie nerd Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: central iowa Age: 32 Posts: 1,352	you guys are nuts. seriously. also can you post some info about the unis. they aren't your normal rides and it looks like a sweet new design. George, what're some specs and/or new stuff on those?

2005-02-22, 09:04 AM	#11
tomblackwood Tailgate at your own risk... Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Issaquah, WA USA Posts: 3,873	Nice going George...really like the website, and the detailed write-up. Can't believe nobody has commented on those BAD ASS frames. Peace, Tom World's Happiest Unsponsored GB4 Rider __________________ Tom Blackwood is like a shadowy figure behind a 36" tree...

2005-02-22, 09:22 AM	#12
jagur My Uzi is a Tongue Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: {So-Lame,Oregon} Posts: 6,197	must have been a very mind numbing ride. did you guys ever get very far apart from each other? GB, did you use plans from Steve Howard or build it from scatch? __________________ theres enough BS in life, without mobius contributing. Forget_Your_Life -------------------------------------- -------MUNI MILITIA ------- One Wheeled Death Squad twitter> @shot of jagur Last edited by jagur; 2005-02-22 at 09:23 AM.

2005-02-22, 12:14 PM	#13
U-Turn Small fish, small pond Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA Age: 54 Posts: 3,420	Congratulations, George and Brian! That is a very demanding challenge. In most years, bicyclists have to do a certain amount of pushing, a lot in some years. Did you find pushing a unicycle an advantage in that respect? In some years, bicyclists beat the skiiers, so it is partly about the conditions in a given year. __________________ Weep in the dojo... laugh on the battlefield. -- Dave Stockton

2005-02-22, 02:22 PM	#14
Tigger check this out Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Woodstock GA Age: 34 Posts: 130	Congrat's George... How much was the trip, maybe I could start saving for it. Can't wait to get the new frame, that would be awesome for that race... Oh guy's on that 4.0 tire from Surly it will not be in stock till mid July-Aug. there testing and tweeking it right now, also do in the same time is the bike frame dubbed the Pugsly HEHE. I saw it at the show in interbike it was sweet. __________________ To ride is not the question, where to ride the Oregon is!

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