Riding with Dog - MTB among the Trees with Shelter from Winter's Wrathful Winds

Dog biscuit bribes no longer needed, this dog is ready to run.

Constantly amazed at the number of things I "need" to make a winter ride with dog happen. Poo-poo bags are a must, though there are some at the trail head, (one doesn't want to be caught short), riding leash, winter riding gear, water for dog, bribes for dog*, ultra-succulent uber-bribes** for dog.

Getting ready is all about the preparation. Get everything prepared first, so that the last thing to get in the van is the dog. Last thing you want to do is have to chase a dog in hot pursuit of a squirrel into the street while trying to get bikes and gear into/onto the van/rack.

Here, she wears her doggie seat harness. Afraid of windscreen wiper noise, yes, but very at home on the trail, where she runs behind the bike at a predictable and organized pace, in the zone.

We had not done the Stillwell beginner loop for year or so ... so this was going to be a reintroduction to riding behind the bike but on a perfect length of leash.

Does she want more? Let's go!! Temperature right freezing;
people need extra clothing, dogs ... the same ol' fur will do. 

She can run wihtout the leash, but it's been a year or so, so no point in risking her forgetting and running off after the first chipmunk.

So we did a couple of loops with the leash to reconnect with the mind-set of running behind the bike. The leash is held just lightly enough to prevent entanglement, but just connected enough to provide directional input. If it were too tightly held I could be eating dirt, if too loosely ... it's hard to hold it too loosely.

Keeping an eye off-piste, before the
 run resumes.

Trail queen? 

About 5-7 seven feet seems to be the the sweet length of leash for us. She runs just to the side of the rear wheel about two feet to the right.




* Old Mother Hubbard's Just Veggin/Original Assortment
** Blue Buffalo Salmon Sticks