Ear to the ground:

“Rub some dog crap on ’em. That way you won’t lick ’em.”

– Fond memories of a former hockey coach’s tough love approach to chapped lips.

Spinning wheels

While most mortals have shelved their skinny tires for the season, the Iron horse Bicycle Classic is always around the next bend. That’s right – time is ticking on the training clock, with less than six months before the annual ride to Silverton (May 24-26, 2014). If that seems like plenty of time to put down the egg nog and squeeze into the lycra, think again. Registration for the Iron Horse officially opens Tues., Dec. 3, as in next week. Bear in mind, in recent years, the IHBC has sold out faster than Ned coming down Molas with a tailwind (last year’s sold out in a few days, with some categories going in 13 hours.)

But don’t despair – the folks at the IHBC are offering locals a chance to “get in” early. There will be a “Locals Only” registration 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Mon., Dec. 2, at Mountain Bike Specialists, 949 Main Ave. To help jumpstart the carbo-loading, there will be goodies courtesy of Bread, Steamworks and Rocky Mtn. Chocolate Factory. 

For those unable to make the preparty, regular registration opens at 9 a.m. Tuesday at www.ironhorsebicycleclassic.com.

And while we’re talking bikes, FLC Cycling has some great gift ideas for the two-wheel inclined Skyhawk fan on your list. Between now and Dec. 2, you, too, can order your very own FLC Cycling Team gear, including jerseys, jackets, shorts, socks – the same kits the team wears.

The gear is available through Champion Systems, the FLC Cycling Team clothing supplier. Partial proceeds from sales will go directly to the FLC Cycling Team.

To get started, go to http://custom .champ-sys.com/Login/en-US/. Shoppers will be asked to enter temporary login information: username: flccycling1 and password: flccycling1. But don’t delay, the store closes at 10 p.m. Monday. The shipment is expected to arrive at FLC the first week of January and will then be shipped off to happy riders everywhere.

For help in navigating the system or ordering process, e-mail Katy Chaffin at katyc@champ-sys.com.

And last but not least, for those who prefer skinny trails to skinny tires, nothing says “I care” like a Trails 2000 membership. This year, T2000 has teamed up with Maria’s and MBS to offer a sweet membership package starting Noel Night, Fri., Dec. 6.

The promotion includes a gift bag brimming with biking goodies like a gift certificate, monogrammed 16 oz. glass, sticker, three local maps and one topo map from either Singletrack Maps (Maria’s) or Latitude 40 (MBS) with every T2000 membership. The gift bags will be available for at MBS and Maria’s, through Dec. 24.

But wait, there’s more! Each person who purchases a membership gift bag will be entered into a drawing for a swag bag of their very own, to take place Dec. 24.