Finally brought the old sled down off the rafters and started getting it ready for the season!  The 'old' gal turns 24 this year and hopefully we've done enough to give it at least another year of life-

New brake, drag mat, new bridle, sand/varnish, new lashings, handlebar wrap, resurfaced runners, and coming soon a new sled bag!

That's neat. Kind of like re-acquainting with an old friend huh? The woodwork doesn't look as tough as all that knot and rope work!

The rope work was actually where I was most comfortable it was the lashings that I was a bit nervous about LOL-

Looks great! You never would guess it's 24 years old. Hope it gives you one more great season.

Honestly we were surprised how old the sled turned out to be- One more season is my hope for this sled then off to retirement for it!

Well, one last major upgrade for the season and a new gadget to try out!

First our new quick release. This is just the connection between whatever is holding my sled from taking off without me, usually the truck, and the team. Neat little gizmo and it doesn't seize up like my other one did!


Next goodbye old white plastic runners that were probably as old as the sled....Hello QCR runners! Holy cow did these make a difference! The glide they offered was amazing and they weren't even waxed yet!

O.K., first things first. The quick release is so outrageously simplistic in it's design it just kills me that I didn't think of it. First close up of a quick change runner, it's an interesting system. The newer runners look similar to ski's, more of a hard material not as soft as the older stuff. Actually it looks just like the shoe material used on the bottom of grain heads. Is the channel and aluminum or a stainless steel?

The rails are aluminum and it is a really simplistic design! Great for changing runners quickly between races or race to practice. Plus this system was the most cost effective way to improve the old sled! The plastics are very much like skis, wax absorbing, however they come in a multitude of colors that indicate what temperature/surface they are best suited for. I chose the Yellows based on the temperature range of our region and that these are a longer lasting plastic than some of the softer ones.