The biting wind carried the scent of damp earth and frozen promise. Sequoia, the sturdy gravel bike, stood poised at the edge of the field, its blue handlebars a vibrant splash against the monochrome landscape. The mud, once a familiar, welcoming challenge, now bore a crust of treacherous ice. Tire tracks, like skeletal remains of giants, etched their way through the frozen puddles. It was a day where the elements tested not just your skills but your resolve to be outside.