Thur. 5/28/09

Got out for a nice 35 mile route tonight.

Took the normal roads out to my turn-around point on my 20-miler and then went south.
Then I turned east toward the turkey farms. Ed, Eddie, and Edward were all there to chase me as I passed the farm house near the turkey farm, but only Ed (the rotweiler) kept the chase up all the way to the corner.

I yelled and had the pepper spray ready, but Ed is a smart old dog. He stayed just out of range and kept an eye on me each time I sat up. He eventually got bored and turned around.

I continued east and then north (into the wind) until I got to Dover. Then I turned west (into the wind) and made my way back to Eyota and the south to my turn-around point and finally back in to home.

I was really bushed tonight, must not have been my night for exercise...

Big Dave is at it again...

Puttin' the hurt on...

Sun. 5/24/09

I met up with the three Amigos this morning...



They started from the Westfire parking lot and headed east across town and I met them by RCTC. With the NNE winds we headed to Elba via cty 9. On the way out of town, Dr. Tim caught up and rode with us until we hit the top of the cty 9 hill, then he turned and headed for home.

The pace out on cty 9 was nice and steady with everyone taking turns at the front. During the whole time Jeff and Big Jim were keeping Steve and I amused with their jokes and tall-tales.

We turned north and continued down into Whitewater State Park. Boy, that road is nice and smooth now. It's alot more fun descending on pavement that isn't full of Grand Canyon-sized holes all over the place...

We stopped at the convience store in Elba for refreshments and nature breaks. Then we doubled-back to the campground and up the nice steady two-mile climb. Once at the top it didn't feel like we were getting any tailwind. Must have been more out of the north at this time.

Eventually, we turned south on hwy 42 and then turned west into Viola. Up and over the many rollers as we made our way back into town. I turned south on cty 11 as the others continued on into town.

I got home with a little over 3 hours on the cycle computer and right around 60 miles, so all-in-all a pretty fast-paced and long day (for me, not so for the others).

I even got sunburned abit on my arms and legs...

Mon. 5/18/09

Well I think I need to recap my last several rides since I've been lax in updating the site.

I did a nice 20 mile ride last Tuesday, don't remember much so it must have been a pretty normal ride.

I was out of town, so I didn't get back out until Sunday. But I did a nice 45 mile loop of Chatfield. The west winds made the county 2 stretch a bit of a workout. But overall, I felt pretty good.

Tonight, I did the 20 mile route (again). The strong south winds were fun. And at the turnaround, I was made aware of the real wind direction of SSW. So the homeward stretch was a good head-cross. I topped it off with a climb up the cty 11 hill south of home.

I think I'm getting better, but I just can't tell...

Sat. 5/9/09

I met up with Jeff and Steve today and we headed for Oronoco. From there we kept going north until we reached Mazeppa. With the WNW winds, we headed east to Zumbro Falls. But before we got there, Jeff flatted. He found the problem, a small shard of glass, after he cut his finger about 6 times. Then, it took quite awhile before we got all of the glass out of his tire. We booted the tire (just in case) and put in the spare tube, pumped it up, and continued on into Zumbro Falls. After a quick stop at the convience store, it was up the hill on hwy 63.

We turned west at Chefies and headed into the wind for a bit. After the nice decent into the valley, we turned south heading back towards Oronoco.

Lots of nice hills and it seemed like the wind was always there to make sure we worked hard. At least I had Jeff and Steve to block the wind for me on those windy sections...

Just over 51 miles on a chilly, windy day. About the time we rolled into Jeff's the sun showed up.

Sat./Sun. 5/2/09-5/3/09

Well on Saturday, I got up enough nerve to ride with the guys. I met Jeff and Steve at Jeff's and we headed out from there. With the winds out of the WNW, we headed for the Douglas Trail to meet up with Big Jim, then we continued to Pine Island. From there we went eastward to Mazeppa and then into Zumbro Falls.

After a quick stop at the convience store, it was up the long hill out of town heading south. We waved as we passed Chefies. The cross winds were really starting to get to me and by the time we hit the Rochester city limits, I was done.

Jeff wanted to do more and I'm sure Jim and Steve were up to it, but I wussed out and they lead the way back to Jeff's. Big Jim had a nasty stretch home into the wind. I hope he made it.

Today, I rode with my other friends (myself and I). I headed SE even though the WNW winds were starting to pick up. The ride to Chatfield was very nice and I felt like I was being pushed along the entire time (which I was). The turkey farm dogs (Ed, Eddie, and Edward) did not make any attempt to chase today. Maybe it was the pepper spray from the other night or maybe it was because their owner was in the yard and they felt they had to behave.

I made my way out of Chatfield up the now straight county 2 and after reaching the top, I was welcomed with a nice stiff breeze. From there the wind was either a headwind or a nice brisk crosshead wind. Fugels Mill road has only been slightly changed with less curve and a more gradual slope. And nice new pavement all the way to Simpson. From there I only had the big hills on county 11 to deal with.

All in all, a good weekend. I felt tired today, but not as tired as Saturday. I'm blaming today on the wind and the fact the myself and I did absolutely no pulls at the front. Sandbaggers, myself took the Simpson sign, followed by I, and that left third place for yours truely...