Sun. 11/30/08

Big Jim and I headed out from the start of the Douglas Trail. With the light NW winds it was a good direction to head out of town. We warmed up on the trail, then hit the CX trail for some fun. We took the snow-covered blacktop sections where ever the CX trail was really rough. I can't wait for enough snow to smooth out the CX trail. Then we hit the CX protions where they were more fun to ride. At Pine Island, we turned around and were just starting back, when we spotted anothe bike rider heading toward us. It was Big Bruce back for another round. He apparently was waiting at the condos and spotted us going by. He wasn't ready, so he honked his horn, but Jim and I didn't hear it. So he played catchup the whole way to PI. Anyway, the three of us headed back, hitting a few CX sections and stayed on the trail for other sections. I dressed a bit too warm and by now the sweat was starting to make me feel the cold. So after we said goodbye to Bruce, Jim headed for home and I continued to the trailhead and to the car.

What a fun day to ride in the nice light snow. Now, bring on the heavy stuff...

Sat. 11/29/08

Big Jim, Bruce, Jim T., and myself headed out from Dunn Brothers South on avery nice Saturday. Big Jim had sent out the note indicating a CX ride on the gravel roads SW of town, so we headed towards Salem Corners. We turned south on 104, when all of sudden Big Jeff showed up. He had a flat on his way to the starting point and decided to chase us down after he fixed it up. So we all continued south on gravel crossing over hwy 30 and then after a few more miles we turned west. Then we crossed over cty 3 and another mile or so, we turned north. Back across hwy 30, we continued north, then we made a jog west, then north again, and finally back east. Eventually we turned north again where we headed down into a nice little valley and up out the other side. Then we hit the blacktop where we turned east and headed back to Salem Corners and then on into Rochester.

Man, I was shot by the time I got home. I sure hope I'm not getting out of shape (as if I every was in shape).

Sat. 11/22/08

Big Jeff, Big Jim, Chris, and myself hit the CX path next to the Douglas trail on Saturday morning. Just a bit of snow, but ice. Jim came prepared with the dual-suspension mountain bike. Several sections were way worse than any washboard stuff. If I wouldn't have been clipped in, I'm sure I would have flown off the bike a couple of times.

The pace was nice a steady with Jim and Jeff doing most of the pace setting. At PI we turned back and headed for home. With the south winds the open sections were a bit cool. We all made it back, but not before Chris pulled out of his cleats. All that bouncing around must have loosen things up and all of sudden his egg-beater cleat wasn't attached to the bottom of his shoe. Luckily, he came prepared with a multi-tool and got the cleat out and re-attached, so he could ride home.

Can't wait for the white stuff to pad the trail a bit more...

VeloCX 11/08/08

With the cold and the rainy wet weather, I stayed indoors on Saturday, but it seems that a few brave souls went out to play.

Jeff looks like he's having fun...



So does Marty...



Even Big Steve got into the act...



Someday I'll "grow a pair" and make it out to one of these.

Sun. 10/26/08

Big Jim, Big Jeff, and I met at the Condos for some fun in the wind. Jeff rode over from his house and he looked pretty tired by the time he pulled up. We jumped on the dirt trail and the trees provided a nice block for the wind (in most places). As we headed to PI, we encountered a number of larger tree branches (and whole trees) that had come down because of the wind. So we practiced our CX skills, by jumping off our bikes, moving the offending tree off the path, and then jumping back on the bikes to continue the ride. Unfortunately, we had to do this all the way to PI.

Then on our return trip, more (newly felled) trees were in our way. So again, we practiced our CX skills. After Jeff bottomed out on the edge of the snowmobile bridge (just north of Douglas), he noticed the back tire was getting low. We stopped in Douglas to give it a quick shot of air, but it wasn't too far down the trail before it was flat again. So, Jeff just rode it back to the condos like that. I had the Suburban, so we loaded both bikes in the back and I gave Jeff a ride home. Big Jim headed back home alone (and into the wind). I hope he made it...

Thur. 10/16/08

Well, the crud is still hanging on abit. But I felt good enough today to do the 20 mile out and back. Light SSE winds were not a factor either direction and I didn't feel too bad for not seeing the bike for just over a week. This weekend is hectic, so I'm not sure how much riding I can sneak in...we'll see.

Wed. 10/08/08

After a week of feeling terrible, I finally got out on the bike for a few miles. I did my standard 20 mile out and back. There was a SW breeze, so I had to work a bit harder to get home. I did see Gary G. out there enjoying the nice October weather. All in all, a nice ride and I hope it helps clear up this crud that continues to hang on...

Sat. 09/27/08

We had 9 start from Dunn Brothers South on a cloudy, foggy morning. The winds were out of the NW, but the Treadman Duathalon was being held in the Douglas area, so we decided to stay away from the NW. We headed east out of town on cty 9. With the slight tailwind it was a wicked pace until we turned north on cty 7 and the headwinds slowed the pace. But now the wind was making it real fun at the front. We formed a rotating paceline and that helped give everyone a chance at the fun. We turned east again on cty 2 and then north on cty 10.

Up and over the rollers as we went past Carley State Park, then we turned west on cty 23 and headed for Elgin. Dave dominated the Elgin sign and the Olmsted County sign. So we all had to listen to him talk about it all the way back to town. As we neared cty 11 there were two ponies lose on the road and we stopped as they carefully went by us and headed back to their pen. Dave wanted to stop and ride them, we said NO! Bebee justed wanted to take them home (I'm not sure what for???). Again, we said NO! About this time we passed another group of cyclists who were heading east for Elgin. We then turned south on cty 11 andmade our way back to cty 9, where I headed for home and the others headed for town.

Great ride everyone (Big Dave, Dr. Tim, Big Jim, Bruce, Big Al, Dan, Bebee, and Tobias) and way to make my legs hurt...

No sign of Big Steve:

or Big Jeff:

but Big Jim was there:

I gotta find a picture of Big Dave...

Wed 09/24/08

Big Jeff and I did the CX thing last night.

There was a lot of cyclists on the regular part of the trail. Must be the late-season peakers trying to cap off that mileage report with some bigger numbers. Anyway, the dirt trail was nice and quiet, except for the couple of walkers/joggers that were in the wrong place...

The CX trail wasn't too muddy either (even near Douglas). Only one real wet spot and you could easily go around it on the higher trail shoulder.

Big Jim did a nice job painting the bigger rocks (although, red is not my favorite color). But, there were several newly felled trees that need to be sawed out of the way. Jim you have a chainsaw, right? You can just pack the saw on your back and ride out there (about midway between PI and Douglas) and get those couple of biggies...Jeff would give you a big hug if you do.

Anyway, what a beautiful night for a ride. Even if it does get dark by 7:30pm.

Sat. 09/20/08

Didn't make it up in time for the group ride, so I took my time and got ready and then headed for Chatfield. The winds were SW and felt like they were getting stronger as the day warmed up. The westward stretch out of Chatfield was the roughest, but then I got a nice push all the way back home.

Nothing out of the ordinary, just a nice 50 mile ride (just me and my friends)...