Sat. 11/12

I met up with Dr. Tim and Dave on Saturday for a ride.

And with the SSW winds we headed toward High Forest via Cty 8.

Each of us took our turns at the front, Dave and Tim a bit more than me.

As we turned west out of High Forest, I realized I just didn't have it today. So after a few miles, I let Dave and Tim go ahead and enjoy their ride at a tempo better suited to them.

I turned about and headed for Stewartville.

With a slight tail-cross wind, I managed to get a little of the feeling back in my legs and I moved along nicely (at my slower pace).

After a quick stop at the Casey's store, I continued east and then north for Simpson.

From there it was more north and east for home.

I actually felt pretty good by the time I rolled into the drive. To bad Dave and Dr. Tim got to see me at my "best".

Lately...

Mostly indoors stuff.

It's been windy on the weekends, and cold/dark on the weekdays.

Maybe this weekend...

Sat. 10/29

What a nice cool fall day to be out for a ride.

I made my way to Eyota and then on to Dover with a slight tailwind pushing me along.

Then I did the "about face" and worked a bit harder to make my way home.

Lots farmers combining their fields and hauling the bounty out of the fields.

Great temps and great ride.

Sun. 10/23

Bill and Cathy were over on Saturday, so not plans to get out while they were back.

It was a bit windy on Sunday, but I did manage at least a quick 20 miles.

I guess you could say, I'm officially in the "off-season" mindset.

Sat/Sun, October 15th and 16th.

I got for a nice windy ride on Saturday. I was pushed along at 20+mph on the trip out and had to struggle to maintain 14mph on the return leg.

Then on Sunday, I made the trip up to Lakeville to ride with the Silver Boys.

They had about 50 people show up. A lot of the usuals, a few new faces, and even a couple of surprises (i.e. JT).

We rolled along nicely and from my position near the middle-back, I could hardly notice the wind. I'm sure the big dogs up front were feeling it though.

Around mile 16 or so, someone just ahead of me caught their front tire in one of the vertical cracks in the road. As he attempted to maintain his upright position, he tapped the front wheel of a gal just behind him. And unfortunately she went down, taking a couple of others behind her. I saw the whole thing in super-slow-mo and started heading for the ditch to avoid the ever growing pileup. Just as I thought I could ride it out in the ditch, a riderless bike slide into my path and I caught the back wheel. That was all I needed to launch me over the handle bars, tumble head first into the ditch with the bike still nicely clipped in.

I must have done a nice tuck-and-roll, because there were no injuries or damage to me or the bike. My left brake and my handelbars were a bit mis-aligned, but other than that I was fine.

The gal landed kinda hard on her hip I think, but there was no visiable signs of major damage. She continued the ride as if nothing had happened.

I think the only other casuality that I saw was Shad's left brake handle was broken when he went down somewhere in the mayhem.

Pretty exciting weekend of riding...

The Fast and the Furious...

Jeff, Steve, Jim, and Tim getting ready for Saturday ride.

I really like Jeff's new wrist watch.
He will never be late for a ride again.

Sat.9/29

Well, I missed the ride with Jeff and Steve.

Since it was cooler out, I waited until the afternoon and did the 51 mile loop to Chatfield. Of course the winds had picked up a bit, but not bad a ride.

Sat. 9/17

I did the group ride Saturday morning and to my surprise Jeff showed up.

We rode with the group to Spring Valley down cty 1. And then after a stop for some water (and in Terry's case, donuts), the group decided to brave the ESE winds head for the border (Iowa that is, not Taco Bell).

Jeff, Dan, and I decided that we were going to turn around at Spring Valley and head back from there.

We headed west, across hwy 63, and then finally turned north on cty 8.

Then up through High Forest, past the airport road, and down into town past Bamber Valley school.

Dan turned north, while Jeff and I turned east into town.

I finished with around 75 miles.

Over in Wisc...

Big Brian at #5 and Mrs. Brian at #3

Jesse James ride

Well, I attempted the Jesse James ride this year with the guys.

I knew from the email chain that they wanted to go fast and I had not been on the bike for over a week. So, I was a bit nervous about the pace.

And it turned out, I was right.

Around mile 70, my right hamstring cramped up and then after getting that worked out, so I could continue on without too much pain, my left calf decided it would join in the fun around mile 85 or so.

So needless to say, I suffered all the way back to the car.

Other than that, it was a great day to be on the bike...