Temps hit 40, so I got out for a nice spin after work.
Light winds made the ride even more fun, as I did my old stand by out and back.
It feels great to be on a real bike without tons of layers on...
Bring on the Global Warming!
L-M-L
I tagged along with Steve, Rob, Shad, Pete, and Ted as they attempted the 80+ mile gravel race/ride from Lakeville to Faribault and back to Lakeville.
The roads were pretty frozen over with lots of ice and quite a few spots of recent re-freeze (both water and muddy ruts).
The racers were long gone before I even got warmed, but I was there to just ride it anyway.
It was a nice course that took us out through some great countryside.
As the temps warmed a bit, so did the roads in spots, so things started to get tacky and even a bit muddy.
Then while trying to navigate some very deep frozen ruts, I lost my balance and ended up on my side.
Nothing hurt too bad, so I picked myself up and rode on.
After awhile I noticed my left knee was starting to hurt, so I was sure I lost some skin.
As we rode on, I felt things starting to tighten up and I could tell I wasn't riding for fun anymore.
When we got to Faribault, I decided the rest of the ride would be solo and on blacktop. I could tell the gravel ups and downs were too much for me today.
So I made my way back to Lakeville on the frontage roads following I35.
I was plenty tired when I got to the truck and I finished with almost 75 miles.
Sunday saw the stiffness set in around my left knee, neck and shoulders, and my right thumb seems to have gotten into the mix somewhere as it too was swollen a bit.
But nothing broke (on me or the bike)...
The roads were pretty frozen over with lots of ice and quite a few spots of recent re-freeze (both water and muddy ruts).
The racers were long gone before I even got warmed, but I was there to just ride it anyway.
It was a nice course that took us out through some great countryside.
As the temps warmed a bit, so did the roads in spots, so things started to get tacky and even a bit muddy.
Then while trying to navigate some very deep frozen ruts, I lost my balance and ended up on my side.
Nothing hurt too bad, so I picked myself up and rode on.
After awhile I noticed my left knee was starting to hurt, so I was sure I lost some skin.
As we rode on, I felt things starting to tighten up and I could tell I wasn't riding for fun anymore.
When we got to Faribault, I decided the rest of the ride would be solo and on blacktop. I could tell the gravel ups and downs were too much for me today.
So I made my way back to Lakeville on the frontage roads following I35.
I was plenty tired when I got to the truck and I finished with almost 75 miles.
Sunday saw the stiffness set in around my left knee, neck and shoulders, and my right thumb seems to have gotten into the mix somewhere as it too was swollen a bit.
But nothing broke (on me or the bike)...
Great time!
Got back from Arizona on Saturday around 2:30pm.
1700 miles of driving each way or about 27 hours of straight through driving. But the Suburban made the trip much nicer with an air mattress in the back to take a nice nap every once in awhile.
Rob and Shad made the drive with me, so 1 person could sleep while the other two drove and kept each other awake.
We (Rob) hit some icy stuff on the way down in New Mexico and a little in Arizona, but the drive back was smooth sailing.
Now for the good stuff:
8 days of bike riding in great weather with great friends.
We got down there on Thursday around 1:00pm and couldn't wait to get out on the road. The temps were in the middle to upper 50s, but the sky was bright blue with no clouds.
Pete showed up later in the day on Thursday, with the rest of the guys flying in on Friday.
We did a number of familar routes and some new ones.
The best new ride was Tortilla Flats. We drove about 45 minutes to get to a park to launch from. Brian from Minnesota (who winters down there) met us for the day. We rolled down into the Tortilla Flats area, then up and over some nice climbs, then down into the valley area of Tortilla Flats (the town, if you can call it a town), we continued up the otherside to the end of the blacktop road. Then we turned and had a terrific downhill ride all the way into the town again. From there we continued up and out the otherside back to the cars.
On another day we made the trip to Fountain Hills and back through Scottsdale.
And we even did a 100 mile day.
The temps kept getting warmer each day and the sky was always clear and blue.
We did have one day were the wind made an appearence, but we stayed together and it wasn't too bad.
How can any day riding your bike be bad?
Anyway, I finished the trip with 509 total miles and according to Steve's Garmin we did over 35,000 feet of climbing during the trip (that's like climbing Mount Everest and then some).
It's great to be home, but I already miss the long, warm days riding...
Some Pics:
Mileage Breakdown:
2/21 32 miles.
2/22 76 miles.
2/23 73 miles.
2/24 54 miles.
2/25 46 miles.
2/26 100 miles.
2/27 53 miles.
2/28 75 miles.
1700 miles of driving each way or about 27 hours of straight through driving. But the Suburban made the trip much nicer with an air mattress in the back to take a nice nap every once in awhile.
Rob and Shad made the drive with me, so 1 person could sleep while the other two drove and kept each other awake.
We (Rob) hit some icy stuff on the way down in New Mexico and a little in Arizona, but the drive back was smooth sailing.
Now for the good stuff:
8 days of bike riding in great weather with great friends.
We got down there on Thursday around 1:00pm and couldn't wait to get out on the road. The temps were in the middle to upper 50s, but the sky was bright blue with no clouds.
Pete showed up later in the day on Thursday, with the rest of the guys flying in on Friday.
We did a number of familar routes and some new ones.
The best new ride was Tortilla Flats. We drove about 45 minutes to get to a park to launch from. Brian from Minnesota (who winters down there) met us for the day. We rolled down into the Tortilla Flats area, then up and over some nice climbs, then down into the valley area of Tortilla Flats (the town, if you can call it a town), we continued up the otherside to the end of the blacktop road. Then we turned and had a terrific downhill ride all the way into the town again. From there we continued up and out the otherside back to the cars.
On another day we made the trip to Fountain Hills and back through Scottsdale.
And we even did a 100 mile day.
The temps kept getting warmer each day and the sky was always clear and blue.
We did have one day were the wind made an appearence, but we stayed together and it wasn't too bad.
How can any day riding your bike be bad?
Anyway, I finished the trip with 509 total miles and according to Steve's Garmin we did over 35,000 feet of climbing during the trip (that's like climbing Mount Everest and then some).
It's great to be home, but I already miss the long, warm days riding...
Some Pics:
Day 1: cool, but fun.
End of the road on Mt McDowell Road.
Going fast on Mt McDowell Road.
At Bartlett Lake,
ready for the 14 miles of climbing to get back out of there.
Stopped at a nice lookout on the way back from Tortilla Flats.
Coffee and crepes at a nice Carefree, AZ coffee stop.
(Steve did the nice oldtime colorizing).
P.S. I think Pat looks possessed (or pissed)...
Mileage Breakdown:
2/21 32 miles.
2/22 76 miles.
2/23 73 miles.
2/24 54 miles.
2/25 46 miles.
2/26 100 miles.
2/27 53 miles.
2/28 75 miles.
Warmer riding is ahead
Tomorrow is the big send off.
Rob, Shad, and I head out bright and early (that's the plan) for AZ.
The trailer is all loaded and ready to go.
Silver Cycling should look at replacing the trailer with something just a bit bigger (wider and higher). Then they could set it up better for bike hauling. This trailer is just too narrow for bikes to be mounted across the width and it is too short to mount the bikes hanging from the sides. So, we are stuck with packing them in the center lengthwise and you can only get so many in that way. If you look at the pro vans, they typically hang the bikes from the walls by the front fork, resulting in much more usable space. Since we are a bike club, I think we need a trailer that is setup to handle bikes in a more professional manner. OK, time to get off the soapbox.
The plan is for the three of us to drive straight through to AZ and hopefully we can get down there before noon on Thursday. We have an air mattress, we are going to setup in the back of the suburban for at least the occasional cat nap. Of course there will be snacks and a cooler for us.
The plan is to get a nice ride in on Thursday and then a good nights rest for another nice ride on Friday. Pete will show up later on Thursday, while the rest of the guys should show up on Friday around noon or so.
Then the party really gets going.
I hope to have some photos (that will make you all wish you were along for the fun) to post after I get back. I plan on being too busy to post anything while I'm down there.
I'm looking forward to a fun time with a great group of guys and some great riding.
Rob, Shad, and I head out bright and early (that's the plan) for AZ.
The trailer is all loaded and ready to go.
Silver Cycling should look at replacing the trailer with something just a bit bigger (wider and higher). Then they could set it up better for bike hauling. This trailer is just too narrow for bikes to be mounted across the width and it is too short to mount the bikes hanging from the sides. So, we are stuck with packing them in the center lengthwise and you can only get so many in that way. If you look at the pro vans, they typically hang the bikes from the walls by the front fork, resulting in much more usable space. Since we are a bike club, I think we need a trailer that is setup to handle bikes in a more professional manner. OK, time to get off the soapbox.
The plan is for the three of us to drive straight through to AZ and hopefully we can get down there before noon on Thursday. We have an air mattress, we are going to setup in the back of the suburban for at least the occasional cat nap. Of course there will be snacks and a cooler for us.
The plan is to get a nice ride in on Thursday and then a good nights rest for another nice ride on Friday. Pete will show up later on Thursday, while the rest of the guys should show up on Friday around noon or so.
Then the party really gets going.
I hope to have some photos (that will make you all wish you were along for the fun) to post after I get back. I plan on being too busy to post anything while I'm down there.
I'm looking forward to a fun time with a great group of guys and some great riding.
Feb. 14, 2013
Still trying to pile on the miles ahead of next Wednesday.
All of them are indoors as the roads and trails are pretty much skating rinks.
Not much fun.
Rob and I are planning the trailer swap on Sunday, then I'll get my stuff loaded and ready for our planned Wednesday departure.
I still need to clean the CX bike and regrease both bikes, then I should be ready to load them up.
I suppose I should get a suit case out and start laying out stuff for the trip.
Now, I hope the weather cooperates, both for the drive and the riding.
All of them are indoors as the roads and trails are pretty much skating rinks.
Not much fun.
Rob and I are planning the trailer swap on Sunday, then I'll get my stuff loaded and ready for our planned Wednesday departure.
I still need to clean the CX bike and regrease both bikes, then I should be ready to load them up.
I suppose I should get a suit case out and start laying out stuff for the trip.
Now, I hope the weather cooperates, both for the drive and the riding.
Indoors, indoors, indoors
Like the title says, you can guess where my "riding" is occurring.
Fun times.
I am well behind last year already, but then last year it was probably 50 degree outside.
I will keep working the miles for the Arizona trip. I would like to have 500 miles in before I go, but we'll see.
The trip is pretty much all set, sounds like Legs and Shad will bring the trailer (full of bikes and gear) down to Rochester, we'll then switch to the Suburban, load my suff and head out from Rochester. The plan is to drive straight through if the roads are good, otherwise we'll stop along the way to give ourselves a rest. Hopefully, we can get down there and get all setup before the others show.
Don't tell the others, but we are hoping to even get a ride or two in before they get there... :)
I can't wait, it should be a blast.
On a personal note, Kathy is doing great. And she and Marie just scheduled our cruise last night, so end of April is the date for some fun in the sun. Marie and Justin are cruising the first week with us, then they'll fly back while Kathy and I do "one more lap" for a second week in the sun. Too bad Cathy and Bill can't join us, but with Ben being so little they felt they would have to pass this year. Maybe next year...or maybe we'll have to start thinking about Disney World and Universal Studios.
On a pro cycling note, too bad about Lance. If pro cycling is ever going to move forward, they need to stop looking back. Any 10 year old witch hunts do absolutely nothing good for the current sport. Sometimes, I really get tired of defending the sport to people who don't follow it or really care about it, but because of Lance the only thing they hear is cheat, cheat, cheat. Sad.
Start a clean sport today for a better tomorrow.
Fun times.
I am well behind last year already, but then last year it was probably 50 degree outside.
I will keep working the miles for the Arizona trip. I would like to have 500 miles in before I go, but we'll see.
The trip is pretty much all set, sounds like Legs and Shad will bring the trailer (full of bikes and gear) down to Rochester, we'll then switch to the Suburban, load my suff and head out from Rochester. The plan is to drive straight through if the roads are good, otherwise we'll stop along the way to give ourselves a rest. Hopefully, we can get down there and get all setup before the others show.
Don't tell the others, but we are hoping to even get a ride or two in before they get there... :)
I can't wait, it should be a blast.
On a personal note, Kathy is doing great. And she and Marie just scheduled our cruise last night, so end of April is the date for some fun in the sun. Marie and Justin are cruising the first week with us, then they'll fly back while Kathy and I do "one more lap" for a second week in the sun. Too bad Cathy and Bill can't join us, but with Ben being so little they felt they would have to pass this year. Maybe next year...or maybe we'll have to start thinking about Disney World and Universal Studios.
On a pro cycling note, too bad about Lance. If pro cycling is ever going to move forward, they need to stop looking back. Any 10 year old witch hunts do absolutely nothing good for the current sport. Sometimes, I really get tired of defending the sport to people who don't follow it or really care about it, but because of Lance the only thing they hear is cheat, cheat, cheat. Sad.
Start a clean sport today for a better tomorrow.
Tues. 1/8/13
Jeff, Steve and I got out for a nice spin on the slightly snow covered trail of the Douglas trail tonight.
There were a few thick spots, but more bare or hardpacked spots than anything.
It was fun until my light battery ran out, then I had to finish the ride with a flashligh in my left hand.
And did I mention that I really started to run out of gas by the time we had turned around and headed for the cars. I'm blaming it on the fact that I'm still not 100% from this flu bug that I had last week.
I'm sure Jeff and Steve will just say I'm a wuss...
Still, it was fun to get out and ride. I need to start piling on the miles so I have fun in Arizona.
There were a few thick spots, but more bare or hardpacked spots than anything.
It was fun until my light battery ran out, then I had to finish the ride with a flashligh in my left hand.
And did I mention that I really started to run out of gas by the time we had turned around and headed for the cars. I'm blaming it on the fact that I'm still not 100% from this flu bug that I had last week.
I'm sure Jeff and Steve will just say I'm a wuss...
Still, it was fun to get out and ride. I need to start piling on the miles so I have fun in Arizona.
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