Staying Dry And Warm Off The Bike

One of those rainy cold days where being in the house feels really good. I may head down to the bookstore a little later. I want to check out some books by Barry Lopez. It's a perfect day to be off the bike.

Took this image earlier this week.

Minneapolis Just After Sunset

That's Better

Finally the wind calmed down. There was a green blob on the radar lurking just west of cities. I gave it an intimidating stare (I'm still working on the hands-on-hips. Amy's got that down perfect), and the race was on.
You know it! It wasn't even close. Don't mess with me! I finally got one in on the rain. Now that I'm gloating, I know I'm going to get it, but after this week's weather, it feels good to at least have 1 in my column. 33/17.5

Nobody Ever Listens To Me

The wind only got stronger today, AND it rained, And it was in the 40's. Story of my life.
It was pretty ugly out there, and I almost went to the gym. I know, I know. Understanding I'd have to face myself in the morning, and not wanting to feel the shame of working out at the gym in May, I dragged the tights out, and layered up more than I have since mid March. Post ride shower was long, and the red bean soup, for dinner, was perfect. There was a moment of light in this evenings ride, as a stereotype was debunked: A Mercedes stopped for me and a Prius didn't. 31/16.7

Tom's Red Bean Soup
Soak 1/2 cup of red beans 18 hours
Rinse
In a slow cooker add
soaked beans
1 1/2 - 1 3/4 cups of water (depends on the consistency you prefer)
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp rubbed sage
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ginger
1/4 cup diced onion
1 clove garlic minced
1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
Cook for at least 2 hrs on high.

Serve over dumpling noodles or with soft bread sticks or rolls.
Corn Meal muffins are awfully good with this too.

ALRIGHT! Enough With The Wind Already!

33/16.7

40 Years Ago Today 4 Dead In Ohio

Won't Call It Cold, But...

Got the tights out and pulled them over the old hairy legs, for tonight's ride. Looks like it's pay back time for the warm weather of March and April. 33/17.0

Retrospect

I was feeling pretty good after yesterday's ride through hurricane force winds. That all changed today. I was wiped out.
Rode solo up into Baker (my usual Sunday route). Still windy, but nothing like yesterday. I was quite content to take it easy. Lots of sun. Turtles were out sunning themselves on felled trees. Birds were singing, and the lakes were a deep dark choppy blue, with a white cap or two on top.
I pulled into Excelsior and needed a little fuel. The Lucky Charms this morning didn't do it for me. Dunn Bros. was my choice for a peanut butter rice krispie treat and hot chocolate. Saw some buddies there and we talked about yesterday's wind. They'd raced up in Marty. Numerous racers were knocked off the road into the ditch by the wind. In a sprint finish, a racer went down, due to a wind gust, breaking several bones and suffering a concussion. He's still in the hospital today.
I have to admit I was a little scared at times yesterday. Now hearing what others were going through trying to navigate that wind, I'm feeling quite fortunate that Amy and I got home with only our nerves a little rattled.
One of the buddies I saw today at Dunn Bros had a scar on his neck, that ran from just below his Adam's apple, up to his gland, to just below his jaw bone. It was still fresh and looked like stitches had only recently been removed. I asked what had happened. At the Ken Woods race a week ago there was a pile up in front of him. He hit it and went over his handle bars with his neck landing on a the chain ring of a bike, which was already down.
Retirement ain't so bad. 50/17.4

Dangerous

Very difficult conditions. Wind gusts over 35 mph. A mental and physical beating. The wind was constantly surprising us with an onslaught of varied directions and speeds. It would play with us, hiding behind a stand of trees, or a hill, then at a clearing jump out and try to knock us over. Even when we had it at our backs we had to be on guard. There were times when it was a steep lean into that cross wind.
We stopped once to make sure continuing on was the right and safe thing to do. At Jordan there really wasn't a decision to be made. Belle Plaine was not going to be visited today. These conditions are especially hard for smaller cyclists. Amy's 5'4 120 pound body was enduring major abuse from the wind. It was close once, but she didn't quit. Not only that, but she rode smart, reducing all the risks that were being thrown at us. I was lucky to be riding with her, a really smart, tough cyclist.
We just put our heads down and cranked out a consistent cadence, that could not be stopped by the wind. Trying to maintain a straight line was no easy task. Arms and hands are still sore from the effort to keep the bike under control.
It was a ride of opposite extremes, 13 mph on the flats and 38mph on the flats. Didn't have a large enough gear, spun out in my 53/11. Barely a word spoken in the first 40 miles. Favorite pizzas described at 70 miles. Grunts, groans, yelps and smiles. One to be remembered. Epic. 79/19.2