The Winter Beast Has Teeth

Lapse

Got out this evening on the winter beast. Start temp was 5, count 'em, 5 whole degrees. When I got home it was 4 degrees. Windchill was in the teens below zero, but the wind has definitely abated from yesterday.
I like being out in this, which explains the post title. Winter really is a beautiful time of year. The snow against a sharp blue sky, or a golden sunset is hard to beat. 21/??

This morning I took the long way driving to work. Steam rising into the sub-zero temps from Calhoun's yet unfrozen water, and a few geese coming in for breakfast.

Some Sanity

Yeah, I went to the gym. Didn't want to fight the wind (25+mph gusts) or the cold (8 degrees).
Hour and a half on the elliptical.

Oh What Fun!

I actually got a little excited to get out and play during the snow storm. I understand there are some, maybe even many, who question my sanity because of this.
With the winter beast white fendered and studded, I plowed through a measly 1.5 inches of snow. The beast was a champ and we worked well together slicing through the gusting wind and the accumulating drifts.
In the last 7 miles or so the wind started getting nasty. Apparently the storm's just getting started. 21/??
River Parkway
Mississippi River
Christmas Lights From Minnehaha Creek

A Liitle Accumulation Inside My Helmet

11,000

Broke 11,000 miles ridden this year on Saturday. This total will be the lowest number of miles I've ridden of the past three years.
Today I worked out at the gym. Hour and a half on the elliptical.
Storm's coming tomorrow. I'll be out on the winter beast playing in it for sure.

Solo Sunday Sortie

Departure temp 13 degrees. In another month this is gong to be balmy. Rode up to the south shore of Medicine Lake and took the Luce Line to Wayzata. Came home on Stone Rd and Cedar Lake Rd. I liked this. 34/15.5

Deconstructing A Cold Ride

Now The Feet

Sorry ladies. To get more you're going to have to buy me dinner at least.

Lung Burner

Start temp was 16 degrees. Just me and Amy. I got the clothes just right...very comfortable for the entire ride. Toe and hand warmers were blazing away. Although there was only a minuscule amount of snow on the ground we decided to ride the LRT trails on our cross bikes. We were not alone....Dunt dunt dunn!
About 5 miles in we came across some Loon State boys, and latched on. Yeah, we got a couple of looks, but stayed out of their way. Finally one of the guys said, hey Tom. It was Dan Cleary. Hard to know for sure with all the layers and balaclavas. He said something about getting a hundred in today.
They started to mix things up a little as we got close to Excelsior. Amy and I weren't sure what was happening, but played along. Two of their guys got away and none of us could reel them back in. Got to Excelsior feeling a little overdressed. Thanked the Loonies as they were done with their ride and we continued west feeling like it may not have been such a good idea to play so hard. Ten miles later we were still pretty sure it hadn't been such a good idea. Another five miles and my water bottle was frozen.
We were on a route of mostly limestone trails and dirt roads. It's a good thing Amy knew where we were going. If she hadn't been paying attention we could've wound up in Maple Plaine, or worse.
Lungs are a little sore now...throat kind of raw. Maybe it's just the first exposure to some good, real cold air. Nevertheless, it was great to be out, and ...you know... it was fun. This is the third or fourth time I've done this route. I think it's the second time for Amy. It's our best average speed yet....and it's December. Nice! 51/16.0

As I'm writing this I'm enjoying a delicious cup of Tom's hot chocolate.
2 cups skim milk
3tbs sugar
2tbs cocoa
pinch of salt
2+++ tbs of coconut flavored rum
and of course whipped cream.

Life is gooooooooood!