Family

Took the day off the bike, spent the evening with my brothers. Very Nice!

Kinda Cool Clouds

Sabo Bridge

Skyline

Lake Nokomis

SWR again. 33/17.7

Lucky Gnats!

Rode over to Lynne's, then we did my SWR (standard weekday ride, Lisa). Nice, slow, flat, great conversation, although I did come up speechless once or twice, and fun company. Saw Matt, Cam and Jared. 32/16.0

Out Of The Rut (for tonight anyways)

Tagged along with the Tuff Ride for about twenty miles tonight. I hung on into the wind out to Medina, then I peeled off and let the tail wind push me home. Good guys, good cyclists, and they play hard. Lots of surges and some good rotating pace-lines. I'm probably going to do this again, but I just can't put 50-55 miles on like that in the middle of the week any more. 39/18.8

Out Of The Mouths

Hangin' with Elijah (my 6 year old grandson) yesterday I asked him what he liked best, warm summer weather or cold winter weather. He answered, "I like weather that's just right". Then he gave me that look like, I put up with you 'cause you're my grandpa.

SWR today 33/17.7

Ebb and Flow

There are hard times, sickness, and just wear on the old hairy legs. This is a part of being. On the other side of these vicissitudes is the welcome of normalcy. The ascent of these obstacles is always hard, which seems almost unfair, because all that's trying to be accomplished is the return to the mundane, the rut, the same. That much, just isn't being asked.
We are all traveling, and are just at different spots along the journey, but when our paths cross, a wave, a smile, even a helping hand will slightly flatten the ascent and get us back to normal a little quicker.
The bike felt good today. After a hard ride yesterday, rode with Amy to Wayzata at a happy quad pace. Just so delightful. 42/18.0

Low Pressure

There's been this low pressure system up in Canada, that has kept our prevailing winds blowing from the northwest. It's been there for at least two months. When it comes to my rides, I love a tail wind on the home stretch, so the four of us started out into the wind heading up towards Hanover again.
Lots of hard work to plow through a significant and persistent wind, but, like always, the reprieve came and the tires were humming. It's a beautiful sound.
Great company, beautiful scenery...it almost gets boring, but there's no better way to spend a Saturday morning. Perfect!
I think I left a lung on the road, I was hackin' so much. Still got stuff in the lungs....hope it clears up soon. 88/20.6

Matt took this picture of Steven, Amy and me about 70 miles into the ride.

Out For A Fix

Calhoun, Harriet, Isles is all it took. 10/??

SWR

Hobbled home the last 5 miles on a spongy rear tire. Vittoria tires blow. 32/17.1

Just Above The Falls.

Hill Ride

To honor the last Alps stage of the tour, I accepted the hills of St Paul challenge. Massive alpine climbs of 6% over a mile and a half...yeah right...these were speed bumps in comparison.
St Paul hills can cause a little quad burn, so it was nice to burn some of the carbon out of the old carburetor. Great company! 40/17.5

Riding Again

The radar looked pretty scary as I started out. The fun stuff wound up staying just north, so the cape went unused. Lots of cool clouds giving a mountainous reprieve to the usually flat Minnesota landscape. 33/17.1
It was clsoing in.

Hard Time Staying In

Fixie Sunset Ride Around Isles

Why?

I miss the struggle, the hunger, the exhaustion. What is there without testing limits, taking a chance, or surviving the elements? Zoo life is unacceptable. I need the escape to what's real.
Got out for a shortened SSR. 40/17.5

Nope

Felt good, after a good night's rest. So, after watching the tour, I felt like heading out for a little. Still very weak, and realized very quickly, that it was not a good idea to be out. Turned around and came home with only 7 miles on the computer.

Did get some nice images of wild flowers right by my place along the greenway.

Relapse

Bad night last night...spiked a temp...off the bike today and most likely tomorrow.

A Little Stronger

Still hackin', but there's a bit more energy in the old hairy legs. Went over to Minneapolis Institute of Arts to participate in the Tour de Force. MIA is an incredible place, one of the jewels of the Twin Cities. 30/16.8

Better Than Zero

Slow and easy, but I got out. Feeling better. I think I got it kicked. 30/16.1

Not Up To It

Needed the day off the bike, head cold is doing a number on me.

Really Shot

Totally wasted from this weekend, and fighting off this stupid summer cold. I slept for 12 hours last night, and feel like I could do it again tonight. Cut today's ride short. Even with a shortened ride, I still saw lots of friends; Randy, Amy and Stace. 20/16.5

He Liked It

Feelin' It

Yesterday's ride has not left the legs yet, nor has the crap in my lungs and my voice sounds like a cement mixer. Got the SSR in and then stopped at the Hopkins Crit to cheer on some teammates. 51/17.9

The race will still be going on this afternoon. I may stop by again with Elijah.


Talib in blue
Jeff in blue
Chris in blue
Jeff and Todd both in blue

Back To The Norm

Three of us met at Punch and set out for the north country. Perfect day for a perfect ride. The winds were challenging, the sky was all blue, the company delightful, and the pace wasn't slow.

I still have the Barry White voice, and yes, am still coughin' up who-the-hell-knows-what-it-is. But I wanted to be out, I wanted to ride. It's nice to be getting that again...the want.

We fought the wind for 35 miles up to Hanover, which took us by the Corcoran Rodeo. We didn't stop. Rode under a canopy of trees along Long Lake, while trying to avoid any skirmishes with 29'ers. What are they doing on the road anyways? Raced with a mail van, finally over taking it, and marveled at the height of the corn.

We skirted by Hanover making our turn south and followed the Crow River all the way into Watertown. Of course, we made the requisite stop at Delano for my Gatorade and Snickers fix. Amy opted for potato chips...serious about a training diet. Charles had two, count them, two bottles of Gatorade. I got my one 32 ouncer down without stopping for air.

The tail wind made me feel like I could hang with the peloton at the Tour de France, but then I realized that they did 27 mph into the wind. Amy decided to go for the green jersey. Charles and I finally had to start boxing her in, so we could mitigate male ego damage. She leveled out all the rollers with an evil little grin.

The green of the fields and trees, were infiltrating everything and seemed to be ready to overtake the roads we were on. Birds were all over the place. A huge eagle flew low across our path. We watched as it searched the corn fields for unsuspecting rodents.

Thanks Amy and Charles, just a delightful ride. 87/20.0

Recuperate

Took the day off the bike.

Stayed Dry

Raw throat and a little achey....coughin' shit up. F%&K! 33/17.1

We're All In This Together

Within the first couple of miles I come across Tim. On Sunday, Tim got to ride in an ambulance after going down during the Birchwood coffee ride. I stopped to talk a little and see how he's doing. Tim's an experienced cyclist. The guy in front of Tim went down, and Tim couldn't avoid hitting him. Tim now has staples in the back of his head, and some major bruising on his back and glutes. But he's back on his bike, taking it easy and getting comfortable on his bike again.

About a mile after I see Tim I see two people sitting off to the side on the Cedar Lake Trail. This is just west of the Hwy 100 underpass right by the Abra Auto Body Shop. There's blood on one of the guys...I turn around.

Is he OK?
Heads shake no.
Did you call anyone?
No phones.

He's sitting...no helmet...knees about even with his eyes...head bowed down...he doesn't look up or respond. Half of his forehead is swollen, and blood is dripping from it. There is blood on both arms from his elbows all the way down to his hands. I ask him a question he doesn't respond. I call 911.
911 what's your emergency?
I'm on the Cedar Lake Bike Trail right by Hwy 100. I've come across a cyclist, he's hurt bad.
Where are you? What city are you in?
I'm in St. Louis Park about 200 feet south of Cedar Lake Rd, and just west of Hwy 100. I'm on the Cedar Lake Bike Trail.
You're on Cedar Lake Rd?
No? I'm by Cedar Lake Rd on the Cedar Lake Bike Trail. This guy is hurt bad. It's going to be hard to get to us, there is no access close by for vehicles.
I've got an EMT close by, I'll connect you with them.
Your by Hwy 100 and Cedar Lake Rd?
Yes. It might be best to come into the Abra Auto Body rear parking lot. There's only a chain link fence between the parking lot and us. There's a gate, but it's locked, and Abra doesn't have a key. It's owned by the city of Mpls. You'll have to get through the chain link fence.
Questions.
Male? Yes!
Is he conscious?
He's slow.
Age?
I bend down in front of him. I touch his leg and say I'm Tom. I want to help you. What's your name? Several seconds pass.
Dave.
Dave, how old are you?
A few seconds, 48.
He's 48
Ok. I want to give you some instructions.
Don't move him.
Don't give him anything to eat.
DON'T move him.
Nothing to drink.
The EMT's are on their way. They'll call you if they have any questions.
Thank you.
There's 3 or 4 of us there. A guy had come out from Abra, and gave us some information about access to the trail. A couple of other cyclists had stopped to help. One guy was sitting next to Dave trying to talk to him. Dave wasn't responding.
I suggested we get some information out of his pack, maybe we could contact a relative. One of the cyclists looks through the pack...found an address but that was it.
I can hear the sirens. They're getting closer.
Help's comin' Dave.
I see the EMT heading south on the 100 bridge. I wave.
A police car pulls up in the parking lot. The EMT's arrive maybe 30 seconds later. They talk to Abra for less than a minute. Cop opens his trunk and starts walking toward the gate. EMT's are walking towards gate, with a pair of bolt cutters.
Gate's cut and the cavalry is here.
They get him in a neck brace, and start asking him questions. Dave is responding slowly. Cop puts out some orange cones on the trail. EMT's are doing their job another police car pulls up on Cedar Lake Rd, and then an ambulance. A couple of us cyclist talk for a minute, and each of us thank each other. There's appreciation expressed between all of us. We'd never seen each other before, didn't know each others names, and will probably never see each other again, but we're now friends, and have a bond. We all started to leave. I told the EMT's "thanks, you guys are great".
Thanks for calling this in.
As I'm getting on my bike, I hear Dave....he says thanks about 3 or 4 times. Another friend.

Finished my ride. 33/18.0

SWR With A Friend

Saw Amy on her commute home from work, so we rode together for about 30 miles. It's always nice. 33/18.0

More Than Once

Saw several friends out tonight, a couple of them twice. Good ride! 33/17.5

A Short Long Weekend

This long weekend was just too short. Plenty of time on the bike, with friends and family, and of course TdF on TV. It's all just going by faster than I'd like. Nice solo Sunday sortie, making sure all is well in Wayzata, Baker, Medina and Excelsior. 53/17.6

Lilly pads Blooming On Long Lake

Wet

If there was rain or a wet road today we found it.
Met up with Steve and Taylor at the Mendota Bridge, and decided to head south. North there was no rain. South it was raining. Taylor said he knew a good route south. What do you do? After the first five minutes it doesn't really matter any more that you're wet, especially with temps in the 70's.
Really nice scenery. On our way down to Farmington we did a climb that I haven't been on for a good 7 or 8 years. I've always heard it called the bunny hill, or hole in the wall, and I have no idea why. I do know that it kicks your ass.
Great to be out with these guys, lots of good conversation. Both of these guys like their wives, what? My single status is usually validated on all guy rides, but not today. Hmmmm.
Wet, but a ton of fun! 85/18.8

Narmer & Whistlepigs

Went to a bluegraas concert at the band shell with a friend last night, and I just couldn't resist posting pics of a future cycling star we saw.

Harriet Rose Garden

12/??

Nice End To The Week

Sun's out, temps up, long weekend is here. SWR 33/18.3

Standard Weekday Route (SWR)

Saw Gordy. I don't usually stop to say hi to people, but old Gordy's different, and I haven't seen him for at least 9 months. He's the guy that got me into racing, and taught me everything I know. He's also the guy that I started doing the Hammer Hundreds with. I remember him taking me out a few weeks before my first race, and telling me how to take turns. I would turn with the inside crank arm down. He taught me to push on the outside and lean to the inside, with the inside crank arm up, of course. Seemed weird at the time. I won that first race, masters 4/5, Ken Woods. It was called Sogn Valley back then. I won (1st place) half of all the races I entered that year. They were all road races or TT's.
Gordy and I talked for a good 15 minutes, just standin' out on the greenway. We'll be grabbing a beer together very soon. While we were talking, who rides by with 3 of her buddettes, but Amy. Did she wave or say hi? Noooooo! Nate said hi, when I saw him over by the falls, but Amy...nope.
33/17.6