Friday Night Ride Pics

Lake Harriet 10/11.4

Turning The Cranks

Got blown all over the place today. Crossing the bridges over the river was especially delightful. Saw BK on his commute home. It was very nice to chat a bit with him. I'm moving mighty slow these days. 21/15.6

There Was A Traffic Jam In My Parking Lot Today.

Trees Around Lake Harriet Are Hinting.

No Particular Place To Go

So I decided to head down to the Minnesota River. Just as I pulled onto the walk bridge to cross over, a huge Bald Eagle soars over my head. I had my camera out, and got a couple of shots, but it was just my point and shoot, so the eagle looks like a horizontal bracket { in the sky. Still just plodding along logging the miles, not really caring about the speed. I'm seeing some very beautiful scenery. 32/16.6
Bush Lake
Out On My Balcony

Dr. visit for me this afternoon. Heart rate was 49. I figure if the nurse had been good lookin' I'd of broke 50.

It's Looking Like Fall

It seems a little early, but it's looking a little like fall around here. I'm guessing the next two weeks are going to be taking a lot of breath away.
I was in a hurry to get my ride in this afternoon so I could get over and watch Elijah's football game, but when I saw this from the east side of the Mississippi River I had to stop. I pulled out the old point and shoot from my left jersey pocket and got these images. 21/17.0

Penny and I made it to Elijah's game just a little late. And I'm happy to report that the Richfield Bulldogs are now 3 and 0.

It's a Monday

Just doin' my recovery thing. 21/15.9

Good

Today's ride was just Amy and me, nice and easy, short, beautiful and cool. It's been a great weekend of riding. Actually, it's been a great weekend. Lots of stuff is starting to go my way again. Feels good. 49/17.0
Did some exploring with Elijah, this afternoon, at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and the Quaking Bog.

It's all good. It's all real good.

Doesn't Get Any Better

Our high definition ride started with temps in the low 40's and a sky with no clouds. A brisk pace kept the warmth flowing to the extremities, and the emerging fall colors kept us alert to some incredible scenery. The prairie grasses are golden brown, lakes and rivers reflect the all blue sky, and the green trees with shades and hints of yellow, orange, and red framed it all. Amy, Mike, Steven, Anthony and me were all benefactors of some intense beauty.
Mike is just back from making the podium at LOTOJO, a 200 mile bike race from Logan, Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He is still in great form and laid down some quad screaming pulls. I have to say though, his seemingly effortless ascents were just a little more than irritating. I was relegated to spectator.
September weekends have been filled with superb rides and today's only added to the tally.
Great friends, great cyclists, great scenery, our favorite route, great conversation...one of the best rides of the season. 80/20.0

Rest Day

Took the old Schwinn Traveler out tonight. It's been a while since I've spun the single speed.
I know it's hard to believe I'd stop and take some sunset pics, but here they are: 8/??

Good Day

Another short ride. Just a bit over 220 miles for the week. Cool again too. Last day of summer felt like fall. 21/17.1
While working today.
Farms Are Ready For Harvest

Went to Elijah's game tonight. He plays for the Richfield Bulldogs. They are 2 and 0.
Are You Ready For Some Football?

A little work, riding, kids, grandkid, and played with my camera. Nice day for a weekday.

Windy

A blustery, cold, misty, grey day. A bit chilled during my ride. Hate to think what it will feel like in another month. Things warmed and brightened up after the sun went down. 21/15.7
A Hint of Change Along The Mississippi.

More Like It

As predicted the wind and cooler temps kept the paths and trails less congested. I just took it easy. Short and sweet. 25/16.2

Doesn't Play Well With Others

A little crazy out there tonight. Trails were full of runners and cyclists getting in some of the last of the late summer warmth. And none of them were paying attention. I'd of been safer riding on the interstate. I love living in the city and having the great trail system we have, but sometimes playing with others isn't very fun. It was dangerous out there tonight. Rainy and windy tomorrow. Won't be so crammed. 25/16.9

Pleasant Sunday

Depending on whom you ask, it was either warm and sunny, or cold and rainy. Amy and I set out with fenders, jackets, booties and tights. I was on my "B" bike. Wayzata was the destination, after that we weren't sure where we'd wander.
Miles were mildly important, but speed...we just didn't care. The Apathetic pace was because of yesterday's Jordan effort, today's weather, and just the enjoyment of a leisurely ride with a really good friend.
The hard part about a rain ride is starting. Once you're out, have the right gear on and are with the right companion riding in the rain is just fine, and beats the hell out of sitting at home.
We finished the ride with a stop at Freewheel MidTown for some hot chocolate and a scotch-e-roo, which really hit the spot. 50/16.4

Missed acting like an 8 and 3/4 year old this afternoon. Elijah had a birthday party. So I grabbed my camera and did a little photo exploring on my own.

The Way It Should Be

Cold and windy ride. Started out kind of unpleasant. I was worried I'd overdressed, having donned a cap on the old hairless head, vest and knickers. Turned out I needed it all.
Rode to Jordan with Steven and Amy. A very nice route with plenty of ups and downs. How come it always seems like there are more ups? Great friends, not the best of weather, great route and fun conversation. Yeah, good, good ride. 81/18.9

Re-fuel in Jordan

Pretty Sure

I'm pretty sure I didn't ride my bike today. I remember working this morning, and I remember doing some work at my property in Delano. This evening....

I Wouldn't Go Back - Not In A Million Years

Took an old route down to the Minnesota River. Rode past the church I helped build and use to attend and the townhouse I use to live in. Wondered why the dog at the top of the hill wasn't barking at me. It's a good workout with several short steep climbs. I'm better at the long gradual ascents. Unfortunately, you gotta throw in some of the not-so-fun stuff now and then. Speaking of which, I even heard Mr Dave broke out the skinny bike. WOW!
Good miles for me this week with 280, but it was slow. I'm not complaining, it's part of the plan. Today 30/16.9

Above The Fray (every day in that would drive me insane)

Lake Harriet

A Little More Clothing

It was a cap, vest, knickers and long-sleeved jersey ride. First cool fall ride of the year, and yes, I did find myself wishing for the heat. The cold north wind brought a massive pounding surf on Lake Harriet. 21/16.4

A Little Less Fuel

Been trying to use my fat stores instead of my glycogen stores. Of course, that means the old hairy body has to go through the delightful experience of running out of glycogen in the hairy muscles, then transition and use the fat stores. Gotta love the bonk. And, let me just say, it sucks. 21/16.4

I did have enough energy to take some pics.

2 are 1

Got in 28 slow miles averaging 16mph. I actually felt good, but fuel-less, so I just went with what the old hairy legs would give me. Met up with Penny later and we cruised around for about 20 miles. 47/14.8
Feelin' A Little Extra Hairy Tonight

No filters, no color adjustments on these images. The bottom image was taken when the moon was lower in the sky just above the horizon.

Want And Can

That want-to feeling has been slowly creeping back. Hadn't planned on yesterday's hundred, but all of a sudden on Friday it was the plan. Today, even with a century on the old hairy legs, a couple of extra miles and rollers got added on to the SSR. It's nice to be getting that feeling back. Maybe the broken bones of June were a little guilty of taking some of that feeling away. Whatever it was, its coming back. Now that the want is back, it's time to concentrate on the can.
Another beautiful ride today. I wish I could describe it better, but words, at least the ones I know, just don't capture what's out there.
Best part of today's ride? Got to ride with Amy. 52/18.1

As Good As It Gets

It just doesn't get any better than this. We don't have fall colors yet, those will peak in about a month, but the hint that change is coming is all around. We could see some sumac starting its change to blood red leaves. Farm fields were folding in the mature browns and gold to the formerly youthful green. Even the soy bean fields were showing off patches of yellow. All of this rolling in between a delightful mix of pine and deciduous trees, well manicured farmsteads, lakes and creeks.
Added a loop up into Scandia, onto a route we did a couple of weeks ago. It's just incredibly beautiful. I could count the number of clouds out on one hand, and they were just these little puffs of white.
As if all this beauty wasn't enough, the wind took the day off.
Robin rode with us to Pine Point Park and then turned for home. She's racing a du next week and needs to keep the miles and effort under control for that. Anthony, Steve and I kept on to Marine on St. Croix, got a stop in at the Bikery du Nord, and then rode north to Scandia, turned south for Stillwater and then home.
This will be a hard one to forget. 100/19.1

Friday Night Ride Pics

Beautiful day to do anything, even work. Traveling along some of Minnesota's farm fields.
Kind of a hectic work week.
There's nothing like a Friday night spin to take the kinks out. Even saw Gabrielle out again tonight doing the same thing.

Hard to beat a sunset over Isles. Smoke from some planned burns up in the BWCA made its way down to the cities and striped the sky.

Smooth as glass.

8/??

Wasn't Sure

Planned on three 300 mile weeks for 2011. This week was suppose to be number three, but Saturday's 80/20 left depleted all the giddy-up in the old hairy tank. Wednesday still found the tank empty and the 300 miles in jeopardy. But, a ride with Amy on Wednesday left only 40 miles to get to the goal. Got out a little early today for 25 and then another 17, with Penny before the Packers game tonight, and low and behold 301 miles for the week. Cool!
Also, that 80/20 ... fastest ride of the season, not the longest, but, still... so, pretty pleased with how the week turned out.
Today 25/17.3 and 17/13.3
Also, saw Gabrielle riding along the greenway. Penny and I got to stop and talk with her for a bit. That's pretty cool to just happen upon your daughter out riding her bike while you are too.

IT'S ABOUT TIME!

Got a ride in with Amy tonight. It's been too long. We got all caught up on the latest happenings. 32/17.3

Still Plenty Shot

21/16.8

Perfect

Well, the long weekend is over, and it was one that you'd like to just go on forever. It couldn't have been more perfect.
Met some buddies on the east side of the Mendota Bridge this morning and rode east and south to Cottage Grove, Woodbury, St Paul, Inver Grove Heights and Eagan. It was a cool morning, the second in a row that needed a vest. Me, Taylor, Steve and Steven enjoyed a clear blue sky and taking it easy on any and all ascents. A stop at Dunn Bros, warm sun on our backs, fun conversation, and a new route made today's ride perfect. The icing on the cake was a spin along the greenway and around Lake of the Isles with my daughter Gabrielle. 63/17.6 and 18/13.5
Then, as if that wasn't perfect enough, the day ended with Penny and I eating dinner and watching the sunset at Lake Calhoun.

Heaven and Hell

Cold, wet, windy and very tired, made thoughts of shortening the SSR+ to the SSR- come to mind, within only a couple of miles of starting today's ride. Fortunately the idea of mileage reducing was appealing to Robin and Steve, so it was 40 instead of 50.
Mighty sore and tired today after yesterday's 80/20. This old age thing can be a little rough. 39/17.5

On the other hand these four make old age heaven.

It's My Party

Wow! Pretty spectacular weekend. Fair with Penny, and an evening with friends and Penny yesterday. An as-good-as-it-gets ride today with more friends, and family over tonight.

It tried to rain on us a couple of times, and then the sun took pity on us and chased the rain away. We played very hard and many growls of frustration were heard, as a brutal pace was unrelentlessly maintained, whether on flat, roller or hill. It was one of my harder rides this year, but exactly what I wanted for my birthday. Amy wasn't able to make it, but she was thoughtful enough to show up at the beginning of the ride to wish me a happy birthday and give me a hug. She's great! 86/20.3
Sage Tauber took the photo below of our group today. Perry, me, Aaron, John and Adam. This group was willing to suffer.Family stopped by for food and cake this evening. I scored some major swag. My nephew Josh and his wife Sara were also kind enough to come over from Stillwater, with their son Gavin.

Bryson Couldn't Get Enough Cake Taylor Was Walking All Over The Place Kelsey Made A New Friend With Penny Tonight A Very Nice Day For Me. I Am Very Fortunate. Thank You All.