Done

Tough today. Cold, wind and hills got to me. I was able to eek out a respectable effort, but am cooked. The planned route to Belle Plaine got cut short and Jordan became the southern most point of the ride.
Heading out of Jordan due east there was a mean southeast wind, that dug into the quads, hams, and glutes. We put together a nice echelon, and held tough. Finally we made the turn, that all my rides have, where we get to enjoy seemingly effortless flats, superhuman ascents, screaming descents, and wide sweeping turns at 25 mph. There were smiles.
I have really good friends to ride with. I'm very lucky. Thanks Amy, Steven and Greg. 73/19.1

Personal Note:
A year ago today I went on my first date with Penny Leporte. That's a personal best for me.

No Ride Just Pics

Satisfied

March has been a good month of riding. Every week the miles have increased, and the fastest ride in 3 years occurred. Still haven't missed a day outside in the saddle all year. I'll take it! Today 24/16.8

Sun Dancing On Nokomis

 Green Popping Along The Mississippi

Establishing A Routine

My usual Wednesday ride, but I had company. Met Amy on her way home from work and we caught up on all the news since Saturday. 32/16.8

Shelter Against The Wind

News reported gusts of up to 50 miles an hour. Kind of nasty. I kept her up and actually had a pretty nice ride. I've noticed, over the years, that there is a growl or howl to the wind when it's over 35 or 40 mph. It's a little disconcerting. I heard it growl today, and no, I wasn't riding with Amy, so it was definitely the wind. 26/16.9

A Little Whine

Well, the last time I rode as fast as I did on Saturday was April of 2009, and it's been that long since I've had to recover from it. A cold, windy, wet Monday added to my list of excuses that kept it a slow ride today. A few more excuses; temp didn't quite make it to 40, tights covering the old hairy legs, toes got cold and Gore Windstopper jacket....well the wind was gusting up to 40 miles an hour....no wind stopping that I noticed anyways.
Yeah, I am kind of complaining, but I gotta admit the sore and tired is worth Saturday's ride stats. 21/15.3

Paying For It.

Another nice ride, but ooohhhh the old hairy body was feelin' yesterday's ride. I basically just sat in and let the young bucks do the work. The sleepin' should be fine tonight. 50/18.2

Pretty Spectacular

Cool foggy morning, glasses weren't of much use because of vapor accumulations, kept us cool, though, and there was no wind.
The fog changed the look of the familiar route. It's been...maybe five months since we were out on these roads. Good to be back!
Amy, Ben and Steven were my comrades-in-ride today. Good strong group, and they all seemed motivated to fly!
Got to Hanover and Delano in pretty good time. Just after the Lime Gatorade and a Rice Krispy Treat stop, I took the image of my bike computer below while riding low to the ground at 25 mph. That was before we got to the rollers that turn quads into hamburger. The ache in the hams had already set in, but we were close to a 21mph average, and I wanted it.
It sure would be nice if the longer a ride lasted the less painful it would be, but, as we all know, it works exactly the opposite, and today was no exception to that cruel rule.
No wind is great, but it also means there's no extra push at the end of the ride, it's just you and those tired, achy, old, hairy legs.
We kept on pushin' and lasted it out. I got the 21mph average I wanted, with a little extra effort at the end, and I got to ride with good friends and good cyclists. Nice start to the large mileage season. 80/21.0

Friday Night Ride Pics

Three lakes on the single speed. I wore sunglasses so I could ride incognito. I was spotted last Friday and got in trouble, because of a lack of head covering.  I'm pretty sure I wasn't noticed tonight. 12/??

 Cedar Lake

 Lake Calhoun

It's Still There

Another nice week of riding. I sure am enjoying my time on the bike. I've taken some of the self imposed pressure out of my rides by focusing more on miles and less on speed and intensity. I do have to regularly remind myself, it's just about the miles. I haven't quite quashed that need for speed. 21/17.2

It's One Of Many Answers To Why

Felt good on the ride tonight. Slowly increasing the miles. Speeds seem to becoming up on their own. 32/17.5
Along Cedar Lake Trail

I'm always amazed at what I can see, here in the city. About a week ago I posted an image of an eagle. I've posted images of turkeys, deer, hawks, beavers and now this fox.
Along The Mid-Town Greenway At Dupont

Emergence

First day of Spring winds up being the coolest day in about two weeks. Go figure. Took the rain jacket and it worked great! Not a drop. 28/16.6

Along The Mississippi

Harriet and Isles Are Free Of Ice

Summer In March

Feels like summer, temps are up and so is the humidity, even had thunderstorms come through tonight.
Wore just shorts and a jersey on my ride, got in before the lightning started. 23/16.5

Old Guy Ride

Real good ride. Bunch of old guys. Average age was 56.2 and I was the second youngest. That doesn't happen often at all. Got some good chattin' in with Eric. We needed to catch up. Greg, Steve and a new guy I haven't ridden with before, Chris. Lots of experience out there makes for some very enjoyable riding. 48/18.4
Eric Thoerner Took This Image

Why Is Hard Good?

White shoes and sunscreen started the ride off. Haven't done that since mid-September.
Same route as last week. I think the wind was tougher today. James, Martha, Amy and me played plenty hard. James and Martha are as tough as they come (Martha raced in 64 races last season), but long road rides are not their forte. They race mountain bikes. We waited a few times for them, and soft pedaled a few more to let them get back on. No help up front for me.
It's sort of like being caged. Fighting that wind...it's so hard to stay on top of the gears, and keep up a cadence that feels productive. Rest on the descents, stay low to the bars, aero, appreciate the brief shelter of trees. There's a lot of hard that comes when riding. But, I think, climbing a hill, or a series of rollers into a 15-20 mph wind, that pretty much is as hard as it gets. Had a couple of opportunities to test out that theory today.
Direction changes and you're let out of the cage. You want to scream, because of the sudden surge of power you feel. And so, you let your bike do the screaming for you. Flying low to the ground, the wind in your ears is replaced by the hum of the tires, and when you leave the saddle, you hear the power being laid on the asphalt. The pain in your quads, almost goes unnoticed because of the opiate of freedom.
Hit 43 mph and maintained that for a bit, which created major smiles. No, they weren't cringes.
I felt good about averaging 18.5 considering a few waits, some soft pedaling, and no help. Great friends, lots of fun conversation. 72/18.5

Amy Was Extra Fast Today

Friday Night

A little ride, two lakes, mostly pics. 10/??

Then sunset watchin' with Penny.

It's a Good Sore

Good week of riding. I know because I'm tired and sore. 24/16.8

Keep It Coming

Last year it was 38 degrees on this date, today 74. Kept on trying to think of how I could lengthen the route. 32/17.4

Got out for another walk tonight at about 7pm. Went around Lake of the Isles and saw;

Nothin' Like It

More remarkable weather, and it appears to have no end. The weather people on TV just shrug their shoulders, and have no explanation for what is happening.
Rode for 28 miles today, then after dinner went for a walk with Penny. It was about 8 o'clock when we got home. The jacket I took with me never got put on. The door to my balcony is still open at 11:30PM.
28/17.2

Sleep

I was worried that today was going to be a pretty difficult recovery day. Lots of miles usually means lots of tired, for me. I wound up sleeping for almost 11 hours last night. The weekend of riding really wore me out. I couldn't believe how tired I felt last night. Then, of course, daylight saving time took away another hour.
I wound up being pleasantly surprised by how good I felt all day today. All that sleep must have done some good.
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/conditioning/a/aa062800a.htm

Looked like I'd be riding in the rain this evening, so I took Evil out. Full fenders were needed. The rest of the week looks pretty spectacular, with temps in the 70's. It's been a great first quarter of riding, and it appears there will be no let up. 20/16.0

Worn Out With A Smile

Tired in a good way; satisfied, content, pleased and sore. A very nice weekend of riding, with Amy and friends. Today it was Paula and Steve. Just around Lake Minnetonka. We made the mistake of stopping for coffee. Some serious groans as we remounted our bikes. That lactic acid is fast, and had already settled in, not planning on easily moving out.
The days could've been a little less windy, but, nevertheless, they were delightfully warm and induced feelings of spring and summer that motivated the heart, lungs and legs to push beyond what was reasonable. God, I love this! 47/17.0

...A Little Help From My Friends...

Five of us to Jordan. Wind was a bitch, but with the help of everyone we shared the pain and survived the constant harassment.

Got Some Needed Fuel In The Old Hairy Legs

Amy just had to get a picture of Sasquatch.

Mike, Taylor, Ben, Amy and me put in a hard 35 miles to Jordan, but the pain turned to pure joy on the return trip, with that tailwind. All sun, and temps into the 60's made this day quite a remarkable March ride. Words don't cover it. 72/19.1 (I'm keeping the Advil close by) plus 8 additional miles, for me, as I rode over, before my ride, and watched Penny start her 10 mile 100% Irish run at Lake Harriet.

Another Week

Good week of riding. Finished it out easy tonight. I didn't use to look forward to my day off the bike. 20/15.6

Need It All

A little different than yesterday. Rained all day. Not only is the proper attire needed, but having bikes appropriate to the conditions is really important, if you want to ride year 'round in Minnesota. Evil 20/15.7

Sun Broke Out Just As I got Home

A Nice Game Of Hooky

Got a call from Amy. Meet at 2 and ride.
What a perfect day. 59 glorious degrees. The hills didn't even seem steep. Didn't want to come home.
35/17.3

Sun Yesterday Moon Tonight

Creature Of Habit Or Something

So last year on today's date at 5:56 PM I took this picture.

I come home from my ride today and see a nice sunset shaping up and take this picture at 5:57 PM.

Now that's a rut. 20/15.3
I just happened along last years pic today in my archives, and saw its resemblance to the picture that I actually took today. I looked at the time stamp and date and was amazed to see that I'd taken them on the same day, in different years, and only 1 minute a part. The fact that March 5th last year was a Saturday, helps me feel a little better, but this definitely blows to smithereens my observation that no two sunsets are the same.

Another Pleasant Valley Sunday

Colder than yesterday. Whoa! But, unlike yesterday, I was on a road bike, and that made everything right with the world. Accompanied by some of the regular abnormals, we stopped in at Caribou and immediately heard how "brave" we were to be out on a day like this. We non-chalanted it. Besides, it's better than being called insane.
Plenty of pleasant all around; sun, light to non-existent winds, good good friends, and the feel of 23s with 110 psi on the road. 42/16.1

Simple Prescription

Hard to know what to do, with all the white stuff coming down. Trails were covered, wind was blowing and the wind chills were plummeting. Well, I was going to ride, that wasn't a question, but what bike? I was worried that there'd be unseen ice underneath the new snow. The older I get the less I want to go down. It really does hurt. So, I broke out the Winter Beast, 26er studs and all. Looked like I made a good decision for the first four or five miles, but then we got off the trail, the roads cleared up, and the sun even broke through every once in a while. WB is a hefty boy, and it's hard work turnin' his cranks. I tucked in behind Taylor, Amy and Paula and just hung on as best I could. Cross bikes for everyone else so it wasn't like it was a hammerfest. Lots of talking, laughing, catching up on the week, and just good old schmoooozing. My voice is actually a little hoarse from all my gabbin'.
Riding a bike is as good as it gets. Add a few good friends, and it goes off the charts. I'm very fortunate to have such good friends. I needed to be with them today. Nothing big, it was a hectic, hard work, and sometimes unpleasant week. That's all gone now because of some great friends and a bike ride. 47/15.1

I think I need another cup of hot chocolate, with lots of whupped cream.  Life is good!

Friday Off The Bike

Think I enjoyed my day off too much...almost forgot to post.

Dry Rust

Been pretty wet the last couple of days. It's been hard to keep Evil's chain from being rusty and dusty. I let my bike dry out in my garage, then clean and lube it up in prep for the next ride. This week's rides have been hard on Evil. He's up to it. I think he even likes it. 20/15.4