Nice Evening For A Ride

21/17.0

Riding Cures Many Ills

Had a little aggravation to work out this morning along Summit Ave. Got most of it worked out and then waited a good 10 minutes for Amy and Jeannette at Wabasha and Kellogg. The climb up Kellogg and Mounds Blvd to Mounds Park took care of what little remained.
Nice ride out to Stillwater, but I'm looking forward to a wind direction change. I prefer my routes west of the cities. 65/18.0 as advertized

Back To Normal

Yeah, got that old tingle in the fingers and numbness in the toes. Temps straddling the 40 degree mark and a steady rain were the culprits. These culprits were also found guilty of shortening my Saturday ride to about 50 miles and only 3 hours. Gonna have to make up for all of that tomorrow.
Rode with Amy today. It's been two Saturdays and two Sundays (way too long) of riding without her. I've found that to be quite unacceptable. We were able to ignore the rain and cold, for awhile, because we had so much to catch up on, but soon the wet soaked through, and the cold wasn't far behind.
It was fantastic to ride with Amy again. I missed her. 47/15.5

Friday Night Pics

Off the bike.
Walked Harriet this afternoon.

It's Different

Since I turned 50 (4 years ago) I've noticed a real difference in my riding abilities. This year seems to be another fairly dramatic change. I understand it, and I'm sort of accepting it, but I don't like it.
Felt good on my ride today, like I could've gone faster, but knew that I needed to take it easy. Kept the speed slow, and the miles low. You see there's the difference. In the past it would've been as fast and as far as I could go. 20/15.8
Along Minnehaha Creek

I'll Take It

Temps are being good to me. There's something to this sun and warmth thing. 32/18.2

Near East Bethel While Working Today

Still Confused

What the Bike giveth the Bike taketh away. I still haven't figured it out, after all these years. Feel great ride like $h!t. Feel like $h!t ride great.
Saturday was bad, Sunday afternoon and evening I just felt terrible, Monday was brutal. Today I was tired, legs felt like cement. I get on the bike and think whoa, that must be a fast tailwind. Make a turn and it still feels like I have a tail wind, then I'm flying up Hospital Hill. Rode great after feeling like ____for four days. Go figure. 27/18.2

Random Pics From Isles Tonight.

Recovery And Pics

Nice and easy tonight. Just recovering. 21/16.5
After dinner I got out for some Isles pics. Feel like I've been neglecting my camera lately.

Cycling 101

My daughter, Gabrielle, and I rode today. First time for her with clip-less pedals and the longest ride she's ever done. She usually stays on the paths. Today was 90% roads. We did the SSR route. The last half of the ride was pretty hard on her, but she's tough. No giving up. She was pretty pleased with what she did, as she should be. It was really fun being with her. It was great talking, laughing, and watching her push herself. I'm concerned I may have started something... 47/15.7

A Little Rain Must Fall

Four or five were planning on riding. Looked like it would be a good turn out. Green blobs on the radar kept some inside, and convinced others to head out earlier. Suddenly it's a solo Saturday.
I changed my original route and directed the fast goodlookin' bike east into the wind. Plenty of work, with rollers and a mean, nasty climb out of the Mississippi River valley near Woodbury, and no one to share it with. Sun popped out for a bit, but it was mostly gray. Got to the St. Croix and turned north for Afton and then Stillwater. Got feeling like I might stay dry, but with about 20 miles to go a light rain started, and didn't quit.
Never felt real good today. With the exception of the Afton / Stillwater part, it seemed like I was always heading into the wind. Unfortunately there are large lumps into Afton and Stillwater.
Well, at least the cooler temps and wetter April have extended the hot chocolate season. And how can it be a bad ride when there's Lime Gatorade and Rice Krispy Treats. 86/17.8

Stillwater (before the rain)

Friday Night Ride Pics

Lilacs are blooming. Great smell. Two lakes this afternoon on the single speed Traveler. 10/??

I live about 200 feet from the Mid-Town Greenway.

Cold Wet One

Walking out the door, a guy coming in said, "it's raining out". Almost didn't go back to get my jacket, but thought better of it. Sure am glad I did.
Long hot shower and a nice bowl of homemade tomato soup warmed me up after the ride. 21/15.5

230 miles seems like the new average for a week, at least from mid-March to mid-November. A few years back the average was closer to 300 miles.

No News Is Good News

Usual Wednesday ride. 33/16.8

Not As Cool

Back to riding duds that are a little less February-like. 28/17.2

Cool

Kept on thinking this is over-kill, I'm not going to need all this, but snow in the morning, after 76 degrees yesterday, and a wind from the north creating a windchill below freezing made me listen to my brain not my heart. Balaclava, winter jersey and jacket, winter tights, booties and big gloves were all pulled out of their Spring hibernation, and low and behold! I needed all of it. 21/15.5

I drove by this pond, near Belle Plaine, last year around this time and saw a pair of Trumpeter Swans. Went by it again today...I wonder if it's the same pair.

Extra

Just wanted to post these two images I took this evening at the Harriet Rose Garden.

Solo Sunday

I'm a bit surprised by how much rides are taking out of me. Only a couple of years ago a hundred on Saturday and another 70 on Sunday wouldn't be unusual at all. Now a Saturday 85 miler makes completing 50 on Sunday a bit of a chore. I'm coming to terms with it all.
I kept dry today, which, with the forecast, is quite an accomplishment.
Here's a little of what I saw and where I rode today. My point and shoot is an enjoyable companion. 45/17.1

What It's About

It was a beauty out there today. Sun all over the place, temps that were perfect, and riding with a couple of friends, through some of my favorite areas made it ideal. Did the Easy Belle Plaine route. 85/19.2
Charles and John Between East Union and Belle Plaine

Saw this guy this evening.
Practicing The Cello In The Garage

Was A No Ride Rest Day

Some more wind and rain - was out, off the bike - I need to get out - can't just sit around,  and I saw these deer at Lake Harriet. Looking forward to a long ride tomorrow.

More

Just logging in my miles. Warmest day this week. It was nice to be wearing shorts again. 21/16.8

Winds Down Temps Up

32/16.8

More March Than April

Plenty of wind and cold out there...lots of sun, though, too. 23/16.8
A Wind Streaked Mississippi

Another Monday

Hey, that was kind of cold....and windy to boot. 21/15.8

Lots Done Lots Of Tired

Watched Paris-Roubaix this morning, got a 50 miler in with Amy and Steve, and made Easter dinner with Penny for my kids and the grandlumps. Good Day! and I'm tired. 50/17.5

The Lemon Meringue And Banana Cream Pies I Made Turned Out Good

Penny And Aubrey

Taylor Trying To Decide What Part Of The Cookies and Cream Bunny She Should Eat First

Elijah and Bryson Goin' Round And Round

Checkin' Out The Game

Misery Loves Company...

...but I eventually wound up riding solo. Cold and wet, lots of it. A couple of guys weren't dressed right, so they turned back and eventually got a ride home.
We expected little if any rain, but after 5 miles all we got was rain. Temps never left the 40's.
Because the forecast was so off, we thought this was just a quick little spritz, so we kept on riding figuring it would end soon. We just got wetter and wetter, from the never ending rain.
I didn't want to stop, because then I'd start getting cold. I was soaked through, but was staying warm and wanted to keep it that way. So, I kept on while the others turned back.
Like I told Amy, "I've been colder, wetter and more miserable". 75/18.1

Friday Ride Pics

A beautiful Spring day in Minneapolis, perfect for an easy spin around three lakes. 10/12.4

First: A Couple Of Shots From Last Night

And From Today's Spin

Lookin' Old

Another WTF Moment:
Passed a 20 something on the greenway. At the Hiawatha stop light he pulls up and says, "hope I can hustle like that when I'm your age".
Don't need any help feeling like I look old, but, his comment was well intended. 21/16.8
Starting to see lots of Spring signs.

One Of My Favorite Stretches Along The Minnehaha Creek Path

What A Lucky Man

Met my newest (number 6) grandlump this morning.

Proud Parents And Their New Daughter Makena

Mother And Daughter Resting After Working Very Hard To Get Makena Here

April 4th is my dad's birthday. He would've been 91 today. Lots of meaning in Makena arriving today, for me.

Got a nice easy ride in with Amy this evening. We had lots to talk about. 32/16.5

Still In Recovery Mode

Just rode for the miles and accepted whatever the old hairy legs would give. 28/16.6

Spring Greens At Sunset

Monday Monday

Recovery is still needed. 24/16.4

Just

A slow solo Sunday.
Not only were the old hairy legs tired, but there was tired over the entire old hairy body. Clouds, cool temps and an east wind contributed to the over all malaise of today's ride. Really it was more of a meander than a ride, but I took in some of my favorite areas and was happy to receive what was given. The sun even made an appearance for the last half of the sojourn. 48/16.7