As Good As It Gets

One of those perfect days, well, except the wind, but that was easily forgotten amongst all the good.

Started the day off  with a family Easter breakfast and egg hunt at Brit's.

Lining up for the hunt

New Easter Shoes For Aubrey

Makenna With Aunt Gabrielle

Bryson Enjoying The Spoils of the Hunt

Needed to ride off all that salt, sugar and fat (no ride is far enough), so I met Gabrielle and we put on 44 miles on a bright, sunny, very windy Easter afternoon. Amy even joined us for about a 1/2 hour. 44/15.5

And then to top it all off, on this date 3 years ago, Penny and I went on our first date.
Sure was a nice way to finish off a very nice weekend.

So Nice

Thunder, lightning and rain turned into a sunny, 50+ degree ride. About 7 of us turned out just as the rain was ending. Wet roads, lots of sloppy all started to dry up by the time we got to Excelsior (about 15 miles). Feeling pretty confident that the day was only going to get better, I ran through our ride options, with Amy, the boss. She gave the OK to proceed with the longest ride option. The ride just kept on getting better and better, and layers were shedding fast into jersey pockets. I found myself sighing at the sight of farm fields coming out from under the cover of snow. Winter's ice was losing its grip on the Crow River, the sky was a hazy blue, and the sun was working at drying up the roads. Perfect, just a perfect early spring ride. 76/17.5

What?

He did what? Rode on his day off? Ummmm, I thought he always did the same thing. You know he loves his rut. There are pictures? Hmm, I guess he really did then. What do you think got him out of his rut? Yeah, I think 50 degrees would do it. 11/12.2

Isles Is Melting

Ain't Got No Good Reason For Complaints

Wet, sloppy, pot holes and even some ass holes, but who cares, it is feelin' so good to be on the bike. Evil was creakin' some. The wet and sloppy is pretty hard on him, but after a few splashes, he quieted down and was enjoying the 43 degrees and sun too.
May try a short and easy tomorrow. Weekend looks wet. Today 21/16.7

It Went Good

43 degrees got me thinking of longer miles and even some hills. Don't worry, I quickly came to my senses about the hills. Then Amy called and we were out on the sloppy trails and pot holed roads enjoying spring trying to make a stand against winter. 35/15.7

Good

It's the sloppy time of spring. At least it's spring. Fenders and Evil. 20/15.4

Turning A Corner?

Took the studs off Evil. Lots of sloppy out there today, so I kept the fenders on. Felt great! 20/15.3

Lots of Good

A nice ride with Amy...ended up coming across my daughter, Gabrielle and also got to ride with her. Very nice. Saw Brit, had dinner with my brother, Rob, hung out with Elijah and finished the day by watching some Bball with Penny. Pretty Good! 51/14.9

Back At It

Pretty simple - we just rode. We got on our road bikes and rode. All the things I love about riding the road were there today: the crispness of the ride, feeling the texture of the road through my bike, the immediate response of the bike to whatever I did, its quickness, its ease. Less bike more sense.

As much as I wanted to ride, my limits were obvious. The seemingly long winter has set the cardio and old hairy quads back a bit, and the desire to do more yielded frustration that I couldn't. Nevertheless, I was pleased to ride with my friends and thrilled to be on a road bike. 71 /17.2

Steven, Amy and Me (amy is a little shy)

Been Awhile Since We Rode Into Delano

 Road Tire, Road Wheels, Road Pedals, Road Bike

Road Saddle

Promise

Something was missing pretty much all day. I noticed its absence particularly when I'd step outside. Hmmm, I could even linger when out. That bite was gone, and the sun's presence actually seemed to be providing more than just light. A harbinger of things to come? I for one won't miss it.

Friday Off The Bike Day
Won't be like a year ago, but plan on some larger miles tomorrow.
http://harryleggescyclingblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/pretty-spectacular.html

Better

The sun helps, but it's still too cold. I know I've been writing about the weather a lot lately, but it has been dominating my rides.
This ride week ended good with a speedy 20 on Evil. I think it's all been pent up. Lookin' forward to a longer ride, on a road bike, with 23's this Saturday. I can use it. 20/15.2

Slow Improvement

Wind chill not as bad, even though the actual temp was a bit lower than yesterday. I've also figured out I need to dress like it's January. All of this plus a lot of sun made for a nice ride on Evil. 20/13.6

Cold As.....

13 degrees, 15mph wind, -3 wind chill. Not as much ice on the trails...should be able to ride Evil tomorrow. Beast was a pro today. The warmth can't come soon enough. 20/13.4

Wind Drifting and Blowing Snow Across Lake Harriet

Bah Humbug

16 degrees, 25mph wind, -4 wind chill, ice and snow all over the trails. Didn't think I'd be using Beast again this winter. I have nothing good to say about today's ride. 20/11.7

Gotta Ride

Nice to ride with Amy, like always, but damn! It was cold: 4 degree wind chill. Can you tell the weather is wearing on me. 40/13.7

New Evil

Coating of Ice

It started last night, the freezing rain. When it was finished there was a nice shiny layer of about a quarter inch to start our ride on this morning.
Charles, Amy and I decided to take it on. The main roads had been salted and were relatively clear, but the ice was not releasing its grip on the side roads. We tipped toed, if you can do that on a bike, to Cedar Lake Road, where, even with a 20 degree temp, the road was just wet. A cold north wind mixed with a bright sun to give us that famous Minnesota juxtaposition of beauty and biting wind chill.
Shortly into the ride, on Cedar Lake Road, a car turned into us and cut off our right-of-way. Charles hit the car hard in the passenger door. He went down and the car kept on going. Amy chased the car trying to get a license plate, I stayed with Charles. He and his bike were just fine. Charles turned a direct hit into a glancing blow by turning his bike at the last second. He is very tough, having just completed the Arrowhead 150 a few weeks back. Got up off the pavement, spun the wheels on his bike, squeezed the brake levers, remounted his bike, and we went to find Amy. She hadn't been able to get the plate number, so we just kept on riding.
Like I said, it was very pretty out today and we appreciated the warm March sun on our backs easing the single digit wind chill. I was on Evil with studs. He performed great. 60/15.9

The cold and wet were perfect for creating a lot of ice build up.

Friday Off

Went easy on the bike maintenance tonight...lubed the chain.

Something To Build On

You see what a reasonable temp can do? I am not asking that much. It hit 40 today, with some sun. I mean, come on! That wasn't so hard was it? Even Evil enjoyed the puddle jumping. 20/15.3

Sun

...but still too cold, but I felt good out there. I keep on doing my winter 20, maybe next week I'll feel like a few more miles during the week. Those weather people are talking about a bunch more snow coming. They may need to start wearing masks when they venture outside of their TV studios. 20/14.5

Less Than Patient

Damn! Just plain cold out there today. Come on spring! Get your act together! 20/14.4

New Evil

Been doing lots of things to Evil over the last couple of months: pedals, chain, cassette, cantilever brakes, cables, handlebar tape, and today I put on a new chain ring. Evil is riding solid.
Lots of ice on the trails today. Had to walk a little. Studs still on. 20/13.6

Not So Sunday

Felt tired today. Kept on thinking, I need some sun. A little warmth would be nice too. Kept it easy today. I think I'll blame this on Day Light Saving Time. Us cyclists always have a number of good excuses at the ready.
Even with the cold, wet and dreary there is plenty of pretty out there. 40/14.8

All Wet

Gloves and shoes soaked through at about 3 hrs into the ride. Drizzle for the whole ride with hard rain for the last hour. I guess that's better than snow, but I could've used a sunny 80 miler today. Taking the studs off Evil was as close as I came to feeling the road. Solo 60. I've said this before, but there is something about riding in the rain. Of course you have to stay warm, or it's total misery, but there's a freshness, a cleanness, a newness, even a bit of a promise that comes from the rain. Everything looks....more alive, I guess. I like that it melted some snow, and added some water to a drought burdened landscape, but, like in Camelot, couldn't it rain at night, or at least, not on a weekend? Missed Amy. 60/16.0

The Starkness Is Beautiful

Rain Beading Up On The Tights

Rain Cape Wet Inside And Out

Drying Out The Shoes And Gloves ( gloves have already been through one dryer cycle)

Friday Maintenance

Time with my daughter this evening and then home for a little bike maintenance. Can't express how great it is to have my kids so close and see them so often. They are remarkable people.
Evil has always come through during some harsh conditions this winter. Gave him a new rear derailleur cable tonight. Plan on riding Evil with his studs and full fenders tomorrow. Another day with ice, sleet, rain and snow. yipeee.

Need More Heat

March sun isn't very warm, but, even though it's not above freezing, it's still slowly eating away at the snow. Needed tonight's ride to get rid of some stress. It helped. 20/14.0

Hard Act

Trails better. Spent less time on the road. Evil is as tough as they come. Tried to bunny hop a major pot hole. Caught the edge with the rear wheel. Evil wanted more...not phased at all. I was fine too, although a little jarred. 20/13.8

It Always Pays Off

I was a bit worried that my streak might come to an end today. A foot of snow is not easy to navigate, but the plows had been out and I was able to get her in. Some of the paths that I ride during the winter hadn't been cleared, so I just jumped on the street and and let Evil's carbide tips chatter along the asphalt. The cars seemed surprisingly accepting of my presence.
Sun was setting as I finished up and I was treated to a splendid view along the tracks by my place. 20/12.4

Ugh Winter

The weekend miles lingered in the old hairy body today. And, apparently, winter has developed a bit of an attitude; cold and snow today with the promise of more snow tonight. Not happy. Rode Evil. 20/12.4

Perfect

One of those nice days...real simple but just the stuff that makes life perfect. Started the day with an easy 40 mile ride with Amy, just talked and rode. 40/14.6
Hung out with Elijah this afternoon. When I dropped him off he said, "hey grandpa, you forgot something". I  asked "what?" He said, "you forgot to tickle me".  I took care of that fast.
Stopped by Ethan's and saw my other grandkids, then Ethan and I went out for dinner...talked for over 3 hours.
A priceless day. Very nice.

More Spring

Opted for Frankenbike. Thicker tires, more rubber on the road, 15 degree start temp, anticipated sloppiness on the 2nd half of the ride all ganged up on the Cannondale and kept it home.
A good group of us and lots of sun...that was so nice. There be plenty of rollers out there near the St. Croix River, and we took them on. It had the feel of a road ride. Longest and fastest ride of the year for me. Felt Great! 63/15.9

Bikes Needed a Rest When We Got To Stillwater

Most Of

Days off are good for something. Grabbed the Cannondale, its computer was in sleep mode that's how long it's been since I moved it. I gave it a good look at, and cleaned it up a little. Thinkin' I  might ride it Saturday. Gonna try to put 65 miles on. Hope the old hairy legs are up to it.