Hard

At about the 50 mile mark we were averaging 19.2. I was happy with that. Steven suggested we try for a hammer, and Gabrielle quickly seconded his proposal. I'm getting too old for this.

Ventured out on a route I haven't done for 5 years. Lookin' for a change of pace. Best description of this route is; flat with lots of corn. I remembered why I hadn't done it in so long. Kind of boring, but it was great to be out with Gabrielle and Steven too.

Steven worked hard today taking quite a few nice long pulls.
Wasn't a cloud in the sky and it got hot.
I've been experiencing lots of new things as I age. Today's plague was leg cramps. I never cramp up. Glutes and hams were giving me fits for the last 50 miles. Drank more and tried to stretch as much as I could on the bike. Steven got a flat with about 25 miles to go. While he put in a new tube, all I did was stretch. This really helped, and the cramping ended.
We worked very hard, but came up .1 mph short of making this a hammer. Lots of salt accumulation on the old hairy shorts today.
A good, good hard ride, with a great effort put in by Steven and Gabrielle. 101/19.9

Friday Pics

Took the day off from work. I deserve it. I don't know what it is but I'm feelin' extra old.
Carried on a long tradition and went to the Minnesota State Fair this morning. Clouds and cool temps made it very comfortable. I got in all the usual stops, including; Fine Arts Building, Education Building, Horticulture Building, Eco Building, Creative Arts Building also got my cheese curd fix along with, mini donuts, and a chocolate milk shake. Stopped and watched a live interview with one of my Senators, Al Franken. Saw my Representative, Keith Ellison, and my other Senator, Amy Klobuchar. That's kind of a lot, huh?

A beautifully cool day deserved a bike ride, so I grabbed the All City and spent some slow time pedaling the lakes. 10/12.3

Tell It Like It Is

Rode my bike for 23 miles at an average pace of 16.1 miles per hour.

Circle of Life

Saw a hawk perched then attack a rabbit along the greenway. I tried to pull out my camera and get a shot but it happened too fast. The rabbit got lucky. 20/15.2

The Sun Was Moving A little Slower Over Isles

Still Hot

95 with a dew point of 74. I'll take it over our extreme cold in January and February. Kept it slow again tonight (didn't have a choice this is all the old hairy body would give) . 23/15.2

Dang Stinkin'

Mighty warm out there. Second day of record high temps. 97 today with a dew point of 74.
Of course I was riding in it. 23/15.8

Path Along Minnehaha Creek

The Heat is Hot

Record heat today. Hit 96. Gabrielle and I finished our ride before noon. The heat takes it out of you, that's for sure. Stayed in air-conditioning the rest of the day.

We were both pretty tired from our rides in the heat this weekend, but it sure is nice to be able to ride with my daughter so much...a great way to spend a Sunday morning. 47/16.2

First Time In A Long Time

A couple of months back all I was doing was complaining about how shitty I was feeling. I had bonked on a couple of rides, and even gotten dropped, which is very rare for me. I did start feeling better towards the end of July.
Over my cycling career my mantra has always been; miles, miles and more miles. I was so frustrated that I'd been bonking on 80 and 85 mile rides. I decided to add a few miles at low intensity to my weekly routine. I also decided to not worry about the intensity of my rides, just concentrate on a few more miles and let that work its magic. This seems to be working.

Today's ride, with Amy, Steven, Brian, Gabrielle and Jack, was hot, humid and windy - a real tough combination of adverse weather conditions. About 15-20 miles of head-on 15 to 20 mph winds, and another 20 to 30 miles of crosswinds, coupled  with temps in the low 90's and dew points near 70, sucked a lot of energy out of us. Fluids were vital. I downed 4 bottles of water and 32oz of Gatorade, that's a lot for me.
The thing is, I felt good for the entire ride, and even felt like I wanted to do more when we got home. It's been a long time since I felt like that after a ride. It's nice that it's coming back. I don't expect to return to the abilities I had in my 40's, but it sure is nice to be feeling good about my effort again. I've got really good friends that encourage me and help me out. It was a good day on the bike. 85/19.3

Old US169 is a Favorite

Trail Along The Minnesota River Near Bloomington

90's in Late Summer

All The Way Off Friday

Nice

A beautiful evening ride. 24/16.5

Moon just nudging above the horizon gave it a reddish-orange hue tonight.

Keepin' Up

Racked up a few more miles. 24/16.3

High Numbers

Summer is back. Broke a sweat before I was out the door. It's ok, just makes me look like I'm workin' hard. 24/16.0

Minneapolis is a Beautiful City

Along The Creek

Put in the usual slow recovery Monday miles. Heat is back. 23/15.3

Maple Getting Ready To Drop Its Seeds

Beautiful Solo Sunday

Glorious out there. Just enjoying the Sunday scenery and solitude. 50/16.9

The Way Back Machine

Got out with an old riding friend today, Ron. By the Time we got to Belle Plaine I was hoarse from talking so much. So great to catch up. The rule is; what's said on the bike stays on the bike, but I'll share just a tid-bit. Talking about the weight gain we have both enjoyed over the last five years, Ron says, "guys our age should be eating 1700 calories a day, that's a SNACK, for me!"
We talked about kids, grandkids, how fast we used to be and everything else. Thanks, buddy, so great to see you. An easy, meaningful century.

While I was out reminiscing with Ron, my daughter Gabrielle was starting her memories by winning
the women's cat 4 State Championship Road Race.

Another Friday Night Ride

Pulled out the All City single speed and circled the lakes. A beautiful evening for an easy cruise. 14/13.4

 Uh Oh

Beyond

Put on a few more weekday miles this week. Felt good. I'll stick with the plan for another week and see what happens. 23/16.5

On The Road Again With "B"

Got the new crank in, for the "B" bike, today. Popped it on then took off for the initial ride. Did everything I needed it to, except make me faster. 23/15.8

Coasting Along

We've had just a perfect stretch of weather for several weeks now. Riding has been fine. 24/16.0

Mo Post

Rolling the recovery Monday ride. 20/16.3

Amy gave me some tomatoes from her garden. I turned them into fresh bruschetta. Delicious!

Real Good

Amy and me for fifty today. Very nice.
Gabrielle raced and podiumed. Very proud.

Perfect Saturday Ride

Nary a breeze, 70 degree temps perfect, pillow puff white clouds and Amy did all the pulling.
Seven of us up to Hanover. The simplicity is what makes it perfect; Great friends, great weather, great scenery = great ride. 80/19.9

Friday Report

Brit went to the Vikings pre-season game tonight so, I rode over to WSK (World Street Kitchen) and had a beer with Amy and her friend Tanya. That counts as carbo-loading for tomorrow's ride. 6/??

Just Waiting to Get Home

20/15.9

Material Matters

Been riding the fast-good-lookin' bike all week. Usually just ride it on Saturday and Sunday, but the Cannondale is in need of a new crank. I'm waiting on FEDEX to get it to me. Apparently all carbon DOESN'T make you faster. 20/16.1

Implement

Got out before the storms hit. Tuesday is one of two weekdays I'm going to try and add just a few miles to my usual 20. I've got to keep reminding myself, weekdays are for recovery. 24/15.4

Heading Into Downtown

Above St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi

Ford Bridge and Dam