Halloween

Just heading out for my ride and who rides by? Gabrielle. She already had on over 30 miles and took pitty on her old dad slowing things down a bit. Very nice to ride with her. 23/15.6

Got out with the Grandlumps tonight for a little trick-or-treating. I asked Taylor if she liked my costume. She said, "you don't have on a costume". "Sure I do, I'm a scary grandpa". "You're not scary".

Evil and Me

Still significantly lacking any giddy-up.
Rain rides rock. Fog and drizzle is pretty cool too. 20/14.3

Impatient

Keeping it simple. Haven't gotten rid of this stupid cold yet. 20/15.0

Feelin' It.

Cold north wind today, and very little giddy-up in the old hairy legs. 20/14.9

Had some extra time on my hands yesterday, so I took the big-boy camera out.

I watched this horse trying to get at an itch, this was finally how the problem got solved.

Single Sunday For Two

Still sick, but someone has to answer the call of the ride. Gabrielle and I got out on our steel singlespeeds for a Sunday morning spin through a late fall colorama. I have definitely raised a roadie. She declared her allegiance to asphalt several times, along with paying tribute to gears. I share her fervor for the road and derailleurs.
Hard to beat a morning on the bike, with my daughter, and seeing some natural beauty. 53/15.3

Double Cold

I've had a cold all week, which has progressively gotten worse. I wondered this morning whether I'd be able to ride. Stretched the Lycra over the old hairy body, pumped up the tires on FGB (fast-goodlookin' bike) and rolled over to meet a gang of 5. I told 'em I was tired, sick and slow, and I hoped to make it to Wayzata.
Wind was awful. Gusts over 30mph. But we had plenty of sun, and even though the temps were in the upper 30's, I stayed warm.
I wasn't going to push it. I wanted to ride, but was not interested in slowing or setting back the progression of my cold, so I just kept a steady pace into the unrelenting wind, and once to Rockford (about 30 miles) my pace paid off and the tailwind took over.
It was great to be riding with Amy and Gabrielle...Steven too. Got in a good ride with good friends, and don't feel any the worse for it. I'll take it. When you're sick and still get in 73 miles with temps near 40....that's a good ride. 73/17.0

Camera lens was cloudy all ride, from being in my warm jersey pocket. So no photos today.

Day Off

Miles

Over 40 degrees. It's a heat wave! Movin' mighty slow tonight. Miles, that's all I need. 20/14.4

Still Cold

Another cold ride. 20/14.9
I've been trying out new recipes. What that means is I just throw some stuff together and see how it turns out. I kind of make 'em up out of stuff that I like. So I tried a new concoction tonight.

Sorry I don't do real good with measuring the ingredients. I just throw 'em in there.
The ingredients are:
Wild Rice
Sweet Potatoes
Macaroni
Black Beans
Asparagus
Green Onions
Salt
I boiled the wild rice for awhile, then threw in the macaroni, cut up sweet potatoes, and asparagus, and boiled it all together 'til it looked kind of done. Drained off the water, added canned black beans, the green onions and salted to taste.
Can't say much for my presentation, but it sure tasted good.

Night Riding

Gabrielle and I rode tonight. Got a late start because of my work, then got a flat about 5 miles in, which took two tube replacements to repair. All that lead to getting home in the dark. I was prepared with both a front and rear light. I'm such a good example to my daughter. 22/15.5

Nippy!

Dang! There was a wind chill out there today that was in the upper 20's. I live in Minnesota, I know all about winter, but could we just ease into it, a bit, instead of just BOOM here it is. It even snowed today. 20/15.5

Cold and Beautiful

Rain and 33 degrees when I left. I had on my 45Degree North Boots, waterproof pants and my rain cape. Stayed warm for three hours. Evil, is just amazing in these conditions...what a bike. Got up to 39 degrees by the time I got home, and the sun came out, but, like I always say, there is something about rain rides....they just seem extra beautiful. 33/14.1

Times Are A Changin'

A bit on the harsh side out there today. I shouldn't complain, but maybe ramping down into winter instead of dropping off a cliff would be a little easier to take.
Five of us started out and only two finished. Rain and 37 degrees to start the ride got everyone cold fast. Roads dried after Wayzata. Sun even made intermittent appearances, but it was too little too late. Three had already turned for home. I stayed dry, warm and toasty for 73 miles and beat the sleet home. It turned out to be a pretty nice ride for me. I got lucky and got the clothes right.
Change of season requires changing recovery drink to Hot Cocoa, with a little coconut flavored rum. 73/17.5

Waterproof and insulated booties made by Endura helped keep my feet warm.

Cool and Easy

Just keepin' it simple. Nice ride....sprinkles started just as I was pullin' in. I like that timing. 20/15.5

Family

Sun came out just in time for my ride. Saw my brother, Rob, walking along the greenway. Stopped and talked with him, for a bit, then Gabrielle joined me for my last 5 miles. She, of course, was riding until it got dark, and kept on going when I turned off. So, it was kind of a family ride this evening, with sun and nice temps. All Good! 20/15.6

Wet Colors

Fourth day in a row wearing tights. Mist, drizzle, wet roads and temps in the 40's got me on Evil. He's always ready. 20/15.0

Cool Monday

Not quite as congested on the bike trails today. Maybe it had something to do with the cool temps and a lack of sun. If this was the spring, I'd laugh at someone who had all the clothes on I did today. Gotta thicken up the old hairy blood, in prep for the snow and cold that's ahead. Three days in a row wearing full leg tights. Good news? It's soup and hoodie weather! 20/15.9

Really Nice Ride

Cool (39 degrees) and sunny is a very nice way to start a ride. Sun on your back and a cool breeze in your face feels great. Fun friends, enjoyable conversations and beautiful fall scenery combined to create a delightful ride. 53/16.5

Winds of Change

Haven't ridden with Amy for a few weeks now, so today it was just the two of us trying to get back to normal. I think we made progress.

Wind was pretty stiff out of the west, so being the lazy rider I am, we took the Dakota Trail out to Mayer. Pretty flat and most of it is tree lined, which helped to mitigate the effects of the wind, for us. Then a turn north up to Watertown, then the turn east and tailwind! Amy has a watt meter on her computer, and saw that we were doing 23mph while putting out 8 watts. We were not going down hill either. Now that's some wind, and the way we should always be riding.
Lots of clouds and it was cool...21 degrees cooler than yesterday. Looks like temps in the 70's are over, for the next 6 months. 75/17.2

Colors may have peaked, but it was still beautiful, and great to be riding with Amy.

Day Off?

Lots of stuff happenin' today, none of which was a bike ride. I guess that's why there are days off.

Still Nice

Lots of folks out, tonight, enjoying the summer temps in October. Got several "hey, Tom"s and even one "hi dad". She was going the other way. Made my ride! 20/16.6

More Color

WOW. It is so beautiful around here...almost distracting. 20/16.2

Lake Harriet

Recovery Photos

Monday October 7th
Hey some how this didn't get posted yesterday.

It wound up being more of a photo shoot than a ride. It's gettin' really pretty. I'm mighty lucky... I get to do two things that I really enjoy at the same time. 22/15.1

Picture Perfect

Tuesday October 8th
Not feeling too hot, but it is so beautiful out there, and with temps in the 70's ... gotta ride. 20/15.9

More Cold and Wet

Started out sunny and beautiful, but drizzle sneaked up on us, and things turned cold and wet fast. I fared a little better than Gabrielle, she got very cold, but lasted the last 15 miles, vowing, with Scarlett O'hara flare, to never be that cold again. 45/16.5

Dipped Into The Full-Fingered Gloves Today

The Drizzle Adds Up

Misty And Colorful

Solo Saturday

Only needed the fender for the first fifteen, the other sixty was pretty spectacular, albeit slow...it's that time of year, I guess.
Cool and wet, but by the time I was in Carver the sun was out and the roads were dry. Had a hard time figuring out what to wear this morning, but finally settled on knickers, vest and long-sleeved jersey, and, of course, a cap for the old hairless head. Perfect!
Called on the "B" bike to get me through the wet. No giddy-up today, but I think it's mostly just that time of year. Season's over and it's time to settle into off season riding. 73/17.4

Fall Friday

Day off the bike, but I got a small amount of bike maintenance in, for my daughter. It was a losing effort trying to resurrect her crank. She had to buy a new one...upgraded to Ultegra. Looks like a cool wet ride tomorrow, it'll be a solo effort of 70-85 miles, and I'll also be installing that new crank.

From Isles This Evening