Who'd Have Thought?

http://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/aug/07/guardianobituaries

Friday Walk

Good week. Longer light and more temperature had me riding everyday this week. I think that's the first time this year. Lost two more pounds this week for a total of 15 pounds since January 1st. Only 5 to go!
Walk was easier with the paths snow and ice free. Had to navigate some major puddles, but I'll take that.

50 Degrees

First road bike ride of 2014. Felt great!

Ah, Spring.

It's All Good

Great couple of days on the bike. Trails are clear, sun is out and temps are up. Nice to have the feeling again of wanting to ride longer. Rode Monday with Amy and put more miles on, for a week day, than I have in 3 months. She's the best!

Saw this eagle eating dinner on my ride tonight.

Weekend

Just some spectacular riding. It felt so good to be out on clear roads. There was plenty of sand, salt and pot holes, but it was still glorious. Temps were in the 40's, toes and finger weren't stinging and my face didn't go numb. But above all I rode with Gabrielle yesterday and Amy and Gabrielle today, for me, that is heaven. God, I'm lucky! 45 miles yesterday and 42 miles today. Even made Gabrielle a little sore yesterday.

Winter is Retracting Its Claws

Not a Loser

Didn't lose any weight this week. Hard work is no fun when there aren't the results you want. I'll double down and see if I can't knock off a couple more pounds next week.

Temps were very walkable today.

Progress

Got in a little over an hour today. Sun is warmer. Was light past 6pm. Sunday it will be light past 7pm. Even with the temps warming, it's going to be awhile before we get rid of all this snow.

Record Breaking Cold

Wow, that was a cold weekend. Rode with Amy on Saturday. Ride temp never got above -2 with wind chills around -20. I got in a little over 30 miles, but the cold and icy conditions kept it one of my slower rides. Even colder today. Started at -15 degrees actual air temp. Sun was out though, which got it a little closer to bearable. Today I changed up my clothing layering scheme, with 3 balaclavas, and a heavier and longer (gotta give extra coverage to private matters) base layer.

Saturday

Sunday on the South and East Shore of Lake Calhoun

Nothin' But Cold and Snow Friday

All the way off, didn't even walk today. Good progress with the weight loss. Only 7 pounds to go.

While Working Today Along The Mississippi River at Lilydale

Better Planning

I pick the coldest day of the week to finally get out and ride. You'd think I'd plan better, but three days was all I could stand. Temp never got above zero here. Trails are mostly ice. Studs are mandatory.

Talk Is Cheap

Been at the gym the last three days. I've just been too wussy to get out in the cold, and was not interested in "respecting the dangers and being properly prepared".
Weight is still coming off. I'll report the tonnage reduction Friday.

Harsh Yes

Today's ride was rough, literally. I chose to ride along the Mississippi River and Minnehaha Creek parkway trails. I'm not sure what it is, maybe all the curves, but these trails are not plowed as well as the Greenway and Cedar Lake Trail - lots of ruts, bumps, loose snow and debris all over. It was a very different ride from yesterday, which I was looking for. I'm not a technical rider at all, but every now and then a technical challenge is good for me. You can see just how pathetic my technical abilities are by me calling a plowed trail technical.
Another cold beauty. Lots of complaining about how harsh our Minnesota winters are, and they are, but you know, by respecting the dangers and being properly prepared, I have found, that there is a lot of fun to be had in even the most extreme that winter can throw at me.
That being said, it felt good to get home to safety and warmth. Couple of hours today. About 20 miles.

Getting Ready To Head Out

Minnehaha Falls

Contrasts

Rode where the plows had been. Got as far west as Shady Oak Lake. Hard to imagine a more beautiful winter day. Loved every second of being out there with the single digits and the below zero wind chills. Missed Amy. She's some place warm. I feel a little sorry for her.

Been enjoying taking some high contrast black and white shots over the last few days.

That Was A Storm

Haven't had a storm like that in 20 years. Started out as rain yesterday, then turned to snow last night. About 2 inches of ice sits below 10 inches of snow.This has been one rough winter. I'm sure it will go down as a top ten. If the predicted temps for the coming week happen, this will be the coldest winter in 40 years. The roads are atrocious. Walking or biking is faster than driving a car.
As terrible as what the storm left behind is, the beauty of it was breath taking.
Got my Friday walk in, and lost another pound this week. I may have this weight loss done by the end of March.

Enjoyed It While It Lasted

Teased with a taste of spring the last couple of days, but winter isn't done with us yet. Blizzard and winter storm warnings have been posted for tomorrow, but today, joggers in shorts, soft snow, puddles and fenders.

Slightly

Rode with Amy Monday, we both had the day off. Had to wait until the afternoon because of the six inches of new snow all over the place.
Up into the 40's today and met up with Gabrielle for a few miles together.
It's been a run of several nice rides in a row. Keep it coming!
Still feelin' better. I've slightly (just a couple) increased my miles. No big plans, I'm just enjoying being out on my bike.

Just Ideal

Pretty great weekend. Rode with Amy both days, and Gabrielle today. Saw Brit last night, played real estate mogul, hiked along the Mississippi and took some images this afternoon. Doin' the stuff I enjoy. Life is good!

Old Fashioned Winter

Cold and snowy, in fact, it hasn't been this cold and snowy in 20 years.
Amy and I saddled up the cx steeds and rode to Wayzata, where, once again, it started to snow. Wind changed and blew the snow into our faces. Glasses started to fog up and freeze. Roads became snow covered and slippery. In short it got a little miserable, which we are used to.
It is so nice to ride in tough conditions with someone who knows what they are doing. I can concentrate on the road and don't have to worry about the rider in front of me or behind me taking me down. Amy is the best. 41/13.0

Snow Just Starting to Get Going

Various Modes of Transportation

Feeling good. Still progressing with the diet.
Warmest temps we've seen this February, but I still felt cold during my ride.

Old

About halfway through my workout in the gym I saw my reflection and realized I still had my sunglasses on. I'd forgot to take them off before I got out of the car. I guess the question is; was I old or cool? 'cause you know, when you're cool the sun shines all the time.
I did pose the "old or cool" question to Penny. The response was, "old trying to be cool".

Good Luck

Rode with Amy and Gabrielle yesterday and today. That's a good weekend. I'm a lucky guy!

Lovin' It

Amy and I took the kids out for a forty miler on the LRT to Excelsior. Never had to say, don't make me turn this bike around, 'cause I will right now!
Actually Gabrielle and Andrew had put in about 25 miles before they met up with us. Kids these days.

Single Digit Walk

Bipedal. Walking the shores I wondered how my predecessors managed to get around these Minnesota lakes in such frigid temps. What I imagine about how they lived seems next to impossible for me to manage. I also can't get over how I live in a world where I am trying to avoid calories, in an effort to prolong my life while 100 years ago finding as many calories as possible helped to ensure a long life. Down 7 pounds since the first of the year.

 

If Only

Sleeve-less, shorts and 65 degrees. Yep, the gym.

Single Digit Ride

Some goodies arrived today!

It's All Getting Better

I'm feeling a billion times better than I did 6 weeks ago. Making really good progress fighting off the burn-out. Evil and me for a quick hour tonight.

Seems a bit Unnecessary

Sunny and Cold

Another gorgeously cold day. -8 when we started. Pretty sure this is the coldest temp Gabrielle has ever ridden in. She's tough! Great to ride with Amy, Aaron, Ryan and Gabrielle. I'm a lucky man. 25/

Amy and me a little frosty.

Productive Saturday

What a gorgeous day! Just Amy and me. Saw Paula about a half hour into the ride and rode with her for an hour. Trails are perfect. Temps reached the low 20's, which is a heat wave compared to what we've been dealing with lately. A very delightful 40 mile winter ride.

Got over to the Luminary Loppet, on Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun, this evening with Penny.