A Little More Clothing

It was a cap, vest, knickers and long-sleeved jersey ride. First cool fall ride of the year, and yes, I did find myself wishing for the heat. The cold north wind brought a massive pounding surf on Lake Harriet. 21/16.4

A Little Less Fuel

Been trying to use my fat stores instead of my glycogen stores. Of course, that means the old hairy body has to go through the delightful experience of running out of glycogen in the hairy muscles, then transition and use the fat stores. Gotta love the bonk. And, let me just say, it sucks. 21/16.4

I did have enough energy to take some pics.

2 are 1

Got in 28 slow miles averaging 16mph. I actually felt good, but fuel-less, so I just went with what the old hairy legs would give me. Met up with Penny later and we cruised around for about 20 miles. 47/14.8
Feelin' A Little Extra Hairy Tonight

No filters, no color adjustments on these images. The bottom image was taken when the moon was lower in the sky just above the horizon.

Want And Can

That want-to feeling has been slowly creeping back. Hadn't planned on yesterday's hundred, but all of a sudden on Friday it was the plan. Today, even with a century on the old hairy legs, a couple of extra miles and rollers got added on to the SSR. It's nice to be getting that feeling back. Maybe the broken bones of June were a little guilty of taking some of that feeling away. Whatever it was, its coming back. Now that the want is back, it's time to concentrate on the can.
Another beautiful ride today. I wish I could describe it better, but words, at least the ones I know, just don't capture what's out there.
Best part of today's ride? Got to ride with Amy. 52/18.1

As Good As It Gets

It just doesn't get any better than this. We don't have fall colors yet, those will peak in about a month, but the hint that change is coming is all around. We could see some sumac starting its change to blood red leaves. Farm fields were folding in the mature browns and gold to the formerly youthful green. Even the soy bean fields were showing off patches of yellow. All of this rolling in between a delightful mix of pine and deciduous trees, well manicured farmsteads, lakes and creeks.
Added a loop up into Scandia, onto a route we did a couple of weeks ago. It's just incredibly beautiful. I could count the number of clouds out on one hand, and they were just these little puffs of white.
As if all this beauty wasn't enough, the wind took the day off.
Robin rode with us to Pine Point Park and then turned for home. She's racing a du next week and needs to keep the miles and effort under control for that. Anthony, Steve and I kept on to Marine on St. Croix, got a stop in at the Bikery du Nord, and then rode north to Scandia, turned south for Stillwater and then home.
This will be a hard one to forget. 100/19.1

Friday Night Ride Pics

Beautiful day to do anything, even work. Traveling along some of Minnesota's farm fields.
Kind of a hectic work week.
There's nothing like a Friday night spin to take the kinks out. Even saw Gabrielle out again tonight doing the same thing.

Hard to beat a sunset over Isles. Smoke from some planned burns up in the BWCA made its way down to the cities and striped the sky.

Smooth as glass.

8/??

Wasn't Sure

Planned on three 300 mile weeks for 2011. This week was suppose to be number three, but Saturday's 80/20 left depleted all the giddy-up in the old hairy tank. Wednesday still found the tank empty and the 300 miles in jeopardy. But, a ride with Amy on Wednesday left only 40 miles to get to the goal. Got out a little early today for 25 and then another 17, with Penny before the Packers game tonight, and low and behold 301 miles for the week. Cool!
Also, that 80/20 ... fastest ride of the season, not the longest, but, still... so, pretty pleased with how the week turned out.
Today 25/17.3 and 17/13.3
Also, saw Gabrielle riding along the greenway. Penny and I got to stop and talk with her for a bit. That's pretty cool to just happen upon your daughter out riding her bike while you are too.