A Tale Of Two Rides

Started into the 20 mph wind -temps in the 30's - just hurt from the outset, and there was no relief - headwind was like riding underwater - crosswind like walking a balance beam. I was working so hard I'd have been warm in just a jersey and shorts - head down no scenery just asphalt. The rollers were excruciating. Once at the top the wind blasted unabated. I've never been so happy to see the three silos just outside of Watertown.
A brief pause to recuperate and then on to dessert. Instead of the 14 and 17 registering on my computer, now I was seeing 22, 23 and even 30. The sun was out. Had it been out for the whole ride? I think it may have been. Now there was no deafening roar in my ears. It was so quiet I could hear the tires hum on the pavement. I love that sound. The wind was now a gentle ally aiding all the way to the top and over the rollers. Steven was riding his orange BMC, and was wearing a black and orange Capo jersey. Very Halloween. We were starting to talk and even laugh. Nevertheless, no one was considering extending this ride. We were on, and not diverting from, the most direct route home.
Very, very hard ride. That first 35 miles could be the hardest I've ever ridden. It's up there in the top 10, that's for sure. I sneaked a peek at the average mph at Watertown, and was surprised and very pleased with the 18.2 I saw. Amy and StevenCX were unbelievably tough today.

The new Cannondale CAAD 9 frame performed well. It's a much more comfortable ride than the Orbea. It may be a little less responsive/quick, but it's a climber and feels more stable on descents and at high speeds. It reminds me of the feel and ride of my De Rosa Planet, which is the bike that preceded my Orbea.
I'm an aluminum boy all the way. Not even carbon stays, for me. You know how hard it is to find an all aluminum bike these days? Very pleased with today's performance of the new frame. 67/19.3

Tom The Bike Mechanic

Put a new frame on my bike tonight. I'll be sending the Orbea frame back to Spain. Only 18 months of wear.

All Elliptical

I showed the rain by staying indoors and working out at the gym. Rumor has it that several others were commuting in this stuff. They are hard to the core. I think they are also quite proud of what they did.

When Will It End?

Back to tights and the Evil One. Just another massively grey day. Drizzle and a wet breeze out of the south added charm and delight to an otherwise dissmal day. I feel sorry for those who live in the NW US. 25/15.2

All Sun

Couldn't find a cloud anywhere. 25/15.6

Along Minnehaha Creek

It's Alive!

Finished the Winter Beast. Even took it out for a couple of laps around the parking lot.

Rolled out on the Orbea just as the clouds rolled in. Figures!

Saw tons of friends including; Matt (3 times), Andy, Cam and Amy. Kept it very simple and easy. 25/15.5

Chicked and Old Guyed

Hard decision this morning, Evil One or Orbea. Foggy, a little drizzle and wet roads definitely called for the Evil One, but the road ride days are numbered as we close in on winter. I made the decision to ride the X, but at the last minute called Amy and said, let's do the road bikes. She was obviously relieved, and the decision wound up working out great.
Did the typical Sunday route. Just as we were starting out, within the city limits of Minneapolis and less than 5 miles from the center of downtown a deer crosses our path. This is one cool place to live. Later, and a little farther out we see 5 wild turkeys just off the side of McGinty Blvd.
We rode up in Baker. Even with the grey dreary skies, the muted gold of fall shown through and again made for some beautiful scenery.
As the ride ended, not too far from where we saw the wild turkeys, another cyclist came up on us at a stop light. After we went through the green he shot around us wide and fast. I considered this a little rude, I mean it's Sunday, so decided to bridge the gap he and his sprinter quads had created. We reeled him in pretty quick, and then I let him dangle on the front and enjoyed the draft. He'd burned the one match he had and there were a couple of small inclines ahead. He started looking back and slowing down. First incline I went around him pushing it a little and not letting up. Second incline pushed it even harder and didn't let up, third the same. Looked back it was just Amy and me, he'd been "chicked" and "old-guyed". Amy called me a scoundrel, with an evil, approving grin. Good, good Sunday ride. 47/17.8