Riding with an old friend...Mr. Derailluer

With the temperature around +50F on Wednesday, I figured it was a good day to get out on the bike.

A sure sign of spring in our area is when the local townships post wieght limits on the town roads.  They do this because when the frost comes out of the ground, the road base gets soft and they are vulnerable to damage.  The limits this year went in to effect March 14 at noon and usually come off about May 1st.

There is still some snow on the ATV/Snowmobile/Multiple use trails.

Nice quiet roads to ride...

And this is why.  I would guess that 80% of the driveways are not plowed meaning they are not being used.  I rode in the vincinity of 15 lakes yesterday.  A lot of these lakes have cabin/houses that belong to snowbirds and then there are others that just don't use them in the winter.  That is good for me.  I like that.  It doesn't bother me that they're not around.

It is election time for the townships around our area.  If any of you out there think national, or state elections for that matter, are down and dirty, you should witness the small town politics.  The national and state scene doesn't hold a candle to this town.  It is not always that way, but has been for the last few years.  This township covers 133sq miles and has an overall population of about 754.  The nearest building to these signs is probably over a mile away, but there are 5 campaign signs here.  Bill Moyers says “Intelligence has nothing to do with politics,” and I believe him.

Another quiet road

Stopped by the river and birds are plenty this time of year.  The Trumpeter Swans are year around residents, as are the Eagles because this section of the St. Croix River very seldom freezes completely over.

I sat here, ate my banana and watched the birds.

I chased up two Mallards when I walked down here and the geese are plentiful.

It was a great afternoon with about 25 miles of riding.  Just one of the good things was my steed had a derailluer.  I ride the fixed gear in the winter, but it was nice enough yesterday to get a road bike out and it was nice to be able to coast.

Get out and have some Fun ! ! 

Short Timer?

I have been riding almost every night after work, although they have been short rides of about 15 miles.  Ummm, maybe that's why they are calling me short timer at work.  I don't think I'm short.

Oh Goodie!!!

Was it a nice ride tonight or what?   At about 15 miles, the temp around 45F with the wind from the northerly direction and best of all, no cars.  I did see one, but he turned on another road before we met.

I think it happens almost every year, the weather starts getting more like spring and then Whammmmy...calling for blizzard conditions with 8 to 16 inches of snow.  Great.  I hear they are already revising the forecast though, that and depending on which channel one listens to, who knows?  The Shadow knoooows. 

Look Ma...No studs

I haven't updated this in a while, but you haven't missed much either.  The weather here has been well received by everyone I know of, except for maybe Eric who wants more ride time on the big tire prototype.  It was over 50F today with the sun shining bright so it was time to get outside.

The blacktop roads are clearing up nicely so I changed out the studded tires on the fixie last night.

The fixie sporting the summer cross rubber.  Don't get me wrong, the studs are nice on snow and ice covered roads, but the first ride of spring with the studded tires hanging in the garage sure is sweet.  The tree in the background most likely will not be around much longer as it was food for the Porcupine this winter.

For you Jeff...They have plowed the driveway to our local golf course.  Now if we can just get rid of some snow.

Great roads with rolling hills and not one auto did I see, made for a very nice afternoon for the fixie and me.

This is one of the multiple use trails in the area.  I think the snowmobiles are done using it this season.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. ~Lao Tzu

Smile Ride

Guess who's turn it is with the EP Cycles prototype...if you guessed me, you guessed right.  This thing is amazing and I had loads of fun riding it this evening.

It was a 12.3 mile smile ride. 

With the 2 x 9 gearing, I didn't have to hike-a-bike any hills and never once got near the top gear.  The Sram XO shifters were smooth and crisp.

I rode some of everything tonight.  I had about a mile of this 2" of fluff snow on top of our now very hard crusty base...handled it well. 

This section of the ride was my favorite...the single track snowmobile trail.

Here I was riding on one of our snowmobile highways.  I didn't see anybody out on the trails tonight.   

The above photo is of my son and their dog Nitro.  Even though it is a little blurry because photography isn't my strong suit, it is good enough to see the smile on his face.  I am of the opinion that anybody that gets on this will have a smile.