Spring Ride

Plus 55 degrees and sunny...had to get out. We cut a load of firewood in the morning and biked the Person Lake Loop this afternoon. First time biking outdoors this year for Janice although she has been riding the trainer indoors for up to an hour at a time. She signed for the MS150 ride this June. It is a 150 mile two day bicycle ride from Proctor, MN to the Twin Cities area. She has volunteered the last three years and decided to ride it this year. They require each rider to raise $300 dollars in pledges and with the state of the economy, it has been tough fund raising year. We will see how it goes, and if we come up short...She will ride and I will be the support staff...and I be good at supportin.

Happy first day of Spring, from our house to yours.


J Watson
Oh! the snow, the beautiful snow, Filling the sky and earth below, Over the housetops, over the street, Over the heads of the people you meet. Dancing, Flirting, Skimming along.

M & M Ride

My Dad put a scare into the family this past weekend. He was hospitalized Sunday AM until today. We brought him home today and through modern medicine, things are all better. We got home about 3 this afternoon. Janice and my sister stayed with Dad and I did the M & M ride...my favorite out and back ride...on the fixed gear. Nothing like a bike ride to come back down and relax a little. It was a 36 mile ride...I varied a little from the Map My Ride version. The first half had more up hills, into the wind and on the way back, sailing with the breeze. I like it better that way...get the hardest out of the way first. As always...click on pic for BIG St Croix River
Tamarack River

Rock in the Moose

Highway M Moose River crossing

Mail Road Moose River crossing

Eau Claire County Ride

We made a road trip to Eau Claire Friday and stayed over night. Saturday morning we stopped at the bike shop...Eau Claire Bike and Sport...just to shoot the shit. It was interesting as one of the locals, Ray, was there. This marks the second time we have witnessed Ray keeping Terry and Ryan in line...and that's a good thing. They have taken good care of us and come highly recommended in our book.

We then headed out to Fall Creek. I unloaded the fixed gear and headed north on highway K. I did not know what to expect riding in this area. I had never ridden the roads around here. Now that I have I can tell you one thing for certain...I have never ridden in a place where the autos have been more generous. Most of the roads today had a shoulder of 2 to 3 feet, and the cars still gave you room. They gave a lot of room and that includes the towns I went through...Altoona and Fall Creek.The Nokian studded tires require a 30 mile break in on pavement. I gave them a little extra for good measure.
Fall Creek, WI

Fall Creek to Seymour on highway K, back to SS into Altoona and through town, then back to Fall Creek.

Crossing the Eau Claire River...I think

This is the line between Eau Claire and Chippewa counties. In this area Eau Claire County has the advantage for bike friendly highways. The road narrowed going into Chippewa County and I headed back south.

Can't say enough about how friendly the automobile traffic was. I think that is a good indicator of the people that live in this area. 34 plus miles of X-cellent riding, even if it was a little windy.

Orange cones

With the temperature up in the 50's, sun shining bright and winter weather on the way...had to do it. I rode the Stop-a-Sec Circle on the Fixie this afternoon. This route has a lot of hills and today, a lot of puddles marked with orange cones. It reminded me of this Bob and Tom tune.

I rode the Little Bigger Circle ride this afternoon...as usaul, click on highlight to link and on the pictures to make large. This route has a lot of hills. I am really happy with the gearing on this unit so far. It has a 38 X 16 gear and I realize that is a very low gear for some, but I have not walked one hill yet...although I have had to pedal my ass off on some of the downhills. I was also had mixed feelings about which size to get. My road bikes have compact geometry and sized a large. This one is 58cm which turns out right for me on this bike. On a side note...Bryce if you are reading this, next time you guys are up this way...Lets Ride.
This hill has three corners in it so a picture of the complete hill is not possible. I reached a speed of 28.6mph and that is pedal'in let me tell ya.

Some stately Jack Pines.

There were some puddles today...but puddles are better that ice. I came around a downhill corner today that had about a 100 yards of ice at 23 mph. It did have some patches of sand and I sqeaked through some how.

After I took this picture I starting thinking...From this spot I could count 10 different lakes with in 1 mile or 2...not visually...just know they are there.

This is Tom and Jerry. I wonder how much longer they will be here. The one on the right has some pecker holes and is starting to look ratty.

Maiden Voyage

I rode the Person Lake ride on the fixed gear's maiden voyage this afternoon. For the most part the roads were in good shape. The fixed gear will let you know when you who's boss when you try to coast. I was caught three times tonight trying to cheat. On this route tonight I saw three cars and I discovered something right away with the first one. I never realized it before...but when I am riding roads with little traffic and I hear a car approaching, I will sit up a little, glance back at them and coast at the same time. I think I am just being nosey, checking to see if I know them. When I am on roads with more traffic, I don't break stride, or look back. And, I got caught on one of the downhills, day dreaming...it let me know. It was 13 miles at 50 degrees and the puddles were numerous.

For right now I will leave the gearing alone. Maybe tweak it later, but just right now. I could handle all the hills tonight.

Those that know the fixed gear also know downhills can be hard too, although this one I went down and up.

Parking that bike in the snow brought back memories. I remember as a young-un getting the bicycle out for the first time in the spring, we would always find snow banks to drive in. It was the m o s t fun. The bikes then were put away all winter. I do not remember anyone riding in the winter. It was always about this time of year...spring fever time...when the first kid would break the ice, drag out the bike and soon everyone would follow. It was a fun time of year.

Some Porn

Sloppy Roads Here

As John Ruskin said "Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."

Plus 45 and didn't ride

I had planned a nice ride tonight after work, but things change and that did not come to happen. On another note, a friend of mine has a fixie gear that I have had the privilege of riding. I have wanted one and been looking for quite some time. I was looking to get on a Surly. I searched the want ads for a long time. We went to the bike swap in Blaine this year in hopes of finding something reasonable. There were two Surly Steamrollers, but not my size and with the shaky ground we are on at work...I THINK?? we are going to be OK mentality...stability of the job market and so on, I did not want to spend a lot of money. That ruled out building up a Surly to what I wanted. I ended up buying this unit. It is a Motobecane Fantom Cross UNO. It ships with 700x32 tires and it will accommodate tires up to 42c. I wanted the bigger tires and lower gearing because some of my favorite rides include firelanes and dirt roads in the middle of nowhere. I also found some end of the year sale Nokian studded tires. I also will change out the pedals. The reviews at Bike Forum have been good, so this unit will be good enough for me to get into the single speed///fixie riding. Janice is picking it up as I type this.

Bread

Man, did it get cold out last night...but when a friend gives you bread, that will warm you up. I would like to get outside to ride, but will probably have to hit the trainer today.

And it is goooood stuff.

Little Circle

When I got home from work this afternoon, the temperature was plus 46 and that means no trainer tonight. I rode the Little Circle ride...and I hate to sound like a broken record...but it was awesome. The deer were really out this evening. I must have seen about 20 of them. I stopped twice to get pictures, but I was too slow. First off I would ride by them, then squeak the brakes stopping, then get the camera out of the back and finally try to sneak back up the road to get a pic. After twice of this routine, I didn't bother anymore. I could say I wised up...but I know better. Behind those trees there are Whitetails...believe me...or not

Got the bird tonight.

Birkie

Welllll....I made to the finish line of the Birkie this year...as a spectator. I had the camera on the dining room table to bring along and shoot some photos. I remembered right where I had left it just before we got into Hayward...on the table, duh. I can see now where the skate skiing is way easier that the classical. It would be similar to riding a mountain bike with big ol fat tires in a road race. They are both hard, but a person skate skiing can cover ground much faster. Seeing all those people out there giving it gave me the itch to get out...so when we got home I rode the Person Lake ride. We had gotten about an inch of snow last night, so it made the ride really nice. It was plus 19 degrees when I returned home...just nice to be outside.

Toast

Janice, our niece Sarah, and I took our daughter up for a surgical procedure at the St. Marys hospital in Duluth today. Things went well and preliminary results are also looking well. As she was recovering in her room, they first brought her water and apple juice. Then they came in with toast. I told them "Yeah Toast." They looked at me like I was a crazy...they know me well. I asked them if they had ever heard the Yeah Toast thing by Heywood Banks. It goes something like this..."All around the country coast to coast, people always say what do you like most, I don't wanna brag I don't wanna boast, I always tell 'em I like toast." None of them had heard it, so I told I would look it up. Here it is. This isn't Heywood Banks, but it is his song.

Trainer

One hour on the trainer, slowly pushing a high gear. I can feel the burn already. If I do not have any knee issues arise, I will do a few more of those. Just one little knee pain though, it would be back to spinning.

Person Lake Ride

I told a friend at work today that I was going home and riding the trainer at a nice pace for at least an hour, maybe longer...I Lied. When I got home the temp was +37 and no wind. It was 2, to, two and too nice not to get outside and ride...and outside is gooood. Some of the roads looked like this...some were free of ice and snow and some were completely covered.


This was a snowmobile trail I went by. I know it will be covered again, but spring is getting closer. They are talking some snow in the next couple days.

Bubar Island

I debated if I should go for a long walk today or go for a ride on the OCR. I decided on the walk. The roads around here are in tough condition for me to bike now. I checked some of them out yesterday. The sunny spots are clear of any ice...but the shaded spots are iced over. I don't like riding the studded tires because of all the blacktop showing and on the other hand, not enough blacktop showing for the regular tires. I have the Innova brand studded tires rather than the more expensive Nokian's. If I had the Nokian's, it would not be an issue because they have carbide studs...mine are made of carbon. If one were to ride the Black Bear route today, about 8 of the 32 miles would be covered with ice...and to add insult, the first 4 would be right out the end of the driveway. So...a nice, brisk three hour walk on Bubar Island it was.

The first 2 hours, I pretty much walked right on top of the snow. During the last hour, I started to break through, with made things a little more difficult...still good though.
This is one of the places that a friend of ours called home for a least one summer. Each summer he came to our little town from I do not know where, found a secluded place and called it home for the summer. At this place, his mode of transportation...canoe.

This is a spring I came by.


K O N K ! ! ! When we would find these in our youth, we would break these off, give them a throw at each other...and in a timely fashion yell...K O N K

Doing the inside

Not much to tell lately. Janice and I both have riding indoors. I have been doing the elliptical and the trainer...30 minutes each. Last night I just rode the trainer. I rode a nice easy pace for about 1 hour 15 minutes...then off the trainer and to the chair for an immediate nap. That happens some times, no explanation for it, but it happens. It seems I sit down...relax a little and soon can hardly keep me eyes open. When I nap, I could actually be getting more exercise...because as Mark Twain said "I have never taken any exercise except sleeping and resting." Tonight, I went back to doing the brick. Should get back outside this weekend.

Black Bear Ride

I rode what I call the Black Bear Ride today...31.5 miles and it took three hours. I call it that because it goes by the Black Bear Golf and Tennis club. The roads were a little soft in spots today, as it was fairly warm when I left. I would say about the last 4 miles, it was freezing up again, as it was 29 when I got home. If this link works, it will take you to the route I rode. Pretty slow riding today,as the tires were breaking thru most of the time. Some of the roads by Minong had a lot of black top showing though.
Took a picture of this Porcupine. It was just lying up on the branch...I still don't know if it was alive...or not.

There is a deer in there somewhere. I saw a lot of critters today. I also saw some squirrels, an eagle, crows and a turkey...plus a bunch of little birdies.

There sure are a lot of dorks driving these back roads. I know why they litter the beer cans, as they do not want to get caught with an open container, still doesn't make it right...but a coffee cup. It isn't like they are going to get busted for that or set it on their car and drove off. The nearest convenience store from this cup is 6 miles. Another thing that is common are fast food bags...at least another 30 miles away. While you bicycle at a slower pace then roaring down the road in an automobile, you notice these thing more. If you can explain to me what the hell goes thru their pee sized brain when they litter, please enlighten me.

Another 12+

I rode the same route as last night. I saw some fresh Gray Wolf tracks, but the camera doesn't to them justice with just snow for a back ground. Finished up just as the sun was going down. The roads are starting to break up a little, so one must watch out for the holes because you do know...A hole is nothing at all, but you can break your neck in it.

Outside!!!

Back to the back roads. Did a nice 12 plus miles. After the last three nights of doing the bricks, just getting out and riding was great. I have noticed one positive thing about the trainer...it pushes me to get outdoors and that, is a good thing.

During the week, any exercise I get has to be in the afternoon or evening, as I work the day shift. Some exercise in the morning...and I have heard them say...I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing. What does that say about me? Are they calling me names?

Inside again

Guess what we were up tonight.

Hitting the Brick

It was 5 above when I got home, so I decided to do the inside brick tonight. I did the elliptical and the trainer. It is not as much fun, but it is something...and I need to get at it. I have noticed the dial on the scale going higher lately.

Maintenance and Ice Cream

When you ride in the winter, maintenance is a must. I cleaned and lubed the chain, cables, derailleurs, and idlers. I believe there should be a reward for such things...so...homemade ice cream it is.
Here is the maker, just need some horsepower for the crank.

Looks good.

And it was good. Maybe I will put some time in on the elliptical to offset it...maybe.