Sunday Biking

This past week has been crazy busy and will continue for another month. We were in Eau Claire this past weekend as Saturday was graduation day and Sunday was bike day. We started out at Lowes Creek doing the single track trails. It was 2 hours and 20 minutes of doing the skinny. I then checked out the skills park they are building. In the afternoon we headed over to Carson Park and parked the truck...because that is what you do at a park...you park. Last week we purchased a used Burley Tosa. It is of the 2002 road tandem family. We rode the new used Tosa on the Chippewa River trail to Durand and back...over 50 miles. Between the two rides, it was over a metric century. I cannot put into words how nice it is to spend most of the day on the bike...just the two of us. Lilacs in bloom
Our first rest stop in Caryville

Another rest area overlooking the Chippewa River

Checking out the skills park.

Janice riding the skinny.

Riding the Onion trail at Lowes Creek

Some nice burms on the Onion.

And...finishing out the Onion riding down the rock face.

Congratulations

Our CONGRATULATIONS to our niece, Sarah, who graduated from UW-Eau Claire on Saturday.

She had University Honors, Summa Cum Laude and was also the outstanding Senior of 2009. We are very proud of her...and not only because of school...She is very nice.

Snakes and Bears

Janice had a follow up doctor appointment today regarding her knee. The doc says the knee has made good improvement and to keep doing what she was. So...after we got home we went for a ride down some fire roads. Goooood time, those fire roads. Tonight on our ride, we saw two snakes and two black bears...in different spots. I got a pic of the first bear we saw, but the second one was on the South Crotty road...fire road...and he was movin. That one crossed the road about 50 yards in front of us. Then as we sat down for supper, a big bear came walking up the driveway. I thought for sure we would get a nice picture, but when I slid the door open he spooked and bolted to north thru the woods. So we seen 3 bears tonight. We also saw a few deer. We logged 2 hours 40 minutes of saddle time with the temp at 75 and with a strong southwest wind. From the Buttercup family, these are Marsh Marigold.
I don't know...we may have called this a blow snake

Anybody know???Let the rest of us know.

The first of three Black Bear we seen tonight.

A green snake sunning

We also saw some dandelions, took a pic...but loaded the wrong pic...so back to the Marsh

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Happy Mothers Day to my mother.

Love you Mom.

And a pic of Mom and Dad at Loveland Pass, Co.

Tandem ride

It was very warm and also very windy and that adds up to an excellent ride. Janice and I rode the Black Bear ride this evening on the tandem. We started out against very strong winds...radio said gusts up to 35mph...and finished up with it helping, although it had let up a little as it was nearing dark. We tried out the clipped pedals I had put on last night. We thought they were an improvement from the standard platforms...but we will be going clipless for sure. About 32 glorious miles...yeah!!!

Maintenance

I had a night of maintenance tonight. I didn't get thru all of them, but got some stuff done that i wanted. I wanted to get a bicycle set up that my Dad could ride if he so desired. I only have one that we could get to fit him, so I worked getting that ready...changed tires, lubed cables, chain, adjusted brakes, lowered handlebars and seat. Should be good to go if he decides to use it. Also went thru the Anthem mountain bike and changed pedals on the tandem. Things I wanted to get done...but no ride tonight.

Test ride

Well...I think the decision has been made for the MS ride this year. It has been up in the air whether we would ride the tandem or each ride separate bikes. We rode 20.5 miles last night...Janice on her hybrid and me on the fixie...we will be riding the tandem. The tandem we have is a mountain type with 26" tires and heavy. I am going to put on some new higher pressure tires and two sets of clipless pedals. Janice has never used clipless and I think learning on the tandem with someone that is used to them may be a good thing. All and all...another great ride in the books.

Whip-poor-wills are back

Hearing the first Whip-poor-will of the season as I am typing this.

Friday, we went to our family cabin. Although it isn't far from where we live, it is nice to get down there. Our family has roots there that goes back many, many and many years. My grandfather... my mothers father...was born on the same piece of property that the cabin sets on, in 1902. The lake we are on was used for storing logs during the logging days. My grandfather's parents had a farm and general store during that time. You would never know that at one time it was a bustling area, as it is out in the middle of nowhere. I won't go into that now, as I could write a lot about that...and for that matter, also my Dads family history. Maybe someday.

We made a nice tandem ride this morning. It ended up to be 37 miles, of what in my opinion, is some of the best riding there is...low traffic, mostly smooth blacktop roads that twist and turn between lakes and streams. The cabin area is a great place to ride. Someday I would like to organize a ride, and maybe a picnic after, in that area. My dads family is also from the same area. They go way back in this area also...I mean way back. One of their swimming hole's when they were children, was about 50 feet from this sign.

We had a snack here at the McDowell Landing. On a side note, I sure like the Selle An-Atomica saddles. The one I am using here is one of the latest that we purchased and after a short break in period, today it was perfect.

Namekagon River

Supercilious

Janice and I rode a bakers dozen on the tandem tonight before the rain. I think we will be riding the tandem in the MS150 this year, so we have to get some time on it and work out any bugs. Speaking of bugs, they were really thick before the rain started.

CAUTION: rant ahead

And...now on to other bugs, creepy slimy lower than dirt bugs. While looking to put pictures up last week, Janice said to me "Don't put that one in there. It shows my big butt." Well you know what, people that judge others by the size of their butt, or color of their hair and what ever else may not meet their own so called standard...are ASSHOLES...and I do not give a rats ass what they think. They would do good to keep their mouth shut as to not let other people see their intelligence, although I realize that is very tough for them. I know one of these people that has recently showed his true colors, for which I thank him, so that I waste no more time on him.

Arrogance is a weed that grows mostly on a dunghill.


A wonderful ride tonight with the love of my life. You just wait...we will be fast this year.

Friendly Ride

I went for a nice spin with a friend tonight. He is a stronger rider than I am, but he humors me and lets me ride along. I mentioned before about trying to get guys together for a one night a week ride...this was the one guy that you could rely on. He has semi-relocated, so it was nice to get back together for a ride. We met at Carlton, Mn for a 30 mile ride on the bike paths. It was a good time with the last 8 miles into a very strong wind. Good time as always on the bike.

Getting ready for take off.

Janice and I went for a nice mountain bike ride. We rode some two track and some fire roads out by the Crotty Brook Trail. Words can't say how much fun that is for me...mountain biking as a couple. We did not go to the Ironman this year. We had decided to do the 30 mile ride on the tandem because Janice has a bum knee. When we were cutting firewood a couple weeks ago, she tripped because of a whole in the ground. She has been to the Doc's to have it thoroughly inspected....MRI and Orthopedic doc. She has the green light to ride, but needs to ease back into it. So that being said, burning that much fuel...350 mile drive...to ride 30 miles in lousy weather with the threat of hail damage did not make much sense to me. So, we stayed home this weekend and golfed, biked and dined out. I will say again, what a great ride we made. We had to walk a couple little stretches...added to the fun.

This was a spot where I thought we may have had to turn around, but the trail was raised enough to make it not bad.

This is just before the trail comes out on the fire road

I never tried to talk Janice into it...you know, bad knee and all.

Auto work

I have spent the last two evenings working on the car. I installed new brakes and struts. The back rotors were warped bad, but the pads still had life yet...although not much. Next will be plugs and wires.

It is looking like we will get some rain and we need it bad around here. Very dry. Extreme fire danger. We have had what they call a red flag alert the last few days. I do not know all the specifics, but humidity, wind, amount of moisture lately and temperature are some of the factors I am sure.

Proverb says...A fair-weather friend changes with the wind.

Metric Day

I wanted to get some saddle time in before the Mn Ironman bicycle ride in Lakeville Mn next Sunday so I took the OCR for a ride. I fought the wind for the first 32 miles and then had a nice wind at my back for the ride home. I expanded the YMT ride to make it a metric century ride. I will call this one the Y M T Metric option. It is a very nice ride, but expect a total of maybe a mile of gravel. It is not bad gravel as it is just a few sections on Kingsdale Road. I rode it with 700c x 25 Michelin Pro race...completely smooth, no tread...and had no trouble what so ever. The other Giant OCR I ride has 700 x 23 Pro Race and I would not be afraid to ride that across the gravel either. It ended up to be 65 miles and it took me 4 hours with 2 stops of about 5 minutes each. I think riding the fixed gear has changed my riding habits some, as I noticed less coasting on the downhills. I surprised at the amount of whitetails out and about...Lots. All around great ride, but most rides are. Church at Cozy Corner

We have tried for three years to get a weekly ride where I work...after work on Wednesday. Just about impossible. On a good night, maybe four guys and that is rare. So, tonight I rode the weekly ride...by myself again. Good part about that is I was able to ride around home. I rode the Little Bigger Circle ride on the fixed gear with the temperature about 70 degrees with a southerly wind....perfect. I also set a new speed record on the fixed, 29.5 mph with a cadence of 155. I really have not been trying set any record, but I think with proper timing on the hills, I could increase that further. I also worked on the aluminum OCR. I basically started over with the front derailleur. I loosened it up, aligned it, set the cable and adjusted the limits. It appears to be working well now and we will see the next time I get it out. On a side note, while working the bike I witnessed my first mosquito of the year.

Big Ring Nite

With temps in the low 60's and a northerly wind, I rode the Little Circle ride. Stayed in the big ring, and tried to hammer the hills. It was a very nice ride topped off with chocolate cake our daughter made for dessert...yum,yum.

Karma

On yesterdays Y M T Ride, I came across this. I thought about not putting in here, but then what the hell. Beyond this sign, and many other area roads similar to this one, lies what I think is some of the best riding there is. They are closed this time of year to let them dry. When the roads get driven on this time of year==RUTS...not smooth. This road is 8 miles long and this person drove the entire length of it.
Then with wet muddy tires...lite'em up...smoke them tires

ooopp's...lost control...hang on

Is this karma???

I hope they did not get hurt.

I know I have committed many, for lack of a better word...stupid...moves in my time. So lets hope who ever did this, learned something.

Easter Ride 2009

I went for a nice ride on the aluminum OCR today. I rode the Y M T Ride, about 50 miles and fought the wind most of the day. I snapped a few pictures and will not talk much. Below is a pic of a bridge crossing the Moose River that was turned into an ex-bridge during the spring thaw

St Croix River

Cool drive way guards.

Keeping an eye on me.

I think they can see the Hi-Vis color well

Looks like a prehistoric guarding the cutting

I was taking a road bike for the first time this season on a longer ride yesterday...75 miles never happened. I took the aluminium OCR, went 6 miles down the road and something did not seem right. When I soft pedaled it was tight and the chain would skip. I turned around and headed it back for home. I looked at it this morning and found one of the idler chain wheels was mostly froze up...no wonder that trainer was so much work. I went through it this morning and it is all good now.

I rode the fixed gear 35 miles to Spooner this afternoon. I went by two of the same lakes I rode by on Sunday...Sunday had ice....Thursday no ice on either one. That my friends, is a good thing. Last Sunday they were still ice fishing on another nearby lake. I did not ride by that one, but it would be interesting to see how much ice is on that one today. Oh, I almost forgot...Some golf courses are open. I passed this old semi trailer parked in a farm field. It brought back memories from way back. My grandparents did not drive, so my mother would take my grandparents to the Red Owl in Spooner to do their...and our grocery shopping. My aunt worked as a cashier there, and back then just like many people now, she lost her job when it closed. I do not remember when it closed, but I know it was in the 60's when we used to go there. Are there any Red Owl stores left?

Nice Quiet Evening Ride

It was a very nice quiet ride on the fixed gear this evening. A 22.5 mile ride and at about 2 miles in to the ride, I heard my first Spring Peeper of the year...a.k.a....frog. That is always cool to hear those for the first time of the year. Then at about mile 6, I saw two Sandhill Cranes. I watched them for a little while...more coolness. I also saw some deer, turkey, geese, ducks and swans. Spring Peepers making noise here...Most of their body freezes in the winter. They must be starting to thaw, although this is the only place I heard them tonight.

This Jack Pine was planted last year. These have white paper on the tops. This is called bud capping and is done to protect them from Whitetail Deer browsing. They have been known to decimate some plantings. It generally runs about $40 more an acre to plant this method.

Sandhill Cranes

Theses birds are huge. The male wingspan can be up to 7 feet.

Windy Cabin Ride

After Janice and I got back from the Person Lake Tandem ride yesterday, we were sitting around debating what to do with the rest of the late afternoon. She wasn't up to more riding. I was noticing the wind howling through the trees. Got me thinking...sure is a favorable wind for a ride to the cabin. She said if I wanted to ride down there, she would pick me up. She didn't have to twist my arm...much. I was out the door, on the fixed gear and on my way. The first 25 miles weren't too bad with the wind helping most of the time...just a few spots where it wasn't. All told, the first 25 could not be much better. Then came the last 9 miles...different story there, with some of it right in to the teeth of the wind. I was doing my best to keep my average up, but it dropped in those last miles. It took me a shade over 2 hours of riding time and averaged 16.9 miles for the 34 miles. I was on the fixed gear, so I went to The Fixed Gear site Doug the MN Bicycle Commuter turned me onto. I wanted to figure my cadence. If I did it right, 38 x 16 gears, my average cadence was 89 revs per minute. I thought it was going to higher, but even so, that's good for me I'm sure. I do not why I even figure that shit out. I just get out there, and the next thing I know, I am watching that computer. If the computer wasn't there, I know I would be watching my watch. That is what a watch is for...to watch, right? It is really kinda stupid...an old guy figuring out that crap...but no one ever told me I wasn't dropped on my head, so I don't know any better. I stopped once on the way down at the Namekagon river. The spring run is full on.

Person Tandem Ride

We didn't get out yesterday but did get a couple loads of firewood cut. We had company after that and ended up working in the garage that evening, so yesterday was a wash for biking. But, we did get out for a tandem ride this afternoon. We rode the Person Lake Ride, sun shining, in the low 40's and the wind was a blow'in. It was short, but a nice ride.

We went for a tandem ride this evening. It was +40 degrees and an all around great ride. It is fun to get out on the tandem. We rode the Little Circle route at 15.5 miles and hammered it good. We put the Selle An-atomica saddles on before we left and I had to do some fine tuning. They work well for Janice and I both.

Just us modeling the tandem. Never you mind the shirt hanging out.

Modern technology...Our daughter called checking on supper. I try to bring the phone with all the time. It would be a long walk if something should go wrong out here. If a person was hurt, the next question would be....Service????? Maybe have to drag yourself for a while...or hope a car comes along, and they were far few between tonight...3 cars total.