Let's Ride

St. Charles & Home: 12.19 miles
Comments: Ride Time was 55 minutes, average speed: 13.2

We biked to the St. Charles Public Library to notify the librarian that my card was lost along the road during a previous bike journey. We then stopped for a Chinese dinner before heading for home. The weather and winds made the ride very enjoyable—hope this continues.

Soups On!

Brewskies Loop: 21.07 miles
Comments: Ride Time was 1 hour 33 minutes, average speed: 13.5

After a Bacchetta ride in the a.m. I joined Dennis for a tandem ride in the p.m. We biked to Utica for a bite to eat at Brewskies, one of our favorite route pubs. The temperature remains unusually mild for springtime in Minnesota—no complaints here. We are getting the tandem out at every opportunity we have whether for a short 10 mile stretch or for an all-day-80 miler, it’s all good!

Hey, Let's Bike to Winona!

Winona Loop: 67.80 miles
Comments: Ride Time was 5 hours 18 minutes, average speed: 12.7

Anyone owning a bike in southeastern Minnesota should have been out riding it today. The temperature was in the mid-60’s with winds blowing out of the southeast at 3-5 mph. We biked down to Winona to have lunch with Mom, Dad and Lynn. Mom made an excellent bean and ham soup. We visited for a bit and then pedaled through Winona via the River Road to stop in at the Stark’s. After a short rest there, we kicked it into gear to crawl out of Winona on the Gilmore Road. The climb took us 20 minutes to reach the top. We were satisfied that we made it without having to get off and walk or call Tim to bring his truck to take us up. We enjoyed a tail wind for the next 10 miles before needing to climb the hills around Lewiston. We were now counting down the hills left to home and feeling confident that we would complete the loop using our own pedal power. We’ll sleep well tonight and probably be pedaling in our dreams—Life is good!

Unchartered Territory

Tri-County Bike Trail: 26.59 miles
Comments: Ride Time was 2 hour 8 minutes, average speed: 12.4

This was the day to try a new trail. We drove to Eyota to bike the newly-paved Tri-County Bike Trail. The temperature was in the low 60’s and the winds were mild so we settled in for a comfortable afternoon of riding. One mile into our trip and unexpectedly the trail turned to gravel. What to do now? We decided to continue down the path. The bike tires can handle packed gravel such as this but we found we only had to pedal two miles on the rocky surface before we were surprised again to see the return of smooth pavement which continued for the rest of our journey. The trail currently travels past Viola, Elgin and into Plainview. The stretch from Eyota to Elgin will be beautiful when completed. The path from Elgin to Plainview follows Hwy 42 and is not as enjoyable. This trail is only the beginning of a planned expansion to connect Rochester to southeastern Minnesota. Bicycle awareness is growing in leaps and bounds captivating the attention of law makers across the country and helping to make road biking safer and reminding us all to “SHARE THE ROAD!”

Evening Supper Route

Brewskies Loop: 21.09 miles
Comments: Ride Time was 1 hour 38 minutes, average speed: 12.8

After a cold and rainy work-week, Friday displayed wonderful biking weather. We rushed home to suit up for a ride to Brewskies for supper. The route was enjoyable as usual. Hills along the way disappear while conversation replaces the focus of the physical work we are doing as we pedal up each hill.

Onward and Upward

St. Charles & Home: 11.31 miles
Comments: Ride Time was 58 minutes, average speed: 11.31

April has been roaring! The winds just won’t let up—gusting to 30 mph at times. The temperature has been pretty stable so maybe the winds will calm down soon. We biked to town to get a few groceries to make it through this Easter weekend. The winds pushed hard from the front but we knew we would get a reprieve on the way home and that’s always fun to look forward to. The climb out of St. Charles does not seem to present much of a challenge this year. It may just be our stubbornness to conquer that compels us to pedal onward and upward.