Warming Up the Legs

Dover Route: 20.62 miles
TANDEM Pedal Time: 1 hour 50 minutes, average speed 11.1

After calling the Lanesboro Chamber to check on the condition of the Root River bike trail, and finding out snow still covered much of the trail, we decided to pedal the roads to Dover again today. We have now been able to bike 2 days in a row but it looks like bad weather will be coming our way again for a few days—what a frustrating spring it has been. Soon we will be able to enjoy biking in our summer bike clothes and ditch the layers we have been forced to wear this spring—melt snow, MELT!

Every Mile Counts

Dover Route: 20.60 miles
TANDEM Pedal Time: 1 hour 45 minutes, average speed 11.7

If we waited for a perfect day to ride this spring in Minnesota, we would still be waiting. The snow and ice storms received this March banished all hope of an early spring but we are finding the breaks between the storms to get out and pedal. This 20-mile route is always a good one to do early season to warm up the legs. Stopping at the Roadhouse in Dover halfway through is always a special treat but what made this ride even sweeter was the realization of rolling over 19,000 miles on the Rans since its purchase in 2005.

An Early March Excursion

Amish Market & Home: 8.70 miles
Singles: 44 minutes, average speed 11.6

This was an early March, after work excursion on the singles. The tandem was still in Onalaska with Kevin so we took the singles out for a short ride. Being half through the month of March, we began to worry about the possibility of getting any March miles on. We had just experienced a snowstorm earlier in the week and the snow was piled high along our ditches but the temperature and sunshine prompted us to take a chance. We did get rather chilly by rides end but it felt so good to be back out on the bikes. In my haste to begin our ride, I forgot one major component. I had my cell phone for music, my gloves for warmth, my yellow jacket for visibility, my cyclocomputer for data information, my booties for foot comfort…but I forgot my HELMET! We travelled a few tenths down the road when Dennis noted this omission. Gotta get my head in the game! Our early riding season will not happen this year. The 2 weeks we spent south last year really made a difference. We will have to play catch-up with our September and December plans for this 2013 season.

February Madness

Amish Market & Home: 9.05 miles
Tandem Pedal Time: 52 minutes, average speed 10.2

February continues to produce winter-type weather this year in Minnesota. We are already halfway through the month and are fearful we will not get another opportunity for a bike ride this second month of 2013. So, we bundled up on this chilly Wednesday evening, making sure to have face covering, and forced the bike up the driveway to put on just a few miles. The bike fought us the entire length of our driveway, slipping and sliding on the snow and ice but once on the paved road, she came around and provided a very enjoyable ride.

We have hope that March will bring temperatures more conducive to biking so that we can truly declare the beginning of our 2013 biking season.

A Never Ending Season

Dover Loop: 20.62 miles
Tandem Pedal Time: 1 hour 57 minutes, average speed 10.5

Another biking season begins on this 30-degree, sunny Saturday. Since we have never biked in January, we set our goal for just a few miles out and back but were enjoying this Minnesota winter ride so much we soon found ourselves in Dover warming up with a hot bowl of soup—yum! The wind was quite strong out of the southeast but our layers of clothing kept us very comfortable. We have now biked at least one day each month for the last 12 months and have hopes to continue biking on through the winter months left—a never ending season.

It’s A Wrap

The white stuff has landed here in Minnesota and with it comes the realization that our 2012 biking season must now come to an end but what a season it was.  We have many wonderful memories that will carry us through until the bike returns to the road once the snow and ice melt away.

We have enjoyed every Wrangler Ride, Tandem Rally, Day Ride and Expo attended this year.  Cyclists are some of the friendliest people and we have met and kept in contact with bike friends from around the U.S.A.  We will miss them during this time off the bike but come spring, we will all gather again to continue pedaling down the roads.  Plans are already on the calendar for the 2013 season and it looks to be pretty exciting.

This will be the final 2012 entry for this blog.  Check back in February 2013 when we hope to have the bike back out on the road.  Thanks to all who have taken time to read and explore our bike journeys with us through our Tandem U.S.A. Blog.

 

Our December Sleigh Ride

Amish Market and Home: 10.32 miles
Tandem Pedal Time: 51 minutes, average speed 11.9

With Christmas music playing on my phone, we pedaled down our road towards the Amish Market for our first ever December miles. The temperature was in the low 40’s with winds pushing 10-12 mph out of the Southeast. No snow on the ground yet so the bike continues to cruise. Many drivers waved as they passed, surprised to see us still on the bike. We have now bike 11 of the 12 months of 2012 so I guess we can call this a very remarkable season of cycling.

The outlook for the days ahead looks pretty bleak for biking so we suspect our biking will now taper off. We are just 85 miles from rolling over 19,000 on the tandem. I am still hopeful that Christmas Day will allow us to hit the road for a final spin but would rather have a white Christmas here in southern Minnesota. Holiday Cheers!