On Snow!

I got the cross country skis out for the first time this season yesterday. One of the best places around for snow so far is just a mile from my house. The famed and storied Highland 9 Hole golf course in Saint Paul... I skied a lap and then played keep away with the Tom Bengel coached Cretin Derham Hall High School ski team. I followed that with a couple of double pole sprints with the Central High ski team. After that, I skied another lap. Before the snow arrived, I rollerskied the neighborhood loop on Monday.

Stripper

I've got a few workouts in last week. On Tuesday the 1st, I rode 16+ miles on the Stone Arch U of M route. Wednesday was a skate rollerski session on the neighborhood loop. Then, on Saturday, I skate rollerskied with Tom Bengel, Jerry Engen, Lori Belz and Barry Torgerson. We cruised the roads of Lakeland and Stillwater. I am still working on the next bike project. It's another single speed. I stripped the Tunturi frame and have it ready for painting. It will be a theme bike. Check out the pictures.

Jay T's Thanksgiving Ski Camp '09 Sunday

Another highly successful Jay T's Thanksgiving Ski Camp is in the books. Today, I cleaned out the garage...

Jay T's Thanksgiving Ski Camp '09 Saturday

We had another successful day at Jay T's Thanksgiving Ski Camp. The plan was to do some highly specific ski training so we rode the bikes on the Greenway, Cedar and Kenilworth Trails for a total of 30.75 miles. Tommy Bengel, Bill Stuber and my neighbor, Steve Prast joined me on the ride. Earlier, I dropped off some furniture at Bridging when a guy leaving some stuff off asked if they take bikes. They don't but I told him I did... I got a sweet Schwinn Continental from the guy. It's in great shape! The size is about a 25" which is way too big for me but I'll convert it to a single speed and sell it...

Jay T's Thanksgiving Ski Camp '09 Friday

Jay T's Thanksgiving Ski Camp started off today with a couple of bike rides. Some Thanksgiving Ski Camps are on snow but not this year... The nice weather is great though and it could last a while longer as far as I'm concerned... The first ride of the day was a 2 mile round trip to Now Bikes and back. I had to show Ambrose (the mechanic) my Bottecchia fixed gear bike that I built. The second ride was 16 miles down Summit, River Blvd, West River Road and the Greenway and back. I sandwiched the rides around working on my next fixed gear project involving the Tunturi frame pictured to the left. The finished bike will be for sale.

All Things Italian

Got a mixture of biking and roller skiing in over the last week. Sunday and Tuesday were roller ski workout days. I got on the Schwinn Peloton on Wednesday and Friday for a some cruising on the Greenway, Cedar and Kenileworth Trails. Today, I rode the Niner on the Lake Elmo Park Reserve trails woth Jerry Engen, Lori Belz, Tina soon to be Olson, Ron Belz, Barry Torgerson and Rob Belz. The three rides totaled 55 miles. Plus, I finished the 1960s Bottechia Frame build. I found it in a basement and built it up with black components. It's a single speed/fixed gear with a flip-flop hub.

3rd

I got out rollerskiing for the 3rd time this season on Sunday. The arms aren't in shape but the snow isn't here yet... Jerry Engen and Barry Torgerson joined me as we cruised the hills of Afton. The group of loyal and devoted followers were rollerskiing Afton as well.