Back To Now

I went back to Now Bikes and rode the trainer for 1 1/2 hours and 24 miles while watching the 1976 Joergen Leth film; "A Sunday In Hell". The film covers the 1976 Paris-Roubaix bike race on the cobbles of the north of France. The main players were the greats of the day including Eddy Merckx, Roger DeVlaeminck (who got third), Marc DeMayer (who won that day), Freddy Martins, Walter Goodefroot, Jan Raas, Hennie Kuiper and a very young Francesco Moser (who placed second).

Virtual Time Trial-First Ride Of The Year

I got some training in during the week. Last Sunday, I classic skied for 40 minutes at the famed and storied Highland 9 Hole Golf Course. Tuesday, I got in an hour of skate skiing at Highland. I knew I needed some longer sessions so I skated for 2 1/2 hours at the Comenkollen. That was 7 laps... Thursday I took off and then yesterday, I got home from work, put the ski stuff on and went outside. It was drizzling out so I promptly went back inside. Today was the Withrow virtual time trial course on the trainer at Now Bikes. I did one full warm-up lap and then started hammering to time myself. After 1 1/2 minutes, I blew the computer apart. Mike Johnson reset the computer but by then, I decided to bag it. The total time riding was 50 minutes giving me 15 miles. The virtual course is harder than the actual course...

On A Few Courses

I did some more cross country skiing this week. I skated a few times at Como and then skated at lake Elmo Park Reserve yesterday. Today, I got in a few loops of classic skiing at the Highland 9 Hole Golf Course. Check out the picture from Lake Elmo.

10 Days Since The Last Post

I've been busy lately and haven't posted for 10 days. I've been cross country skiing at places like Como Park, Lake Elmo and a new place I skied today called Green Acres. It's in Lake Elmo, has snowmaking and has hosted the Green Acres Cyclocross Race the last two years. The ski course is fantastic! This could be a decent place for a future velodrome... Yesterday, I drove down to the Cronometro Bike Swap in Madison, WI with my neighbor Steve. There were a lot of great deals to be found. Paul Schoening and Dag Selander were selling stuff at the swap. Check out the picture from last year's swap and the picture from Green Acres today taken by Bruce Adelsman. The Green Acres picture is Jerry Engen followed by me and Tom Bengel.

A Triathlon To Close Out The Decade

The last few days of the decade included a personal triathlon for me. Within the last week, I rode the Cobro's (common law brother-in-law) beater GT mountain bike, skied twice at the famed and storied Highland 9 Hole golf course and yesterday, the third leg of the triathlon, coyote hunting... I finished the year with 3,527 miles of biking. That was 525 miles better than last year but still down from the 4,200 I rode a few years ago. Anyway, while coyote hunting yesterday, I tried out the new winter camo insulated bibs that I bought while in Saratoga, New York last week. They worked great as I tracked a pair of coyotes for about a mile before I ran out of land for hunting. I need snowshoes though as I broke through the crust layer of snow numerous times. Regardless, Happy New Year to everyone!