December 10, 2022
Different, Delightful, Dangerous & Deficient in Dignity
Eagan, Minnesota
After a whirlwind week involving our neverending remodeling project and a trip to Iowa to take my dad to oncology and cardiac appointments, the December mini-tour is finally underway. Not only is it underway, but I'm sitting in a MicroTel micro-room, wondering about the best way to report on the first day. The way I see it, I've got three options:
1) Play it low-key, as if conducting wintertime bike tours is something I do all the time and is the most normal thing in the world. Maybe I shouldn't even mention the weather.
2) Play up the pain and suffering aspect of riding in a Minnesota winter. Maximize the cold and snow complaints.
3) Simply tell it like it was--without the lame jokes, without the preposterous claims of being a tough guy, without exaggerating the significance of the religion I invented, and without all the other hyperbole I normally spew.
Since this journal is all about doing things DIFFERENTLY, I've chosen Option #3. I'll just tell you about the weather, the roads, and my thoughts in the most factual and stoical way possible.
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First off, I must admit that it wasn't the coldest day possible. The temperature was relatively mild, but at least I got the satisfaction of starting out the day by riding into air that was below freezing. It warmed up to 35-degrees (F) by the end of my ride, and there was some snow melt going on.
That's not to say it was all puppies and bunnies out there. It was dark and hazy the whole time. I had alternating periods of tiny snowflakes, drizzly rain, and light sleet. (The sleet hardly stung my face at all, that's how light it was.) Interestingly, I was sweating most of the time due to wearing at least one too many layers of clothing. All in all, though, I'd say the weather was quite pleasant for this time of year.
The roads were quite pleasant as well. The first five miles on Highway 55 were busy, but it was well-plowed and not slippery in the least bit. Then I veered onto gravel for a few miles of respite. That was the quietest part of my day. Back up to the highway, I rode through an area filled with heavy industry, including a huge plant that makes feed for livestock, a foundry that melts down scrap metal and turns it into usable metal for all kinds of industries, one of the biggest producers of anhydrous ammonia-based fertilizer in the world, and the upper-midwest's largest oil refinery.
Then I moved onto a bike trail for a couple miles. Then a nice rural road. Then a busier suburban road with a gigantic shoulder. Then a quiet, scenic road into a regional park. Then onto a bike/pedestrian trail that ran alongside another busy suburban road. Then, when the bike/pedestrian trail was packed with unplowed snow, I hopped onto the busy suburban road itself. (That's a lot of "THENs" in one paragraph.)
It's time to catch up with a few photos. I hope they will show the kind of surfaces I was riding on better than I was able to describe them with words.
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I made a little side trip onto a pretty road leading to Lebanon Hills Regional Park. I sat by Schulze Lake for a while, watching some cross-country skiers and eating string cheese. Then I did a little hiking on the park's extensive trail system. Before leaving the park, I felt compelled to build a snowman (or should I say "snowboy") at a nice spot overlooking McDonough Lake.
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2 years ago
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2 years ago
Believe it or not, there are a few things that EVERYBODY should like about touring in cold and snow and ice. One of them is that there is little urgency to lock up your bike for a quick run into the convenience store. I can't imagine anybody riding off with an unattended bicycle in this weather. Bicycle thieves are too lazy for that kind of effort. I think the month-by-month bike theft statistics will back me up on that.
Another good thing is that this isn't exactly Minnesota's tourist season. That translates to lower prices and less competition for campsites and motel rooms. We do get some out-of-state skiers and snowmobilers, but there aren't enough of those tourists to bug me.
Then there are the beautiful landscapes, which cannot be witnessed during the regular cycle touring season. This is the time of year when trees are so sparse that they hardly block the view at all.
And I love the whiteness. White is pure and clean. Bits of whiteness scattered among the browns and greens of tree branches, roofs and lawns are very pretty, but vast expanses of farm fields fully coated in white are truly something to behold.
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2 years ago
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I can also report that drinking water stays nice and cold all day long when riding in the winter.
Finally, cycling on a cold, crisp, frosty day can be very exhilarating. Exhilarating for the muscles, the lungs, the sinuses, and all five senses. It can also be deadly for the unprepared. In case you're interested, the right preparation basically involves covering all of your skin with 2-4 layers of clothing. It's easy!
Today's ride: 27 miles (43 km)
Total: 583 miles (938 km)
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2 years ago
Many years ago, I commuted to work year round - studded tires and the whole bit. Back then I used a Camel Bak - it's no fun at all when the water in the hose would freeze!
I do agree that there is a sense of exhilaration to winter riding. I liked riding during a snow storm and hearing the snow crunch under the tires. Plus, it usually wasn't slippery in fresh snow!
A friend and I are working on a potential fall tour mostly on trails in Minnesota. I was wondering if you would look at our route and see if we've made any glaring errors - either in omissions, or picking a bad road. I don't think a link will post here. My email is: kelly.iniguez@gmail dot com - if you would have a chance to look at our route? Thanks
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Good going for you though. I guess it takes growing up there to be deeply able to appreciate all there is to the snow and cold.
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