The entire point of riding to Duluth this past weekend was to hang out at Fitgers, something Dan has wanted to do for some time. We had to make a quick stop at Pizza Luce to grab Dan's credit card from the night before. Screaming down the streets of Duluth was excellent! I wouldn't mind heading up there to just ride around some. Finally arriving at Fitgers was a welcome treat. We grabbed a table and started in on lunch. Beers were already on the table by the time I made it inside, but I decided to start out with a bloody mary. I have to say the beer chaser was better tasting. I wasn't feeling the greatest at this point, yesterday's ride still doing a number on my stomach. I opted to not finish the last couple bites of my burger and we hit the streets of Duluth.
Having been on the bikes enough for the weekend, we left them locked up at Fitgers and walked a while. Being Sunday and the Fourth, we didn't find a lot of things open until we hit Canal St. We headed into Hell's Burger as they had a happy hour special going. I couldn't muster the thought of alcohol into my stomach, so I chose a couple glasses of lemonade. I had been craving it for a while, and it turned me around. After those had settled a touch, I felt amazingly better. The power of the fruit! Unfortunately, Rich didn't have any lemonade. He was struggling a bit with the sleep deprivation. At this point, some people next to us at the bar commented: "I think your friend's dead!" I think the low part of the day was our stop at Grandma's. People were a little confused heading in, Dan downstairs and everyone else upstairs. Dan ordered drinks at his bar, and we as well up at our table. Short lived confusion led to a couple tall beers, Jameson shots, and one frothy margarita. I don't have to go back there. We did get a call from Alex saying she was a little early (about an hour) so we drank up and hit the boardwalk.
There are a few things I am not proud of. I have lived in MN for twelve years and I have yet to enter the BWCA (horror!). Nor had I set any body part in Lake Superior. Somehow this was mentioned on our walk back and we had to rectify that. Dan was obviously feeling good at this point, as he plunged right into the lake. Then we convinced Joe that his Batman underwear were perfectly suitable for swimming. Good times.We met up with our saviors at Fitgers and of course had to have a couple more beers. Packing up the cars was interesting. Loading 5 bicycles, a trailer and all our crap into two fairly small cars was quite the challenge. Fortunately only a small amount of disassembly was required and we turned our faces south. I was surprised how much of the trip back I stayed awake. I'm usually good for crashing hard in the car, but I had to sneak another couple pics of bobbing heads. I did crash hard once my head hit the pillow.
All-in-all it was a fabulous weekend. I doubt I will ever recall any of the haikus I composed. A couple were halfway decent. Although, I was under the influence of heat, or lack of sleep, or booze, or some weird combination.
My coworker Dan is getting married next weekend. Unfortunately, my mother also chose to be ordained that same weekend. Family always wins. So it is that I cannot attend the wedding and felt it absolutely necessary to ride to Duluth with Dan and some friends for a bachelorish party weekend.
We left Saturday morning and as always when trying to gather 6 people together and roll out, we left about 30 minutes after we wished. We picked up a 7th part way through the cities and all headed out north. We have done this Duluth trip many times in the past, but always with the design of riding up and back, stopping only for snacks along the way and breakfast in Duluth (we usually leave in the evening to get the darkness out of the way). This time it would be different as we were loaded for camping overnight in Duluth.
We were fortunate enough to have Ken ride with us as far as Hugo. After breakfast, he pealed off, having to buck a pretty good headwind for the return ride home. Down to 6, we continued north. Our progress was slowed somewhat in Forest Lake as we had to maneuver our way through a parade. I am still kicking myself for not taking any pictures. A quick stop for some cool drinks in North Branch and to say goodbye to Michael and it was the long stretch of highway to Hinckley. We were moving at a pretty slow pace, even with a strong tailwind. Too many stops and general lolly gagging was starting to make this into one of the hardest Duluth rides yet.
After lunch in Hinckley (a very good idea) we hit the Munger Trail. There was some serious miles left and we put it to the pedals. The stopping was kept to a minimum and the pace was kept up and we found ourselves climbing up to the campground at Spirit Mountain around 10:15. Unfortunately, that was not enough time to make it to Fitgers (our ultimate destination) before the kitchen closed. So we called a cab to take us to Pizza Luce. A few cold beers sure felt nice, but after 160 miles of hot, humid riding, we were buzzing and sleepy very quickly. There was barely any talk when we made it back to camp. Everyone crawled into their bunks and crashed hard.
(a present from the trail gods)
I awoke Sunday morning not sure if I was going to ride home, or hang out with people in Duluth. I was still quite tired from the day before so I figured I would see how breakfast went and take it from there. No sooner had I poured my first cup of coffee and the rain started. And it really rained. We took shelter under an overhang at the bathrooms and made our plan of riding into Duluth to wait for our rides to come fetch us. The rain only lasted for roughly 30 minutes and we soon were cranking our way slowly toward Duluth proper. None of us are from that area, so we grabbed a map at a convenience store and decided to ride Skyline Parkway all the way into town. Anyone familiar with the layout of Duluth, knows that it has the steepest streets in MN. They aren't that long, but there are some VERY steep ones. And of course, anytime you are talking about Skyline anything, you know there are going to be some hills involved. It was spectacular. We all felt good on our bikes (I'm sure because we knew we didn't have to be one them for 15 hours) and we just enjoyed the morning. Stopping to check out the views, taking a dip in a small swimming hole, and soaking in the now beautiful morning. And the day was just getting started.
Working in a bike shop, I often am asked if I race. One of my former co-workers put it very well; "Racing takes away the fun of riding a bicycle."
I think this sums up that statement very nicely:
I especially like the AG2R? rider who had given up and had his head down for a moment, only to look up and flip over Cavendish. Kind of ruins the ride.I don't have time for that.
Last night my wife and I rode down to a local eatery to enjoy the evening and nourishment. My cousin and girlfriend rode over from Minneapolis so they could enjoy the evening as well. We then all rode over to have some dessert and if you have never been to Izzy's, I suggest you go. By the time we were all finished, it was around 10:30 and time to ride home.
My first thought, as it was still extremely warm, was to ride over to Minneapolis and then home. But both my wife and I were tired and I wasn't on the best bike to keep up with skinny wheelers. So we just noodled the 2 miles home. It was gorgeous! The temperature was around 70, barely any wind, humidity was non-existent, hard to ask for a better evening. As I waited at the light at University, I had a memory triggered from when I lived in Florida. At that intersection, there is a lot more pavement and concrete and not much vegetation. It's one of the main reasons I could not continue to live in FL.
Leaving that road behind, we entered my neighborhood streets. Overgrown with many a great old tree, the smells and overall feeling of being closer to nature returned. Cruising on the bike, not wishing for different (especially more) clothing, great conversation, smelling life from the earth (which we are trying to kill to the best of our abilities), how could that not be one of the greatest things ever?
Ken and I tried out one of our most relaxing ways to incorporate bicycles into other activities, with our second BGB event. That's Bike-Golf-Bike, laid back triathlon style. We were planning to ride up to Stacy to play, but as I was calculating the schedule for Saturday, I realized I couldn't be gone that long, so we chose a closer course near Stillwater. Out the Gateway Trail a ways Ken says, "take the gravel?". Well how can I say no to that. Turns out I should say no when I am testing tyres I have a good idea are not designed for gravel. I put a set of Panaracer Ribmos on the Cross Check and in trying to encourage others to ride them (purely for testing purposes) I purchased them in 32mm width. Now why would I think we wouldn't be riding gravel? Somewhere in my brain, I know I was thinking I just have to confirm these are not the tyres for me. The most intriguing factor for me is that I enjoy so much of the Panaracer Pasela, (including T-Servs 6 of 8 700c bikes have them) and I figure if they can make that tyre so wonderful, maybe this one is worth a shot.
I have only run them about 50 miles but I'm sure they won't stay on my bike much longer. I think they could make an ok commuter for someone, but after riding Paselas for so long, I am extremely happy with them, and this tyre does not offer anything to improve my ride. The first is that they seemed very springy. Once we hit the gravel, I was bouncing down the road. I had them set at 60psi, which is a little higher than I run my Paselas, but they didn't absorb the bumps. It's a little unclear from the picture, but the tyres are actually pointed a little in the center. I don't think it reduced my rolling resistance, but it sure changes the compression. It also carves into the dirt. We hit a few softer sections of gravel throughout our rides and it was like riding through sand. I had no steering control and bogged down very quickly. Lastly, I did notice the less than smooth transition into cornering. I thought I was going to just feel this in my mind, but Sunday I hopped back on a bike with T-Servs (28mm none the less) and I was surprised at how well they rolled into the corners. So much so that I cased a pedal leaning into a turn, which I have not done for a long time (disclaimer: fixed gear + excited rider, not just excited, stupid rider).
I figure I will run the tyres a few more days on my normal commute to give them a little more of a chance. Then, off to another person to see what they think. Since a number of us at the shop have similar taste in rubber, I have a feeling these are going to be for sale pretty soon. Even with my lack of stellar thoughts for my bike's shoes, the golfing was great and the riding even better.
This past weekend my wife and I spent a whole bunch of time working in our yard. We put in a vegetable garden and planted a number of plants. The weather was absolutely perfect and I was only a little sad there was no biking. With the exception of the small ride for Joe's bachelor party. I think I am still partially dehydrated because of it.
Last year we had a rousing game of wiffle ball for a Sunday Slow Ride activity, and it turned out great. From the choosing teams, to the arguing over rules, to the 5th inning stretch bike derby. Everyone had a great time and the injuries were kept to a minimum. Alas, trying to recreate events and experiences only goes so far.
Sunday was our second wiffle ball game day and it was a lot of fun. We played a little harder due to the balls not being quite as wiffly, so they moved a little faster. We had an impromptu derby, but it wasn't the all out pandemonium that derby can be. People had other commitments, slowly reducing our numbers until we had to make a trade to keep things even.
(serious gaming business)
I know it was a good time because I was very tired when I finally came home. Enough energy to eat some dinner and watch a little hockey. Just like being a kid, I fought going to bed. I am paying for it now, tired and cranky, trying to be ready for the real world.
We met up with our saviors at Fitgers and of course had to have a couple more beers. Packing up the cars was interesting. Loading 5 bicycles, a trailer and all our crap into two fairly small cars was quite the challenge. Fortunately only a small amount of disassembly was required and we turned our faces south. I was surprised how much of the trip back I stayed awake. I'm usually good for crashing hard in the car, but I had to sneak another couple pics of bobbing heads. I did crash hard once my head hit the pillow.
