#30DaysOfBiking Day 19:
I waited until after lunch for it to warm up over 40F (5C) and for the sun to come out. That made for a more pleasant ride than yesterday. I rode the #RochMN city trails and the Douglas State Trail for 32 miles round trip to find the Marsh Marigolds which are just South of Milepost 6. I figured they would now be blooming as I saw others on another trail on Thursday. I was not disappointed. Sometime I'll go further up to find more wildflowers.
#BikeTooter
#BloomScrolling

My original plan was to participate in the local rally in #RochMN but last evening my wife encouraged me to instead go up to St Paul for the rally there. It was a good idea as it was going to be a one in a lifetime opportunity. I drove to Minneapolis and parked in a University of Minnesota ramp and took the Green Line light rail to the gathering spot, the Western Sculpture Park in St Paul. It was one of three gathering points. 1/x
#NoKings #Minnesota

This afternoon was awfully pleasant for riding a bike, 52F (11C), sunny and very light winds. But the remnant snow limited my choices. The #RochMN city trails were mostly open but there were spots where I had to dismount and one where I had to climb over a huge snowbank. One other place had not been plowed so I had to detour. There was a lot of snowmelt on the trails, so a bicycle with fenders was the best option. I rode my Brompton for 15 miles.
#BikeTooter

#BikeStreak Day 59:
What a difference 24 hours makes. Yesterday 55F (13C) and sunny, today 20F (-7C) and snowing heavily. So I climbed back on my fatbike with studded tires and rode the #RochMN city trails for 11 miles. On the way back, I couldn't even see my tracks from an hour earlier as it was snowing so hard. It will be back above freezing starting Monday, so we'll see how long this snow lasts.
#BikeTooter

#BikeStreak Day 40:
It was almost 40F (4C) when I set out on my ride. I rode 31 miles on #RochMN city trails and county roads West of town. As I live in far Southeast Rochester, I have to ride through town whenever heading West or North, so my "road" ride today was more on city trails than roads. Fortunately the Mayowood Trail was *mostly* clear of snow and ice so I was able to head out that way today. I still need to work on my stamina for longer rides and for climbing hills.
#BikeTooter

#BikeStreak Day 35:
Today is the midpoint of astronomical winter or the beginning of Solar Spring (Northern Hemisphere), with the darkest quarter of the year now over. That it falls near Groundhog Day and Candlemas Day is not a coincidence.
Today I rode to a meeting with a local elected to discuss restoring bicycle access to downtown #RochMN after Mayo Clinic's Bold. Forward. Unbound. program will cause the existing bike lanes to get vacated with a new hospital construction.
#BikeTooter

#BikeStreak Day 32:
I had my first crash in awhile on my bike ride today. It had snowed almost 2 inches and I couldn't see the black ice under the snow on a turn and incline. But the good news was that I fell into 2" of new snow, so no harm, no foul. It was 22F (-6C) the warmest ride in over 10 days. But because of the new snow, I had to go back to my fat bike. I saw one other fat biker out on the #RochMN city trails. The falling snow got heavier near the end of the ride.
#BikeTooter

The brutal cold is getting old. It was -6F (-21C) when I set off on my ride to have coffee with my "over 50" hockey team. At least it was sunny and the winds were light. It was +8F (-13C) for the return trip, so it did not feel as bad. Round trip is 12 miles. I'm still staying on the #RochMN city trails as the snow and ice is really persistent at these temperatures. Getting out every day in the sun on my bike does relieve the cabin fever; I feel sorry for those who cannot get out.
#BikeTooter

It was a tad warmer and the winds were a tad lighter meaning the windchill was *only* -11F (-24C) when I set out on my ride of the #RochMN city trails and streets for 16 miles. I still needed studded tires so I rode my gravel bike today. I missed seeing the aurora last evening, but was treated to a sun halo late this morning. I've seen sun dogs often enough, but cannot recall seeing a full halo. Another clipper is supposed to come through later and then the deep freeze by Friday.
#BikeTooter

It was considerably colder than yesterday so I waited until the temperature rose to -1F (-18C). However the windchill was -19F (-28C), so it was the coldest ride of the season, requiring extra layers and the battery powered heated gloves and socks. I rode the #RochMN city trails for 10 miles. The trails had been swept, not just plowed and were clean and dry. If not for the streets leading to the trails, I could have gone without studded tires. Maybe tomorrow.
#BikeTooter