#30DaysOfBiking Day 3:
This morning it was just above freezing and cloudy, but not too windy. But with rain due to arrive just after noon, I could not wait for it to warm up. So I jumped on my road bike and headed up the #RochMN city trails and the Douglas State Trail to Douglas and back for 30 miles. On Cascade Lake there was a flock of about 200 American Coots. They seem to gather there about this time every year. Almost all of the other trail users were walking dogs.
#BikeTooter

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 morning I rode to a local bicycle advocacy meet-up and then took a road ride out to Salem Corners and Byron and back for 36 miles. It was a bit breezy so it was a bit of a slog out to Byron, but I mostly had a tailwind coming home. It was 60F (16C) by the time I got back home and I saw folks wearing shorts while walking the #RochMN city trails. I also heard frog calls in Southeast Rochester.
#BikeTooter

Today was cloudy, windy and cold, almost 40 degrees colder than yesterday afternoon. But yesterday's heat wave melted off all but the piled up snow, and the Douglas State Trail was again ridable. I rode the #RochMN city trails and the Douglas Trail to Douglas and back for 30 miles. The wind was a bit tough heading up, but it made for a nice tailwind coming back. I should now be able to ride other trails if we get a nice day this week.
#BikeTooter

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