Brompton World Challenge Photo Entry

(The Heart Follows the Path, by Paul Noot)

(Brompton M-6, by Brompton Bicycle Ltd)

 

When Brompton announced their categories for the 2nd annual 'Brompton World Challenge', there was no doubt about where I'd go for the 'Brompton Geographic' photo...  Paul Noot's state mural near 5th and Main in downtown Bismarck.

Not sure if it'll be recognized by the judges, but if it is, all credit goes to Mr. Noot.  Most thankful for his artistic gifts, and for making them accessible (and even interactive!).

2020 Summary

Putting a wrap on another year with meager cumulative mileage.  Intentions of local commuting and brevets in Minnesota gave way to a telework reality in mid-March.  As COVID  cases climbed through the year (with some of the highest per-capita rates in the country here in Bismarck) my aversion to risk kept me close to home, usually on foot via lengthy walks/hikes/jogs using nearby trails.

One new wrinkle of significance for 2020 were my two forays on the Volae recumbent late in the year. The experiences were humbling, as my start-stop and handling skills left much to be desired.  However, the comfort - or rather, the lack of discomfort - of recumbent riding was unmistakable.  No neck pain, numb hands, or sore knees and ankles.  Definitely looking forward to more miles on the Volae in 2021!

 

Birthday Ride

Enjoyed some rare sublime weather yesterday with a lengthy bike ride on the Mandan side of the Missouri River.  Few pedestrians and cyclists were out, leaving the trails mostly open for worry-free riding.

(Confluence of Heart and Missouri Rivers)

(Looking north on Infantry Post Hill)

Had just enough time to cover a distance equal to my age.  I guess I'll know I'm officially 'old' when I celebrate this annual milestone with kilometers instead of miles.  ;-)

2019 Summary

No rides of any significance were attempted in 2019.  A convergence of limited free time and a general apathy towards distance cycling resulted in the lowest cumulative mileage in over 20 years of riding (10 rides, 146 miles).  I did not ride the Koga-Miyata this year.

After much reflection, I’ve decided to let my RUSA and Minnesota Randonneur memberships lapse.  Outdoor activities have transitioned to hiking and trail running, activities I find safer (away from the increasingly distracted and drug addled drivers) and less burdensome from a time management standpoint.  I plan to continue to ride, however.  Two recent acquisitions (Brompton M6R and a Volae Century recumbent) will open up new cycling opportunities, and I’ll certainly commute when it’s safe to do so.

This blog will continue, but without the brevet reports and annual summaries.  I’m sure some of the new outdoor activities will embody the randonneur spirit (i.e., “to ramble”), plus there’s always the chance I’ll return to distance cycling in some form once I have more free time.

Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable holiday season and a happy and healthful 2020!

2018 Summary

It was a modest year, with just about half the ride time and mileage logged in 2017.  Substantive rides were limited to two short brevets in May and August (reviewed here and here).  It was a year of commuting, mostly; commuting that stopped abruptly in mid-August when travel commitments spiraled out of control (and didn't stop until about five days ago).

Another contributing factor to the low mileage this year was a nagging upper back issue that caused numbness in my left thumb.  Physical therapy didn't provide lasting relief but cycling less did, so I've transitioned to hiking/walking for aerobic exercise and daily stretching (pseudo-yoga) to work out the kinks in my back.  Though the exercise is not the same and the increased flexibility is slow to materialize, I do feel better.  Accordingly, my randonneuring future seems at a crossroads.  A major change in my riding position to mitigate stress on the C7 disk (the source of my back/thumb issue, apparently) may be needed to keep riding, at least for long distances.

We'll see.  I'm working on a 'bike fix' with the help of a fellow randonneur in Montana that may result in a different bike and a new riding position.  

A Visit to Edinburgh

A week in Scotland’s capital city provided a few nice surprises on the biking front.  First is Edinburgh’s commitment to creating a pro-cycling culture through abundant biking infrastructure, a new bike share program, and supportive marketing.  It was impressive to see automated ‘cyclist counters’ on a major bikeway near the University of Edinburgh campus.  The total number of passing cyclists for the year was impressive, averaging over 1200 cyclists per day.

(A useful metric)

The second surprise was multiple displays of cycling-related history at the National Museum of Scotland.  The earliest precursor to the bicycle, the Hobby Horse, was displayed next to a McCall Velocipede in the Science and Technology Gallery.  The former moved ‘Fred Flintstone’ style (i.e., pushing and stopping by foot), while the later was a treadle-driven machine.  Both were limited by an inability to steer.  Having recently walked many of Edinburgh’s Old Town streets, they would not travel far before needing to stop!

(Hobby Horse, owned by Earl of Eglinton in Ayrshire, c1820)

(McCall Velocipede, invented by Kirkpatrick Macmillan of Kilmarnock, Scotland, 1871)

My smooth Compass tires have Scotland to thank for their origination and development.  The first pneumatic bike tire was invented by Robert Thompson of Stonehaven, Scotland in 1845.  In the following decade John Boyd Dunlop took Thompson’s invention and adapted it to bicycles, capturing a global market during widespread adoption of the ‘Safety Bicycle’.

(Dunlop bicycle tire on display)

(The Cyclists Touring Club, est. 1878)

Finally, in the Scottish Sport Hero’s Gallery, I came upon Graeme Obree’s time trial bicycle, Old Faithful.  This was the bike Obree used to break the world one-hour record in the early 1990s.  I was struck by the size of the chainring and the fastening system used for his shoes (single bolt through a modified sole).

(Old Faithful.  More about the bike – and it’s amazing rider – here)

RUSA 20th Anniversary Ride

Last weekend the Minnesota Randonneurs hosted a RUSA 20^th Anniversary Ride.  I  happened to be in town, thanks to a scheduled trip to Minneapolis to assist my daughter’s return to law school.  One of over 50 such events throughout the country, it was an opportunity to partake in an ‘audax style’ ride in celebration of the growing sport of randonneuring throughout the United States.  As all of the 102 km route was in the Twin Cities, the ride also provided another chance to learn more about the excellent trail network in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Starting promptly at 8:00 a.m., eight of us left the America Inn parking lot in Apple Valley, MN under smoky skies thanks to recent Canadian wildfires.

(Group photo)

(Heading out, audax style)

After navigating mostly quite roads, we transitioned to trails along the Minnesota River.  The pace was quicker than expected, but given projected afternoon temperatures in the high 80s it made sense to quickly cover ground while conditions were cooler.

(Moving briskly along the Black Dog Trail)

Our first control was at the Minnehaha Falls Restaurant.  This was a timely stop for a bathroom break and a chance to top-off our water bottles.

(Getting ready to leave the first control)

Following the first control we quickly turned onto the Greenway Trail, which was unsurprisingly busy for a Saturday morning.  It was great to see so many different types of bicyclists sharing the trail.

(Overpass to the Greenway Trail with downtown Minneapolis in the background)

(Greenway Trail)

Leaving the trail for Lake of the Isles Parkway, we passed by ornate lakeside homes.  Here, we completed our only informational control of the ride, which was to record the address of the house used by Mary Richards in the Mary Tyler Moore Show.  I soon learned from the locals that it was the house on Kenwood Parkway with no street numbers.  Trick question!

(Mary's sitcom house in the background)

From the neighborhood we moved onto the Cedar Regional Trail, underneath Target Field, and then onto the Stone Arch Bridge to pass over the Mississippi River.

(Target Field)

(Stone Arch Bridge)

The bridge was full of pedestrians and bicyclists, so we slowed our pace to accommodate the additional traffic.  Once we crossed the bridge we headed south on the Dinkytown Greenway until we reached Marshall Avenue and our second control, Izzy’s Ice Cream Parlor.

(Ice cream anyone?)

Izzy’s was closed when we arrived (opened at 11 a.m.), so we opted for pastries and coffee at a nearby café.  This was the only time we rested during the ride.

Follow the control we headed east on Summit Avenue until reaching the state capitol, briefly passing by St. Paul Cathedral before navigating downtown steets on our way to the bike trail along Wabasha Street.  After crossing the Mississippi River one last time, we headed south along the Big Rivers Regional Trail, retracing some of our route earlier in the day.

(Moving quickly south, with the Mississippi River to our right)

The remainder of the ride was uneventful following roads with low-to-moderate traffic.  By the time we arrived back to our starting point the air temperature was getting warm enough to be uncomfortable, thanks in large part to an absence of wind.  Happy to be done, my ride arrived shortly after collecting a 20-year RUSA medallion.  It was a good day!