Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/30DaysOfBiking" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>30DaysOfBiking</span></a> Day 14:<br />After such a nice day Sunday, in contrast today is cloudy, cold and very windy, not conducive for a "fun" ride. So instead, i hooked the trailer onto my <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/ebike" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>ebike</span></a> and did a grocery store run for 6 miles. <br />The long anticipated electric utility construction is starting today which will very soon close the trail that is my direct link to most of <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> . It will remain to be seen how well marked the bike and pedestrian detour will be and how rideable it will be.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
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Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/30DaysOfBiking" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>30DaysOfBiking</span></a> Day 6:<br />Back home after spending time with the grandkids, it turned out to be a nice afternoon, sunny, 55F (13C) although a bit windy, so I took my road <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/bicycle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bicycle</span></a> out and rode the <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> city trails for 27 miles. There were a lot of folks, cyclists, walkers, joggers, dog walkers out on the trails too, so I had to slow and be courteous along the way. I did hear my first frog call of the season, and the Coots and Shovelers are still out on Cascade Lake.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p>Happy first morning of Spring!</p><p>Where in <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> we have more snow on the ground than we've had all winter!</p><p>The good news is that we needed the moisture and it should be all melted in a couple of days.</p><p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/VernalEquinox" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>VernalEquinox</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeStreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeStreak</span></a> Day 65:<br />Today is even warmer, 55F, (13C), but still windy. And again I had a limited window between church and <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/mnwild" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>mnwild</span></a> puck drop. So I took my <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/bicycle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bicycle</span></a> on the <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> city trails for 23 miles. On the way I ran into one of my Strava followers who said he uses my posts as his weather and road forecast. I'm glad my online presence is helpful. It is supposed to be even warmer tomorrow, so I'll be planning a better place to ride.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeStreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeStreak</span></a> Day 63:<br />A return to spring-like weather, sunshine and 40F (4C), and my gravel <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/bicycle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bicycle</span></a> is now back from the shop (was waiting on a part delivery), so that's what I rode today. The trails plowed on Wednesday are now mostly clean and dry; the Douglas State Trail is not plowed and is snow covered, so I rode mostly on the <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> city trails for 31 miles. The less well drained trails were wet with snowmelt. Without fenders, I went slowly over the puddles to avoid splashes.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeStreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeStreak</span></a> Day 60: <br />We are under a Blizzard Warning, with 6-10 inches of snow predicted and 50 mph wind gusts. But this morning is the calm before the storm, cloudy, 45F (7C) and light winds, so I set out early on my road <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/bicycle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bicycle</span></a> and rode on the <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> city trails, some county roads and the Chester Woods State Trail for 34 miles. My timing was perfect as the rain started just after I arrived home. Tomorrow's ride might be interesting, I may have to wait for snow plows first.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeStreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeStreak</span></a> Day 58:<br />I needed to squeeze a ride in between church and the <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/MNWild" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>MNWild</span></a> game, so I set out on my road <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/bicycle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bicycle</span></a> for a loop on <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> city trails and county roads out to Salem Corners for 31 miles. I'm now comfortably home before puck drop. It was 10 degrees F warmer than yesterday and the wind is from the South so even warmer weather must be coming. The highlight of the ride was watching a Bald Eagle soar over Cascade Lake.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeStreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeStreak</span></a> Day 57:<br />Despite it being the first day of meteorological spring, we were back into winter weather as it was 19F (-7C) when I set off on my road <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/bicycle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bicycle</span></a>. I rode the <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> city trails and the Douglas State Trail to Douglas and back for 30 miles. But the stronger March sun kept me warm enough that I did not need heated gloves or socks; I would have on a cloudy day. Yesterday's strong winds took down a couple large limbs on the trails that will need to be remedied.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeStreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeStreak</span></a> Day 56:<br />The city in which I live, <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> , is amongst the windiest cities in North America. And today we have a wind advisory, with 25 mph sustained winds and even higher gusts. It only made sense to ride my <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/ebike" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>ebike</span></a> , so I rode out to Cascade Lake and back for 20 miles. When riding the East side of Cascade Lake, I was leaning about 30 degrees just to keep upright with the strong side wind. It was sunny when I started, but mostly cloudy when I got home.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeStreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeStreak</span></a> Day 54:<br />Yesterday I saw on Strava that a friend had ridden most of the Douglas State Trail, meaning it is free of snow and ice. It was! I rode the <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> city trails and the Douglas State Trail to Pine Island and back for 47 miles. It was cloudy but upper 40'sF and light wind, so outstanding for a February ride. I've been hearing more songbirds, so I've been logging them via the Merlin app. On the way home I spotted a flock of Trumpeter Swans. Merlin confirmed!<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p>Bonus post:<br />It was such a gorgeous afternoon that after my appointment, I had to get on my bikes some more. So I dug out the Brompton for the first time in a while and toodled around the neighborhood until it was time to leave for my second appointment. Then I rode my <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/ebike" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>ebike</span></a> to the fairgrounds where the MNDoT public meeting on an intersection rebuild was being held. Before the meeting, I decided to stop at the nearby <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> Corn Cob Water Tower for a photo op.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/MNastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>MNastodon</span></a> <br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeStreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeStreak</span></a> Day 50: <br />After watching <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/mnwild" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>mnwild</span></a> win in OT, and with the temperature just under the freezing mark, I set out for a <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/bicycle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bicycle</span></a> ride. But the front derailleur cable snapped almost immediately and I had to turn around and swap bikes. I ended up using my road bike to ride <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> city trails and some county roads for 30 miles. It was nice not having to use battery heated socks or gloves, and using my regular bike helmet instead of ski helmet and goggles.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p>Given the long range forecast and a look at the calendar, it seems that our below zero (0F, -18C) temperatures for the season may be done. It was -6F (-21C) earlier this morning here in <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/rochmn" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>rochmn</span></a> , but it is now 3F (-16C). They say 40F (4C) by Sunday and even warmer Monday. I'd hedge on that until the snow cover is gone.</p><p>But this is Minnesota, and you can expect one more major snowstorm until they finish playing the State Boys High School Basketball Tournament (March 22).</p><p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/mnwx" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>mnwx</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeStreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeStreak</span></a> Day 48:<br />For the first time in days the wind chill was above 0F (-14C) and the air temperature in the teens F (-8C). Add bright late February sunshine and light winds, and it made for a much more pleasant ride, <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> city trails to Mayowood and back for 20 miles. I used one less layer and lower settings on my electric gloves and socks. I saw more dog walkers today, but fewer cyclists for some odd reason. It is supposed to be above freezing Sunday and even warmer Monday.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeStreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeStreak</span></a> Day 46:<br />After it bottomed out at -17F (-27C) here overnight, by noon it had gotten to -1F (-18C) with a -18F (-27C) windchill, substantially warmer than yesterday. So I rode my <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/fatbike" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>fatbike</span></a> on the <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> city trails and around Soldiers Memorial Field for 11.4 miles. When facing the NW wind with the sun at my back, it was almost brutally cold; but when I turned around, it got a lot more pleasant, and I actually had to turn down the heat on my electric gloves.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeStreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeStreak</span></a> Day 43:<br />We got 2" of snow since yesterday afternoon, and we have the most on the ground since before Christmas. Most of the <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> city trails were already plowed, and even the ones that weren't gave me some extra practice on true <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/fatbike" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>fatbike</span></a> riding. I rode a total of 13 miles and since it was recreational only, and I had no places to be or times to be met, the pace was much more relaxed and pleasant. I tested my new winter cycling jacket and it performs as I had hoped.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeStreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeStreak</span></a> Day 37:<br />A day after a 1.5 inch snowfall, most of the <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> city trails were plowed or swept, but with occasional snowy or slippery spots, my fat bike with studded tires was the best choice for a 12.7 mile ride. It was sunny, the winds light and 15F (-9C). It is amazing how much more a mid February sun warms you than a January sun. I rode past the Rochester State Hospital Cemetery along the way, over 1000 patients buried there between 1879 and 1965.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeStreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeStreak</span></a> Day 36:<br />Is our snow drought coming to an end? There was barely a half inch of new snow as I set out for a ride on the <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> city trails on my <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/FatBike" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>FatBike</span></a> for 12.5 miles. But along the way it started snowing heavily, and on the way back, I could barely make out the tracks of my bike from when I started; it is approaching two inches deep, the most we've gotten since before Christmas. The winds were light and it was 25F (-4C) so it was rather pleasant riding in the snow.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/bikestreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bikestreak</span></a> Day 32:<br />Cancelled plans left me in limbo. But I did have a <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> Park Board meeting this evening, so I rode there on my <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/ebike" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>ebike</span></a> for an 8 mile round trip. I was fine going, but my hands got cold on the way home, it was 8F.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
Marty Cormack<p><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeStreak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeStreak</span></a> Day 30:<br />Today was again above freezing, but cloudy and damp as I started out on my gravel <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/bicycle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bicycle</span></a> on a tour of the <a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/RochMN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RochMN</span></a> city trails for 23 miles. But as I was getting closer to home, the sun started popping out and it got up to 43F (6C) with light winds, so I extended the ride further than the originally planned 18 miles. Looking outside now, I should have waited even longer to start and planned an even longer ride. Oh well. Cold and snow is coming later in the week.<br /><a href="https://urbanists.social/tags/BikeTooter" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BikeTooter</span></a></p>
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