I was getting excited. Most of the snow is gone, it's warming up, I pop out to check the weather and........

I was getting excited. Most of the snow is gone, it's warming up, I pop out to check the weather and........

Scot....I'm surprised at your negative attitude...... Ride east/southeast and have someone pickup you up in Washingon DC. Of course Lake Michigan might pose a small problem ;)

Supposed to be sunny tomorrow in my neck of the woods. The wife announced that she wants to dedicate the weekend to spring cleaning. I think I'll start tonight so that Saturday morning is free to ride!

of 52 with 10 to 20 MPH winds for tomorrow. Just my luck, tomorrow happens to be a day I'm working out of my house. I guess I'll have to do a 2 hour riding lunch break. I have to do the house cleaning thing Friday night and Saturday morning since we are having a party Saturday night to celebrate my wife's 44th birthday. Since the S.O. will be running some errands on Saturday morning, I might be able to sneak out then too!

44 mph last saturday. I went out anyway like a dumb*** and was blown off my bike. I ran into a couple other riders and we all gave up after 20 miles. Turned on the weather channel when I got home and yes, that 44 mph was accurate.

I did end up going out that day. I did 10 straight into the wind at about 12 MPH and practically coasted home on the turnaround.

I did end up going out that day. I did 10 straight into the wind at about 12 MPH and practically coasted home on the turnaround.


Summer's coming, man. It won't be much longer. I work for an Eden Prairie-based company (Stellent), so I'm up there every 2-3 weeks and love the summers where you are. Just wish they lasted more than 8 weeks. ;) Since we don't get any rain in Fort Worth in the summertime, I've actually thought about shipping my rainy-day bike up there to drop off for the summer so I can ride while I'm in town. Don't know the roads well enough to pick safe routes, but it looks like you guys have a great trail system up there.

We've been getting the winds down here, too. 20-25 mph several days this week. Does add a whole new dimension.

Went out on one of my rare solo rides on Saturday for a 25 mile ride. Very windy. Averaged 160 HR. Sunday, went out with friends for a 35 mile ride. Windy again. There is one 5 mile section of road that on the way out that we were at a constant 30 mph. On the way back, on that same section, we had to really push it to hit 18 mph.

633: I live in Minneapolis and we have a few club rides that wind through Eden Prairie. I can hook you up if you are interested.

It is interesting how "winter" bike gear (or even regular spring clothing or jackets) are almost a waste of money around here. There are so few days that are in that in-between temperature (and while the roads are clear).

Just say where you want to start from and where you want to go and I'll work up a route sheet for you. I do all the time for myself. If you're starting in Eden Prairie you've got lots of choices. You can go urban, go downtown, see the falls, see Minnehaha, do the River Roads and join the weekend roadie Mecca. Or go the other way, you can get pretty rural pretty fast from EP.

As Filter said both TCBC (Twin Cities Bike Club) and Bokoo (LBS) are running rides that side of town.

I'm right next door in Bloomington.

As Filter said both TCBC (Twin Cities Bike Club) and Bokoo (LBS) are running rides that side of town.

I'm right next door in Bloomington.

What's the story with Bokoo? I've never heard of them...

They have a pretty good group ride schedule on their site and I have heard a couple of people speak well of their experience with them.

As far as an LBS, they at least look different. If you've been in County Cycle in Roseville, Bokoo is the opposite. County is in a squat little building with inventory filling every available square foot and kinda grubby. Bokoo is in this 20 foot ceiling large windows with lots of open space and hardly any inventory and operating room clean. It looks like a minimilist approach to an LBS. I've only been in a couple of times, it's a pretty store, but I often find myself thinking "they don't have much here". It's an all Trek shop. Trek, Lemond, Gary Fisher.

Did "wind training" this sunday going south on the Lakefront path in Chicago- 100-110 cadence and just over 15mph for 25 miles!! Gusts blew me off the path a couple of times. Definetly got a serious workout and my legs were almost kaput. Heading north on the other hand I felt like a pro!! Average of 90 cadence and an average of 35mph. Really got to feel the capabilities of my new TCR1, that little puppy was amazing! Hugging turns and just gliding along, I really felt like I was on a motorcycle!!