Don't Bank On It

Today I rode at Lebanon Hills park for the first time. A super nice guy coming off the trail as I was heading in asked, incredulously, "Where do you live, that this is your first time here?!?" I explained that I live close, but I ride on flat trails. He said, "Oh, you'll find this isn't flat." It wasn't flat, but I only rode on the easy trail, so it wasn't difficult. And one part was kind of fun, like a roller coaster. It sure was pretty.

What I learned:

- Once my hands are warm enough to wear just gloves, and not mittens on top of them, I have way more control over shifting and braking.

- Banked turns are better done quickly in the snow, although I skidded out on two of them - twice. So, even though faster is better, I can't, ahem, bank on it.

- Those toe warmer things help, although I cringe at the one-time use/disposal nature of them.

- Little trails in the woods are much more sheltered from the wind than the wider, flatter trails.

- The nice guy and two people who were pulling in as I was leaving also have Framed bikes, but this year's models. (The nice guy was bummed that his bike cost way more than mine.) It seems like this was a good investment for The House bike shop to design and sell these bikes.

- Tons more people have fat bikes this year than last year.

- I'm much better on a trail the second time I ride it than the first.

Thanks, Park Rangers!

Deer Fort Snelling State Park Rangers,

My parents told me that it is palite to send thank-you letters when I get presents.

When we moved to this house a long time ago, I was really, really happy. Why? Becuz I found out that your park is really close. Not just the old-timey stuff, but the nature part to! I like to go there to swim and to walk the dog in the woods. I like to go sking there to, becuz it is nice & flat. :-)

Now, this winter time, you are making trails for lots of activitys like riding fat tire bikes! I road my fat tire bike their today and it was really nice!

Thank you for the X-mas present. I really like it!

Sincerly,

Maggie Mahoney
Minneapolis
Age 42

p.s. heres a picsure from my bike ride today! It got dark and that was really neat.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MS150Maggie2015

And to all, a good night.

Her eyes — how they twinkled! Her cheeks were like roses, her nose like a cherry.

And the helmet it encircled her head like a wreath.

She had a broad face, and a little round belly that shook when she laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly.

She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work, and fill'd all the tires then turn'd with a jerk. She sprung to her bike, to the town gave a whistle, and away she flew, like the down of a thistle.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MS150Maggie2015

My favorite solstice

Most people would be bummed about the shortest day of the year, but I love the winter solstice and the fact that the days get noticeably longer, despite spring being a little further than just around the corner... It's the summer solstice that bums me out, although it is offset by fun summer things.

This past summer, my friends and I spent one freakin' hot day at the Tour de Fat, where we saw these fun bikes (including that big bear-thing, which is powered by many people pedaling a pedal-pub-type thing), and where I got a fun bike-themed t-shirt. I've been saving the photos for a day like today.

HURRAY! The solstice!

Mother Nature's B-day Gift

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I had unfinished business with my road bike. Apparently Mother Nature heard that, and gave us a reprieve from winter so I could try to address that.

I didn't go far, but I did a fun, sloppy ride to and from yoga today. I do love my bike. Thanks, Mother Nature, for the small bit of sanity to usher in another year of life. I feel this is the perfect recalibration.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MS150Maggie2015

Visiting some old friends

Last June, two top trails in the area were closed due to landslides, and remained closed all summer. In today's spring-like 30-degree weather, I took my fat bike out and decided to see if the Mendota/Lilydale trail/road was open.

I had a blissful ride on the trail. It was so open, in fact, that a mountain bike or road bike with slightly wide tires could've handled the occasional bigger patches of snow and ice just fine. I just got an extra workout by doing it on fat tires.

The lack of foliage allowed me to see that there are a lot of homes perched on that little cliff, just waiting to tip over.

On the way back, I stopped by Fort Snelling to pay tribute to Whiskey the horse. Someone kindly left him some carrots, which this little cutie was gnawing on. If I was someone who said, "adorbs," this would be the time to do so.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MS150Maggie2015