Do North

After a great Christmas visit with the bulk of my family, we headed north. Dan and I accidentally learned of an old timey resort with newly groomed singletrackish fat bike trails, and checked them out. We were two satisfied customers.

Lessons learned on my first fat bike ride of the season:

- Don't wear baggy snowpants and remember to cinch the bottom of longer jackets so that when you start falling, you are not so much one with the bike.

- If you have to put a foot down, do it on the groomed part of the trail, so that you don't sink to your one knee while straddling your too-big bike halfway up a hill.

- You can wear toe warmers with heated insoles.

Afterwards, Pipey and I took our traditional walk down to the river. Well, I walked. She scampered and slid around on the ice-coated snow while wearing her little boots. I discovered that I always reach for my camera to photograph her at the same spot on the path - regardless of season.

It was a great day outside, regardless of mode of transportation. I am looking forward to these types of bits of winter.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MS150Maggie2017

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MaggieTRAM2017

Slackerville

In 2016, I biked more miles than in any other year of my life. 

Despite being pleased about that, I confess that I'm pretty disappointed about my December biking (and, frankly, exercise in general) "progress," especially today, the third anniversary of the purchase of my fat bike.

I rode my bike once this month. On December 1st. Granted, I had some big work obligations, including out-of-town travel. And we had some cold, cold temps and cold, cold wind chills - - about 60 degrees colder than today and far below my winter biking threshold. Regardless, I had hoped to finish the year off much stronger than this. 

Oh well, I need a goal for 2017, right?

Speaking of 2017, we've got a bunch of new riders, I hope to put together some nice new training route maps, and Stacy and I are putting our heads together for another trivia night. Stay tuned for details! 

Thank you for all of your support in 2016, even if December was not worthy. I suspect that 2017 will be another chart-topper.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MS150Maggie2017

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MaggieTRAM2017

Xmas Intruder

'Twas two weeks before Christmas and all through the home, the human was entertaining herself with a crossword and beer while eating dinner, and the dog slept all alone.

Blah, blah kerchief and cap, blah blah clatter, what was the matter, and I ran to the door because our bell is super annoying.

What did my eyes see there? Jay from work, in his winter gear. Holding a huge Norfolk pine. Similar in size to the one I acquired from my Grandma, and we moved here 20 years and 12 days ago (exactly) from our apartment when we bought our house.

Where was I?

Oh yeah. Some decorations were hung in random places last night without much care, but now we have something like a Christmas tree in our hair. Thanks to the fundraiser for the Minneapolis Youth Chorus, for essentially bringing the holiday right before us.

Life is Better with a Southern Accent

Apparently, "Life is Better with a Southern Accent" is either the motto of or a popular saying in Little Rock, Arkansas.

I know that I heard a camo-wearing woman in the Flying Fish restaurant (where the salad I ordered came in a huge, metal mixing bowl with two pieces of spicy catfish on top) speak with pretty much the best southern accent I have heard. Three of the walls were covered with Billy Bass signs (plaques? devices?), many of which had scarily non-decomposed French fries in their mouths.

The catfish was good though.

I was concerned about having dinner the next night at another "flying" restaurant: The Flying Saucer. Was it going to be an alien-themed place? Oddly, and reassuringly, it just had decorative plates on every wall - and the ceiling. The beer list was impressive.

This was my second quick trip to Little Rock, and there's a lot to see that I didn't see. I came home determined to go back for a vacation with my bike (and my husb).

Meanwhile, I tell you whuut, I'm fixin' to git back into winter ridin' here, start figurin' out springtime things for my bike team, and send out my fundraising links, ya'll.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MS150Maggie2017

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MaggieTRAM2017

It's beginning to look a lot like... winter

It's beginning to look a lot like Winter

And the temps are low

Look at the forecast again

To figure out when

It's best to take the bike out in the snow

It's beginning to look a lot like Winter

Toys in every store

It's the prettiest sight to see

Is the bike that will be at your own front door

A pair of heated gloves and snow boots that don't rub is the wish of Maggie and friends

Bike community can hardly wait for snow to start again

It's beginning to look a lot like Winter

And the temps are low

There's a fat bike in e'ry garage

One in the park as well

The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow

It's beginning to look a lot like Winter

Soon it all will start

Asking for help with fundraising

Hoping that you will give with all your heart

 http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MS150Maggie2017

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MaggieTRAM2017