Not much for exposed skin when the temps dip into the 30s
Friday night gave those of us in Minnesota a taste of the months to come – with harshly cold temperatures and a little snow to rub it in. This was such a shock to the system – that an ash tree I have in the front yard shed all of its leaves (it is a big tree) over the course of two hours on Saturday morning. This also setup the remainder of the weekend to be much colder than it would otherwise be. Certainly not weather conducive to outdoor activities – like cycling.
At least for sane people.
That’s why I joined my brother for a ride around the St. Paul and Minneapolis area on Sunday afternoon.
It really wasn’t too bad – with temps in the high 30′s or low 40′s. Wind is a killer for cyclists and this ride was generally mild, which makes for an easier ride regardless of temperature.
Coming down the world's most expensive bicycle bridge while crossing Highway 55.
We headed out along Summit toward the river and made our way to Minneapolis. The East River Road is a classic for road cyclists, although its general condition has seen better days. After crossing the Franklin Street Bridge and onto the west bank, we decided to hit the Midtown Greenway for a few miles. During this ride, the Midtown Bike Center was open so we stopped to gather a little warmth and see what they had to offer. It’s definitely a neat resource for passing cyclists, but the general lack of paying customers makes me wonder about its sustainability.
Our trip closed with a crossing of the Ford Bridge and back to my brother’s house in St. Paul. All-in-all we did a little over twenty miles, which was a decent ride given the weather.
I’m still trying to find the perfect combination of riding clothes that match the weather. For today, I wore a simple base layer, a fleece, and a wind breaking jacket. While other parts of my body were properly balanced, my core and arms were a little too warm and I got a little wet from sweat. After stopping at the Midtown Bike center at the halfway point, it was a little tough to get back on the bike. I was definitely chilled and needed a few miles to get my temperature back to a point where the moisture was bearable. I guess that learning to ride in cooler weather is all about trial and error in Minnesota, as there will always be something that is either too hot or too cold.
It was nice to see that they have been updating the bike path along West River Road. During my ride in the same area this summer, I noted how the trail could be easily compared to a plowed field. The Hennepin Parks also appeared to have noticed this and replaced the path with fresh tarmac. It didn’t take long of bouncing along the old road to abandon the main street and stick to the path. Normally, I try to avoid bike paths but this one was only a few weeks old and offered a riding surface that could not be beat.
Even with the cold, the ride was good. I traversed roads that I hadn’t ridden since college years, so it’s always nice to return to places with lots of memories. Plus, it’s nice to ride with someone else to break up the monotony of an alone ride.
