Tulip time

This seems early to me. I am afraid that when real Tulip Time comes that all there will be here is a stem festival. This first group is in Shoreview.That wire around the flowers didn't distract much from my viewing pleasure. I am guessing it is present because rabbits in Shoreview eat tulips if they are not dissuaded.

This group is in Roseville. They are in the yard with all the native flowers that I photograph later on in the year.The proprietor of the yard was out in the yard so I stopped and chatted him up a bit. I told him how much I like his yard. I think he was pleased to hear that someone enjoys the results of his labors.

The bicycling goes well. After several days featuring rides to the south I have ridden to the north the past two days. The change in the weather pattern has restored what is the prevailing wind here, a northwesterly flow. I bicycle a LOT, believe me, I KNOW what the most common wind direction is. The northerly routes are the most commonly ridden routes.

Today and yesterday I came to a couple of well known to me spots where the pavement tilts upwards. These are NOT hills, at least not when I am fit. But in the midst of my earlier season struggles they sure seemed like hills. The last two days I absolutely spanked both slight rises, even accelerating on the way over the top. Fitness is starting to return.

I stopped by County Cycles. I have a minor mechanical issue with the new bicycle which I do not perceive to be a problem but which I wanted to discuss with an actual bicycle mechanic. Also, I like going into the shop on the first Saturday in the spring when it is sunny and warm just to watch the show. There were more people in there today then come in during an entire week in January.

You know that the shop is your home shop when three of the people working greet you by name, your favorite brake mechanic comes over immediately to see what's up, and a fourth worker, one I do not know (yet) wanted to chat a bit about seeing me out riding on the Transitway on Thursday.

Scott says the derailer hanger IS bent but that if it shifts OK, which it does (which surprises Scott, he says it shouldn't) then it isn't a huge issue. Scott said the slight noise I am hearing is metal rubbing on metal. He said that he knows I ride a lot of miles but that I would have to ride, his words here, an INSANE amount to actually wear anything out. Still, a bent hanger needs to be monitored. That's what I thought, sometimes it is just best to get a professional opinion.