First frost

Everyone who isn't a bicycle or at least a number geek can probably just go ahead and tune out now. It is the end of the month near the end of the season and the weather has just turned cold for the first time. What follows is going to be heavily dominated by discussions of proper layering for riding at these temperatures and bragging about how many miles already ridden.

I will wait, leave quietly, no one of those who are staying will think any the less of you.

OK, today was officially cold, not just whining about it cold, it was officially cold. The temperature in our yard shortly after sunrise was only 37. Here's what that looked like on my across the street neighbor's house.That's frost, folks. The picture was taken from inside my house through the front window. Obviously I could have gone out and gotten a photo of my own house illustrating the same effect, but why would I do that? It was cold outside.

Today was unlike yesterday in that yesterday's overcast has gone away. Today the sun was out and it was a really, really pretty fall day, cool, crisp, clear blue sky. With the sun out the temperature got to 53 right after lunch. Yesterday I averred that I could for sure ride at temperatures in the mid-50s and today I got my first chance to prove it. Out I went.

I spent some time agonizing over proper layering (Note to non-geeks still hanging around: You were warned!). It was 48 and overcast yesterday, I wondered today whether I needed all of that gear. Most significantly I wondered about the ear flap helmet liner, the heavier weight jacket, the windstopper vest and the full finger gloves. Eventually I jettisoned only the vest although I did take my regular gloves with me and also promised MySU that I might be back shortly if I quickly discovered that I had misjudged the costume.

It was sunny and very pretty, but NICE it wasn't. There was a COLD wind out of the east mostly, but also the south. My ride begins with a trip down the street where we live with me heading east, directly into that cold wind. I never ever even considered turning back. I needed all of the gear I had. But I was right yesterday, proper gear made today's conditions completely tolerable. Riding in the mid-50s is WAY reasonable, no problem at all.

On to the numbers, I had a LARGE September. It is the most miles I have ever ridden on the LOOK in September even though not an all time record. I used to spend September preparing for that age in miles ride on my birthday in October (something I no longer do) which meant that 6 and 7 Septembers ago, before I was riding the LOOK, I had more miles than I had this month. But this September is still significantly large. It was the most miles ever ridden in September on the LOOK by over 100 miles over second place. It was 268 miles more than September 2008. Further it marked the fifth straight month this year when I have ridden at least 600 miles. I have never had five straight 600 mile months before. September 2009 was LARGE.

In view of what happened yesterday in the comments section I thought it appropriate to post this video:

We're having some fun now, eh?

Great coverup in full swing

In addition to this bicycle blog I maintain a bicycle log, a spreadsheet where I note all of my miles with notes about each ride. The notes often provide interesting items for comparison. That happened today.

It is cold here. The overnight low was about 40. On the bright side the wind had greatly diminished. I was determined to ride even though the morning was persistently overcast. I was waiting for 50, naively assuming that if it was 74 a couple of days ago that surely 50 was still on today's weather agenda. At 12:30 I headed out into the gloomy overcast, temperature 48.

I checked the log. On April 5 I noted "snow" and on April 7 I have "only 48 but sunny, cold". So the last time I rode when the temperature was as low as 48 was April 7. Bon anniversaire TOPWLH.

But I have the gear. Some time not too long after April 7 I organized my cold weather gear and stored it all in one spot. That made today's great coverup quite a bit easier than it has been when this particular turn of weather has occurred in other years. I intended to apply gear to cover up exposed flesh, here is a list of the new gear, starting at the bottom: Smartwool socks, full length tights, base layer, Windstopper vest, the heavier of my two bicycling jackets, full fingered gloves, the heavy duty helmet liner, the one that has flaps that cover my ears.

My impression? Much like April 7: cold, particularly on the way out into the north wind. But not intolerably cold, a little unpleasant but mostly OK. It was, as usual, pretty nice to be out there in conditions which nearly every other bicyclist had decided were intolerable. It is nice to have the streets to yourself. However, I was glad for every new piece of gear even if some of it is going to be replaced with more heavy duty versions before I try 48 again.

The harvest of the corn had begun. There was no one actually working in the field as I headed out but I wanted to be sure to document this if I could so I stopped and got a picture of the progress on the edge of the field.When I got home the overcast was not as pervasive. Blotches of blue were appearing and the sun was sometimes out. The harvest crew had arrived and the harvest was on at full bore. I took a couple of pictures which I wasn't very satisfied with and rode on home. I got changed out of my cycling gear, refueled, and headed back over there on foot. I wanted to be sure to get a good vantage point for a picture, something I was sure I could do on foot, but wasn't sure I could do with my bicycle in tow.

So here it is, the previously undocumented in this bicycle blog harvest stage of the cycle of corn life.When the machinery makes corners it is impossible to not knock some corn down. This corn isn't available for harvest by mechanical means. The geese will come and clean up the field but I beat then to the punch a bit by gleaning this ear off a downed stalk in the area where the corn was tallest and healthiest looking. This is what the whole deal is all about.By the time I walked back home (total walking distance about 1 mile counting walk over 3/8, some milling about in the field and walk back) the temperature had risen to 54 and the sun was mostly out.

Now, 54. I could really, really easily ride in 54. I am a little uncertain about this whole 48 thing though. Of course, it is still September, there is more to come.

A nice enough day for a ride.

A fan video

There won't be any bicycle ride here today. It is cold and tres windy.

This gives me even more time than usual to root around on the internet and today I found on the French language site PresseOcean.fr a fan video of the FC Nantes goal. Here it is:

As reported by PresseOcean:

"Huit secondes pour l'éternité

Deux passes, une frappe, une bévue et un but, le tout en 8 secondes. Et voilà Mareval entré dans la légende."

Eight seconds for eternity.
Two passes, one kick, one mistake and one goal, all in 8 seconds. And voila, Mareval goes down in history.

Here is a link to the more mainstream video taken from the television broadcast of the game. Incredible indeed.

AFTERNOON EDIT: What do you know about that? A copyright claim of all things. Well, personally I support free enterprise and if the person who took that video is trying to reap financial benefit from copyright and sale of rights to the video I support him (when and if you see the video you will agree that it is probably a "he", and quite possibly a fairly drunken "he" at that). TOPWLH and I have seen the video, it is way more fun than the TV view. I will continue to scour the net to try to make a view of this goal available here.

Since I am already making an edit, here is a bit more. There won't be any bicycle ride here today because of the big wind. Here is what we have in our yard so far, a medium size branch down off the cottonwood tree.We're having some fun now, eh?

That was hard

It was pretty nice this morning so the Guest Rider and I set out just after 10am for a 3 hour tour (as is often the case, I recommend right click and open in new window to have the theme music play in the background while you continue to read on here). The wind was strong from the west. We took a couple of loops, first in the neighborhood, and then again at the Fairgrounds to determine whether the wind was more southwest or northwest and eventually agreed that it was southwest. That meant that today's ride went down the intercampus transitway again. We turned off just before the stadium and cut over on 27th Avenue SE for the river crossing at Franklin. I wanted to keep heading west so after getting off Franklin into Minneapolis' Seward neighborhood we roughly paralleled that Midway Greenway bicycle path and headed on towards the west into the heart of south Minneapolis.

I wanted to visit the Freewheel Bicycle retail establishment on the Greenway at some time when I had a companion. I wanted a companion so that someone could watch the bicycles while the other person went inside and looked around. So we followed 24th over to Minnehaha and then south on Minnehaha and onto the Greenway to utilize the bridge over Hiawatha. It is about a mile from there along the path until you get to the bike shop.

So we were about 14 miles into the ride when we got to what would be the turnaround for the day at the bike shop. This was a bit beyond the usual distance for a turnaround but it was okay because we had done those loops on the way out. On the way back we would be riding a more direct route and figured to finish with a mileage that would be about the usual for a GRider and Moohoo ride.

It was still pretty nice out when first GRider and then I went in and browsed the store. But when I emerged the weather had changed. It felt like rain.

The wind was strong at our backs and we started to ride hard. Before we even got off the path I was hit full in the face by a big fat raindrop. As I have stated here before I am highly, HIGHLY, motivated by rain. We were a long ways from home. The sky looked bad, the atmosphere felt like rain, we were feeling the occasional raindrop. It looked really, really bad. We started to ride hard.

We rode pretty much full out for about nine miles. It was hard.

It was the most rain I have ridden in this year. But we never rode anyplace where the street was wet. The rain seemed to be holding over Minneapolis and as we worked hard to move ourselves north the rain stayed mostly behind us.

We rode back up the intercampus transitway and as we went over the big, big overpass over the railroad tracks we suddenly rode out from under the clouds into a patch of overhead clear blue sky. There was rain to our backs, rain on both sides, rain ahead of us, blue sky over head.

We made it home without getting wet but we had to ride hard for nine miles. It was hard. GRider reported feeling a bit knackered but to tell the truth she recovered more rapidly than I did. I was better while we were still riding but as evening sets in I am still pretty much over done.

We made it home and even had time to stop for a photo.

GRider has been photographed at this exact spot probably eight or nine times this year.That corn won't be there for long but as long as it is, GRider for scale.

I read an article in Presse Ocean about the FC Nantes unusual goal in yesterday's game with Nimes. The article concludes with the statement that you will probably be able to see the goal everywhere on television. Well, I have scoured the internet today. I have seen the goal but I have yet to see anything that is worth a link so that other people can see it. All you get is a long range view that too late focuses on the keeper as the ball bounces over his head. I will keep looking.

Nicollet Island

We had actual rain yesterday, the first significant rain of the month. I got out for a short walk but honestly probably came up a bit short on that one hour outside every day for a year promise. It was raining.

I am still committed to the idea and intend to get out for an hour on days when it is snowing or when it is cold. But rain? Rain is so . . . wet.

And now the temperatures are threatening to return to normal. Just as we get used to the idea of endless August it appears that October will arrive on schedule. Our overnight low was in the low 50s.

But today was NICE. After a cool start the temperature reached 76 on the thermometer in our front yard at 3:30 as I returned from a nice ride.

I was a little uncertain of wind direction as I started. I knew it was south but southwest or southeast still seemed up for grabs so I took that loop through the Fairgrounds that I have been riding a lot of late, testing the wind in the various directions. It was a fabulous day at the Fairgrounds as there are TWO big events going on over there.

At the northeast corner of the grounds there was some sort of dog show. It was a big enough deal that there was a fair food shack open.

I took this picture of the wind turbine blade that has been pictured here before. I think that the fabulous blue sky behind the blade makes that a good picture without there having to be more content. But that isn't even the real reason why I took the picture.

Nope, that picture is to prove that even as late as today, September 26, it is still possible to purchase sausage on a stick at the Fairgrounds. You might have to zoom in on the photo but you should be able to tell that that stand is open and that there on the white portion of the above the window sign, towards the right appears: "Corn dogs". Sausage on a stick.

At the opposite corner of the grounds there is a big horse show. They have lots of horse shows over there. I ride there a lot, I see it all the time. This one, however, must be one of the largest shows that they have. The parking lots over there are all full of cars and trucks with horse trailers. Here is a trailer preparing to perform its intended task, transporting horses.
Eventually I decided the wind was more southwest than southeast and so I rode a more westerly route, down through the campus. I didn't want to ride the Stone Arch Bridge which is often my choice when headed over there. It was too nice a day, the bridge promised to be overrun by pedestrians.

Instead I detoured down Main Street and eventually crossed the bridge to Nicollet Island. I was absolutely positive that I had never ridden there on my bicycle. After having ridden there today I was struck by the thought that I may never have been there at all. It was a nice scenic ride around the island on the brick street. I have pictured the Grain Belt Beer sign before. Here it is from behind, photo taken from the parking lot of De la Salle High School.I have settled on the Intercampus Transitway as the only route that I am comfortable with for crossing the railroad tracks that I cross using the Dead Man's Curve passage when it is available. I came back from my ride today along that route. At the north end the transitway sort of dumps you onto the Fairgrounds. You could turn right on Como but it just feels more natural to ride to the end of transitway and cut through the Fairgrounds parking lots and circle back inside the Fairgrounds towards a favorable spot for a Snelling Avenue crossing.

I was in the process of doing just that when I spotted a really nice old car from a distance of a couple of blocks. I thought to myself that the car was on the Fairgrounds on the wrong weekend, that that street rod event was at the beginning of the summer. But it was a really nice looking old car so I turned where I had last seen it and tried to catch up. I lost the trail but cutting back through the grounds spotted the car again. The driver seemed to be on a sight seeing tour of the grounds and was driving slowly so I was able to close up a bit. Eventually I was able to draw alongside and confirm that it was a really nice old Oldsmobile 98. I at first guessed to myself 1957 and got ahead of the classic car so that I could turn around with favorable sun direction and get a photo of the car as he passed.The driver slowed to, I thought, allow me to get the picture, a driver proud of his car.

"A '57?", I inquired.

"56", he replied, "Don't I know you?"

"Larrie?", I asked.

So last week I rode through our old neighborhood and talked to Maurice who now lives in Larrie and Kathy's old house. Today I ran into Larrie himself. Larrie confirms that it is a 56 Oldsmobile 98, a beauty, Larrie's deceased father's car, and Larrie had his mother out for a ride in it on a beautiful fall day. Larrie's father was superintendent of the Fair is what I believe he said and he and his mother were out checking out the sights. To make the whole thing even more interesting just about a week ago TOPWLH and I ran into Kathy in the grocery store.

You can leave the old neighborhood but apparently the old neighborhood never leaves you.

This evening in Nantes, FC Nantes improved to four wins in four starts at home with a 2-1 victory over Nimes. Nantes set an all time Ligue 2 record for fastest goal at the start of a game when defender Remi Maréval scored after just 10 seconds of play. Those familiar with football will know that the opening kickoff must travel forward. The usual procedure at the upper levels of the sport is for one player to roll the ball forward for one circumference of the ball after which another player plays the ball back to his teammates to maintain possession. It is one of the set plays used fairly often at that point to have that player send a long kick towards goal while the forwards move in to try to use field position to gain an advantage. Today the ball was played back to Maréval and he launched one towards goal from 60 meters away. The ball somehow eluded the keeper and went into the net.

Nantes again assumes first place in the table based on goal differential over Caen. Just as last week Nantes must await the result of Caen's game to determine if they are truly in first place. Caen, as they did last week, play on Monday night.

Testable hypothesis

I had a guest rider today, the Professor. I assume that riding today was an experiment on her part as she apparently wished to find out whether vigorous exercise prior to teaching her Thursday night class would improve the quality of her instruction.

For my part I felt that she probably had a slight lake deficiency so with very light winds, nearly calm, we headed out for the 8 lakes.

GRider at Lake Vadnais.Lake Vadnais was crowded today. The balmy September weather produced a bumper crop of anglers. I think it might be the largest crowd we have seen there, larger even than the always heavily attended season opener. It was a nice day for fishing, I suppose, but it was a nicer day for cycling.

3,000 miles this bike, this year

As the end of the riding season approaches the recitation of accomplishment of annual goals will become more common. Most of the previous postings I have made related to a total of number of miles ridden concern miles ridden on that bicycle in the time that I have owned it. Today is a significant posting of a mileage accomplishment that is related only to miles ridden this year.

After today's ride I have ridden 3,014 miles on the LOOK this year.

With over a month to go until the end of the season.

It was pretty dreary again this morning but in view of the recent updated ruling on the Dreariness Convention and also in view of the fact that the local weather channels predicted afternoon clearing, I set out shortly after noon to attempt a bicycle ride. By about mile 5 the sun peaked through. After about mile 7 the sun was assuming a dominant position in the sky. After that the sun was shining strongly most of the rest of the time I was riding. Today ended up being a spectacularly nice day, a spectacularly nice ride. I saw a time and temperature clock on Rice Street that reported 80 degrees. I am not sure how that stacks up against officially recorded high temperatures but I think it will suffice to say that today was warm and sunny and beautiful.

I reported back in July on the low water in Snail Lake. It was noticeable again today as, if anything, even lower than it was in July. But the interesting thing today is that I think I know where all of the white birds have gone.Also visible in that picture are a couple of docks which one would normally expect to have been deployed into the lake by the lake shore property owners. Instead the docks are still backed up on the dry land far from the water.

The solution that is being implemented to remedy the low water conditions includes the construction of a new building down along Snail Lake Boulevard near to Sucker Lake. Sucker Lake will be the source of water to keep Snail Lake up to its more recent average water level. If I recall correctly, Sucker Lake is infested with zebra mussels and Snail Lake is not so some filtration system had to be built before water could be allowed to flow from Sucker to Snail. Here is the new construction, the building where that filtration will occur.Fairly obviously the building isn't complete, therefore no filtration is occurring, therefore Snail Lake is still well below recent water levels.

To complete the story here is the point on the shore of Sucker Lake where the water appropriation occurs. I think that is some sort of pressure release apparatus.Also apparent from this photo is what a spectacularly nice day it was at the moment when I was at Sucker Lake. The eight lakes again fulfilled their part of the bicycling bargain by being gloriously scenic. It was a nice ride on a nice day.