So the race turned into a group ride. It was a perfect Minnesota winter day for a death march. 16 folks showed up, most on cross bikes, a few mountain, 2 Pugs, and Andy Larson of Trash Bags brought the thunder on his winter mess bike with 700X23's geared at 48X16.
All morning I was debating whether or not to ride my cross bike or the Pugsley. The night previous I had been out on both and the skinnier tires were definitely hooking up better, but you figure if you want to play it safe, you roll with the Pug. So I did.
Turned out to be a huge mistake, the skinny tire guys and particularly Andy, fucking killed us. Not even close. They were able to cut through the snow to the hardpack underneath while I was wrestling with a polar bear trying to keep upright. Just spinning though fresh, trying to keep the upper body as still as possible.
The slow nature of the pace didn't matter though cause it was a ton of fun. We ended up only riding to the Cedar Bridge, then crossing the closed ped bridge back to Bloomington. We likely could have pushed the other side to Lucky's but for most of us that particular type of winter tired that overcomes your whole body after you've been sledding all day when you're 10 years old had set in.
first beer stop
the Nature Boy was there
Andy's well used Schwinn Prologue
2nd beer stop
at the old Cedar pedestrian bridge
The winter is a bitch mistress, but adapting and getting out there and having a blast regardless of what the weather does is a very satisfying endeavor.
This is what lends us our unique character.
MPLS. F.T.W.
Fuck The Weather
