Aluminum Winter: Full Tilt Sunset

[SCHWINNRAY69]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Behind the Frozen Falls

Wow! :shock: The frozen falls are amazing!!

 

[kingfish254]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Behind the Frozen Falls

I just showed these to my wife and she was quite impressed!!!

 

[MplsCoaster]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Few more Frozen Falls pics

Thanks PP and Luke! Glad I can provide some virtual relief from your heat wave
Heard that your weather people had to use a new color (black) on the maps
to indicate the unusually high heat levels :shock:
Hopefully it will cool down soon

Glad you enjoyed the pics, Skipton, Kevin, and Nick

Like another planet where bikes rule the frozen tundra following the yellow trail of the huskies warning people to beware of where they go!!!!

Yeah Kingfish, it's exactly like that :lol: :lol:
Glad you and your wife enjoyed the pics

That's funny that you actually saw me Charlie
I remember when my Dad taught me to shoot straw wrappers :lol:

I have a few more pictures from last weeks ride
Just as a warning, it's a kinda hazardous to do this
but since I quit drinking I have to get my kicks a different way :lol:
It's not exactly a city-sanctioned activity
but both FIL and my Step Son have done it
so it's been going on for decades (without a major injury or a lawsuit )

Here is a shot from up on the rim

The curtain of ice was amazing, you could also hear/see water running down it slightly
Which was a bit unnerving...

Had to keep reminding myself not to backup (or get closer) for a better shot :shock: :lol:

Think it would be really cool to see this with full sunshine

Peeking out

Now that I crawled up the icy/snowy rocks
How the heck am I going to get back down? Very carefully :lol:
especially past that sharp rock in the middle, I must have been really funny to see me to slide down

Here's downstream where the shallow creek was open

One more shot as I was taking a break while riding back uphill

Not sure how I can top this ride and not get myself in trouble :lol:
But it is entertaining to get out and explore during the winter months

Thanks for looking
Steve

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Few more Frozen Falls pics

Thanks PP and Luke! Glad I can provide some virtual relief from your heat wave
Heard that your weather people had to use a new color (black) on the maps
to indicate the unusually high heat levels :shock:
Hopefully it will cool down soon

Yep, we had a massive heat wave where temperatures were over 120F for 5 or 6 days running, so they had to add a new colour to get them to show up. As always, I just come to read your posts and I cool down... (AirConditioning probably helps a little too!)

Awesome pictures Steve, those falls are just amazing...

Luke.

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Few more Frozen Falls pics

These latest photos are AMAZING!
Now I know where the color 'ice blue' comes from!

Keep up the inspirational rides dude.

Cheers,
Dr. T

 

[Pushie Pirate]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Few more Frozen Falls pics

Thanks PP and Luke! Glad I can provide some virtual relief from your heat wave
Heard that your weather people had to use a new color (black) on the maps
to indicate the unusually high heat levels :shock:
Hopefully it will cool down soon

Yep, we had a massive heat wave where temperatures were over 120F for 5 or 6 days running, so they had to add a new colour to get them to show up. As always, I just come to read your posts and I cool down... (AirConditioning probably helps a little too!)

Awesome pictures Steve, those falls are just amazing...

Luke.

Love those pics of the frozen waterfall, cool and cooling for us downunder!

Like Luke says super hot Aussie summer this year and it's not over yet!
Just read some interesting stats in our local gossip rag about the temps.....

In January the record equalling number of 31 consecutive days over 40c at a
place called Birdsville.
(that's around 105f in America)

The highest temp in January 49.6 at a place called Moomba
(that's around 121f in America).

Hot or what! So thanks MplsCoaster for your cool/cooling pic's!

 

[Endlesschain]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Few more Frozen Falls pics

great pic's,love the waterfull

 

[MplsCoaster]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Fort Snelling State Park

Thanks Luke and PP!
Looks like you might be finally under 38C (100F), 121F is really hot!

Once I was testing in Death Valley, I put my thermometer in some rocks in the ground
And it went up to 138F (59C), Air temp was 125F and stifling
Lots of problems show up in cars and trucks at that kind of heat
I'll see if I can find some pictures to post

I guess I never thought of "Ice Blue" Dr T, you're so right !

Thanks EndlessChain! Are you getting the summer heat too?

So I got out Saturday and the weather was warmer at 28F but the wind was ~15mph
Got about 3" of more snow since last Saturday
It was really gloomy so even more reason to get outside

Went a little farther down river past the frozen Minnehaha Falls to Fort Snelling State Park
It's mostly a trail for cross country skiers so it's a long trail and not very steep
Met a skier at the top and he liked what I did what I did to my bike

Went down the wrong way and ended up going to the off leash dog park
Back on the right path and it's tough going even down hill
At least I can stand up and pedal in this kinda loose stuff

I just looked over and saw this cool totem pole
Nice to see some color and art in the middle of a monochromatic landscape

Stopped about half way down with the Mississippi River in the background

Nice thing about biking into a State Park, no entrance fee
They had a very nice interpretative center (with a water fountain, great!)

Realized how clogged my BB was when I got on the cleaned off park roads
This one's for you Skipton :lol:

Finally got to the Lake that I haven't seen for about 20 years
Really drab but kinda cool in it's own way
That's the runway for Minneapolis/St Paul Airport in the background
Noticed a lack of flights coming in from the east probably due to their massive Noreaster storm

The deer were pretty tame and this one just kept staring at me

Was trying to get an artsy shot with this bridge but didn't quite turn out
I laid down on the ground for the angle
When i got up, the park ranger was stopped on the road trying to figure out if I was a threat :lol:

Now the long, slow, and hard ~3 mile ride back up
This was the first time I actually got soaking wet with sweat, man it was hard!
I rode about 80% of the way up and walked only when I had to catch my breath
and get my heart back in my chest :lol:

Back on top I was glad to have the wind at my back
This one was inspired (but not as severe) by Randy and Skipton

Had to stop at my favorite mural on the way home for a splash of color
Welcome to my Neighborhood!

Got a nasty storm the next day, usually happens when it so dark grey and winds form the south
Glad I got out and got some fresh air and exercise
Thanks for looking
Steve

 

[Endlesschain]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Fort Snelling State Park

Thanks EndlessChain! Are you getting the summer heat too?

yer it's been real hot,now just coming into autumn so just right for riding

 

[MplsCoaster]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Bitterly Cold Again...

EndlessChain, Sorry to here you got the high heat but glad you're getting into riding season soon
I've been looking forward to more moderate temps because we are mostly past "deep winter"
But we been getting below or close to 0F (-18C) weather

Got out out only once last week after some more snow and least above zero weather
Short ride but got on the ice but the unplowed stuff (felt lazy)
There was a 3-4 year old kid on hockey skates on the rink, He stood up better than I think I ever did :lol:

But then deep cold came again but I had to get out today in the sunshine
The winds were low but the air temp was only 6F (-14C)
I thought it was going to be okay with a WC above 0F but I was wrong
But had to play the "icy road game" as my wife calls it :lol:
This is my alley and part of what I had to look forward to: refrozen ice clumps

The roads were sometimes dry with sand or huge(3") rutted ice grooves sometimes snowy
It was like a guessing game what type of line through it would work with the least slip
Luckily the West River Road Path was very clean with some nice sand just in case

Got some speed going and tried not to stop for too many pics, but this one was worth it

The St Paul side was more tricky and my hands were starting to get kinda cold
But with the tires at 25psi, I could go no-handed a bit and warm them up
Rode back to Mpls over the Lake street bridge and couldn't resist :lol:

The bike path next to traffic was too small with the snow and ice build up
But the walking path was super uneven with track and glare ice
I didn't think I'd slip off the bridge but hitting the concrete or metal posts helped me concentrate

Was glad to be back on the Mpls side and caught up with another rider
She as riding really steady with cyclocross tires, single speed, and black deep vee rims
I was jealous of her having wind-proof boots(but more manly :lol: )
My hands and feet were getting really cold and kinda hurt

My brain must have been frozen too because I had to stop for this one
One of the reasons I like to ride is in the cold is because the oak trees look so cool

Hoping for less sub zero temps but still a good ride
Thanks for Looking
Steve

 

[aka_locojoe]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Bitterly Cold Again...

Guess I missed those behind the falls pics earlier. Cool. S jealous of all the neat places you have to ride.

 

[SCHWINNRAY69]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Bitterly Cold Again...

Always enjoy looking at these pics...thanks!

 

[MplsCoaster]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Riding the River Flats

Thanks Randy, Glad you like the Falls
Maybe if you come back for 2013 Tour De Fat, I can show you around to some of them
We also have to put up with the super cold though too
It was -17F wind chill for 2 straight days last week and it's getting old fast...
Hays and Wichita were on our local news as being the bulls eye of the snow storm
But haven't seen any pics from you or Skipton or other snow riders yet

Thanks Nick! I guess I keep posting them until people get bored or saturated

Finally seeing starting to see the end of the dead of winter
Only got 4" out of the last weeks storm which is an average amount
It's getting into the high 20's and low 30s for the foreseeable future

The snow that fell was powdery and it's one of the first times I didn't have to ride on chunky ice
Lots of puddles and slush on the roads but the path was nice and clear
Decided to go to the river flats on the St Paul side of the Mississippi
You've may have seen my many pics of the river banks below so that's where I was

Started out down a big ramp down there and the snow was trampled but not packed
Let the woman in the picture run up the hill before I headed down
Said "That must have been a tough run up", she said "It looks like a dangerous ride down" :lol:

First hill went well and I actually got some speed down it, the second hill was almost as fun

Riding in the snow was different form other times, I couldn't sit down to get traction (not enough torque)
And leaning back didn't help much so I stood up and got about 20% slip with every pedal :?

Got up all the small hills and headed toward the trail bridge that was built to connect two flats

Not sure why I keep taking shots lining the bike up with a bridge :?

The trail bridge was just cool and only for walkers, runners, and bikers

Found a spot where the water comes off the streets and was frozen and kinda cool
I saw something move up by the graffiti and heard a voice say "Hellooo"
Some kids were crawling around up there and I said "Hello" too :lol:

Continued down the bridge toward the north river flats by the University of Minnesota

Thought I'd check out my old college, saw this new "Wall of Discovery" display
Each panel has the hand drawings/notes of people at the U that discovered something, way cool!
Not sure if it thrills everybody but if you've ever looked back at a sketch of an idea for a bike
and went, that's what I had in mind originally and it turned out

Spent years in the Mechanical Engineering Building, literally sleeping there sometimes, but it was worth it
Realized my first snow biking happened in college, bought a cheap BMX and got 10 minutes more sleep every day
Saw several hundred other snow bikers there and I didn't get any "What the ___?" looks :lol:

Was suppose to go to my graduation ceremony in there but I had already finished up my degree and was working in Detroit

Kinda like the classic lines of the columns and the crudeness of the snow on the them and my rims

They put up this cool "Mechanical Man" sculpture after I had already left

My behind was finally getting cold after soaking it while flying (stupidly) through the puddles on the first 5 minutes of the ride
Headed back and saw this cool ice formation breaking up in the river below

About a 2 hour ride to a few places I've never been and some other really familiar ones. Back at home again

Thanks for Looking
Steve

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Riding the River Flats

Awesome stuff Steve, thanks again for sharing!
Was another stinker here today and high humidity too so cooling down after working on the bike by reading your updates again... :wink:

Luke.

 

[Brisk Eddie]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Riding the River Flats

So really, do you like your bike? :wink:
Because I sure do! Nice clean, simple lines, I guess that's another one to keep a CL lookout for.
Good job on the bike, the ride, and the photography!

 

[MplsCoaster]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Riding the River Flats

Thanks Luke!
High humidity is the killer stuff. Glad I could provide some virtual relief :lol:

I think we are slowly coming out of the dead of winter
Saw snow geese flying north (the first time ever, they're huge :shock: and cool)
Also saw some loons (water fowl, state bird , too far away to photo)
and a large bald eagle diving for fish in the newly open water

Yes Brisk Eddie, I do really like my bike :lol:
Kevin (OneWheelSqueal) has one that got the same frame too
I got lucky and found a 21" frame
Good luck on your search and thanks a lot!

Got to warn you that I've replaced almost every component on the bike
Only the frame, fork, and front wheel are original any more

Heard lots of (even more) grinding noises from the rear hub
The hub has been junk ever since I bought it (Promax) and I limped along with cleaning and regreasing
So I thought I'd try it again, cleaned all the grit off it and bearings and races look smooth after a through cleaning
Put it all back together and it sounded almost as bad, Arghhh!!
Finally swapped out the rear wheel from my other winter beater and it rode so much smoother

I'm glad that the weather is warming up now and we have more hours of daylight
Went for my 8 mile river ride after work and it was awesome to be only dark at the end
The roads and path were mostly just wet and sandy
No pictures, just exercise this time
Tempted to put on the Country Rock tires but with 4" of snow still on the grass, and March just starting, it might be a little early

Thanks for looking

 

[Skipton]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Sings of Spring

[quote=" Mplscoaster]

Kinda like the classic lines of the columns and the crudeness of the snow on the them and my rims

Steve[/quote]

Steve,
Love the above pic the just looks so cool.

The snow sure will pile up an the bottom bracket.

Riding in the snow sure brings out the 10 year old boy in me, hard not to splash
Though the puddles... That's why I put a fender on the Monark this week. (Dry butt keeps you warm)


Here in Chicago we have had small (5inches or less) very wet snows this month or heavy cold rain.
Tuesdays strom was super wet Heavy snow.... Took the 5 mile route home went fine but riding though the slush really tires you out.

All the pictures are great keep them coming.. 50 degrees is just around the corner!

 

[MplsCoaster]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Warm Sun, Blue skies

Riding in the snow sure brings out the 10 year old boy in me, hard not to splash
Though the puddles... That's why I put a fender on the Monark this week. (Dry butt keeps you warm)

Here in Chicago we have had small (5inches or less) very wet snows this month or heavy cold rain.
Tuesdays storm was super wet Heavy snow.... Took the 5 mile route home went fine but riding though the slush really tires you out.

All the pictures are great keep them coming.. 50 degrees is just around the corner!

Thanks Buddy!
You got the shot I was after! Think we take the same style just 400 miles apart :lol:

Agree with you about being a 10 year old! But just can't do the fender :wink:
Checked out your great pics of your snow, cool. Agree about slush tuckering you out
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=62278&start=150
Well 50F might be a while but I see 40F on Thursday
Keep those "Adventures of Skipton" rolling too

Got to see Randy's and CharlieChaindrive's snow pictures too, Both Awesome!
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33231&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=465
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=69762

We finally got some sunshine today! Not bad at 24F and a light wind
They said we had 22 cloudy days out of the 28 in Feb :?
But not today just good winter weather

Decided to check out Diamond Lake today, I've driven by it a few times but never rode there
It's about 3 miles away and because my knees are "under repair" this week, I took the streets
They were clear and mostly dry. I realize that I was dragging that other hub around for too long
The bike coasts so much better and clear streets mean better no handed riding

Rode down to a dock and checked out the lake surface

The sunny north side was already melting and with the rushes, wasn't sure where the water began (or got deep)

So I tried to take a good blue sky pic before I left

Found a kinda walking trail that was like a single track MTB trail

It was fun and technical and went really close to the trees, trampled snow was tricky but pedalable

Stopped to put on my gloves, forgot the trees were that close and skinned my hand :?
Cool trail but not very far, didn't realize that there were houses right on the lake on the west side, Arghhh!
Most of Mpls has paths all around the lakes but I guess not his one

Found one little park(let) on the north side but had to walk the bike to the waters edge
Diamond lake is closer to the MSP airport and the planes were coming in often and low

Headed out of there and towards home, Lake Nokomis was on the way so checked it out
There were some ice fisherman on the lake but not too far out
The snow was too deep and crunchy and stopped the bike when the pedals hit it
This is the type of snow where my MTB could pedal but at a walking pace so...

It's going to be at least 3-4 months before "Riding to the Beach" will have a whole new meaning :lol:

Great to get out in the sunshine even if it's still winter weather
Realized today that I made it the whole winter without having to ride my heavy MTB, the Build worked!

Thanks for looking
Steve

 

[Endlesschain]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Warm Sun, Blue Skies

Now theres a happy man,good on ya bro

 

[aka_locojoe]

Re: Aluminum Winter: Warm Sun, Blue Skies

I find the pic of the lifeguard stand in the snow funny.
Looks like a great ride as always.