I started riding my bike more enthusiastically when most other high schoolers in my rural hometown were making the transition to driving everywhere. An unfortunate event of bike theft in the summer of 2008 left me without my mountain bike, but I was helped by a generous relative who loaned me an early ’90s Trek 1400. That road bike went to college with me in WI and allowed me to explore far beyond this city limits of Beloit. I have been hooked to one degree or another since then.
With more biking has come more bike maintenance and tinkering. I now have a more modern road bike (2013 Salsa Colossal), and have found an interest in building bikes, as exemplified by my frankenbike commuter “Capesize” shown in last image.
All of my favorite rides have been either long, full of hills, or both. The routes I have been happiest to complete include:
- My first century, southern ME, 5800′ elevation, 2010
- Multiple ascents to Bogus Basin outside of Boise, ID, 42 miles, 4500′ elevation, 2012
- Metric century in and around Champlain valley near Burlington, VT, 3500′ elevation, 2015
Smuggs - Century starting and ending in Burlington, VT, making a pass over Smugglers Notch, 6350′ elevation, 2015
- Darn Tough Century starting and ending in Stowe, VT, making two passes over Smugglers Notch, 7725′ elevation, 2015
Most of my bike riding now consists of commuting to and from work in Minneapolis. The miles have dropped off significantly, and so have the temperatures. So far, my coldest commutes have been in -20°F temps.
