Mountain Biking Singletrack & Riding a BMW in the NorthStar Bicycle Festival

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Taking advantage of my Monday off I traveled south of the cities and hit the single track mountain bike trails. I'm still adjusting to the larger tires and these trails are great for working the bike and the legs. As the trail winds through the woods one climbs and drops down into the lowlands. I like the roots and rocks to create a good old singletrack ride.

It took a bit of riding through the woods before I felt smooth around the winding trail. After a good 1.75 hour ride I felt a bit worked but after a nice spin on the streets, the legs felt good.  

 I liked the jumbo mushrooms on the first loop, so I had to stop and do a photo. 

 This is my go-to favorite mountain bike trail. Classic singletrack...

 Riding Motorcycle Support for the "Nature Valley Bicycle Race"

 Riding south towards the town of Cannon Falls with a friend. He on a Ducati mutistrada and me on a BMW 1200 GS. The Ducata is a monster, with 150 horses and the Beemer is no slouch either with 125 horses in the the new liquid cooled.

 Ridin' with the Troopers today. We had 2 troopers at the front of the race and 1 at the rear along with several Sheriffs all through the pack. There were over 100 women racing in the bicycle race, the top Pros from the USA.

 Many big adventure motorcycles on road with the race today.

The start of the Mens road race, moments before the start.

Baseball Adventure

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This was the swing that scored 2 runs with the bases loaded. Grandkid Tyler smacked the ball up the middle and knocked in 2 runs. His team went on to win 4-2. With this win it qualified his team for the state tournament. It was exciting watching him play at this level. He was dancing off 1st base with a big lead.

Minnesota Mountain Bike Race / Bluff Riders Charge

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The start of the mud bath @ 9:00am, with rain all night. Jeff and Owen lined up and headed up the hill into the woods. Jeff raced the marathon and Owen raced the kids comp.

 Owen rocked the course in 35 minutes and a 4th place, he was on his rigid Salsa running a set of knobbied 1.85 tires. He said it was fun and he stayed upright the whole race.

 The young guns slayed the mud course and cleaned up for the awards. 

 Hangn' with the youngster is a good time, wearing a few of my items, hat and vest watching for his dad.

 Jeff coming out of the woods after the rain stopped, the clay, mud was thick. At the beginning of the race with the rain, the trail was in good condition with the wet conditions. Lap times were about 20 minutes, 3rd lap was about 30 minutes and the 4th lap was about 40 minutes. Got a bit thicker and sticker as it dried out. Then with a brief rain shower, the trails improved and the laptimes dropped to about 30 minutes, then once again slowed as the mud thickened. Jeff and Heath were together on the last 2 laps. Heath edged Jeff by about a minute.  

 OK...it was a mudder this day.

 The race tent camp. Nice to have a roof over your head in this weather.

Back Roads...Ride On!!

Off-roading on 2 Wheels / Enduro & Fat Tire

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 A late night logging road ride.

The next day out on the backroads, good to get the Suzuki out in the woods again.

Spring Time in the Valley

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BMW R 1200GS Doing What it Was Built For...Adventure

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Very good day on the Beemer out on a ride in the country along the Minnesota River. Dang it's a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Minnesota Mountain Bike Racing / St. Croix Woolly Mountain Bike Race

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An early season sighting of Jeff Hall in the woods with a number plate zip tied to a mountain bike. It has been several year since Jeff and I have been at a Minnesota Mountain Bike race this early. The plan is to race the Minnesota races and contest some of the major midwest MTB events. The tent came out of storage and we're back on the MTB circuit.        

 Jeff's son Owen and I were the crew today, setting up the camp, handing up water bottles and snapping a few pictures. Owens' riding a Salsa Cycles bike, I've got a Surly Pugsley and Jeff is racing on a Foundry Tomahawk. Representing 3 of QBP's bicycle lines, the fat tire, 26"Salsa and Jeff riding on 27.5" wheels.

 Race conditions were dry, sunny and warm with temps in the 70s. The course was dry and fast with some flat sections out in the wind. Hollywood got the holeshot and led the elite field onto the singletrack. It broke down into a 3 man race at the front.

   Top 3 in the woods, mid-race.

 

 They have a good trail network in St Croix Valley, we were able to ride between sections of the race course. Owen putting the hammer down to keep up with the Pugsley.

 Jeff taking it home for 3rd place finish.

Good to go out for a cool down ride after the race. Good day on the bikes.

Ride On!!