bicycling

For me one of the best parts of a vigorous bike ride is the anticipation of a well-earned meal at its completion. I often reward myself with high calorie fare like a fried egg sandwich with mustard, mayo, and pickles. Mini pizzas on Greek pita, usually folded in half for a makeshift calzone, is another favorite. Or possibly a stop at my favorite greasy spoon diner, Al’s Breakfast. Often my sole motivation for a late-night ride is knowing that I’m going to want that 2am meal when I get back, so I might as well earn it.

By the time you read this, our two-week run of glorious Indian summer will have passed. While it was here, I acted like a true Minnesotan (I'm a transplant), and got outside while the getting was good. I'm a newbie to bicycling, and my younger son just started kindergarten, so I grabbed the opportunity to take longer rides and try some new things. The long stretch of good weather is probably gone for a while, but many of the lessons I learned and places I visited can be appreciated year round.