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From the American perspective, hard not to be excited about Matteo Jorgensen. Finishes 8th overall in the GC race and shockingly was 4th in the Time Trial today even though he crashed which cost him about 10-15 seconds.

A good future for an American rider! Sean Quinn had a pretty solid tour as well, helping Richard Carapaz to the Polka Dot jersey.
 

I'm currently spending a few days here in Duluth. Weather permitting I'll be getting rides in on the Munger trail and the Gitchi Gami section between Beaver Bay and Gooseberry Falls. I highly recommend the latter if you're interested in some great views as part of your ride.

Earlier this week I got a ride in on the Heart of the Lakes trail that runs between Perham and Maplewood State Park. The trail is in great shape and as the name implies runs you through a number of those nice Lakes out there. I also like the fact that it isn't straight and flat. I know the plan is to ultimately hook it up to the Central Lakes trail so a person could get a lot of miles in that way
 
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Even with some of the big names not racing (Pogacar, Vingegaard, Remco), it's been a fairly entertaining Vuelta.

Shitty day today, with Wout van Aert crashing and having to abandon while leading both the Green and Polka Dot jersey competitions. He was on his way to hammering everyone in the Green jersey competition.

I expect Primos Roglic to finally catch Ben O'Connor in the next couple stages and also to put in a great TT effort on the final stage to win the Red jersey.
 

It may not have the big names but this Vuelta is turning out to be a pretty exciting race, wrapping up in the next 3 days; 2 mountain stages and a Time Trial on Sunday to close things out.

The podium couldn't be more wide open; I still like Roglic's chances but Enric Mas and Richard Carapaz aren't going to let him have it easily and who knows, maybe Ben O'Connor can find a time to hang on to the red jersey but I really doubt it.
 


The weather has been fantastic for riding the past few days. Embarrassed to say that in spite of living relatively close to the Luce Line, have never been on it. (Figure a comment like this will force me to ride it.)
 

fan of Ray Williams said:
The weather has been fantastic for riding the past few days. Embarrassed to say that in spite of living relatively close to the Luce Line, have never been on it. (Figure a comment like this will force me to ride it.)
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I ran my premarathon 20 miles on there. All railroad grade except that odd asphalt 30 foot twist and rise.
 

fan of Ray Williams said:
The weather has been fantastic for riding the past few days. Embarrassed to say that in spite of living relatively close to the Luce Line, have never been on it. (Figure a comment like this will force me to ride it.)
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I have done a couple 15 mile rides the past two days. I live on the bluffs above the River and ride down to the trails along the River where I can ride for miles in either direction without riding the streets. Of course what goes down must come up so the interval training has been great.
 

Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
It may not have the big names but this Vuelta is turning out to be a pretty exciting race, wrapping up in the next 3 days; 2 mountain stages and a Time Trial on Sunday to close things out.

The podium couldn't be more wide open; I still like Roglic's chances but Enric Mas and Richard Carapaz aren't going to let him have it easily and who knows, maybe Ben O'Connor can find a time to hang on to the red jersey but I really doubt it.
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I was too busy to watch la Vuelta de España when it was going on. I still have the last 3 days to watch so I don't know if Roglic came back. I highly doubt O'Connor hung on.
These tour riders have to be some of the best athletes in the world when it comes to leg strength and VO2 max lung capacity. Riding up grades averaging 10-15% for miles is just insane. The highest grade I have to climb is about 12% and it's only for about 100 yards. Even then I am gassed, at the top.
 




Yesterday was pretty windy riding, but the temps didn't seem too bad. Today however was a different story. Like a damp cold. Guess a person needs to get climatized. Do have a new saddle coming in the mail that will be here shortly. A Brooks knockoff.
 


fan of Ray Williams said:
Today it was so nice riding that wearing a long sleeve shirt seemed over dressed. Unreal.
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Got a nice ride in along the river and Victory Memorial Parkway. I had the week off so I wish I would have got some other rides in but I overdid it pheasant hunting. I felt a hundred years old on Wednesday
 



fan of Ray Williams said:
Today it was so nice riding that wearing a long sleeve shirt seemed over dressed. Unreal.
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Snuck in a very easy e-bike ride yesterday, still recovering from this stupid broken ankle. Big ortho appt later this week, hoping for good news. It's time to start ramping up the miles to get the legs back in shape, I'm looking at a fairly decent schedule of events for 2025.
 

Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
Snuck in a very easy e-bike ride yesterday, still recovering from this stupid broken ankle. Big ortho appt later this week, hoping for good news. It's time to start ramping up the miles to get the legs back in shape, I'm looking at a fairly decent schedule of events for 2025.
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Injuries always make things difficult, but an ankle injury would be very rough. Hopefully the prognostication favors a quick return to full health.
 

fan of Ray Williams said:
Injuries always make things difficult, but an ankle injury would be very rough. Hopefully the prognostication favors a quick return to full health.
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This week is SIX months since the break, so definitely not a quick return to health. Doesn't bother me at all, and they said bike riding is "okay" (although they probably don't know what I mean by bike riding!), but I want it to heal. Frustrating as hell. The X-rays at 12 weeks and 18 weeks barely looked different to me, but I'm no doctor. Not a load-bearing bone, but clearly the movement is preventing it from healing very fast. And I haven't hardly been doing shit either, a lot of laying around the house. WTF...
 

FinnGopher said:
I live on the bluffs above the River and ride down to the trails along the River where I can ride for miles in either direction without riding the streets.
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Used to roller blade those, great trails, the scenery gets better as the leaves fall.
 

Did not go out yesterday, just too nasty. Today was actually ok. No ice, no wind. Not bad.
 

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