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 Ride Stats
Distance: 20.73 miles Route: Long Prairie & Stone Bridge Trail Time: 02:24:31
Avg Speed: 8.61 mph Max Speed: 0.00 mph Avg HR: 0 bpm
Max HR: 0 bpm Calories Burned: 0 Weight: 187
Altitude Gain: 0 ft Terrain: Off: Flat Bike: Cannondale Super V 1.000  XC Susp SS
Club: Ice Bike
Weather Conditions: Cloudy. NE wind 5-10 mph. 34°.
Ride Description: From Roland Olson Forest Preserve Parking lot. I went about 6 miles east on the LPT, then back to McCurry Rd. the other way. I saw 3 dog walkers, 2 hikers and 1 snowmobile today. Conditions were almost perfect.
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 Thank You Snowmobiles!
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Last weeks 10 to 12 inches of snow was heavy and wet. I was hoping snowmobile traffic on the Long Prairie and Stone Bridge Trail would pack the snow into an icy haven of traction for my Nokian studs.
And they did. Conditions were almost perfect. The Stone Bridge Trail was a little icier than the Long Prairie Trail. It was not as icy as I'd like, and the hard pack snow did offer a little resistance, but not too much. The heavy snow did bring down quite a few branches an sticks on the trail, but it looked like the snowmobilers removed what they could from the trail.

With the temperature at 34°, I was a little worried the snow would be a little soft, but the only place it was too soft to ride was next to the big grain silo at Caledonia. (Top photo)

Snowmobiles are not allowed on the Long Prairie Trail, (So the kiosk says) but I don't think it's enforced. I don't mind, they groomed trail perfectly for me.
The Stone Bridge Trail sign is a little confusing, snowmobiles are allowed, but the post also has a "No Motor Vehicles" sign on it.

I saw 3 dog walkers, 2 hikers and 1 snowmobile. That's the first time I've ever seen a snowmobile on the Stone Bridge Trail.
There was even a farmer harvesting his corn! (Photo #2)

Since I put the new spring in the chain tensioner, it has been super quiet.

When I got to Roscoe, I was going to get a picture of the sign proclaiming, "Hometown of Danica Patrick, 2005 Indy Racing League Rookie of the Year", but it was gone. I wonder if they might take it down in the Winter, so it doesn't get knocked down by a snow plow.

It was 34°, so staying warm wasn't a problem, But, I was losing light, or I could have gotten in a quarter. (25 mile ride)

Photos...
#1... Grain processing in Caledonia.

#2... A late corn harvest.

#3... Tractor crossing.

#4... The kiosk at the west end of the Long Prairie Trail at McMichael Rd.

#5... Whoever thought of the "Shared Trail" sign with the XC skier and the snowmobile, has never cross-country skied a day in their life.

#6... The Roscoe, IL water tower.


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