Nostr notes by Marty Cormack

While cool and a tad windy, there was some sun, so I got my road ...

2026-09-22T17:25:47Z

While cool and a tad windy, there was some sun, so I got my road bike out and did the Stewartville Loop road ride for 34 miles. My stamina is returning after my illness and I was able to keep up a pretty good pace. I should be able to play hockey on Thursday. There was a partial road closure so the traffic was way down on the return route, so that was nice.
#BikeTooter

#BikeNite I totally agree. I gave up mountain biking a few years ...

2026-09-19T14:45:23Z

In reply to nevent1q…lvu5
_________________________

#BikeNite
I totally agree. I gave up mountain biking a few years ago because I really do not want to break a pelvis or femur in a "routine" fall. I mostly now ride on paved or well packed crushed rock trails, and also on familiar, low volume roads.

I cycled last week in Alsace, on the opposite side of France, and ...

2026-09-19T08:29:40Z

In reply to nevent1q…p60j
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I cycled last week in Alsace, on the opposite side of France, and they too had a plethora of stone crucifixes. A guide had suggested that the appearance of skulls on the crucifix may have indicated the presence of plague in that locale.

With morning thundershowers and a Park Board meeting in the ...

2026-08-04T18:20:05Z

With morning thundershowers and a Park Board meeting in the afternoon, my riding options were limited. After the rain ended and with the wind coming from the Northwest, my decision where to ride was simplified. So I rode the #RochMN city trails and the Douglas State Trail 18 miles out, and then 18 miles back with a few miles on Olmsted County 3 parallel the trail. It was cool, about 68F (20C) and partly cloudy. There were far more walkers and joggers than cyclists today.
#BikeTooter

After yesterday's long ride, I took it a little easier today ...

2026-07-25T18:34:05Z

After yesterday's long ride, I took it a little easier today and rode city trails and some county roads for 30 miles. Before the ride, I installed new Schwalbe Marathon Efficiency tires on my gravel bike, so the ride was in part to ensure they were fully ready to go. This afternoon I will finish packing for my MS Ride Across Minnesota 5 day 275 mile fundraising ride up North, staying in the cities of Menahga, Park Rapids, Wadena and Pequot Lakes. We start riding Monday morning.
#BikeTooter

#AISlop When widespread distaste for AI Data Centers enters ...

2026-06-16T12:54:05Z

#AISlop
When widespread distaste for AI Data Centers enters popular culture:

To my European friends and followers: I have a trip planned in ...

2026-05-30T22:29:28Z

To my European friends and followers:
I have a trip planned in September. As part of that plan, I have an extra day in Basel Switzerland and an extra day in Strasbourg France a week later. Assuming intercity rail service to/from those two cities, what are suggestions for other cities easily and readily reachable by rail from those two cities should I consider for a day trip? I've been to Paris already. I've never been to Germany and have German ancestry.

Today I traveled to Durand Wisconsin to ride the Chippewa River ...

2026-05-10T21:34:00Z

Today I traveled to Durand Wisconsin to ride the Chippewa River State Trail and the Red Cedar State Trail to Menomonie and back for 43 miles. The Red Cedar Trail is very scenic and has well packed crushed limestone, so was a pleasant ride. It follows the Red Cedar River from Menomonie to near where it flows into the Chippewa River. Some of my favorite rail trails follow rivers like this one. There was a brewery open in Menomonie just off the trail, so that was an added treat.
#BikeTooter

#30DaysOfBiking Day 13: I took advantage of a beautiful morning ...

2026-04-13T19:59:37Z

#30DaysOfBiking Day 13:
I took advantage of a beautiful morning and left early to ride the Flyway Trail out of Winona MN across the Mississippi River to the Great River State Trail in Wisconsin and back for 41 miles. I saw many Painted Turtles, a Common Garter Snake, a couple Tundra Swans, several Sandhill Cranes and American White Pelicans, a Bald Eagle and a large flock of American Coots. I also saw my first ephemeral wild flowers of the season, Dutchman's Breeches.
#BikeTooter

There is one very useful advantage of waking up to another ...

2026-01-26T12:09:11Z

There is one very useful advantage of waking up to another morning of subzero F weather. It is currently -12F (-24C) here in Rochester Minnesota. I have a deep freeze as we buy some food items in bulk to save money. But it is not frost free and needs to be defrosted at least annually for cleanliness and efficiency. At these temperatures, you can simply box up the contents and place the boxes on the back deck. Unplug and open the freezer and by lunchtime I should be able to clean and dry it.

I'd ride my ebike without the Garmin. It does record mileage, ...

2026-01-17T01:01:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…6qhv
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I'd ride my ebike without the Garmin. It does record mileage, just not location. I'd also leave my phone off, and bring my offline GoPro to record the oppressive activity.
#bikenite

#BikeNite A5: If called on to monitor ICE activity here, I'd ...

2026-01-17T00:39:20Z

In reply to nevent1q…3k3q
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#BikeNite A5:
If called on to monitor ICE activity here, I'd ride my bike there. A bike is more nimble and less likely to be blocked by ICE vehicles. You can quickly become a pedestrian and disappear into the crowd.

I was on a mission today to find the migrating Tundra 🦢 Swans ...

2025-11-19T22:19:35Z

I was on a mission today to find the migrating Tundra 🦢 Swans on the Mississippi River. But since I was heading that way I brought my gravel bike and rode the Great River State Trail through the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge. I spotted about 3 dozen off the observation deck there. After the ride I drove down to Brownsville where there were several hundred. There were lots of ducks, I identified Mallard and Pintail. And I saw a Trumpeter Swan too.
#BikeTooter

You still wear gloves even with the Bar Mitts. In the coldest ...

2025-10-23T21:21:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…hfcc
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You still wear gloves even with the Bar Mitts. In the coldest weather, like zero Fahrenheit, I wear battery powered heated gloves even with the Bar Mitts. Anything to keep your hands warm enough to work the shifters and brakes.

Pogies or handlebar mittens. A must for the coldest riding ...

2025-10-23T21:15:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…rt7g
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Pogies or handlebar mittens. A must for the coldest riding weather.

https://barmitts.com/

#BikeStreak Day 206: Colder still, but with less wind, I rode my ...

2025-10-23T18:25:24Z

#BikeStreak Day 206:
Colder still, but with less wind, I rode my ebike to have coffee with my hockey buddies for 12 miles. We were discussing the start of our over-50 hockey group as we are approaching the 20th anniversary come January. That means all the charter members (myself included) with be over 70 then. The oldest current player is 84.

Yesterday I unpacked all my winter cycling gear. But it's still too early to install the Bar Mitts (pogies).
#BikeTooter

There has to be a special corner in hell reserved for people who ...

2025-10-17T14:06:20Z

There has to be a special corner in hell reserved for people who break glass bottles on heavily used multiuse paths and bike trails.

Times like this morning I wish I carried a whisk broom and dust pan on my bike so I could easily clean up the mess of glass shards I very nearly ran over.

#BikeTooter

#BikeStreak Day 183: I've found a trail that moves into my ...

2025-10-01T01:49:12Z

#BikeStreak Day 183:
I've found a trail that moves into my top 3: the Pine Creek Rail Trail in Pennsylvania. I rode it from Darling Run to Blackwell and back for 33 miles. This crushed rock trail goes through a gorgeous canyon and today was another awesome Autumn day to ride. It was one of the most scenic rides of my life. All the other trail users were friendly, how could you not be in such a beautiful place on a beautiful day?
#BikeTooter

Holy buckets! If you don't want to pay the cost to avoid the ...

2025-08-28T22:06:57Z

Holy buckets! If you don't want to pay the cost to avoid the #ClimateCrisis then think again! You are already paying the much higher cost of society DOING NOTHING!

I just got the renewal notice on my homeowners insurance and it is increasing by 35% year to year! And I live in a townhome and only have to insure from the studs in, and it is A LOT more than what I used to pay for my much larger single family home.

It won't be long until homeowners insurance is no longer affordable/available.

So yesterday I was supposed to tent camp at Itasca State Park. ...

2025-08-13T21:49:23Z

So yesterday I was supposed to tent camp at Itasca State Park. While trying to get the tent up, I got swarmed by #mosquitoes , the worst ever in my many years of camping. I even used bug spray. It was absolutely miserable. Before I even got to the rain fly, I punted and quickly threw everything back in the car and bailed. I found a room in town instead.

There's a reason I prefer autumn camping: no mosquitoes!

#BikeStreak Day 128: Today I rode the Cannon Valley Trail and the ...

2025-08-06T19:04:16Z

#BikeStreak Day 128:
Today I rode the Cannon Valley Trail and the Mill Towns State Trail from Red Wing to Lake Byllesby and back for 47 miles
It wasn't hot nor windy so it made for a pleasant ride. Most of the other riders I encountered were also retirees. The campground at Lake Byllesby was only half filled, but almost all RV's. I see fewer and fewer tent campers these days. I'm going to try to tent camp next week.
#BikeTooter

I concur with the initial suggestions. Almost every time I get ...

2025-08-02T19:58:20Z

In reply to nevent1q…a4cg
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I concur with the initial suggestions. Almost every time I get cramps when riding, I didn't hydrate enough for the conditions. A bottle of Gatorade usually resolves the issue.

#BikeStreak Day 124: Still an air quality alert, but better ...

2025-08-02T19:46:05Z

#BikeStreak Day 124:
Still an air quality alert, but better numbers Southeast, so I set out early to ride the Root River State Trail. I went too soon and dealt with fog and mist on my glasses. By the time I got to Houston both cleared up. There was major tree damage near Rushford from Monday night's storm. The DNR used heavy equipment to push trees off the trail. I had lunch at the pie shop in Whalen; there was quite a line to get in. I rode 53 miles total.
#BikeTooter

So, 16 years ago my oldest brother was diagnosed with prostate ...

2025-05-22T11:41:11Z

In reply to nevent1q…ddka
_________________________

So, 16 years ago my oldest brother was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent a prostatectomy. I had never been checked. I was 53. Because of that, I had a PSA. It was elevated. I had a biopsy. Gleason 6. Mayo Clinic urologist recommended a prostatectomy. It was successful, no problems other than the expected. Meanwhile my best friend had undiagnosed metastatic Prostate cancer. He lived long enough to see his daughter married. I miss him. I sometimes feel survivors guilt.

#frogs I have an app on my phone called Merlin from the Cornell ...

2025-05-07T22:03:43Z

#frogs
I have an app on my phone called Merlin from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that does a great job identifying #birds automatically through the phone's microphone in real time.
I wish there was a similar app for frog calls. This spring I've heard three different frog calls. One is unequivocally the Western Chorus Frog. But the other two I'm not as positive. I've recorded the calls and compared to ones I've found online. My best guess is one is the Western Toad & the other the Wood Frog.

#30DaysOfBiking Day 22: Due to schedule, I got out at dawn to get ...

2025-04-22T11:52:46Z

#30DaysOfBiking Day 22:
Due to schedule, I got out at dawn to get a quick ride in. It had rained earlier, so a bike with fenders was in order. It is still cloudy, cool and windy. A lot of people walk their dogs just before sunrise, so caution on the trails was needed. I rode the West section of the new Chester Woods Trail and the whole ride was 11 miles.
#BikeTooter

#30DaysOfBiking Day 17: A very busy and social morning on the ...

2025-04-17T18:46:39Z

#30DaysOfBiking Day 17: A very busy and social morning on the bicycle. First I rode early to a restaurant to meet retired work colleagues, from when I worked in corporate America, for breakfast. Then I rode to a local coffee shop to meet up with 10 other riders as I led a social, easy pace, group ride. Afterwards we had refreshments at the coffee shop. Then I rode to a bakery to pick up an order of Hot Cross Buns, before arriving home almost six hours from the start, 27 miles total.
#BikeTooter

#30DaysOfBiking Day 16: Finally the weather and schedule ...

2025-04-16T20:30:04Z

#30DaysOfBiking Day 16:
Finally the weather and schedule cooperated for an adventure ride. So I hauled my #bicycle up to Cannon Falls and rode the Cannon Valley Trail from there to Red Wing and back for 41 miles. A fee based trail, it is very well maintained and there was almost no debris at all on the trail. It is also gorgeous, parts bluffside along the Cannon River, which with bare trees and shrubs, was a lot more visible from the trail. I did see one wildflower species in bloom.
#BikeTooter

#BikeStreak Day 34: Is our snow drought coming to an end? Last ...

2025-02-06T19:23:58Z

#BikeStreak Day 34:
Is our snow drought coming to an end? Last night we had some freezing drizzle and then a half inch of snow on top of that. So for my ride to coffee with my hockey team, riding the fat bike with studded tires was appropriate for a 12 mile round trip. While not terribly cold (20F, -7C), the wind started picking up and was quite strong on the ride home. It is even stronger now with a near constant roar through the evergreen trees behind our home.
#BikeTooter

It is unseasonably warm (45F, 7C) but very windy, with 20 mph ...

2025-01-28T19:39:46Z

It is unseasonably warm (45F, 7C) but very windy, with 20 mph winds gusting to over 30 mph. That is not conducive to a solo road ride, so instead I took my #ebike out and ran a couple errands for 18 miles. First I delivered to the downtown art gallery my wife's smartphone which she forgot when she set out for her volunteer shift this morning. Then I added the trailer and went to Fleet Farm to get some wild bird feed as our backyard feeders are near empty.
#BikeTooter
#BikeStreak day 25.

This AM the Siberian blast here bottomed the thermometer out at ...

2025-01-21T21:48:51Z

This AM the Siberian blast here bottomed the thermometer out at -20F (-29C) with windchills South of -30F (-34C) so school was cancelled. But the winds shifted to the Southwest and by early afternoon it was a balmy +2F (-17C) so I went for a slightly longer ride on my #ebike around Soldiers Field Park for 11 miles. With the stiff winds and low temps, it was still pretty bitter out there. But there was more life, I saw another cyclist on the trail and one person was at the dog park.
#BikeTooter

It's a January thaw! Today it got above freezing for the ...

2025-01-16T21:12:13Z

It's a January thaw! Today it got above freezing for the first time this year. So I took my #ebike out for a ride of the #RochMN city trails for 16 miles. I would have gone farther, but I'm saving my legs for skating tonight. This morning a heavy frost accumulated on most of the paved surfaces; by afternoon when I rode, it could still be found in the shadiest areas, and was almost gone by the time I got home. Tomorrow will be warm before we dive into a Siberian air deep freeze.
#BikeTooter

Today was looking like the optimal weather to skate outdoors, ...

2025-01-11T19:39:34Z

Today was looking like the optimal weather to skate outdoors, currently 27F (-3C), bright overcast, light wind, having been below freezing for over a week. So I put my skates, mitts, stick and a puck into my Burley Nomad trailer and rode my #ebike to Soldiers Field where there are two rinks and a large skating oval. I skated on the larger hockey rink and shot pucks at the net for a bit. There were a couple parents skating with their kids, but I had part of the rink to myself.
#BikeTooter

#BikeNite A1a: I think the most telling fact of how badly ...

2025-01-11T16:04:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…w8rt
_________________________

#BikeNite A1a:
I think the most telling fact of how badly "we" are doing is the "carbon footprint" measure. For a couple decades I was being a good citizen and doing my best to lower my family's footprint. When I recently learned that the concept of a personal carbon footprint was in fact a cynical oil industry ploy to shift climate responsibility away from them and onto the individual, I've never felt more duped and betrayed in my life. We need to shift responsibility back to them.

#bikenite A1: I'm posting from home in Rochester Minnesota ...

2025-01-11T00:11:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…fgz8
_________________________

#bikenite A1:
I'm posting from home in Rochester Minnesota while eating home made pizza.
We're doing a lot good at local government and individual levels. Unfortunately until large national governments step up sufficiently and we break the back of large oil companies, our efforts are not going to be nearly enough.

Late this afternoon I had a park board meeting, so I rode my ...

2025-01-08T02:05:49Z

Late this afternoon I had a park board meeting, so I rode my #ebike to the government center and back for 9 miles. It was clear and cold, 21F, but the winds were light. We approved a proposal for a new pump track, jump area and skills area for local mountain bicyclists at the regional park that currently has the best mountain bike trails in the area. It is the hope that the added amenities will make it a destination.
#BikeTooter

My patient's recovery is going to plan, so I snuck out for a ...

2025-01-05T21:48:05Z

My patient's recovery is going to plan, so I snuck out for a quick #bicycle ride to downtown #RochMN and back via Soldiers Field in 13F partly sunny weather. Our snow drought continues, so no need for studded tires, I rode my #ebike for 10 miles. There were quite a number of skaters on the oval at Soldiers Field and I heard the familiar smack of hockey pucks against the boards at the hockey rinks. Maybe I'll get a chance to skate outside later this week.
#BikeTooter

I'm going to be in a caregiver and chauffeur role for the ...

2025-01-04T22:13:53Z

I'm going to be in a caregiver and chauffeur role for the next few weeks, so my rides will need to stay short. I needed to pick up medicine for the home patient, so I took my #ebike out for a quick spin of 6.2 miles round trip to the closest grocery store. After what seemed like a month of clouds, we had clear blue skies and sunshine, but it was 8F (-13C). The little bit of wind from the Northwest was pretty biting as I headed that way to the store.
#BikeTooter

Actually 5. Mastodon only allows 4 photos in a post. Here's ...

2025-01-01T21:27:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…hqww
_________________________

Actually 5. Mastodon only allows 4 photos in a post. Here's the 5th.

Being the total Math/IT nerd that I am, I've been recording ...

2025-01-01T20:54:35Z

Being the total Math/IT nerd that I am, I've been recording EVERY bike ride I have taken since 2003 in a spreadsheet. Now for 2025, I created a new sheet for the year. But to make sure my cells have all correctly been transcribed and updated in the new sheet, it was easiest to take a ride today on ALL of my bikes. So I rode each from home to where the Bear Creek Trail crosses the 44th Parallel and back, each about 4.1 miles for a total of 20.5 miles.
Happy New Year!
#BikeTooter

After a week of gloomy weather, the rain ended early and it was ...

2024-12-28T19:36:00Z

After a week of gloomy weather, the rain ended early and it was still above freezing (38F 3C) so I took my gravel bike out for a trail and road ride for 30 miles. The sun finally started to peek out on the ride, and it is now completely clear as I write this. I rode the Zumbro River South Trail and a loop of Olmsted County Roads. The traffic was really light. With the rain and warm temps overnight, most of the snowpack is gone; what remains was either drifted or plowed into piles.
#BikeTooter

On Tuesday we visited #chicago_msi the Museum of Science and ...

2024-12-27T18:45:38Z

On Tuesday we visited #chicago_msi the Museum of Science and Industry, my favorite museum as a child. They had an exhibit, the #BlueParadox which described graphically the plastic pollution in our waters and oceans. It was very disturbing. It also presented the issue of #microplastics pollution. I was aware that about 25% comes from motor vehicle tires. I did not realize that more than 30% comes from laundry processes. I am now thinking of getting a laundry wastewater filter. Any suggestions?

She says she won't be back for 12 weeks. They won't be ...

2024-12-17T01:34:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…9k94
_________________________

She says she won't be back for 12 weeks. They won't be checking her work for a while. She then says that she doesn't care, and was going to approve the request. We got the new wheelchair the next week. I could only conclude that the insurance company was deliberately delaying things in hopes I would give up. So the recent focus on insurance denials is nothing new in my mind. I've been a non-corporate single payer system ever since.
3/3

After several months waiting for approval, our child was now ...

2024-12-17T01:29:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…k3jn
_________________________

After several months waiting for approval, our child was now practically falling out of his wheelchair, it was so small for him then. We were getting desperate. I kept calling. Still waiting on approval. One time I happened to call at 4pm on a Friday. The conversation was going as usual. I was practically begging the woman at the insurance company to approve it. She abruptly stopped, changed her tone and confessed that this was the last hour of her last day before maternity leave. 2/x

I've understood how USA #healthinsurance has "worked" ...

2024-12-17T01:23:54Z

I've understood how USA #healthinsurance has "worked" for quite a long time. About 27 years ago, I was working for a prominent US corporation with a "really good" healthcare plan. We were raising a child with a severe disability, using a power wheelchair. As he grew, he was outgrowing his existing chair and a bigger one was duly prescribed. All the required paperwork was submitted and we waited for final approval. I would call weekly checking on the status. 1/x

Re: #polio vaccine: My mother had two childhood friends that ...

2024-12-13T16:01:42Z

Re: #polio vaccine:

My mother had two childhood friends that ended up severely disabled after contracting polio.

When the vaccine became generally available around the time I was born, my mother could not get to the doctor's office fast enough to have my older siblings vaccinated.

Why anyone would propose going back to the bad old days is totally beyond reason and comprehension. It is also unconscionable.

When I saw this, I immediately thought of the Moody Blues Seventh ...

2024-11-14T18:25:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…qvsz
_________________________

When I saw this, I immediately thought of the Moody Blues Seventh Sojourn album art.

Today was a warm late summer day and was a nice day for the first ...

2024-09-15T21:03:47Z

Today was a warm late summer day and was a nice day for the first ever #BikeMN Twin Cities Bike Tour, through Saint Paul and Minneapolis for 49 miles. It was a really nice route, most of the segments I have ridden before except for Wheelock Parkway and the Dinkytown Greenway. I ran into several of my #bicycle friends from #RochMN and visited with some at the rest stops. I would say it was a great success and I hope to ride it next year.
#BikeTooter

Today was a gorgeous day for riding, so I'm in Northern ...

2024-08-13T22:33:53Z

Today was a gorgeous day for riding, so I'm in Northern Minnesota riding the Willard Munger State Trail from Burnam to Jay Cooke State Park and back for 50 miles. The highlight was the bridge over the St Louis River in the park. I rode part of this trail in June with the MS 150 and wanted to ride more of it. It had been 2 decades since I last rode it.
#BikeTooter

#BikeStreak Day 32: I'm pulling grandpa duty today. But we ...

2024-08-04T17:14:56Z

#BikeStreak Day 32:
I'm pulling grandpa duty today. But we needed cereal and milk for the little one so I pulled out the Burley kid trailer, took my #ebike and off to the grocery store we went (6 mile round trip). While it would be nice if a grocery store was closer, at least we get to ride through the woods along Bear Creek.