About Robert Hanson
My bicycle is a 2022 "hybrid fitness class" KHS Vitamin C. The 50/34T crank set and 9-speed 11-36T Shimano CS-HG200-9 is loads of fun, primarily due to the huge ranges on both ends.
Some of my favorite rides have included a ride along a short section of the Camino de Santiago (Basque Country, Spain) from San Sebastian to Irún and a ride along the coast of the Bay of Biscay from Plenzia to Bermeo and several rides around Bilbao (all in Basque country) some nice day rides near Basel, Geneva, and Lausanne (Switzerland), Cambridge (UK) Montevideo (Uruguay) and a more challenging than expected loop out of Heidelberg, Germany.
Aug 2023 brought me to Australia for a professional conference and a three-day loop from Melbourne west and around the Great Ocean Road. A good challenge! At one point I was side-by-side with a curious kangaroo that slowed down to hop with me and then took off and left me in the dust. All I got was a blurry picture of his butt.
But the rides out of Northfield through the beautiful Minnesota rolling hills and farmlands are peaceful joys as well. The hills south of Northfield and northwest of Faribault are terrific. They are basically the bluffs from the Mississippi River extended westward. Not particularly steep nor high, but they definitely have fun ups and downs. Sort of like doing reps on a bicycle.
When not bicycling, I also enjoy piloting gliders out of Stanton Airfield (near Northfield; Minnesota Soaring Association member since 1994) and playing the violin in quartets. I am principal second violin in the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra.
You will find here over 350 tours I have completed starting mostly at Central Park in Northfield, covering about 5000 miles.
My KHS odometer hit 6001 miles May 5, 2025.
*Not a typo. :)
13,067 km
678:11 h
Recent Activity
- Robert HansonDecember 15, 2025
Temperatures in the -3 to -5 C range; just perfect for skiing. Still learning! This is my 9th time on skate skis, all in the last ten days. Working on getting up hills and balance. Somewhat better follow through with the poles and significantly better balance on one ski gave me better strides. I do believe
- Robert HansonDecember 15, 2025
Well. Well. So this is skate skiing!! A little cold -- -17 C this afternoon. But no wind so just lovely. I do wear goggles. My fastest classic skin in the arb has been about 3.5 mph. The effort over this past week to get the feel of skate skiing is already paying off.
- Robert HansonDecember 12, 2025
Actually did complete the circuit. It's just that Komoot went into pause mode there. Temperature is headed down to -26 C tomorrow (only -11 C for this ski). So felt like this might be the last chance to get out before the big freeze. Strong wind from the west, so I decided to take an off path shortcut
- Robert HansonDecember 11, 2025
Fifth try is a charm. First time I've made it all around this Loop doing offset or V2 skiing Non-Stop up the slope and down and finally up to the road. I think doing my resistance training warm ups first and a quick twice jog around the indoor track set me up for this very well.
- Robert HansonDecember 9, 2025
Just learning to skate ski. This course includes a nice oval track. Three times around and then off to the trails. Minimal grooming but mostly sufficient. Beautiful packed powder snow.
- Robert HansonNovember 30, 2025
Beautiful packed powder 10 cm with good tracks by previous skiers. Pleasant -5C day. A nice start to the season. Some portaging around the recreation center and also back through campus
Robert Hanson went on an adventure.
3 days ago
#10 in the learn to skate ski series
00:21
2.98km
8.4km/h
20m
30m
Robert Hanson went on an adventure.
December 15, 2025
00:20
3.38km
10.0km/h
20m
30m
Robert Hanson went on an adventure.
December 14, 2025
00:19
2.48km
7.6km/h
20m
20m
Robert Hanson went on an adventure.
December 12, 2025
00:20
1.66km
4.9km/h
10m
10m
Robert Hanson went on an adventure.
December 11, 2025
¡Exito! Three times around fully skate skiing.
00:10
1.08km
6.8km/h
0m
0m
Robert Hanson went on an adventure.
December 9, 2025
Three times around the track and then out to the road and back.
00:39
3.21km
5.0km/h
10m
10m
Robert Hanson went on an adventure.
December 6, 2025
00:13
1.17km
5.3km/h
10m
0m
Robert Hanson went on an adventure.
December 6, 2025
00:27
2.35km
5.2km/h
10m
20m
Robert Hanson went on an adventure.
December 3, 2025
Starting from the heath Creek entrance, this route takes the scenic Trail through Prairie ending at Ellington Hall then a short hike to Buntrock Center
00:49
4.19km
5.1km/h
50m
30m
Robert Hanson went on an adventure.
November 30, 2025
6 miles, almost 10 km, A to A including the hikes to/from the skiing start/end points
01:47
9.32km
5.2km/h
70m
70m
Nice temperature 20 F -11C. Warm weather yesterday turn the soft powder into crystalline ice and snow so kind of scrapy, but not too bad. Just more work!
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