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Robert Hanson

I am a retyred* professor at St. Olaf College (as of Sept. 2023) living in Northfield, Minnesota, and an intermediate level cyclist who likes a challenge wherever I find myself, including at right here at home in southeastern Minnesota.

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. :)
stolaf.edu/people/hansonr

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Recent Activity

went for a bike ride.

6 days ago

Cycling around Northfield

Time

3h53m

Distance

9.02km

Speed

18.0km/h

Ascent

90m

Descent

80m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

and like this.

went for a bike ride.

7 days ago

Northfield Central Park to Ravens Nest Cafe via Dundas CR 1 Lonsdale MN 19 320th St

Time

2h47m

Distance

54.6km

Speed

21.4km/h

Ascent

270m

Descent

290m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

, , and others like this.

7 days ago

So much for the forecasted wind flip from SE to NW this afternoon! Ended up with a shift exactly opposite that to NE @14 knots. Ah, well. What's a bit more work on a fine spring day? 🙂

planned a bike ride.

7 days ago

Northfield Central Park to Ravens Nest Cafe via Dumdas CR 1 and Lonsdale

Time

2h32m

Distance

54.8km

Speed

21.7km/h

Ascent

240m

Descent

260m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

went for a hike.

March 29, 2026

Hike at Snow Canyon State Park -- Tortoise Trail

A very short walk, but great opportunity to climb the rocks!

Time

0h19m

Distance

609m

Speed

1.9km/h

Ascent

0m

Descent

0m

likes this.

went for a hike.

March 29, 2026

Hike in snow Canyon State Park. Jenny's Canyon

A very cool slot canyon

Time

0h21m

Distance

619m

Speed

2.0km/h

Ascent

0m

Descent

0m

, and like this.

planned a hike.

March 29, 2026

snow canyon state park

Time

0h25m

Distance

1.29km

Speed

3.1km/h

Ascent

20m

Descent

20m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

went for a hike.

March 28, 2026

Hike Bryce Canyon Navajo Trail to Wall Street

Time

0h20m

Distance

499m

Speed

3.2km/h

Descent

20m

, and like this.

went for a hike.

March 28, 2026

Hike Bryce Canyon Bryce Point

Time

0h19m

Distance

506m

Speed

1.6km/h

Descent

0m

likes this.

went for a hike.

March 28, 2026

Hike Bryce Canyon Peekaboo Trail

Time

0h23m

Distance

510m

Speed

3.4km/h

Descent

10m

and like this.

went for a hike.

March 27, 2026

Hike Provo UT Bridal veil falls

Time

1h08m

Distance

3.63km

Speed

4.7km/h

Ascent

40m

Descent

30m

and like this.

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