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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

2 days ago

From Red Wing to Cannon Falls

Alas. Another aborted mission.

Time

3h46m

Distance

36.9km

Speed

19.2km/h

Ascent

270m

Descent

220m

and like this.

2 days ago

Aargh! Another aborted ride. This time a very nasty thunderstorm with hail.

planned a bike ride

2 days ago

From Red Wing to Cannon Falls

Time

1h45m

Distance

36.0km

Speed

20.5km/h

Ascent

250m

Descent

200m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

planned a bike ride

2 days ago

From Red Wing to Cannon Falls

Time

1h42m

Distance

35.3km

Speed

20.8km/h

Ascent

250m

Descent

210m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

went for a bike ride

2 days ago

Northfield Central Park to Ravens Nest Cafe via hwy 47 Randolph Cannon Falls Red Wing Part 1

Time

3h36m

Distance

63.4km

Speed

22.7km/h

Ascent

210m

Descent

290m

, , and others like this.

a day ago

There is a way around the closed bridge on the Cannon Valley Trail if the ground is dry. You can vary your bike through the brush. Then up the gravel road they have made to service the construction. This ends up on Hwy 61 just north of hwy 19. Then from there there is no need is a bike path bike trail

planned a bike ride

2 days ago

Northfield Central Park to Ravens Nest Cafe via hwy 47 Randolph Cannon Falls Red Wing

Time

5h55m

Distance

123km

Speed

20.7km/h

Ascent

570m

Descent

590m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

planned a bike ride

2 days ago

From Northfield to Northfield

Time

5h55m

Distance

123km

Speed

20.7km/h

Ascent

570m

Descent

590m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

planned a bike ride

2 days ago

red wing

Time

7h18m

Distance

123km

Speed

16.8km/h

Ascent

570m

Descent

590m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

went for a bike ride

3 days ago

Northfield Central Park to Ravens Nest Cafe via Dundas and Nerstrand

This ride was cut short due to high winds. 45 km/h gusting to 60 km per hour. All good until the final stretch West with the wind out of SSW. Just could not control the bicycle sufficiently on Woodley St where there is no significant shoulder.

Time

2h52m

Distance

50.7km

Speed

20.3km/h

Ascent

270m

Descent

250m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

likes this.

3 days ago

Whew! Had to cut this ride short and call for a pick up. Just too much of a cross wind 28 mph gusting to 40. From the south south west. 5 mph headway with everything I could muster just to stay in the road. Decided to call it a day. Beautiful spring day though.



My rule is to stop when it stops being fun and safe.

planned a bike ride

3 days ago

Northfield Central Park to Ravens Nest Cafe via Dundas and Nerstrand

Time

2h35m

Distance

55.7km

Speed

21.6km/h

Ascent

250m

Descent

260m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

went running

4 days ago

Short run to Walgreens via Loon Liquors Bistro after the rain

Time

0h23m

Distance

2.43km

Pace

7:01/km

Ascent

20m

Descent

10m

likes this.

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