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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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went for a bike ride

3 days ago

Northfield ride to Haydn string quartet Opus 20 No. 5

A beautiful quartet.

Time

2h40m

Distance

11.3km

Speed

20.4km/h

Ascent

40m

Descent

40m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

, and like this.

went for a bike ride

3 days ago

Northfield scenic route to St Olaf Tostrud workout

Time

2h45m

Distance

11.2km

Speed

20.9km/h

Ascent

70m

Descent

70m

, and like this.

3 days ago

 I see North Avenue is closed but navigable via a single track on the north side. I walked my bike.

went for a bike ride

4 days ago

Northfield Central Park to Raven's Nest Cafe via Saint-Saën, Randolph Cannon City Welch

Time

8h05m

Distance

89.7km

Speed

22.7km/h

Ascent

370m

Descent

390m

, , and others like this.

4 days ago

An excellent ride through beautiful green spaces all on wide shoulder roads and the cannon Valley Trail which is closed after Welch

went for a bike ride

6 days ago

Northfield and Dundas around town

A relaxing evening ride with shopping

Time

1h38m

Distance

14.2km

Speed

17.6km/h

Ascent

60m

Descent

60m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

, , and others like this.

went for a bike ride

6 days ago

Northfield Central Park to Raven's Nest Cafe via Dennison Cannon Falls and Randolph

This is a wonderful country road ride for a light easterly wind. Lunch or snack at Cannon Belles Creamery

Time

3h52m

Distance

62.3km

Speed

19.7km/h

Ascent

360m

Descent

380m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

, and like this.

6 days ago

Tough first half almost straight into a wind 120@12G16 knots that nicely increased and turned to 110@14G20 for a streak back from Cannon Falls all the way to Northfield. As planned!

went for a bike ride

May 28, 2026

Northfield evening/night loop to Northfield High School for orchestra rehearsal with stop after at Carbonones

Easy riding in Northfield after dark with adequate lights and florescent jacket

Time

4h05m

Distance

4.93km

Speed

17.1km/h

Ascent

20m

Descent

30m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

, and like this.

7 days ago

Using a red hotspot belt clip on light that works great. Just taking my time on this ride to top off a 60 mile day

went for a bike ride

May 28, 2026

Northfield Central Park to Raven's Nest Cafe via St Olaf Dundas Kenyon and Sogn valley

Time

7h04m

Distance

92.7km

Speed

19.9km/h

Ascent

590m

Descent

610m

and like this.

May 28, 2026

So fun! Included a 1 hr weight lifting session. Whew!

went for a bike ride

May 27, 2026

Northfield Central Park to Oddfellows park for lunch and return

Time

1h29m

Distance

3.71km

Speed

19.6km/h

Ascent

30m

Descent

40m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

likes this.

went for a bike ride

May 26, 2026

Northfield loop to St Olaf scenic northern route

Time

3h51m

Distance

10.7km

Speed

22.1km/h

Ascent

80m

Descent

80m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

and like this.

went for a bike ride

May 25, 2026

Short ride to Saint-Saëns string quartet #1 E minor op 112

Time

2h47m

Distance

5.26km

Speed

20.2km/h

Ascent

40m

Descent

50m
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

, , and others like this.

May 25, 2026

A super challenging quartet. Beautiful. https://music.

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