For some people, the morning commute includes a drum of coffee, talk radio, and a seat belt.

Not nat.

Winter in Minnesota is considered purgatory by most scholars. Six (plus) months of penance per year seems about right for the sins of the other seasons. Nat spends the Winter punishing himself on his stationary bicycle – hour after hour in his damp, cold cellar (I just threw those adjectives in – I’m sure his Edina basement is neither damp nor cold) pedaling his little heart out. Before Summer, he must spin the wheel of the stationary bicycle a lot. 5,000 miles – to be exact. I did some complicated geographical calculations and figured out that if Nat pedaled in the real world, he could get to Argentina.

Sometimes (in this case) words can’t adequately describe a (torturous) moment in time. But that’s where video comes in. This video will give you a small taste of the race that Nat (and the rest of the Tanek-sponsored-Flanders-Bicycle-Team) is training for:

An architect can only design so much before he/she says to him/her self, “You know what? I’d like to ride a bicycle up and down mountains.” Right? Anyway, here’s Nat taking us on one of his little trips. His little trips DOWN A MOUNTAIN. Good Lord, I feel sick just watching it.

So, while I’m sipping cold press and daydreaming, Nat is pedaling his bicycle at speeds that just ain’t natural.

I would go and watch one of his races but I wouldn’t know what to wear and I just can’t deal with the paparazzi.

The Nature Valley Grand Prix festivities were in full-swing this weekend in Stillwater, MN. Stillwater is home to that lovably loathsome, Chilkoot Hill. The hill, too steep for Winter travel, is celebrated/dreaded annually by a pack of bicyclists. A pack of bicyclist that maybe weren’t loved enough as children. The racers climb the hill over and over again, lactic acid filling their bulging muscles and tears stinging their eyes. Is this a race or some sort of art-piece on the absurdity of man? I don’t know.

Ohh, I’m kidding about their childhoods – I’m sure they were lovely.

Speaking of kids: A couple of those Tanek Juniors took part in the Kid’s Fun Race. Look at those cute jerseys!

PS: This is what they’ll look like in the future:

See? Nat Shea knew it all along! Bicycling Magazine just named Minneapolis THE NUMBER ONE CITY FOR BICYCLING.

I’m serious.