At the beginning of 2007 one of my two goals was to ride to Irma's at least once every month of the year, eat pie, drink coffee and flirt with the waitress. What I need a ruling on is todays ride. When I left the house this morning the temps were in the upper 20's and it was snowing lightly. In the spirit of adventure I didn't let this stop me. In a clear case of gross stupidity, I didn't turn back after I wiped out on the snow and ice while making a turn some 9 miles out. Nor did I stop when I had problems going uphill because my back wheel kept slipping on the snow. I thought about it around mile 17 because the bike was having problems tracking in the deeping snow(note to self-road tires do not work well on snow and ice), however decided not as I had only 3 more miles to go at least only 3 miles to Irma's. At this point I was avoiding thoughts of the ride home. I made it to Irma's somewhat safely and went inside where I basked in the glow of warmth, apple pie, coffeee and the admiring comments on the state of my sanity from the other denizens therein. As the glow started to fade, I started to think about the 20 miles back to Monroe and home. Suddenly I began to feel a bit less adventuresome and a lot less manly. I couldn't call Skipper, who being somewhat more intelligent than I, had stayed at his home where it was warm, dry and where his wife was undoubtedly baking some elderberry pie. The roads truly were treacherous by now and I figured it was unsafe and unfair to call for his help. It was at this point that a good samaritan spoke up and noted that while he admired my courage and fortitude he did have a truck and a need to go to Monroe and would my bike and I be interested in a ride? Well, what with discretion being the better part of valor, I allowed as how my bike, being somewhat less hardy than I, would probably appreciate that offer ever so much. Well this meant, of course, that I also had to accept a ride as I wasn't going to hike 20 miles in my biking shoes, not that I couldn't mind you, I just wouldn't. So here I sit wondering if this ride counted toward my goal as I rode only 1/2 of the usual mileage. Does doing battle with the elements account for the difference in mileage or am I forced to go purchase studded tires or hope for a heatwave, however unlikely in sw wi in dec.?