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ACTIVITY NEWS: June 2005

     What's in this Issue?

1. Another Ironman Success
2. In Brief
3. Three Rivers Park News
4. Mileage and Stats
5. Upcoming Events
6. July 4th Watermelon Ride
7. A Midweek C Ride
8. Ride Recaps
9. Try Something New at TCBC/NOW Sports Ride Series
10. Trails and Route News
11. Ride Cancellation Protocol Clarification for Leaders
12. TCBC Board of Directors and Contacts

Another Ironman Success    

This year’s 39th Minnesota IRONMAN, held on its earliest-possible date of April 24, was another grand day for bicycling. There were about 4800 actual riders. But did they fully realize how lucky they really were?

April’s run of warm weather had ended a few days before. April 23 was cool and extremely windy. It rained some on the 25th and 26th and continued cool for awhile – in fact, it wasn’t until May 4 that the daily temp topped what we got on April 24, which was a low of 33 (not far from the IRONMAN coldest ever) and a high of 58.

April 24 was totally sunny and dry, the northwest winds weren’t too bad, and we certainly got the right weather on the right date to kick off the biking season!

Nearly 300 volunteers participated that weekend. Many of them do the behind-the-scenes activities that are crucial for this event to function. They outdid themselves once again.

The slightly-redone longer routes were actually around 64 and 102 miles, depending on whose computer you checked….. A new second high school is being built in Lakeville to the south, but keep coming to the current high school in the future unless you hear differently, because the parking and other things are better…. No serious injuries that I have heard of….

Helping direct traffic at the main corner of Ipava and County 50 was both stressful and fun. It was great watching the full moon setting in the west, and within a half-hour or so the sun rising in the east. Police kept changing the stop lights there with their remote control, which helped immensely with the traffic flow. If you yelled HI at me there, I tried to yell something positive back!

One reminder: again, it would be VERY helpful if volunteers would take an alternate route to the high school and wouldn’t turn to drive up Ipava at that corner between 6:30 and 9:00 or so. Other vehicles with non-volunteers instantly line up to follow your turn and it just confuses things…..

- Doug Nelson

In Brief

NEXT ACTIVITY NEWS DEADLINE will be Monday, June 6.

PAUL BUNYAN DOUBLE CENTURY CANCELLED: With much regret, we are forced to cancel this event for 2005, due to insurmountable amounts of road construction that affect over half of the ride route. Detour possibilities around this major road work have proven to be too cumbersome to create logistically. In some instances, the detours would have traffic counts deemed to be unsafe and from an added mileage standpoint, not practical on a ride already 202 miles long. It is after all a Double, not a Triple, Century! The good news is that this two-year project should be completed by this fall. The 2006 PBDC will be back and rolling over silky smooth asphalt and wider shoulders on those sections that were in dire need of improvement. Looking forward to ’06! (Bob Hoffman, 651-430-2676)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for the Watermelon Ride on July 4. You can sign up on the TCBC website.

ELIMINATING ‘CLEAR’ AND THE GROUP WAVE: Several years ago, we had a campaign in TCBC to eliminate bikers yelling ‘Clear’ from use at intersections at our rides (aimed at telling bikers behind us there’s no traffic). From reports I have received and personal experience, I’ve noted its return. What we want to see happen at all traffic intersections is each rider thinking for themselves, and not being lulled into proceeding into a dangerous situation because someone yelled ‘clear!’ So I would like to ask that if you are, please stop using ‘clear’ or its synonyms at intersections, and that all of you help educate other riders about this important safety issue….. The other thing I’d like to eliminate is the ‘wave.’ When a group of cyclists arrive together at an intersection at the same time as a motor vehicle, it can be confusing about who should go first. A problem can arise if one cyclist gives the vehicle a wave-through at the same time another cyclist thinks it’s safe to proceed. The best solution is good verbal communication among the cyclists so that everyone knows what is happening. It’s best not to give the ‘wave’ to the vehicle(s) unless you have communicated that strategy to your fellow riders. (Pete Hawkins)

RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY NATIONAL CONFERENCE is in the Twin Cities this year, called TrailLink 2005, from July 27-30. More info in next newsletter. See www.railtrails.org/traillink2005/.

WILD WEATHER LATELY: Of the stretch from March 26 through April 21, every single day had above-normal temps for that day, an amazing streak that led to wonderful early season biking and huge turnouts. Eight April days reached at least 70 degrees. Then the switch was reversed, and every day from April 22 through May 4 had below-normal temps. Of course, some light snow and severe weather have been mixed in too, along with days in a row of steady cold northwest winds. To top it off, May 12 was a horrendously cold and wet day with a high of only 42.

NEW WEBSITE called VeloVengeance.com has been started recently by a few Twin Cities bikers. Apparently confrontations between drivers and cyclists seems to be increasing, as many in TCBC have become aware. The intro mentions “… our mission is to help our fellow cyclists bridge the gap between anger and the proper legal form of retribution…. (we) will provide you with the resources to deal with road rage and provide you with a space to tell your story and share thoughts with others.” Their recommendation is taking down license plates and vehicle descriptions and reporting them to the police. (Mentioning this site as a resource does not necessarily mean that TCBC is officially endorsing it.)

125TH ANNIVERSARY: ON May 31, 1880, 133 cyclists from 31 bike clubs met in Newport, Rhode Island, to establish the League of American Wheelmen. They were organizing to establish their claims to use public roadways on their newfangled machines. Even now this issue continues, although horses are not so much the problem anymore! The first fatal car/bike collision recorded was in 1896… In 1966, the League designated May as National Bike Month for the first time and every year since…. The League (finally) changed its name from Wheelmen to Bicyclists in 1993…

A RECENT STUDY called “The Economic Impacts of Bicycling in Wisconsin” had highlights including: Bicycling pours at least $750 million into the WI economy annually. 48 percent of WI adults bike, and 21 percent of them mountain bike. The DNR manages 37 trails totalling 1607 miles, and another 800 miles of trails are locally managed. WI receives an estimated $650,000 a year collected in state trail pass fees. WI has over 270 independently owned bicycle retail outlets. There were 22 multiple-day supported bicycle tours in WI last year. (The study and sources for info are at www.bfw.org.)

TRAIL STRUGGLE: For years there have been efforts to build some sort of trail along an abandoned rail line between Dresser and Amery, WI. The state DNR bought it and apparently turned over the decisions to Polk County about what kind of trail it would be. A master plan called for a multi-use dual surface trail with ATV’s allowed to use one of the parallel trail treads all four seasons of the year. Debate has been heavy and spirited, and at least one lawsuit has already been filed, in an attempt to make it a non-motorized trail. This may go on for awhile.

TRAIL USER SURVEY by the DNR of Minnesotans during 2004 shows that: 65 percent said users should pay a portion of the costs of maintaining trails; 29 percent said they were unwilling to pay anything. Most believe the state should pay most of the costs. Minnesota has two trails that charge user fees: Cannon Valley and Mesabi. (A 2003 survey estimated the Cannon Valley had 93,000 visitors a year, of whom 85 percent were bikers.)

BICYCLE RESEARCH FINDINGS presented recently about Minnesotans at the U of M include: Half of adult Minnesotans ride a bike sometimes, but only 3 percent of them ride a bike on an average day. About 60 percent of all cyclists – adults and children – are male. People with very low and very high incomes and those who are highly-educated ride more. 80 percent of people ride for recreation and fitness. After age 45, biking declines significantly (oh really?).

Three Rivers Parks News

JUNE 4: Join in the nationwide celebration of America’s biking and biking trails during Three Rivers Park District’s “National Trails Day Celebration” on Saturday, June 4, at French Regional Park in Plymouth from 9 AM to noon. This family-friendly event features a 10K bike ride around Medicine Lake starting at 9 AM, ongoing hikes, one free climb on a 25-foot wall and a free serving of ice cream. Live music will be performed by Greenwood Tree from 10 AM to noon. Admission is $3.

JUNE 4: “Women Who Ride” program covers basic road-biking techniques. This will be at Baker Park Reserve from 9 AM – 1 PM. Bring your road bike and helmet and learn skills that will allow you to ride in comfort and control. Reservations required; call 763-559-6700. $18. Ages 12+.

JUNE 23: “Mountain Biking 101.” Bring your mountain bike and learn the basics of off-road riding. Shifting, braking, riding single track are included. Held at Elm Creek Park Reserve from 6:30 – 9 PM. Reservations required; call 763-559-6700. $12. Helmets required. Ages 10 and up.

JULY 19: “Mountain Biking 102.” Apply your basic mountain biking skills to single track riding. Tackle roots, rocks, sand, mud, gaining skill and confidence. Held at Elm Creek Park Reserve from 6:30 – 9 PM. Reservations required; call 763-559-6700. $12. Helmets required. Ages 10 and up.

Three Rivers just posted new summer trail maps on their website: www.threeriversparkdistrict.org/parks/

Parking is now free for personal/family vehicles at all TRPD parks. (Some fee signs are still up, but better signage is coming.)

Mileage and Stats

Julie Timm has entered her third year as our stats coordinator and continues to provide us outstanding info. The largest rides reported in 2005 have been (not including the 154 people who signed up for IRONMAN mileage credit):

100 April 3 Straw Man
97 April 9 Aluminum Man
78 April 17 Great Googly Moogly
66 Mar 26 Paper Man
61 Jan 1 Polar Bear Ride
55 April 10 Great Googly Moogly
49 April 9? Done by One
40 April 30 Done by One

Rides each month from Nov through March including web rides:

37 Nov
21 Dec
23 Jan
21 Feb
17 Mar

Here are the TCBC mileages from November 1 through those reports submitted by early May:

WOMEN
1528 KATIE ANGLE
1400 PATT SELEEN
1143 CINDY HANSON
1072 MARY NELSEN
1028 SUE BLUM
883 LISA DUST
822 KATE KOVAR
810 SUSAN EVAN
807 RED RIDER
801 MARY DERKS
737 JULIE DILLON

MEN
1681 MICHAEL MCNUTT
1672 TONY STIFTER
1523 SCOTT LARSON
1439 RICHARD FRANCO
1357 JEFF JOHNSON
1357 LEE THIELMAN

1260 JOHN GESME
1240 MIKE NIZIELSKI
1214 JIM JOY
1117 CHARLES BREER
1086 JOHN PUGH

RIDES: Angle 50, Seleen 45, Hanson and Kovar 34. Larson 56, McNutt 53, Stifter 50.

NOTES: About twice as many people over 1000 as this time last year. Eight former mileage winners among these 22 people!

OVER 1000 TCBC MILES: Jeff Johnson and Lee Thielman have reached their 16th years, and Sue Blum has done it for her 14th year.

Upcoming Events

JUNE 9-11 CENTRAL LAKES TRAIL. We invite you to help join in on this discovery trek of the scenic Central Lakes Trail, a Century+ ride over three days at a C pace. Smell some roses along the way and recreate at end of day. We'll trek from Osakis to Fergus Falls in near-equal round trip segments. Day 1, Osakis to Garfield and return. Day 2, Garfield to Ashby and return. Day 3, Ashby to Fergus Falls and return. Optional post-ride activities centered in and around Alexandria. Make your own lodging accommodations. "EARLY IS BETTER". Terry Osell is Ambassador for this trip. Herb Schultz, 952-941-4381 and Clareyse Nelson, 612-623-3009. Cell phone at ride: 952-334-5382. See the schedule.

JUNE 16-18 SAKATAH SINGING HILLS STATE TRAIL - RED JACKET - SOUTH ROUTE TRAILS C RIDES. 25-45 mi/day. Ride the Sakatah Singing Hills Trail the complete distance in both directions and the Red Jacket Trail and South Route trails on the same trip. Join in on 2 days of biking the Sakatah Singing Hills (paved trail) from Faribault to Mankato. We'll divide daily mileage with Elysian as the midpoint, making round trips each day. On Saturday, our 3rd day, we'll bike the Red Jacket and a portion of the South Route Trail out of Mankato. Make your own lodging accommodations or commute daily from your home base. Optional fun post-ride activities. Come for 1, 2, or all 3 days. Don Picard, 952-894-3431 and Herb Schultz, 952-941-4381. Cell phone at ride: 952-334-5382. See the schedule.

JUNE 29-JULY 1 THE CREAMERY ADVENTURE. The Creamery, in Downsville, WI, is probably the best, and certainly the best-known rural restaurant and inn in WI. TCBC leader John Hoffman, a resident of nearby Eau Claire, has scheduled a three-day ride-and-tubing adventure that centers on the famous inn. The Creamery has a world-class restaurant, a bakery, a pottery, a first-class gift shop and spacious rooms – all with Jacuzzi baths – perfect for bicyclists who want a little pampering after pedaling. A group rate has been arranged for TCBCers that reduces the room rate down to $100 per night from the usual $150. There is a maximum of 15 rooms. For reservations, call John, 715-834-7897 before June 15 – first call, first served. See schedule for details.

JULY 14-17 A really “cheesy” long weekend in south-central WI focusing on the Sugar River and Military Ridge Trails. This four-day tripful of C rides starts in New Glarus with the Sugar River Trail. We’ll combine the 46-mile round-trip trail ride with a cheese fondue dinner at the Chalet Landhaus, shopping the gift shops of “Little Switzerland” and touring one or more of the great WI cheese factories in the area. Then we’ll head to the Military Ridge Trail, starting at Mount Horeb, site of the world’s only Mustard Museum, and the only city officially designated as a “trollway” complete with statues of trolls. The trail connects, via the Capital City Trail, to the Glacial Drumlin Trail, so the truly ambitious pedal-pushers will have an extra-miles option. The area is close to Madison and several major cheese producers, so there will be plenty of after-ride things to do. All trails are crushed limestone except the paved Capital City Trail. Leaders will be Herb Schultz, 952-941-4381, and Don Picard, 952-894-3431.

AUGUST 19-21: Ride “da Range” on the Mesabi Trail. $3.00 daily wheel pass is required. Join this C-plus ride on the Mesabi Trail and experience Minnesota’s Iron Range up close and personal. We will bike on paved surface trails joining the bustling cities of Eveleth, Hibbing, Virginia, and Chisholm. We’ll visit Ironworld, which features a museum with exhibits telling the story of the Range’s geology, mining, immigration, life skills, and traditions. There is a 1920’s Mesabi Railway trolley ride taking us through a mining “town” and showing us the spectacular views of the Glen-Godfrey Open Pit Mine. There will be motel and RV park campground lodging options that you will book on your own. After-ride activities (optional) include dining at the Whistling Bird in Gilbert, a night out at Zimmy’s featuring Bob Dylan memorabilia, and a play at the Hibbing Community Center, or a visit to the Palucci Planetarium. Yes, there are hills – this is the Range. Ambassadors will be Duane and Diana Kasper, 952-448-1608, or kasperddt@aol.com. Leaders: Herb Schultz, 952-941-4381; Clareyse Nelson, 612-623-3009. Complete details will be in future issues.

SEPT 10-11 LA CROSSE KILLER HILL REDUX OVERNIGHT+. A/B 70-80 mi on Saturday, plus the SeeSaw to Arkansaw ride from Maiden Rock (A/B 65-70 mi) on Sunday (separate listing). Remember the Old Killer Hill 64 ride the La Crosse Wheelmen used to put on? This will follow that route for about the last 35 miles including the famed Killer Hill climb. A new direction out will add some big climbs and a few miles. The climb out of La Crosse up past Grand Dad Bluff is included. Leader is Bill Simon, bicyclebill@comcast.net. Hotels in La Crosse book early so get reservations ASAP and cancel later if needed. For details including CANCELLATION status, lodging, evening activities and Yahoo Group link, visit web page: http://home.comcast.net/~bicyclebill/KillerHill/

SEPT 16-18 ROOT RIVER VALLEY TRAILS WEEKEND. Welcome C riders and friends to our three days in Lanesboro! We hope you can join us for our third annual event to explore this beautiful area in SE Minn. We will be riding all three days, but come when you can. Some of us will go to the Commonweal Theater to attend their productions. Friday night’s is Moliere’s “Scapin” and Saturday’s will be Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” which is a classic comedy of wit and satire. Call Herb Schultz to reserve your tickets. This is a popular area on weekends, so be sure to reserve a place to stay soon. The Lanesboro Chamber of Commerce number is 1-888-223-4258. Some of us also camp in Lanesboro. Looking forward to seeing old and new friends there! Call us if you have questions and also let us know you will be there! Clareyse Nelson, 612-623-3009, or Herb Schultz, 952-941-4381.

July 4th Watermelon Ride

by Marina Lim

Sign up now – it’s almost time for the 24th Annual TCBC Watermelon Ride! Bring your families and friends for a 15, 25, or 55-mile ride with rest stops and a tasty picnic lunch at Snail Lake Park in Shoreview, included with your registration fee.

Come early and participate in the bike rodeo. Have your helmet adjusted there for proper fitting. On the course, learn new skills and ride figure eights, circles, and parallel lines.

Pre-register for the event by mail, using the form in the May newsletter, or go online to www.biketcbc.org. You can also register on July 4 at the ride start, which is Deluxe Corporation, 5689 Victoria Street, just south of Hwy. 694. You can start riding anytime between 7:30 and 10:00 AM.

On-site registration for the 55-mile ride opens at 7:30 AM, and at 8:30 AM for the shorter rides. There is a discount for early bird registration and TCBC members. Every rider must sign a waiver and parents/guardians must sign for participating minors. Helmets are required for everyone.

Volunteers are still needed for this event. Sign up and work for three hours, and ride free. See the TCBC website for more details.

A Midweek C Ride

I arrived 30 minutes too early for a midweek C ride at Erik’s in Eden Prairie. It was 50 degrees and I stood around in the cold. Of course I brought the wrong bike to the ride. The ride description in the schedule clearly stated “packed limestone trail”. I wondered what that meant but didn’t think much of it.

Almost everyone else showed up with hybrids sporting knobby tires. “It’s gravel today” they said matter-of-factly. I bounced and wobbled my way for miles on the trail with a road bike equipped with carbon fiber wheels and skinny rock hard sewup tires. I was fully dressed in lycra as if riding in a race. The other riders were warmer and comfortable in sweatpants and polar fleece pullovers.

The crosswinds blasted at 20 mph and sand blew off a truck at a road construction site. We rode through a 2-second-long sandstorm. Those of us wearing contact lenses really got pained.
At The Depot coffee stop some club members got a kick out of my aruba - martini Pearl Izumi Wave shoes. What looked like a piece of striped dental floss crisscrossed on the side of the shoe wound into a 1 ¼” diameter black plastic knob. My sock was rubbing the side of my toe and killing me. I took off my right shoe to readjust the seam. The shoe’s adjustment knob clicked loudly, interrupting everyone else’s conversations. Heads turned and eyes peered under the table to stare at my foot. “What is that round thing?” they asked. I intended to compare the knob with a ratcheting strap, found on the black Sidi shoes popular with many TCBC riders. “You know those Sidi shoes…” I trailed off. I glanced quickly at the numerous pairs of feet on the floor in search of Sidi shoes. Instead I found a sea of white leather tennis shoes. I couldn’t think of the technical term at that moment so I said that the round thing is a “shoe thingy”. The adjustment knob is called a BOA spectra cord closure system.

As the other riders sat back, sipping iced tea and munching on trail mix, I was bolted upright in my chair, staring out the window. I was waiting to see if anyone was going to steal our 10 bikes. Of course no one did, but we were inside where it was cozy and warm and the bikes were unlocked on a rack. Fidgeting like a race horse, I asked what time we were expecting to finish the 20-mile ride. We’d gone 7 miles and an hour had passed since the 10:30 am start. “Oh, about 2 o’clock, including lunch”, they smiled casually, enjoying themselves. I almost keeled over. I was accustomed to B rides where we cranked in 15 miles in one hour.

We took the trail back to the next coffee stop and the weather got cloudier and a little less windy. A friendly rider came alongside and struck up a conversation about travel, non-riding spouses and Ksyrium wheels. The limestone trail remained the same but as we talked I forgot about the gravel and suddenly in my mind it became smooth. I stopped concentrating on trying to keep from falling over.

At Dunn Brothers I ordered a forbidden dietary treat -hot cocoa with whipped cream (I skipped the cheesecake). The relaxation and pleasantries that come with a social-based ride began to set in. Suddenly time passed differently. I forgot that I was on a ride and didn’t worry about the bikes outside. Everyone joked and conversed amongst each other. The group was so friendly and not in a hurry to go anywhere, not even home or back on their bikes, for that matter.

It got colder and three of us bailed out, skipping the last 6 miles of the ride and the scheduled lunch stop at Kowalski’s. We rode 3 blocks to Erik’s parking lot. “You should come on these C rides. They’re more social” said one of the three. Indeed they are, and I went on another one looking forward to the pleasant company and culinary delights. It turns out that speed isn’t everything on a bike ride.

By Marina Lim

Ride Recap

IRONMAN TRAINING RIDES: These had record turnouts this year, for the first three rides, anyway. Aided by unusually fine weather, the Paper Man had 66 riders; the Straw Man broke triple digits (100 riders even); and Aluminum Man had 97 signups. Through the first three rides, there were 17 riders who had done each ride. The final ride, the Tin Man, provided the weather challenge that had been lacking in the first three. It was drizzling and low 50’s at the start of the ride – the ride leader let the ride go on, on the assumption that the drizzle would be letting up within an hour or so. This proved to be one of the colossal weather forecasting errors of all time, given that the drizzle turned to rain and kept going until late afternoon. 31 intrepid riders completed all or part of the route; only a handful did the full 76-mile option. Special thanks to Dave Dugan for stepping in as ride leader in the very soggy conditions. This year, only two brave souls completed the entire series – Mary Nelsen and Kim Lundin. Congrats! (Submitted by Liz Sands, the leader who should have called Jeff Johnson)

APRIL 30: Somehow there was a big birthday today, so I decided to add an extra loop to my normal Stillwater route of 37 miles to give people a chance at doing 55 miles too, up to Marine. There were 39 people at the start, which was about the temperature as well, and the daily high was only 48 degrees. The turnout was great and so was the cake, before and after the ride. Hey, it didn’t rain and wasn’t too windy, so I couldn’t complain. As to the age thing, I did feel older at the end, after that cloudy 55 miles. Just remember: Getting older is mandatory, getting old is optional. I don’t think I’ll be getting old for awhile yet. (Doug Nelson)

MAY 4: Pink Express. Thirteen riders set off for a midmorning 28-mile stint touring Roseville, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, and White Bear Township. It was a beautiful sunny day, 61 degrees with a slight SW wind. The group split into three and regrouped 15 miles later at a Holiday gas station, where photographer Walter Griffin took group pictures. One man came on the ride because he thought it would be attended exclusively by women. The ride began and ended at County Cycles. After the ride we hung around behind the store and ate delicious, hot, juicy grilled brats, compliments of Ron Kadera, the store’s proprietor. (Marina Lim)

Try Something New At TCBC/NOW Sports Ride Series! 

Two new ride series began in May and will run at least through the summer, thanks to a cooperative effort between TCBC and Now Sports in Arden Hills (3673 Lexington Ave No, between County Road E and 694).

“Cruising Now!” is a 12-15 mile C ride starting at 6:30 PM on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month that specifically caters to riders of “cruisers,” big beach-style bikes with fat tires, coaster brakes, wide seats, swooping handlebars, and lots of style. You don’t have to have a cruiser to join the ride, but you might want to give one a try. Now Sports has graciously agreed to make sure of their cruisers available for rental for the ride. Who knows….. you might find yourself taking one of these big beasts home for good!

“Group Riding Now!” is a 20-22 mile B/C ride starting at 6:30 PM on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month that is designed to introduce newcomers to group riding. Routes will explore lightly-travelled roads and trails in the northern suburbs.

Now Sports is publicizing these rides in their stores and to their mailing list. We hope that this cooperative effort will bring out some new riders. Please call one of the co-leaders if you have questions about either of these rides. See you there! Paul Huntington, 651-486-2731, or Cindy Hanson, 651-644-2175.

Trails and Route News 

NEW CONNECTOR TRAIL makes it possible to go from the Mendota Bridge over the Minnesota River directly to 54th Street and Minnehaha Park, without taking the 20-year-old trail along the Mississippi below historic Fort Snelling. The main advantages seem to be that it’s shorter and flatter. From the western end of the Mendota Bridge, take the left intersection (St. Paul/Historic Fort sign – not the state park spur), take a left at the sidewalk, work your way northwest past some old fort complex buildings, take a road and pass through parking lots near the Historical Society Visitor Center. You’re travelling near Hwy. 55 now. The bike path starts near the corner of Bloomington Road and Tower Ave (next to an underpass of 55) and goes northwest right along 55 (just north of it). It angles to follow 55 and passes next to the deserted Bureau of Mines property, where some abandoned buildings still stand. The trail hits a dead-end road circle (no road sign). Follow it a quarter mile to 54th St, within a block of where 54th crosses 55. The other trail to lower Fort Snelling comes in just to your right. A little confusing at first, perhaps. Coming from the north – take the unmarked road just east of the 54th/55 intersection (which has a stop light) and bike the only way you can go. You’ll soon find yourself near the historic fort. There are some small green biking intersection signs around there. The route also connects with the Hwy 5 bike bridge into St. Paul.

GRAND OPENING COMMUNITY CELEBRATION for Phase II of the Midtown Greenway in Mpls is the afternoon of June 25. This is from 5th Avenue to Hiawatha Avenue, a stretch which opened briefly last November, then closed for construction projects soon after. The Chicago Avenue bridge is being demolished over the Greenway. A temporary trail will snake through the bridge construction site from late June through October.

TRAILS AROUND LAKE PHALEN on St. Paul’s East Side have been resurfaced and are a big improvement.

CARVER PARK RESERVE’S paved bike trails are being resurfaced this summer, so they will be closing in June or July through October.

COON RAPIDS DAM may be having repairs this summer. It is uncertain whether the walkway/bikeway across the dam will need to close. Check with Three Rivers Park District.

TRAIL REVISITED: On a recent Saturday with a rainy morning but a dry afternoon, I biked on a route I haven’t done for a few years – from the Coon Rapids Dam to Elm Creek Park Reserve on the Regional Trail that parallels 101st Avenue, mostly through Brooklyn Park. The trail is plenty smoother than I remembered – it has been repaved and improved. There are only 6 road crossings at grade in its 6.5 miles – tunnels take you under two roads, and a bridge goes over Hwy. 169. Houses have crept closer to the trail, but there is still plenty of green space and relative solitude. Whoever built it believed in plenty of curves! There are a number of short spur trails connecting to neighborhood streets. Also, the southern trails at Elm Creek were repaved last year and seemed pretty good. If your memories of this trail are mediocre at best, check it out and you may be in for a pleasant surprise.

- Doug Nelson

Ride Cancellation Protocol Clarification for Leaders

For all rides, the option to cancel the ride is the sole prerogative of the leader, but leaders must show up at the ride start on time, or send a qualified replacement even if their intention is to cancel the ride, except in the following circumstances:

For winter, night, or mountain bike rides and all rides starting outside of the Twin Cities metro area, if the ride leader wishes to have the option to cancel the ride without going to the start, then the ride leader must provide his/her phone number in the ride description, along with the statement “call leader before coming to start to see if ride has been cancelled.”

Electronic communication via the TCBC e-group may also be used for notice of cancellation, but not in lieu of providing the telephone option. If no telephone option for notice of ride cancellation as described above is given in the ride description for the ride categories listed, then the leader must show up at the start on time, or send a qualified replacement even if the intention is to cancel the ride.

When a ride has been cancelled, the leader must still submit a ride report stating that the ride was cancelled.

Pete Hawkins and Patt Seleen
TCBC Leader Liaisons

TCBC Contacts

ACTIVITY NEWS is published by the Twin Cities Bicycling Club, formed in 1993.
Mail and checks should be sent to TCBC, PO Box 131086, Roseville, MN 55113.

TCBC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT: Mike Beadles
VICE-PRESIDENT: Dave Swaab
SECRETARY: Charles Breer
Mary Derks
Lisa Austin
Pete Hawkins
Katie Angle
Scott Larson
Paul Huntington

OTHER TCBC POSITIONS

TREASURER: Tony Stifter
COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING COORDINATOR: Kristine Poelzer
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR: David Erick
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: Doug Nelson
SCHEDULE COORDINATOR: Jim Pederson
WEBMASTER: Phil Doi
RIDE STATISTICS: Julie Timm
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR: Stephan Kieu

Contact ACTIVITY NEWS Editor: Doug Nelson if you have information at 2800 Hamline, #208, Roseville, MN 55113. (651-639-9917) tcbcdoug@mtn.org  Deadlines will usually be during the first week of the month for the next month's issue.

To submit items for the Activities Schedule, send e-mail to Jim Pederson: schedule@biketcbc.org

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