MPLS Bike to Work Day

Bike to Work Day 2014 was a soggy one.

It rained on the way to work, and absolutely poured on the way home.

Don't get me wrong, I love to bike in the rain. I love getting into a rhythm, hearing the echo of the rain on my helmet. Believe it or not, I enjoyed pouring the water out of the sleeves of my windbreaker at the stops. It was raining that hard.

Fortunately, the middle of the day was perfect, and I was able to take a walk to check out St. Paul's "Future of Fourth Street" event, which felt like St. Paul's contribution to Bike Week. It was a nice community event that brought people out to celebrate the new and coming updates to St. Paul's transportation infrastructure. 

Nice Ride was there doing some demos on their green bikes, and they were also teasing us Twin Cityans with their "prototype" orange commuter bike (#001), a hundred if which will be hitting campus at Bemidji State in Northern Minnesota this summer. 

I have to say, it looks a bit more my speed than the green ones, a bike that got my attention, one you could spend a little more time on. 

Maybe it appeals to the 10 year old in me, I've seen that styling before:

Assuming their pilot up north goes well, I wonder if they would consider mixing this type in with the yellow-green ones.

It turned out to be a gorgeous lunch hour to wander downtown. There were a bunch of other booths representing the community and local businesses; I'll post some pictures Here.

Thunderstorms rolled in as I started my commute home. Wind and heavy rain that I have seldom been out in on a bike actually made the ride a little fun, despite the tornado watch that was in effect. I found myself wondering what I would do if the warning sounded, and was thinking of potential places to take cover. 

As I neared home though and the rain started to let up, Dero's ice cream pit-stop beaconed and helped me to forget all of that. 

I'm going to miss these little perks once Bike Week is over, but for now I am enjoying meeting new folks that, like me, love to move on two wheels.

May is Bike Month

This month is National Bike Month, this week is Bike Week, tomorrow is Bike to Work Day -- where it will all coalesce into complete awesomeness. Fortunately I didn't destroy my bike in frustration earlier in the week as I took on some repairs that I had usually reserved for the bike shop when the coffers were a little more flush (pre-twins) -- and so have been able to enjoy riding in the nice weather the past couple of days.

I have to say, it has been cool to see a lot of 'non-riders' become 'riders' as they get out on their bikes to participate in the over 50 special events around town. Speaking of, I passed a bloke who's squeaky Trek seemed in bad need of a tune up (at the very least needed some drivetrain lube); should I have mentioned that there are several places around town offering free quick tune ups this week? Ever the reserved Scandinavian, I just pedaled along without comment in order to avoid any possibility of perceived offense. 

Today, it was great to happen upon one of the many commuter pit-stops provided by the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition throughout town this week to promote the MPLS Bike Week and bike commuting. I thank them for the morning snacks and the free bike lights and maps I was able to pick up. I snapped a few photos with my phone. (See how biking makes people happy!) I'll prominently display my new "I Biked" sticker this week and hope to bump into some of these nice folks again soon. 

April Showers

Pulled this great photo from @twinsix

https://twitter.com/bobbylama/status/461618757723365376

Been a weird spring, hoping for some May flowers about now. Lots of rain this week, mixed with snow. But we haven't been totally down. I got out for my first ride with the twins this week, and Sam was begging for more. 

Lots of happy faces all around. They have outgrown their helmets, so that's on the list (I didn't own one of my own until I was 30). They keep growing and are filling out nicely the Burley. We'll need a second before too long to accommodate them... Maybe they'll be riding tag-alongs  before we get to that. I taught myself to ride the summer before I turned 4 (I was so jealous of my older brother) so there is hope for that too. In May, they'll be 2.

Zapped Again

I wasn't going to, but then at the last minute decided to carry my bike to work with me today. I had a list of reasons for not biking today, needing to be clean shaven for a meeting and not wanting the hassle of bringing my shaving kit to work, not wanting to make another trek in 35 degrees, avoiding the prospect of a third flat tire in as many days due to spring road debris, etc. 

But as I rushed out the door (nearly late for the bus), I found myself heading for the garage rather than the bus stop. I wasn't going to, but then I grabbed the bike just so I could get it re-tagged at a Zap event that was taking place in my building today. I haven't been hearing the happy beep when passing he Dero Zap stations around town, and assumed there was something wrong with the reader. I have been riding for much of April, so was surprised to see when I checked my Zap profile yesterday that I hadn't been counted since April 2. I then looked at my bike and found that the fob was not broken, but just gone altogether. I assume it feel victim to the nastier than usual spring potholes. 

So at the last second I decide to carry my bike on the bus today, and was able to chase it down and get on. 

I'm glad that I did. Not just because I got re tagged (though I am reminded how much I hate the giant tag on my wheel), but because I had such a great ride home. Raining at 45 degrees feels like 28 degrees (especially when you are wearing shorts with the ice cold water spraying your hairy legs and the wind cutting you down to size). I was soaked and chilled when I got home, but was reminded how much I love to ride in the rain. I seem to focus more and breathe easier. It was glorious today. And was made even nicer by the sweet beep of the Zap station counting me among a community of bike lovers in the Twin Cities. 

Now I feel more motivated for tomorrow.

Getting Zap tagged again.

Big Adventure

I've had "Tequila" by The Champs playing in my head all day today, thanks to my local radio station, which played it to commemorate Pee Wee Herman's bike being sold for a small fortune on e-Bay yesterday. Not quite the hundred million billion dollars (or whatever) it went for $36,600 and free shipping. This brings back some memories. Thanks Pee Wee!

Ce n'est pas mardi gras aujourd'hui.

I

totally thought it was Mardi Gras the other day, and I even celebrated by thinking about that one Brazilian movie from the 60’s that I saw in a film studies class in college (Black Orpheus, 1959). My wife had also seen it in the same context (different university) and couldn’t think of where it took place, except that it what where that huge Jesus statue is. I am actually lucky enough to have been to Rio de Janeiro, which has the biggest statue of Jesus that I am aware of. It was in early March one year, in fact, so I was able to confirm that it was indeed Brazil where the movie took place. When I was there, Lent was in full force though (at least as far as Brazilians observe it), and I did not partake in any particular Carnival festivities. If you consider “thinking about a Brazilian art film” – and not even watching it – as  “celebrating Mardi Gras” you might be about as exciting as I am, and this blog is the perfect place for you.

But I digress.

Back to the French title of this post: I have heard the phrase as a dig or to tease someone who is dressed ridiculously or inappropriately, like calling them a clown (BTW also useful for the Oscar’s Red Carpet). This is how I have felt as I have tried to get out on the occasional ride this winter in an effort to beat the Polar Vortex, which keeps dipping down into the Lower 48. (I heard an NPR piece recently on how many Alaskans are lamenting the mild winter they are not enjoying.) Well AK– you can have it your PV back because I am going a bit stir crazy (and look ridiculous in my wife’s pink ski goggles)! 

Here are some photos from a recent ride. The Minnesota State Fairgrounds look even more like a weird carnival ghost town with all of the snow.

Sundog Days

For me, the rare gem during winter is the sundog. Due to so many extreme cold days, I have seen more sundogs this year than the rest of my life combined. Though they are sometimes feint, this morning the sundogs were particularly glorious, looking like 3 suns and a distinct halo over St. Paul. I wish I could have grabbed a photo to share it in its glory, but my iPhone’s lens is limited and I couldn’t get into a good position for a full shot, so I lifted a good representation of what it looked like (though the photo was taken by a professional in the more pristine setting of Denali: http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/winter-activities.htm).

I did get some partial photos earlier this winter and here is a link to some other people’s pics thanks to MPR:  http://blogs.mprnews.org/statewide/2013/12/sun-dogs/.

A sundog tells me that it is below zero F out, and today continues a string of subzero temps, I am not sure how many days total that makes this winter, but I suspect it would be easier to count the days it hasn't dipped below zero. I can think of perhaps two (if that is not true, well... it feels true). I have been able to get out on my bike during a few of them, but this bike commuter has been cooled by the weather. My hats off to the many bike commuters, heartier than me, I continue to see through the window of the bus – like the sundogs.

More on sundogs:

http://blogs.mprnews.org/updraft/2013/12/sunrise-surprise-incredible-sun-dogs-grace-morning-skies/