Hi, I used to live in Chicago and once in a while there would be these large group bike rides, usually organized by a collective, but I would find out word-of-mouth. Is there anything like this here? Like events that happen where we all get on our bikes and ride around the city? Thanks!

thanks to the folks in this subreddit who shared their advice about renting a bike in minneapolis! because i know the question comes up in this subreddit from time to time, here's the resulting meet minneapolis guide. hope it's helpful!

I want to ride a century (miles) for the first time ever this summer, does anyone have a good loop that starts (or goes near) the Richfield Menards by 494?

Thank you!

I live in SLP, so before LRT construction started I'd take the loop starting at Wooddale, heading West towards Hopkins, back up the North Cedar Lake Trail and across on the Kenilworth before coming back down the Greenway. This was one of my favorite quick weekday evening rides. Natural and pretty quiet, great scenery, relatively flat. During construction I moved to another area in the city, so I did a lot of riding on the North Cedar Lake Trail just up to the Hopkins Depot and back home, so I wasn't super aware of what the trail conditions were looking like between the Depot and the Greenway.

The trails are finally open enough and the remaining detours easy-ish to understand so I did most of the loop this week for the first time (not Kenilworth, obviously, just came back along Cedar Lake). I was sad at the changes-no more woody, shaded, flat path between the Depot and the lakes-very urban, even in SLP, more limited tree cover, and a lot more hills due to the overpasses at each LRT station.

Don't get me wrong, it's nice to be able to do a good loop again in the evening without having to intentionally add segments to get miles, or rack the bike and drive out to another trail. And the LRT, when completed will be good for the community (hopefully). But I'll definitely miss those shady trails that I so enjoyed when I first moved to SLP.

Just got chased over a mile off my route because I was followed by someone who cut me off coming off of the 35 off ramp onto Stinson. I proceeded to flick them off and they chose to roll down their window screeching threats me for several minutes, swerving toward me while I was on trail, and follow me for over 3/4+ a mile before whipping an illegal U-turn. I was forced to divert over a 30+ min off route to ensure I didn't see them again. I ended up calling 911. Looking back, ABSOLUTELY wasn't worth flicking them off to tell them they're wrong and calling out their shitty behavior. Forget it, I am just going to deal with the driver bullshit thrown at me for now on, I am done trying to correct or call out poor behavior. I am not going to be chased via a car while on my bike. This isn't Dazed and Confused. I hate that I now feel unsafe riding my bike, I'm a bit shoot to be honest. I am not looking to have to carry protection on my bike, but if I need pepper spray I guess I might have to carry it.

Has anyone gone to Human Powered Health for a bike fit? If so what where your thought? Any other recommendations for bike fits in the area would be great!

Hey gang, I have a question and I figured this would be the place to go.

Recently I was driving downstream on West River Parkway. (with my bike in the back headed for some trails)

I noticed a small, lycra clad group that was riding in the road instead of on the paved bike trail. It was causing some trouble for cars - I know it's legal of course, but it seemed dangerous.

I just was curious why folks would choose to ride in the road instead of on the big paved trail that runs alongside of the entire length.

No hate, no snark, pure curiosity. Just wondered why they would choose that. I figured there was a reason that I just didn't understand?

Hey all, just wanted to let you know that the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota is launching a new ride this year following the "owner" of the Saint Paul Classic deciding not to renew their contract with the organization.

This gave us a great opportunity to host the ride we've always wanted to do that encompasses both Minneapolis AND Saint Paul with a signature 46 mile route that includes most of the Grand Rounds of Mpls and Grand Round (singular for some reason) of St. Paul. Really hope many of you can join us.

There is a 20 mile option (easily customizable to 30 miles) and even a super affordable group start 6.6 mile new-rider family-friendly party route.

This ride directly supports programming like BikeMN's Adult Learn to Ride programs and other advocacy initiatives around the state.

Register here or learn more on the BikeMN website.

https://preview.redd.it/8nn1ev5mj70d1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4839b22690511045fe9c661069470493979ca780

I’ve ridden the Luce Line trail in the metro out to Wayzata but I’m interested in going all the way out to Cosmos. Out and back in 1 day is a bit ambitious with my current fitness. Has anyone bikepacked out there and where did you camp? What is the surface like, especially with the mowed grass section? Thanks!

I just moved to the southwest side of the cities and I’m looking for some longer (50-80 miles) bike friendly routes in the area. Preferably on bike friendly roads or trails. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Saw I’m missing the Bonesaw and Joyful riders, any others going on?

Planning to rent a bike so any suggestions there would be great too.

It’s going to be a gorgeous day today, in case you wanted to ride it one last time this year.

Hi y'all! Longtime lurker, first-time poster. I'm a reporter for the Star Tribune and I'm writing a short and simple guide for motorists as Bike to Work Week kicks into gear. I feel like there are lots of how-to guides for cyclists but not enough articles or stories that call attention to drivers and what they should be doing.

My initial thoughts:

Your car weighs 2 tons. Drive like it

Check your blind spots -- see above

Maybe don't take shortcuts through residential side streets?

I know you've also got thoughts, so please let me know! Either comment on this thread or shoot me a DM. Here's my author bio for the sake of identity verification.

Hey all, I'm currently on my 3rd bike in about 5 years and I'm kind of at my wits end on how to lock it up securely. I have an old elevator gate in my building that I was locking up to, and the first time, someone broke in and cut my lock, second time they cut the gate itself.

I got a heavier lock, but without the gate, I'm kind of limited for things to lock to. There's a wood banister on the stairs, but it seems like that could be cut/broken fairly easily. I thought about maybe getting a big 8' ladder in the hallway and locking it to that, do you think that would work, or would they actually try to get away with the bike and the ladder together?

The alternative, I guess would be to lock it to signpost on my busy street, but that doesn't seem like a great idea either (plus I'd rather my bike live indoors.) What do you all do? I'm especially curious about those who live in high-traffic neighborhoods around the cities. Thanks for your suggestions!

Is anyone aware of any shops in town that take commission for custom fabricating bike parts/accessories? Effectively looking for a custom made long tail cargo bike rack for a specific use case. I'm familiar with a few shops out west that'll do it, but I prefer local.

See title. I have an E-Bike that has about ~40 mile capacity and I'd like to bike the whole Grand Rounds at some point.

I have a e bike with 2.4" tires would that fit on the bike rack?

Who are the city engineers in Minneapolis and St Paul who are responsible for designing bike infrastructure? Is there a lead bike engineer in each city who just works on multimodal projects? Are the cities’ head engineers, who ultimately make the decisions to sign off on projects, supportive of safe biking infrastructure?

Hi everyone! I’m moving back to Minneapolis July 1st and would like to join some group rides and potentially a crit team!

I’m wondering what group rides there are in the cities that I can meet some of you all at. I’m typically rolling around the 20-25 mph mark.

Can’t wait to be back :)

Hey all, I’m doing tour de lucè for the first time this year and I’m super excited. Is there a standard route to hit all 8 locations or is it just create your own?

I know I could go to my local shop and ask them to knock out this bearing and they’d do it for free, but I feel bad going and getting free work done and right now there isn’t really anything I need to buy. I also don’t really want to buy a new tool for this one time I need it, I’m not knocking out bearings and brackets that often.