Mini City Slickers - A RUSA Populaire

Last weekend I participated in my first RUSA Populaire, the Mini City Slickers 125k. The event closely followed the route I rode in 2018 for the ACP brevet with the same name (minus the 'Mini'). The shorter distance was ideal as April proved to be a horrible month for training, plus there were planned activities later in the day that necessitated I be off the bike by mid-afternoon.

About 25 riders arrived at the East Lake St. Dunn's Brothers for the start of the ride. The weather was fantastic, with clear skies and a light wind from the southeast. Following a group photo (the first for the Minnesota Randonneurs since 2019) we were off, heading south along roads and trails running parallel to the Mississippi River.

(A great morning for a ride)

(Randonneuring again!)

(Trails next to rivers...   ...a common theme on this route)

(A short stretch of gravel on the way to Afton)

(River Road to the west of St. Croix River after an exhilarating descent)

(A wonderful bike/ped bridge heading into Stillwater)

(Heading north on Brown's Creek State Trail)

(On the way to North St. Paul on the Gateway State Trail)

(Bumpy trails loosened a fender attachment. All fixed following a quick stop!)

(Biking in the Como Park neighborhood)

(Crossing the Mississippi River with downtown Minneapolis in the distance)

All went well on this excellent early-season ride. I'm really happy the populaire option was available, as the shortened distance allowed for ample transition time for a return to St. Paul that evening.

(Enjoying time with Susan at Allianz Field.  Go Loons!) 

RUSA 20th Anniversary Ride

Last weekend the Minnesota Randonneurs hosted a RUSA 20^th Anniversary Ride.  I  happened to be in town, thanks to a scheduled trip to Minneapolis to assist my daughter’s return to law school.  One of over 50 such events throughout the country, it was an opportunity to partake in an ‘audax style’ ride in celebration of the growing sport of randonneuring throughout the United States.  As all of the 102 km route was in the Twin Cities, the ride also provided another chance to learn more about the excellent trail network in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Starting promptly at 8:00 a.m., eight of us left the America Inn parking lot in Apple Valley, MN under smoky skies thanks to recent Canadian wildfires.

(Group photo)

(Heading out, audax style)

After navigating mostly quite roads, we transitioned to trails along the Minnesota River.  The pace was quicker than expected, but given projected afternoon temperatures in the high 80s it made sense to quickly cover ground while conditions were cooler.

(Moving briskly along the Black Dog Trail)

Our first control was at the Minnehaha Falls Restaurant.  This was a timely stop for a bathroom break and a chance to top-off our water bottles.

(Getting ready to leave the first control)

Following the first control we quickly turned onto the Greenway Trail, which was unsurprisingly busy for a Saturday morning.  It was great to see so many different types of bicyclists sharing the trail.

(Overpass to the Greenway Trail with downtown Minneapolis in the background)

(Greenway Trail)

Leaving the trail for Lake of the Isles Parkway, we passed by ornate lakeside homes.  Here, we completed our only informational control of the ride, which was to record the address of the house used by Mary Richards in the Mary Tyler Moore Show.  I soon learned from the locals that it was the house on Kenwood Parkway with no street numbers.  Trick question!

(Mary's sitcom house in the background)

From the neighborhood we moved onto the Cedar Regional Trail, underneath Target Field, and then onto the Stone Arch Bridge to pass over the Mississippi River.

(Target Field)

(Stone Arch Bridge)

The bridge was full of pedestrians and bicyclists, so we slowed our pace to accommodate the additional traffic.  Once we crossed the bridge we headed south on the Dinkytown Greenway until we reached Marshall Avenue and our second control, Izzy’s Ice Cream Parlor.

(Ice cream anyone?)

Izzy’s was closed when we arrived (opened at 11 a.m.), so we opted for pastries and coffee at a nearby café.  This was the only time we rested during the ride.

Follow the control we headed east on Summit Avenue until reaching the state capitol, briefly passing by St. Paul Cathedral before navigating downtown steets on our way to the bike trail along Wabasha Street.  After crossing the Mississippi River one last time, we headed south along the Big Rivers Regional Trail, retracing some of our route earlier in the day.

(Moving quickly south, with the Mississippi River to our right)

The remainder of the ride was uneventful following roads with low-to-moderate traffic.  By the time we arrived back to our starting point the air temperature was getting warm enough to be uncomfortable, thanks in large part to an absence of wind.  Happy to be done, my ride arrived shortly after collecting a 20-year RUSA medallion.  It was a good day!

City Slickers 200k

The City Slickers 200k provides a wonderful opportunity to use a few (of the many) bike-ped trails in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding communities.  At 200k with minimal climbing, it’s an ideal early-season brevet.  It’s also a popular brevet (30+ riders this year), so there’s a good chance of riding with a local cyclist who knows the route.

This is a ride I’ve wanted to do since joining the Minnesota Randonneurs, and fortunately, a lapse in my work schedule provided an opportunity to participate this year.  I’m glad it worked out…   …the brevet will be remembered for helping a new randonneur complete his first 200k.

Below are a few photos.  Enjoy!  The City Slickers 200k is highly recommended!

(Randonneurs gather at the Lake Street Dunn Brothers)

(Rob Welsh, Minnesota Randonneurs RBA, provides an overview of the day)

(Riding with velomobiles...  ...a first!)

(Crossing the Minnesota River en route to Ft. Snelling State Park)

(Barges along the Mississippi River)

(Crossing the Mississippi River)

(Quickly in a rural setting on the way to Afton...  ...glad for the wide shoulder)

(Freshly tilled fields ready for planting)

(A small section of gravel...  ...I saw a cardinal on this stretch of road)

(Passing through Hudson, WI)

(Crossing the St. Croix River)

(Heading west after a brief stop in Stillwater)

(Passing by the 'World's Largest Snowman' in North St. Paul)

(Brief detour before crossing the Mississippi River)

(A much narrower river only a few miles upstream from the earlier crossing)

(Riding near Maple Grove...   ...more excellent trails)

(Storm approaching from the west)

(Rain and wind passed in time to enjoy the iconic Grain Belt Beer sign)

(Crossing the Mississippi River one last time, with downtown Minneapolis in the background)