On September 10th, I will be riding in the Saint Paul Classic Bike Tour with my friend Steve. Money goes to the Neighborhood Energy Connection (NEC), and you can sponsor me to help raise even more!
The 30 mile trek starts at St. Thomas, follows the Mississippi River Road to Shepard Rd, through downtown St. Paul, up to Indian Mounds Park, down Johnson and Wheelock Parkways, past Lake Como, down Como Avenue, back to the River Road and St. Thomas.
It looks to be a great tour of St. Paul and I’m really looking forward to it. Now I just need to train! My 10-15 mile bike rides that I’ve been doing over the summer will be a breeze compared to this.
It’s not a super long bike ride, but the longest I’ve done in like ten years. Good thing it’s not really a race, since I might need to stop at Cossettas for a slice before I continue on with the rest of the ride!
Way to go Moe…. I have made the first donation. Good luck on the ride.
Thanks Zamman!!!
Went on a nice ride tonight with Steve, a 16 mile trek along the short route for the St. Paul Classic Bike Tour (15 miles).
Steve is definitely a faster biker than I am, but I did my best and with the exception that I had to walk up the last third of the Ramsey hill, I did a decent job of keeping up with him.
But I have a lot of work to do before the bike tour.
I’ve done this ride for the last five years, don’t worry about training. If you can ride 10 miles, you’re fine for the St. Paul Classic — Erin rode in it in 03 completely hung over after spending the previous night partying with your Fiance, I believe (Amy’s bridal shower?), and she finished. My annual joke is that I actually take in more calories than I burn as they have food stops every few miles with great free food from local places.
Of course, if you elect to work hard and ride the whole loop in one shot it’s more difficult… but it is a great tour of St. Paul, one of the things I’ll miss most after leaving — I rode the whole loop alone the weekend before we moved.
As for Ramsey Hill, the trick is to time that stoplight right at the base correctly so that you can get momentum from the overpass and cruise up the first third. Don’t shift up until you get to that driveway about half way up the hill, then one should have enough in the tank (at least I usually do) to finish it off. It took me many failed attempts before I figured out a strategy that works for that hill.
Have fun though, I can’t make it down there this year to ride in it b/c we’re going to be in the cities for two other weekends in September already — Labor Day weekend for the fair and also the last weekend because there’s this wedding happening with some friends of ours. Maybe I’ll see you there?
Note: when I said “don’t worry about training” I meant don’t worry that you haven’t trained enough — the thing is designed so that pretty much everyone finishes by hook or by crook.
Awesome tips for the hill Alex! Thanks.
I have two great stories for past successes. The first time I did it, I quit half way up, got off my bike and started walking. After a few steps, I felt embarrassed, so I got back on and started biking again. I made it, but starting from zero, half way up, was killer.
The second time, J-Me and I had been biking and stopped at Thomas McGovern’s for a burger and a couple pints of Guinness. For some reason, we though it would be a good idea to try the hill immediately after. We made it, but crashed at the park on the top for a good half hour or so.
Unfortunately I didn’t make it up this week. I had to walk it. My excuse was that my handlebars were wet and slippery from sweating and humidity, so I couldn’t use my arms to help my legs. Steve cruised up the hill without slowing down, but I just couldn’t do it.
Thankfully we don’t have to do the hill for the tour.