Great Lakes - Minneapolis Saturday Night Ride Prologue?

I was thinking about having a Saturday Night Ride pre-ride this Saturday for those of us who want to cram a few high-speed miles in before the "official" Saturday Night Ride starts. My thought for the route was to start at the head of the paved Greenway (29th and 5th Ave. S) and to do the Greenway/Cedar Lake Trail loop and then ride through downtown, 10th St. to Hennepin Ave., then through St. Anthony Main on Main St. SE, then up 3th Ave SE to 2nd St. SE to University Ave. to the ride. I figure that's around 20 miles, so with one short beer stop on the North shore of Cedar lake it should take around 90 minutes plus or minus 15. We'd want to get under way at 19:45 to be at the Saturday Night Ride spot around 21:15. Any takers?

Hmm... Perhaps. Perhaps start a little earlier, go a little less distance and make a longer beer stop in downtown? I'd like to avoid the brick and cobblestones, too.

Sure. We could start at the same place at 19:30, head up Kenilworth trail, go downtown, take East Hennepin to Como and take 15th back to Dinkytown. If we're running late, we can head over on University instead. Cobblestones build character.

Cobblestones build calluses.

Cobblestones build calluses.

Same thing right?

Just saw your posts. Maybe by know you know that the Greenway is paved all the way from 5th to the light rail trial gives you a nice loop all the way to Hopkins, downtown the LRT trail to the greenway.

What race are you talking about that is every Sat?

Cheers,
Dusk

Just saw your posts. Maybe by know you know that the Greenway is paved all the way from 5th to the light rail trial gives you a nice loop all the way to Hopkins, downtown the LRT trail to the greenway.

What race are you talking about that is every Sat?

Cheers,
Dusk

Last I checked, it was still closed - it might be open now. I know that they kicked my brother off of it last week when he tried to ride it during the day.

It's just a ride every Sat, starts up at 9pm at the Dinkytown McDonalds and goes wherever. Lots of drinking and randomness, decent speed most of the time. It often ends with a bit of off-road riding and a fire. We rode the closed part of the Greenway last week.

I also rode the Greenway the week of 18-22 and they were paving that day. The worker I talked with told me that the surface was too warm and soft for the narrow tires.... He was nice about asking me not to ride it that day. He told me it will have the closed signs up until they get the lights and emergency phones online.

I did ride it last Wednesday and Friday during the day. No workers around but passed/met a few other riders.

Cheers,
Dusk

I think I've mentioned this in another thread, but for completeness, I'll say it again here. We'll do another prologue ride next Saturday, 5th Ave. S and the Greenway, at 19:30. HereNT, we can discuss changing the time during the Saturday night ride; I don't want to reschedule it until then in case someone at the ride last night wants to be there and isn't reading this thread.

Cool - I actually might not be able to make it this week. I'll probaby be doing some OT at work. I'll most likely ditch out early on the ride proper, since I'll be all tired and sober... :(

Just a reminder, even if HereNT decides to stay home and cope with his second day of sobriety, I'll be at the Greenway and 5th Ave. S at 19:30 tomorrow night regardless of how much riding I do during the day on Saturday. I guess the Greenway headed East official opens tomorrow, so maybe we'll go that way. Regardless, I'll see you Saturday night people on Saturday night.

I can't be there this week. Anyone else is welcome to go.

I am down.. anyone else?

where this ride go? what kind of madness takes place?

rattking seemed to want to ride early. I'm going to be working again, so I probably won't make it... I'll know tomorrow.

alright how is this for a ride idea:

Y'all ride out to downtown St. Paul (the depot perhaps), where I meet up with you, then we all ride back to dinkytown?

I am ditching both rides this week. Need something that isn't riding....

You all have fun.

where this ride go? what kind of madness takes place?

We meet up every Saturday night in the Dinkytown McDonalds parking lot (there's a liquor store next door). The ride leaves somewhere between 9-10 pm. It's beer/bar friendly (but not everyone drinks), the destination and the number of people changes from week to week. It's a great time--maybe we'll see you there?

I'm out of town, enjoying that fun experience that is riding in shorts. If I were in Minneapolis, I'd vote for trystero's idea and make everyone haul ass to St. Paul and back prior to the 21:00 ride.

If I were in Minneapolis, I'd vote for trystero's idea and make everyone haul ass to St. Paul and back prior to the 21:00 ride.

Others in favor of this idea would have to call me if you want to meet up with me and/or stop at the depot (it is locked at that hour). Chuck and Tim both have my #. E-mailing me would be useless, as I'm off line 'til Monday.

Is anyone up for some pre-Saturday night ride riding this week? 19:30 or so. I'm open for suggestions on a meeting place.

Is anyone up for some pre-Saturday night ride riding this week? 19:30 or so. I'm open for suggestions on a meeting place.

Can't we just insist on a longer ride? Wouldn't that make more sense? We'll set a destination, so even if some people are riding slower, we'll all meet up okay.

I seem to recal you mentioning you were scouting a destination - find anything?

Well, we can try to insist, but that doesn't necessarily mean it'll happen. If the group fragments do to pacing, someone needs to insure that both groups know how to get to a destination. I don't think I know anyone capable of such a feat of organization.

Of course, if I'm hurting any old-timers feelings about talking about a pre-ride, I'm happy to can the idea. My idea was merely to wear out some of the more impatient riders a bit.

Finally, I like the idea of riding out to St. Paul to meet poor Red and any other St. Paulites who are stuck making the trek to Minneapolis to have some fun all by themselves.

Poor? Your sympathy bruises my ego. Nevertheless I'd be all for it. That way I wouldn't have to haul around a thick glass one liter bottle all night (or am I jumping the gun on that one?).

There is a way to make that bottle lighter...

Yeah. But carbon fiber is so expensive.

That makes your bike lighter. I was thinking more along the lines of drinking what's in the bottle... It would make your body heavier for an hour or two, but that wouldn't last too long. I'm sure it would be feeding plant life by the time the fire died...

Any takers on a 19:30 ride tomorrow? If not, trystero, I can meet you somewhere in St. Paul to make the swap and we can head back to campus together. But there is a problem with the rum; I didn't purchase exactly what I thought I did, so the only 2yr. bottle I had was accidently gifted to my ride from the airport (when you make someone pick you up at 01:45, you better have booze) so I'll be happy to give you a bottle of Cruzan Diamond (5yr) instead. Let me know.

I'll be at the Depot (9th and Sibley St. @ the South end of the Building) at around 7:45. If I don't see anyone by 8:15, I may leave without you. And the more 'spensive rum is fine with me.

Right. I'll see you around that time.

I'm assuming that's in St. Paul... I'll hit 29th and 5th and see if anyone's there. The new section of the Greenway is closed (at least as of 11 last night) so towards Uptown is the only option...

I'm assuming that's in St. Paul... I'll hit 29th and 5th and see if anyone's there. The new section of the Greenway is closed (at least as of 11 last night) so towards Uptown is the only option...

I wasn't planning on being there at all tonight since there don't seem to be any takers. Are you going to try to meet us in St. Paul?

Alright, gilby and I are out here at the Depot. Where are are you?

Nevermind...

Okay, that managed to work out and was a fun ride. Anyone have any thoughts about next Saturday?

Uh, not St. Paul. I'm a little sore today. Maybe two weeks from now.

Rattking wants in on a pre-ride. I think Gilby would be in too. I'll try to scout out a destination of some sort this week...


Oops - forgot that my sister in law is having a birthday party next weekend. She's promised that it will be over in time for me to hit the Sat ride, but I don't think I'll make the pre-ride. :( I'd be down for a weekday night ride sometime this week if anyone is up for it...

Anyone want to do this this week? Seeing as how it's probably going to be steadily dropping in temp over the night, it would probably be good to get some miles in before it gets really frigid...

I'm a definite maybe. There are shennanigans afoot that I may need to be involved in. I'll know more by noon tomorrow.

I'll be there. If anyone shows, we'll ride Otherwise, I'm going home for a nap and then the usual 21:00 ride.

See you at 7:30 at the same place on the Greenway, then?

Yep