Hey all,
I'm relocating from Seattle to MPLS this summer for grad school.

Any tips, recommendations, etc?
Is there a big bicycle culture there?
Do drivers share the road?
Good LBSs? Recomendations?
What is it like in winter? Can I use my fixie (42:16) or should I convert my mtn to a SS and go super low gearing?

Off-topic:
Any cool neighborhood tips? I'm looking for an artist live/work studio as well. If anyone knows anything about the art community there that would be a HUGE help.

Mess gigs? I'll be going to school in St. Paul and a friend from there mentioned Metro Legal? What are the working conditions like? Are you 1099 or W2?

Thank you in advance if any of you can answer any of my questions. I'm freaked out at leaving Seattle, but excited at the potential of MPLS.

There's a huge bike culture there, it's home of QBP, Surly, etc.

Here's some links for tracking down info:
www.carsrcoffins.com
www.oneononebike.com
www.surlybikes.com/surlyblog.htm

Might want to bring some hills with you. Look for a place in Uptown.

Uptown is getting old and busted... I had a decent apartment there and the building sold to new owners who nearly doubled the rent- granted I had a bargain to begin with, but the bang for the buck factor is a bit low. Northeast is a better value- or in my case, I moved downtown after the upscale rental market collapsed- and I had a luxury apt begging me to move in with huge discounts and incentives.

St. Paul probably has the most affordable lofts, but then you'd be living in St. Paul. Actual artists tend to live in art lofts in St. Paul...

There is quite a bit of bike culture here... another fixed-oriented shop is The Hub.

There's a velodrome in Blaine... FWIW.

The Greenway is an amazing project that makes biking faster than driving... and they are about to spend another bazillion dollars with a bridge over Hiawatha.

Winter riding is winter riding- the thing is, we have a real winter here- not some temperate 40 degree weather. It gets very cold- way below zero- and it is just too cold to ride as far as I'm concerned. I can handle the 20s... but much below that, no thanks.

If you want hills, go to St. Paul.

Take a picture of Mt. Rainier before you leave!

man, i'm so jealous. i'm waiting to hear back about grad school on the coasts and its driving me crazy! sorry off topic. by the way grad school may bring me out to seattle. how is the messenger work scene like there if i were to go that route?

Gads, I left Seattle for grad school out east and cried after crossing over the Cascades. It's a scary world out there. But yeah I had some great experiences that I wouldn't trade. MPLS seems to have some very nice bike peeps. Get your degree and get back soon!

Well that's too bad. I loved living in Uptown. If I ever move back, I know it won't be to St. Paul. That's where the in-laws live, and I need at least one major river between me and them.

Yup, tons of bikers everywhere.

Most of the ones I see do. They're used to seeing bikes, and there are bike lanes on a lot of streets. I don't encounter agro drivers very often.

OneOnOne is the best shop on the planet IMO. They did an emergency wheel true for me while I waited a few weeks back and only charged me $8! The Hub is pretty cool, too. There's also Freewheel Bikes and Kenwood Cyclery. There are a ton more, but those are the ones I go to the most.

Cold and wind are your main enemies in the winter. They're pretty good about plowing at least the main streets right after it snows. I did this winter on 700x23c slicks...

Since you're going to be going to school in St. Paul, I'd probably look for a studio there as others have suggested. I don't spend much time over there, but it seems like a more laid back city.

I don't know the specifics on working conditions, but it's pretty hard to get a gig doing it. Too many messengers for the amount of work, so they pretty much keep people out.

Anyways, yeah, it's a great town for bikes. There are paths/lanes all over the place, and even where there aren't lanes most of the roads are pretty safe and the drivers OK. It's also really flat, which is great if you're riding a fix.

I loved it too... and I'm still in Mpls, but in a house as far SW as you can get (Edina is across the street). I'd never consider living in St. Paul... but have some friends who live in lowertown art lofts. Trouble is, there is no real neighborhood in DT St Paul.

Uptown...it's rather yuppified, and getting pricey. Northeast is good in terms of studio/living spaces, but if you're going to school in St. Paul you might want to look for a place in Midway. The neighborhood might be considered a little sketchy, but as the name suggests, it's a halfway point between St Paul & Mpls. Near the Turf Club!

I run 42/16 on my fixie. We have fewer hills than Seattle, so fear not. Skinny tires cut through snow quite well, but people ride all kinds of bikes here, through all seasons. My favorite shops are One on One & Kenwood Cyclery, but there's a bike shop in virtually every neighborhood. In St. Paul, there's the Sibley Bike Co-op, which is very cool.

I personally like St. Paul alot, everything over there seems really laid-back, people, atmosphere, etc. I really do not know much about all the different areas here, I'm from the Stl and only have been here two years. I bike just about everywhere around town and it's very scenic, easy as pie....
Andrew

Yikes! You are headed the wrong way. Clear your head and rethink.

seriously. i came here for grad school and i'm not looking forward to having to leave (still got a few more years, though!).

the west bank is bicycle mecca. every other neighborhood is just wishing.

Huh, I've had more problems with cars on the west bank than anywhere else. I think most of the cities are pretty good though...

BTW ink1373, you have a damn nice looking GT - that's saying something coming from me, since I usually don't like bikes without lugs...

i don't usually like bikes without lugs either.

As mentioned, it gets cold. I did a screenshot from the coldest ride home I did this year (1/13/05):


I recommend doing some map searches in google. Otherwise, there are useful sites for the commuting life:

Metro Commuter Services
Upper Midwest Cycling site has a bunch of links

Good luck.

- Glenn

The whole city seems to be going thru a gentrification period right now. You will have to bring alot of money if you want to live uptown minneapolis. What uni/college are you attending? Try finding a place on grand ave or near grand ave. As for biking east and west river road along the mississippi road. There are also 3 lakes in minneapolis (harriet, isle, cant think of last one) but you should definitly ride around them all in one ride. The U of M seems to have a cult following to fixie.

it only seems like the U of M has a cult fixie following. It's the people who LIVE on the west bank, not the stupid transient stupid stupid students. The students all ride mountain bikes with the seat a foot lower than it should be. Real westbankers ride fixies, old ****piles, and welded creations.

Exactly,
I ride through the U of M almost everyday, and not one student is on a fix. Wait, this thread is not about that school.
Anyway, I guess it depends on how much you can spend for rent, and if your school is in St. Paul, it kind of narrows it down as far as location. IMHO
Parts of south Mpls is okay and somewhat cheap. If you are just looking for a room then you can probably find something at the Seward Cafe. They always have rooms for rent posted on the bulletin board. Also a good way to meet people.

What are you talking about? Do you live in Mpls? Was I talking to you anyway?
I was just trying to offer some feedback 'cause I like it alot here. Maybe you should clear YOUR head and rethink.......

and he wasn't talking to you either. go to the threaded mode and you'll see that his reply was to the OP.

Thanks for the great tips and suggestions guys. I'll for sure check out some of those shops.

I spaced on checking back here with the trauma of leaving Seattle and finding a mess gig in Sacramento.
Too many messengers and not enough gigs huh? Same story all over. Why would anyone want to do this job anyway...oh wait a sec...

Still, I can't wait to get to MPLS.
Any cool bicycle bars in St Paul? You know the kind, the ones with the piles of bikes outside.

You are a lucky dude. I would love to go back, but I'd have to find a job there somehow. Miss the nice seasons there.