r/CyclingMSP

I've been looking at e-bike options and am drawn to the idea of saving some money by turning my hybrid into an e-bike with a conversion kit. However, I noticed that Freewheel has a policy on their website that they don't work on e-motors that they don't carry. I called to clarify their position, hoping I could maybe attempt one on my own and get some assistance if I got stuck.

Not only are they unable to help with conversions, they don't work *at all* on bikes that have been converted, whether the service is e-bike related or not. The rep said that if you're thinking of doing a conversion you should be comfortable being that bike's sole mechanic for the remainder of its life. They also said that other LBS's are adopting similar policies, like Erik's.

I'm definitely not an experienced bike mechanic, and I enjoy the luxury of being able to take my bike to local places for tune ups and basic work. Is this a terrible idea? Are there places around the Twin Cities that don't mind working on conversions? I'm interested in hearing other peoples' experiences.

Looking for a group to ride the 100 mile road (or gravel hybrid, if a group already exists) this weekend. Trying to break my sub-5 hour century mark on the road, which I know I can do, but probably not do alone, but with a coordinated paceline it shouldn't be too bad. If it's the gravel version maybe sub 6 hours? Don't have a great sense of that course. Post here or DM me if interested.

Got hit by a car on my ride today. I was crossing a street in a cross walk with a walk signal, on an off the road bike path. The car turned right, while I was crossing and I couldn’t break fast enough… I hit the side of the car and went down. Somehow I wasn’t injured… we will see tomorrow.

The driver pulled over instantly and was immediately apologetic and making sure I was okay - offered to call an ambulance and I have all of their info. Bike is shifting poorly but nothing obviously broken. I plan on getting it looked over and the driver was more than willing to pay for any repairs etc.

What else should you do in that situation?

I noticed many drivers not looking both ways to make right turns at intersections on my ride and just had a bad feeling…wild. I feel safer on the actual roads at this point.

I ride a lot of gravel and dirt in SE MN and northern WI. Routes are usually 50-80 miles, 3-6k feet of climbing and maybe a 12mph average. Offering to take/guide 1-2 people if there’s anyone that’s wanted to do this but is hesitant because of safety, fear of mechanical breakdown, or lack of transport. I mostly listen to music and meditate so I don’t mind a chatty drive but i listen to music or nature on the ride. Have satellite phone and carry lots of tools/spares. I’m riding 75 out of Spring Grove Saturday. DM me if interested. I’m in the NE metro but willing to pick up if not too far out of the way.

Don't be like me and thought that those trenches were due to incoming speed bumps - that's separate

There was a bike left in my yard and I would like to try to find the owner. It’s a white trek multitrack 720. I have searched the pages for a missing bike reported and plan to call 311 to report it found. Is there anything else I can do?

Every year people from Minnesota come to the State Fairgrounds and endure high prices, traffic jams and crowds so they can walk around a massive, pedestrian only town.

Outside of the fair, some of these people support expanded trail systems, sidewalks, bike lanes, and other pedestrian-friendly initiative. However some do not.

I find this interesting.

Many people (especially white suburbanites who like bicycling is inherently the most dangerous activity one can commit) have recently balked and felt “afraid” after seeing a recent trend called Lime @ 9, in which a huge cluster of people all rent a lime scooter and ride in a large group.

These types of large rides are not uncommon and have been around since the 90s, and are commonly called “critical mass” rides. They followed the exact replica of the new Lime @ 9, get a bunch of people on bikes and scooters and just block the streets in order to advocate for more bicycle infrastructure and build a better bicycling community.

Unfortunately, the popularity of the Lime @ 9 has a much higher percentage of BIPOC people than the critical masses of the past. This has placed this critical mass ride into a nasty category of police mass surveillance, and deep amounts of racism.

The city of Minneapolis has recently implemented a restriction on going to the next Lime @ 9 at the US bank stadium for lime scooters. This was done because the critical mass is working and the city of Minneapolis wants to ensure that BIPOC people are unable to protest. This is blatant racism and must be pushed back against.

The next Lime @ 9 meet up is at 9 pm this Friday at US bank Stadium, if you are able, you should go, your family should go, everyone should go to show the city that you support critical mass rides, since Minneapolis doesn’t want it to work, and wants to ensure that BIPOC people have a difficult time going.

You don’t need a lime scooter to go, bring a bike, bring a scooter, bring your feet, whatever, just go.

Facial recognition and advance tracking technology is likely to be used by the Minneapolis police (even though that is illegal, but Minneapolis can make Hennepin County do this tracking) bring a face mask if you don’t want to be tracked as easily.

I've been to Freewheel already to test a few but I haven't tried Erics or Recovery yet. Recovery told me no test rides.

I found this Bike Farmer video interesting in all kinds of ways.

https://youtu.be/AtK-cYiJ6Bo?si=bbxXfHt3dtJKylsP

Here's a pic of a poster I purchased some years ago at one of the Art Crank exhibits.

https://preview.redd.it/0so06f4njjjh1.jpg?width=2833&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4788d37d1c7810ede8ccfa1cb956e27a1565846f