Archive for the ‘BICYCLING MINNEAPOLIS’ Category
On the Road……In front of the Minnesota Zen Center
Show on mapI made this picture and only later discovered I had stopped right in front of the Minnesota Zen Center.
Too bad my visit was so short. I could have sat zazen and listened to a dharma talk by the center’s teacher — an early student of Suzuki Roshi (founder of the San Francisco Zen Center).
Click here for a rare video of Suzuki Roshi.
On the Road……Shoreline flora along Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis
I’m not too familiar with mid-western flora.
On the Road……Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, Minneapolis
Minneapolis shares something with my beloved Marin County.
Each is one of the four select communities chosen to be part of the NTPP (Non-motorized Transportation Pilot Project), a $100 million federal program to test how infrastructure improvements can increase rates of bicycling and walking.
I was in Minneapolis just briefly, but I still picked up a strong bicycle culture (Bicycling Magazine named it the most bike-friendly city in the country).
I circled Lake Calhoun (part of the 50-mile Grand Rounds Scenic Byway) and explored adjacent neighborhoods.
I was a bit confused, however, by some of the signage and rules. The bike path circling the Lake is one-way (note the picture above)!
This is great for recreational use, but for transportation purposes it makes it less useful as a bike boulevard or arterial.
On the Road……Rainstorm over Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis
I had hoped to spend a day and a half exploring Minneapolis by bike. But the severe weather (some areas of Minnesota received 10″ of rain over the two-day period) partially quashed those plans.
Nonetheless, I overcame my inertia (and lack of full rain gear) to still manage some wet weather explorations on the new Brompton.
On the Road……Uptown, Minneapolis and Calhoun Cycle
My Brompton was inspected by TSA baggage handlers (they left their dreaded, yet polite calling card).
Whether it was the result of a poor re-packing job by TSA Screener #101906 I cannot say, but the spokes and fender stays of the front wheel emerged a little unhappy after the 3.5 hour San Francisco-to-Minneapolis flight.
My friend in Minneapolis just happens to lives about 2 miles away from Calhoun Cycle, a local Brompton dealer. I rode over in a pouring rainstorm and Kody (pictured above) trued the wheel and straightened the bent fender stay.
The cost: $5!
The place exudes a pleasant alternative transportation, indie bike shop vibe. Plus, it’s connected through a common wall opening to a Dunn Brothers Coffee house (kind of a mid-western Peet’s, but with on-site roasting).
Here’s Calhoun Cycle’s philosophy (from their website):
We think spinning on a bike is a great way to physical, emotional and spiritual fitness. Reducing pollution, road congestion and parking stress are icing on the cake. The bicycles and accessories we sell are designed to help you be successful cyclists, whether you’re touring Nepal or bopping around the corner for milk.
