***Pictures from St Paul Classic!***

[bvar22]

This was FUN!
Riders signed in, and then left the Start Line when they felt like it.
I was one of the later starts at 9:AM.
I have no idea how many riders participated today (3 - 5000?) because they were all strung out along the course.
This was a good idea because it kept the traffic manageable.










Getting ready to roll.
Most people are already out on the course.





FIRST REST STOP at on Shepard Rd. I was surprised at the number of bikes.
I HATE stopping when I have a ROLL going, so I just blew on by.
The turn off for the Short Course (15 miles) was a few miles ahead.
Almost no one turned off.
My estimate= 90% took the Long Course (30 miles).





Climbing the hill from River Level on Shepard Rd to Mounds Park on the bluffs.
This is a HEALTHY climb.





Cresting the hill at Mounds Park followed by an Adrenalin pumping downhill!
This guy is warning us to use both brakes.
I didn't use any, and no one around me did either.
Some wonderful whooops and hollers of delight on the downhill rush!





2nd Rest Stop. Again I was surprised at the number of bikes.
I didn't stop here either.

There was another Rest Stop in Como Park (didn't stop) and another good hill climb on Wheelock.
I didn't take many pictures. I was having too much fun riding the bike. The only places we slowed down enough to safely use the camera was at the top of the two hill climbs, or the heavy traffic at the rest stops. I may stop frequently next year, just sit on the side of the road, and take pictures of the many fascinating bikes and riders who stream by.
But today, I just wanted to keep riding.





Finished!!! 30 miles in 80-90 degree heat ain't so bad.

I was impressed by the wide variety of people (old & young) and bikes. There were many recumbent (2 and 3 wheeled), expensive Bianchi racers, retro Schwinns with streamers on the handlebars, fully outfitted commuters, fat tired Mountain Bikes, and trailer rigs with small children. There was even two unicycles. I would like to have taken more pictures focusing on the variety of different people and bikes, but I was enjoying the ride too much to mess with the camera.
Maybe next year.

[Dudley_DUright]

1. Looks like fun

I use to live up near the state fair grounds. Now I am stuck in Bush occupied FL. My Brother still lives up on Cathedral Hill in St. Paul. I bet he was riding today too.

[question everything]

2. Nice to see that the roads were empty... were they?

Nice pictures.

[bvar22]

3. The roads were cleared and barricadede by the police.

On THIS day, the ROUTE belongs to the bicycles!

[katinmn]

4. I saw all the folks in the St. Thomas parking lot when I went for

my lazy little loop around the Miss. from bridge to bridge.

Seemed like millions of them.

What a great day for a ride!

Nice t-shirt blogging, too, bvar!:)

[bvar22]

6. I'm getting pretty good ....

....with the custom T-Shirt thing.

If you have anything you want to put on a special T-Shirt, let me know.

[Spike from MN]

7. Great pics! Love the bumper stickers too!

Wow, I'll keep the T-shirt thing in mind. Sounds like an offer that is hard to refuse. ;)

[bvar22]

8. Anytime.

Just let me know what you want.
:+

The yellow tint on the T-Shirt picture is a product of lighting, and doesn't appear in regular light.

The offer extends to Bumper Stickers too.
(Must be something that can't be bought commercially)

[lakeguy]

5. nice pics, thanks!