Last night’s snow coated the trails on my Saint Paul Happy Hour #12 route with about ½ inch of snow that probably won’t melt before the ride on Wednesday. This will make standard road bike tires unsuitable for this route. I recommend using a bike with Winter tires, preferably studded.
Here is a photo of the current trail conditions in Reservoir Woods. https://photos.app.goo.gl/KZQV53ZKx2sWmwQZA
Now that cooler weather is here, I will be using shorter routes that will not include stops for food. There will be restroom stops as needed.
This will be a TCBC ‘B’ ride, but because of the many trails, the average speed will only be about 13 mph. My goal will be to keep the group together by regrouping whenever it is needed. If there are 8 or more riders, I will ask for an additional ride leader to ride sweep.
We will be riding on the Bruce Vento Trail and Wheelock Bikeway to Como Park. Then return on the Reservoir Woods Trail, Trout Brook Trail, Gateway Trail and Bruce Vento Trail.
We will have a short restroom break at the Como Lakeside Pavilion (Dock and Paddle) at mile 9.
With the increased popularity of this ride, I would like to ask everyone to park in the large 11 Wells Spirits parking lot and ride your bike the short distance to the Saint Paul Brewing entrance. This will allow brewery customers to park closer to the brewery.
The ride briefing will be at the Saint Paul Brewery entrance. Rest rooms will be available at the ride start, inside Saint Paul Brewing.
I will not have any maps/cue sheets at the ride start, so please download the route to the ‘Ride with GPS’ app on your phone or onto your GPS bike computer. Or to print a map and cue sheet, click the GPS Route Link below, then click on More in the black box above the ride name, then Print Map & Cue PDF then Print Official.
After the ride, socializing, beer, and food will be at Saint Paul Brewing. They have one of the most interesting and beautiful outdoor beer gardens, but this time of year we will probably be more comfortable inside. Happy hour beer pricing will go until 4 PM.