Accessible Bike Camping Trips

We aim to have our trips be low-barrier, fun, skill-building, safer spaces through:

• Sliding scale suggested camping fee of $6-30
  If you cannot afford the fee, that is okay. We still want to provide a space for you to experience bike camping in a welcoming environment! The camping fee helps cover the cost of the campsite, basics of the group’s meals, gas reimbursement for the sag wagon, firewood for the campsite.
• Dinner and breakfast
  We will provide basic building foods (e.g. rice and salad greens for dinner, granola for breakfast) and folks can bring an item to build upon the meal so we enjoy a communal potluck-style meal together. Note: this is offered only for the Sat to Sun portion of the trip.
• Gear
  We can help folks find biking and camping gear if they do not have what they need for the trip.
• Sag support
  We will have a sag wagon. A “sag wagon” is a car that can carry your more heavy equipment to the campsite and can aid if there is an issue along the biking route. Note: this is offered only for the Sat to Sun portion of the trip.
• Clear expectations and establish a safer space
  Lots of encouragement! We will establish a safer space policy up front, provide a quiet area of the camp, designate people to help de-escalate conflict, and provide name tags with pronouns.
• Biking, talking, eating, and being with each other is fun!
• Skill Sharing
  We will share skills about building fires and setting up tents. Folks are welcome to provide additional skill shares on other topics!
• The Route
  Our route is mostly flat, mostly on trails, at a casual pace (around 10mph, a slow “muppet pace” like our usual group rides) and we will have mechanical support on the ride. Come to a Grease Rag group ride to get your legs ready.

Schedule

Saturday, July 19th: Mandatory Planning Meeting

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Meet outside of Venture Bikes on the Midtown Greenway
Two weeks before the trip! At this meeting, we’ll do a trip overview, figure out volunteer roles, sort out any final gear shares, and answer questions. It will be a great opportunity to chat with each other before the big trip too! The Grease Rag community has a lot of communal knowledge, and we are here to ensure the trip is a success for everyone.

We will meet on the big hill that is next to Venture Bikes which is part of the 10th/11th Ave exit. If the weather is not good, we can move inside Venture Bikes.

Saturday, August 2nd: The Camping Trip

10:30 AM – Meet outside of Venture Bikes on the Midtown Greenway (same spot as the mandatory planning meeting)
We will have a few icebreakers and casual get-to-know-you activities before the ride, along with group stretching. This is when folks can put items in the sag wagon and use the bike shop for last-minute purchases. Bathrooms are located in the bike shop, and there is a cafe if folks need any food or beverages for the ride.

11:30 AM – Roll out

3:00 – 4:00 PM – Arrive at Carver Park

Sunday, August 3rd: Returning from the Camping Trip

10:00 AM – Roll out

2:00 PM – Return to Venture Bikes
The return trip will have similar stops as the departure trip, however, the Excelsior Library will be closed, so on Sun we will stop at a local coffee shop. The Hopkins Depot stop will be open. VB is closed on Sun but Midtown Global Market off of 10th Ave exit is open if you have any bathroom or food needs before going home.

Sunday, August 3rd to Monday, August 4th: Optional

Carver Park only allows people to reserve a weekend campsite if they pay for two nights when reserving between Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Therefore, we do have the campsite available from Sunday into Monday. One of the camping organizers can stay behind for this option. However, we are unable to guarantee sag wagon support, and there will not be communal meals like on Saturday into Sunday. We can plan group meals together, but this option will be more independent overall.

This option is available for folks who would like to do two nights or folks who want to do the route themselves on Sunday and just do one night of Sunday into Monday. We can all ride together on Monday morning or folks can ride on their own time on Monday.

What You Are Responsible For

• Having a bike in decent working condition
• Getting your labeled gear to the meet-up (masking tape and a permanent marker works great)
• Adhering to our Safer Spaces policy
• Snacks, lunch (along the route to/from the campsite), and beverages/water
• Having your tent, sleeping bag, and overall sleeping arrangement worked out before the trip
• Bringing eating utensils, dishware, cups, water bottle
• Contributing to our salad bar and breakfast bar
• Yourself!

The Ride

Bookmark the Route!
The ride is 24 miles, almost all on trails with some on-road riding, and mostly flat. There will be ride leaders/marshalls, mechanical support, and up to 35 of us riding together. This will be a great experience! We will be rolling at 10-12mph, and no one will be left behind.

To get us to our campsite we will bike out on the Greenway, to the Hopkins Depot, where we will take our first break. We will continue on to the Cedar Lake Regional Trail, then follow the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail to the Excelsior Library, for our second break stop. There is a brewery, coffee shop/bakery, and grocery store nearby. We will continue on the trail until we reach our campsite.

Campsite

The campsite is the Zumbra 2 group site at Three Rivers Park District Carver Park. It can accommodate 35 people and 5 vehicles. The site has a large stone shelter (back up for rainy weather and can be used for bike storage), a fire ring, a water pump, and picnic tables.

The bathroom has a porta-potty style toilet and has room if you want to use the bathroom to change clothes. There are no showers at the site.

More information about the campsite:

• Three Rivers Park general rules and public safety
• Lake Auburn campground policy
• Group campsite guidelines (PDF) – Our site is at Lake Zumbra 2

What to Pack

In addition to what is listed above under “What You Are Responsible For,” you may also refer to these packing lists:

GR Bicycle Camping Packing List – a handy spreadsheet

Bike Camping Packing Pack List – a big list with tips and recipes!

Inspiration

Don’t let the whiteness and the cis-maleness of the outdoor industry deter you from enjoying the outdoors with us. For inspiration, follow these Instagram accounts dedicated to us outside:

@IndigenousWomenHike on Instagram

@TheBlackOutdoors on Instagram

@BrownFolksFishing on Instagram

@GreaseRagBikes on Instagram (That’s us!)

Read more about FTW bike camping and touring from Grease Rag.

Grease Rag is for FTW (Femme/Trans/Women, Non-binary, Two-spirit) on bikes to connect in a collaborative and fun learning environment through rides, discussions, shop nights and educational seminars in a safer space.

Riding bikes together is a big part of what we do. Creating a safer and supportive environment with clear expectations is the most important thing. Leaders are not responsible for people’s safety, leaders are responsible for setting expectations and coordinating people to work together. We purposefully do not host any fast rides. There are other clubs and teams in town that do the speed thing! We are all about that slow roll as a way of attracting new riders and people new to group rides.

Expectations

Clearly communicating expectations reduces anxieties and allows riders who are new to group rides or new to Grease Rag an easier time joining in. Make a flyer, text some pals, or post on social media to get the word out! Here are some things to consider: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY?

WHO

Who is leading the ride? How do I contact a ride leader with questions? Who is Grease Rag?

WHAT

What is the speed, distance, and riding conditions? E.g. “Muppet pace, 3 miles, mostly on trails with some on-street bike lanes and a few moderate hills.” What amenities are on the ride/destination? E.g. Bike racks, single stall/all-gender bathrooms, water fountain? Will there be snacks?

WHERE

Where is the meet up point? Stops? Destination? Is the ride returning to the start? (You may want to be vague about the exact locations of stops and destination for group safety.)

WHEN

When is the meet up, when is roll out, when can we expect to be done?

WHY

Is there a theme? Why is this a safer space ride?

Welcome!

If you’re doing a ride that’s meant to attract new riders, we make sure to welcome them when they arrive. Introduce them to someone on the ride. This goes a long way.

Organizer to do list

• Welcome people as they arrive and introduce newbies to others on the ride. If we are organizing rides meant to attract new riders, this goes a long way.
• Find out which volunteers can do crisis management/de-escalation
• Trade phone numbers with ride volunteers
• Take stock of first aid and tools
• Organize volunteers to control intersections
• Check in with people about pace
• Remind people to hydrate
• Who’s bringing the snacks??
• Play some music- red lights are for dance parties!
• Thank volunteers and riders for doing a great job, and for showing up for Grease Rag <3

Group intro to safer spaces

Here’s a sample script for kicking off an FTW group ride! We do introductions and some community building before we hop on our bikes.

We take a group photo, and then we roll out!

This was also published in Cyclista Zine, 2020.

On November 10, 2019, dozens of participants of all skill levels attended and participated in Grease Rag’s 11th Annual Winter Skill Share!

At the Winter Skill Share, we tapped into the deep wisdom of our Twin Cities FTW biking community — and shared resources for riding through the Gear Swap — so that we can all have a safe, fun winter riding season.

Special thanks to our presenters Low, Liz, Patrick and France, along with volunteer reporters Kym, Noelle, France and Carolyn. And much gratitude to the incredible organizers and day-of volunteers who brought us together including Low, Patrick, Maddie, Genevieve, Lucy, Linda, JJ, Krista, Ames, Victoria, Margaret, Kat, Tina and others!

Click the links below for recaps from each of the sessions:

• Winter Self Care
• Winter Bike Maintenance
• What to Wear
• Routing and Handling
• Q&A and Group Share

If you have resources or take-aways to add to any of the posts, please email carolyn.szczepanskI@gmail.com and she can update!

Hosted by Atsuko Fukushi of TacoCat Racing

Cyclocross racing is a fun type of off-road bike race, typically happening in the autumn months. There are official and underground races, but figuring out how to get into the sport can be confusing. This skillshare covered the different types of races, how to find out about them, how to prepare for them, and what to expect on race day.

What is cyclocross?

Cyclocross (often abbreviated to “cross” or “cx”) is a circuit race, meaning you do multiple laps, on non-paved terrain. Laps are usually around a mile long and can consist of grass, gravel, mud and sand. There are natural and human-made barriers that may require you to get off your bike and run, such as stairs, sand pits, stream crossings, hairpin turns, and barriers to jump over. It can be a contact sport, with riders jockying for position on the course. Throughout a race, there are many changes of speed and direction.

Terms to Know

• “off camber”: riding across a hill, rather than straight up or down. This can be tricky especially in wet conditions.
• “Getting lapped”: Sometimes, slower riders will get passed by the leader of the race, who has essentially ridden one lap further and is coming up on the back of the field to pass. The leader should give a verbal cue that they are passing, but it is up to the rider who is being passed to decide when it is safe for them to move over to let the lead rider pass.
• “Heckling”: is when spectators jokingly taunt racers during their race. Rather than cheering encouraging words, heckling is often yelling insults to encourage riders to go faster. Heckling is part of the cross culture – but spectators should only be heckling people they know. If someone is rude to you, don’t hesitate to tell them to shut up.
• “Handups”: When spectators hold out beverages (sometimes alcoholic) or food for racers to grab and drink/eat during the race. These are technically not allowed in sanctioned races and you may be disqualified if you are caught taking a hand-up.
• “Barriers”: Wooden structures typically 16” high that are spread out the full width of the course. Typically there are 1-2 sections of barriers in every race. Most racers, especially beginners, will need to dismount their bikes, lift their bikes up, and leap over the barrier, before getting back on their bike and continuing the ride.

• “Skinsuit”: A one-piece garment designed for bike racing. These are preferred by many racers because there is less loose clothing to snag on the bike during a race. They typically have a chamois (pronounced “shammy”) in the crotch. A skinsuit is not required for racing.
• “Pre-ride”: Checking out the course before your race starts. You can either walk or ride around the exterior of the course while other races are happening, or you can ride on the course when there are no races happening. This allows you to get a feel for how to approach technical sections.
• “catting up”: during a sanctioned race, riders are awarded points based on finishing place. A rider must accumulate a certain number of points from multiple races before being eligible to upgrade their race category. All beginners start as a category 5. As they increase their skills and start placing well during races, they will “cat up” to a category 4 and so on. Category 1 races is the highest level of the sport, where athletes typically travel across the country and world to compete against other elite athletes.
• “Embro”: short for embrocation, a type of skin salve that helps the skin feel warmer in cold weather. Some racers prefer to add this gel-like barrier to their skin instead of wearing extra layers of clothing. A cautionary warning – this only gives the body the illusion of feeling warm, you will still need to dress properly once your race is over.
• “Sanctioned vs Unsanctioned”: Sanctioned races are the official races with the seal of approval of USA Cycling. They require each racer to obtain a license to race. You can either purchase a seasonal license for $75 or a one-day license for $10. Sanctioned races require a registration fee (usually around $30) because they are staffed by race officials, the events carry insurance, there is usually medical staff on hand, you can earn “upgrade points” if you place high enough in the rankings, and there is often prizes or cash to win. Unsanctioned races are not approved by any governing body, they are often free, casual, and just for fun

How do I find out about events?

• USAC and MCF websites: USAC website lists all sanctioned bike races in the US. This is where you purchase your annual license, pre-register for races, and find races in your area. The Minnesota Cycling Federation website is for the Minnesota chapter of USAC. This will only list races happening in Minnesota.
• How do I register, online or day-of: Sometimes you can save money and time by pre-registering for races before the day-of. This is often non-refundable, so I only register for races that I know I will go to for sure. You can register the same day as the race. Be sure to arrive with plenty of time before your race starts, as there are often long lines.
• What race do I choose: If you have never raced a sanctioned cyclocross race before, you will be in the Women’s Category 5 race. This is for beginners, and races are usually 30 minutes. If you weigh 160 pounds or more, you can enter the Athena category, which races at the same time as the Women’s Category 5 race, but has separate scoring and podiums. Once you have done 10 races or have placed high enough in the category 5, you may be eligible to “upgrade” to category 4. *USAC does not currently use language that includes non-binary or transgender individuals. I don’t have experience navigating this, but my gut says to just go ahead and register under the category that you would prefer to race in. If you want support doing this, please let me (Kat McCarthy) know.
• How do I read this race flier?: Once you find an event, view the Race Flyer. This has all the information for the race including location, cost, time of races, prize money, and how to register. Look for your category listed to see when the start time of your race is. Your category may have multiple options. For example: a Category 4 woman can race in the 45 minute Women’s 3 / 4 race at 9:46am or in the 30 minute Women’s 4 / 5 race at 2:25pm. You can choose to race one or both of those races. Multiple races can be happening at the same time, but will be scored separately.

How do I prepare?

What do I wear?

Since cyclocross if a fall sport, what you wear will change as the season gets cooler. You will want to wear clothes that are comfortable for biking. Most people wear some sort of padded short because the courses are often bumpy and you will be jumping on and off your bike many times during a race. Some folks wear a “skinsuit” which is a one piece lycra racing uniform. These are quite expensive and are not required, but folks like them because they are very tight fitting with no opportunity for clothing to get snagged while mounting/discounting. If it’s cold, you may consider wearing arm-warmers and leg-warmers. Some people use “embrocation / embro” (defined above), in lieu of wearing extra layers. Gloves that allow free range of movement and dexterity are recommended for retaining the ability to shift and brake efficiently. It’s recommended to bring a few changes of clothes: a set of warm cycling clothes to wear during your pre-ride warm up, your racing outfit/”kit”, and a set of warm and dry street clothes to wear after your race.

What kind of bike can I ride?

A cyclocross specific bike looks like a road bike but has clearance to fit wider, knobby tires. It is legal to race mountain bikes in local cyclocross races.

Where do I go to buy a cx bike?

If you want to buy a used bike, there is a buy/sell/trade group on Facebook for women/trans/femmes in the Twin Cities. Lots of local bike shops carry new cyclocross specific bikes.

What to bring to a race?

The three changes of clothes outlined earlier (pre-ride warm up clothes, race outfit, and dry street clothes for post-race). You will also want to pack your helmet, bike specific shoes, snacks, water bottles, checkbook or cash if you are registering day-of. There are usually basic bike repair facilities on-site, and basic first aid supplies handy.

What happens on race day? During the race?

How early should I get there?

To have plenty of time, look at the race flyer to determine the start time of your race, and work backwards. You will want to have time to pre-ride the course before the start of your race, so look at the start time of the race that happens immediately before your race. You will want to pre-ride the course before that race starts. For example, if you are racing the Women’s 4 / 5 race at 2:25, the race before yours starts at 1:20. You will want to be ready to pre-ride between 1:00 – 1:20.

Getting numbers, chips, etc

If you pre-register, you still have to check in when you arrive to get your race number and timing chip. Volunteers should tell you which side of your back your number should be pinned to. Typically the timing chip is strapped to your left ankle.

Warm-up routine

The course is “open” for pre-rides when there are no races in progress. Typically, there will be a sign near the start/finish line that will say “Open” or “Closed”. When in doubt, ask a race official (khaki pants and baby blue polo) or listen to the announcer for cues. If you are wearing a chip timer during your pre-ride, do not ride across the start/finish line, even if no races are in progress. Ride one full lap of the course slowly so you can take in all it’s features and get a sense of where the hard parts are. If time allows, practice riding or running through the challenging areas and make note of how you want to execute it during the race. While other races are happening, walk along the outside of the course to watch other races to see how they handle each section.

When to be at the start?

You will want to start heading to the start area of the race about 15 minutes before your race time. The officials need you there early to give instructions and get everyone lined up. They don’t wait for stragglers, so be there early!

How the lap counter works, bell lap

During the first lap, officials will time how long it takes the leader of the race to complete one lap. Then, they calculate how many laps can happen within the race time. Typically for a 30 minute race, you will do 2-4 laps. At the start/finish line, there will be numbered cards showing how many laps remain. When you hear a bell, that means it is the last lap for everyone in the race. If you get passed by the leader of the race (“getting lapped”), you will finish on the same lap.

What’s the etiquette when I pass someone?

When you are coming up behind a rider that you would like to pass, call out to them that you would like to pass when they have a chance to move over. They may need to wait for a clear opening before it is safe for them to move over. Thank them when you pass.

What’s with people yelling rude things at me and handing me food/beer?

See “heckling” and “handups” defined earlier.

What do I do when I’m done?

The race officials will tell you when your race is over (if you happen to miss the bell lap or lap counter cards. You will need to turn in your chip timer – typically they have buckets set out after the finish line. You’ll want some time to cool down, grab a snack and some water. Usually about 20 minutes after a race, the results are posted on print-outs near the registration table. If you want to stay for the awards ceremony, those can happen up to an hour after the race.

How do I eat for the race?

This comes down to personal preference. Some folks try to eat two hours before, some prefer to eat within about 45 minutes of race time. You’ll have to experiment to see what types of foods you like and how soon before racing you need to eat to feel great.

How do I set my tire pressure?

Tire pressure is also a personal preference, and will also depend on what time of wheels/tires you have, your body weight, and the terrain of the course. Generally speaking, for 700c wheels, a range of 15-30 psi is average. If you have inner tubes, you will need the tires to be pumped up on the higher end of that spectrum to avoid getting a “pinch flat”. If you have a tubless set up, you can run lower tire pressure. If the course is hard-packed or grassy, you might want higher pressure so you can go fast. If the course is sandy, rocky, or muddy, you will want lower pressure to give your tires more traction. This will take some practice and experimenting to find the right combination for your body, bike, and the terrain.

How do I improve my racing?

Practice, practice, practice! You can practice all on your own, or will a group of friends. Or, if you are wanting to get serious, you can hire a coach who will meet you with you one-on-one and provide you with a training plan.

Check out the Facebook group “Twin Cities Cross Practice” for dates/locations. Some bike racing teams will host practice nights.

Ever been sitting on a patio, sipping an icy beverage and then all of a sudden a noisy, joyful herd of bicyclists whiz by, bells ringing and smiles flashing? Or scroll through the social media feeds and see tagged photos of friends in their underpants biking around a lake on the 4th of July and you can’t help but wonder: WHY AREN’T I DOING THIS?

Group rides are a great way to get a bunch of riders together for a bit of fun. Most of the time, you come away from a social cruise with new route ideas, places to visit or dance partners. These rides help keep the bike community vibrant by scooping up different types of riders and mixing them together. Hosting a ride can seem intimidating for those who haven’t done it before, but I really recommend it. It is very similar to throwing a party except on two wheels. You provide a welcoming atmosphere and maybe a theme and then all the people fill in the gaps. It is where chemistry collides and beautiful things happen…

Pre-Babes Wanderabout- Photo by Siege Afidelia

PLANNING STAGE

• – A theme and or/purpose (bakery tour! water balloon fight! polka dot outfits!) are a good idea especially if this is your first time since it provides a focus for your creativity and route. It also helps keep the ride casual and lets potential riders know that they don’t need to slide on spandex in order to participate. Anything food or beverage related is usually popular since WE’RE HUNGRY, but I also like costume rides. I still dream of having a “menagerie” ride so that we can all dress up like different zoo animals….but I digress. Don’t afraid to do something a bit different.
• – Simple is always better. More than three stops and it is hard to keep people moving.
• – Don’t plan more than one ride at a time. It’s like planning three or four dates before going on the first one. It’s a bit….forward.
• – Keep in mind the practicality of getting lots of people in and out of a location at once and in a somewhat timely fashion. A doughnut ride wasn’t difficult to pull off since bakeries try to get you in and out the door, but a macaroni and cheese ride might be a bit more tricky since you adding bowls and forks/hot cheese/table seatings into the equation. But if you have a way to work around some of these logistical obstacles, go for it! Prove me wrong!
• – To cultivate a social vibe, I recommend getting some speakers and blast some tunes. Demolish awkward silences with loud Missy Elliott beats. I use a cheapo mini speaker that I stuff it in my bag, pointing it outward towards the dancing masses. It isn’t the most sophisticated system but it works. If you have friends with a more advanced system, it never hurts to try to loop them in.
• – For larger rides that are heading to specific bakeries/restaurants/bars, it is always polite to call a few days ahead and give a heads up to the business owners. It is up to them how to proceed, but it is always nice to not bombard them with helmet clad, sweaty weirdos.
• – Spoke cards: I haven’t even made spoke cards for a ride yet because of the $$$ and design work involved, but many people like ‘em. If you have a creative bent and some extra time, get together with a group of buds and crank some out. Create a design and repeat it 4 or 6 times on a 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheet of paper. These can be front/back or just single sided. Make copies of the master sheet and then sandwich each one between contact paper and cut them out. TA DAH! Pass them out and people can slide them in between their spokes for a bit of style and a nice momento of your epic ride.
• – A little help from your friends never hurts, especially if you have a larger group (15 or more riders). I recommend assigning one of two people to be ride marshals. Ride marshals are people that block traffic during busy intersections where there isn’t enough time to accommodate all riders through the area. To block traffic they just need to stand politely with their bike in the middle of the lane and waving beauty queen style to the cars with a goofy smile. It is the most effective tactique that I know. The ride marshals can also help deal with broke down bikes or make sure that slower riders aren’t left behind. After leading a few rides lone-wolf style, I have begun to really appreciate having a few people that can back me up. If you don’t know anyone of the top of your head that could help out, feel free to ask on the BIKEFUN/Grease Rag pages or the event page. I’ve always lucked out with having more than a few bike scouts taking the lead at the last minute, but it helps to, ya know, be prepared.
• – Create a ride that you would want to do even if nobody showed up. Be excited about your ride. Talk it up to your roommates, coworkers, the cashier at the grocery store, your date, the neighbor cat. Let it ooze from your pores. Enthusiasm is infectious. GET PUMPED!

CREATE AN EVENT PAGE

• – Invite your friends and if you are a member of any sort of bicycle group/social group on Facebook, share it there as well. Indicate that the ride is social and mellow and extend a warm invitation. There are SO MANY people that lurk on these pages, just waiting for an opportunity to hang out. Don’t forget to be bold and reach out to people on your social media that aren’t the typical bike person. Your event is gonna be so rad, they may just hop on that dusty cruiser in the garage and join in just to see what all the hubbub is about! Threaten them with a good time.
• – Make sure that you have some solid details settled before sending out an invite. You don’t have to have a set route but at least have your stops in mind. I really recommend riding the route a day or so before the ride, because there is always some last minute hiccups like construction or closings that are best to not drag a rolling party into.
• – Feel free to cultivate discussions on the event page about routes or playlists or anything at all. Your guests may have untapped knowledge about where the best pizza slices/chill swimming spot/cheap beers are. Give them a chance to pitch in! People love to contribute and even if they can’t attend the ride, it gives them a nice community vibe so that hopefully next time they’ll make it out.
• – Make sure to define ROLL OUT time because bikers traditionally don’t show up on time (I am guilty of this). Give people 30 minutes to arrive and hang out before heading out. A nice central location is great, especially one that won’t mind loiterers of a bike nature (like parks or bike shops or people’s houses).

DAY BEFORE THE RIDE

• – Keep an eye on the weather and feel free to modify the ride accordingly. If it is pouring rain, you may not want to go through with a karaoke bar crawl. Just make sure to give as much of a notice as possible, so people don’t show up to the meeting spot in their hurricane-proof finest while you’re sitting at home drinking cocoa.
• – Remind people to bring cash if you’re heading to restaurants/bars just because it makes paying a bit speedier. Don’t be afraid to state the obvious and remind everyone on the event page to dress warmly/bring water/lights/helmet etc. These things aren’t as intuitive for some and it will make their ride a lot more comfortable.

DAY OF THE RIDE

• – Greet everyone! Smile, say hi and introduce yourself to each person as they roll up. You are the host! These lovely people are showed up to your ride and that is pretty damn special. Treat them with the enthusiasm that those bike lovelies well deserve. They could have stayed in bed or went to that hot tub/bouncy castle party but instead they are here to ride with you. Incredible! Also, don’t be shy in introducing people to each other as sometimes it is just the little spark needed for a conversation to start.
• – You should be wearing some spectacular outfit or something that at least indicates that you are the leader of the ride. Perhaps a cape/neon helmet/anything “showy”. Not everyone on the ride knows who you are yet!. Shine, baby, shine.
• – Before roll out, stand on a bench, grab a megaphone or just shout and address the attendees. THANK them for their presence and give an overview of the route. If you want to remind everyone about specific rules or tips for how to ride as a group, present these now. But be nice about it. Again, these are your fabulous guests. Now ROLL OUT! Loud bell or booming voice works to get everyone moving. Now is also the time to press play and kick out the jams.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

• – Be prepared for the unexpected! Tires can get punctured, riders can tip over and you could get lost. I’ve have yet to participate in a flawless ride, so don’t let it trip you up. Keep up communication with your marshalls and fellow riders and take things as they come. You won’t be able to plan for everything, but that is the thrilling part!
• – Bring a trash bag, multi tool and some paper towels if you are really going for gold stars.
• – The ride ends when it ends. Sometimes that may be a stop earlier than planned or the party keeps rolling or splits off to different locations. Some people arrive at the second stop or leave early or just crash the party at the end. The social beast has its own ebb and flow and it is best to just feel it out.

Now go forth and make merry on two wheels!

Babes in Bikeland is the largest all-WTF alley cat bike “race” in the whole world.  Likely, with 670+ riders in our 10th year, Babes is the largest alley cat in North America.  Through this event, Grease Rag has been able to create safer spaces and educate the many many people interested in the Babes event.

What is Babes in Bikeland’s safer spaces policy?

BABES IN BIKELAND IS A SAFER SPACE

WHAT THE HECK DOES THIS MEAN?
A Safer Space means that we’re working hard to make the space feel safe and welcoming for EVERY BODY, regardless of their gender/race/ability/orientation, etc.

WHAT DOES A “SAFER BIKE EVENT” MEAN?

It means that we are trying to stop those little things from happening.
The safety and comfort of our Babes is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

BUT I ALWAYS FEEL SAFE AT BIKE EVENTS? WHAT’S THE POINT OF THIS?!
You might always feel safe at bike events, but not everyone does.
Women/Trans*/Femmes (WTF) identified people often don’t feel safe at bike events.
WHY? Things like constant sexual advances; hearing homophobic or transphobic “jokes”; hearing racist or homophobic language; using insider lingo or negatively commenting on someone’s gear or ability…
These things can make bike events into a hostile, stressful and dangerous place for some people.
It’s not just the one bad apple, it’s lots of people doing little things that pile up to create a threatening space.
Pay attention to your own words and actions and make sure you’re not contributing to the pile.

HERE IS WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO:

DON’T be a creep. We’re not here to impress, but to RIDE. Get enthusiastic consent before touching a Babe.
DON’T make homophobic or transphobic “jokes” or use language that is grounded in hate or discrimination.
NO gender policing. Don’t know a Babe’s gender? That’s fine — you don’t need to know.
RIDE safe and steady with a helmet and lights. DON’T take unnecessary risks. We want you in one piece at the party later.
LEND a hand to those who need it.
BE EXCELLENT to one another.
We are all here to have a good time. Bring your best self and KEEP IT CLASSY.
If you feel uncomfortable, PLEASE tell someone working the stop or the closest Babe.
DON’T brush it off or excuse it away. We want to address these things as they happen.

WE ARE BABES! THIS IS OUR BIKELAND! THESE ARE THE RULES:

DON’T BE A JERK
CELEBRATE YOUR WTF FRIENDS
BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER

How does Babes in Bikeland work with volunteers to create safer spaces for WTFs?

Stop Facilitators are the people you see on the race course.  As racers, you only see us organizers at the start, and finish.  This makes it extremely important that we train our volunteers, many of whom are cis men, to be great allies.

Vouching

Stop Facilitators are people who have been personally vouched for by a WTF we trust.  These Facilitators are encouraged to vouch for volunteers they’d like to have at our stops.  This keeps people we don’t know and don’t vouch for away from our Babes.

Visibility

We gave all stop volunteers a bright bike pin, and all Stop Facilitators were given a bright tshirt, so racers knew who to go to for information or if there was a problem at a stop.  Identifying these volunteers is a crucial part of creating a safer, accountable space.  Each stop had an “approved” list of volunteers who were able to be there- we don’t allow random folks to come and hang out at the stops. (We’ve had problems in the past.)

Training

We hold a mandatory orientation for Stop Facilitators where our goal is to support them in being A+ supporters of WTFs.  We give concrete examples as tools to support you. Instead of “Be respectful,” we say, “Don’t make ‘jokes’ about gay or trans people, because it is disrespectful.” This is a handout we made for our Stop Facilitators that gets very specific.  The last sentence is, “We’ve got your back.” We want to support and respect our volunteers, because that is the way that our racers will be respected and supported.  I’m only a phone call away if something comes up.

I encourage everyone to read it, and give feedback about what is missing.

What are other safer spaces that Babes in Bikeland creates?

Starting line

When you rolled up to the starting line, there were a line of cones set up on the grass.  This was the “WTF ONLY ZONE!”  WTFs can go wherever they like, but cis men should not be in the WTF-only area.  This is to create physical space for WTFs!  Route, hang, snack, whatever!  This is your space, this is your race.

86 list

After feedback from racers and volunteers, we instituted a no abusers, no perpetrators 86 list. We as a community have some broken steps in our staircase.  If you know about the broken step, you can step over it and you’re personally in no danger, but by not calling out our abusers and perpetrators of abuse we allow them access to our community.  We made a list, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, of people our WTF community named as “unsafe.”  We take this very seriously.  The list was given to Stop Facilitators and volunteers, and at to our security at First Avenue.  We cannot guarantee the safety of every person, but we are committed to making a safer space through our best efforts.

Safer spaces agreements for vendors and service providers

Safer spaces means that all people promise to treat each other in ways that promote their safety and fight various oppression.  We wrote these agreements so our vendors and service providers would have clear expectations about how to treat our Babes, and also how they can expect to be treated by you.  Please check out the expectations in this agreement.

• Vendors will not be inebriated
• Vendors will not make comments about people’s identities (race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.)
• Vendors will not use gendering language like “ladies,” or “ma’am.”
• Vendors will not make comments about or touch people’s bodies
• Vendors will not make assumption about ability, skill level, or knowledge (Ask, don’t assume!)
• Vendor signing this agreement will communicate the expectations to everyone working the event
• Vendors will be treated with respect! Any reported harassment will be taken seriously and dealt with swiftly.
• Babes in Bikeland organizers will be available for questions, and if anything comes up during the evening
• First Ave security will be on hand for security issues
• Is there anything else you would like to add to the list?

WTF only dance floor

We made several announcements throughout the night that WTFs were the only folks on the dance floor.  What a magical time, dancing under purple lights, doing the wobble with Sweetpea!  We did not have the ability to put up physical barriers, so some cis men did make their way onto the floor.  If we knew them, we said something to them and asked them to tell their friends the same.  If we did not know them, we do not make assumptions about people’s gender.

All-/no-gender bathrooms

#peeinpeace We had signs that indicated “Stalls” versus “Urinals,” and announced that bathrooms were all-/no-gender!  Next year I would like to organize bathroom buddies for extra safety.

How does Grease Rag contribute to safer spaces at Babes in Bikeland?

Our goal is to find ways to support each other before, during, and after this event.  Because Babes is one day, but WTF is forever.

Pre-Babes Wanderabout

We had 68 wonderful Babes come out for our Wanderabout this year.  Our team works hard to learn names and pronouns, say hello to everyone, and our team is all about creating welcoming spaces.  I hope you felt that!  We do go arounds, skill shares, and all of the things that Grease Rag does best.  We are especially friendly for Rookies, but if you are into friendship and slow rolling, you should join us next year!

Photo by Kat

Babes be brunchin’

Every year we have a long brunch bunch where people can just drop in and have some snacks, hydrate, and get questions answered.  You are able to take off whenever, or say until the end and group ride to the start together!  Anne was a our brunch host at Seward Cafe this year!  Thanks, Anne!

Flags and buttons at the Grease Rag tent

That big purple tent is your safe space, Friends!  Bug spray, snacks, buttons, flags… We try to create a meetup safer space that is just for you WTFs!

Anneka made a flagging system to support Babes during the race:

• Green flags- can help if you feel lost
• Orange- basic mechanic skills with a multitool or a pump
• Polka dots- open to riding in a group!

Anne made these beautiful pronoun pins.  You can’t abuse my pronoun if it is a growling bear, right?!

instagram.com/greaseragbikes

Education and language

Grease Rag has been making language and educating ourselves and our Friends on what it is to be WTF-friendly since 2009.  We wrote a lot of the language that Babes uses, and continue to lead our community to the front and center.  WTFs to the front.

Tell us how to do better

We never stop learning.  babesinbikeland at gmail or fill out this survey!!

Powderhorn 24 is an annual 24 hour community ride that celebrates the Powderhorn neighborhood of South Minneapolis. Riders participate solo or in teams to complete laps around four check points at any pace they please. Bonus stops earn riders extra lap points while engaging local businesses and organizations. Last week marked my first Powderhorn 24, revealing my most neurotic side to the cycling community I love so dearly.

Photo by France Barbeau

One month before

Register team online. Fantasize about future glory.

One week before

Have planning brunch. Wrangle as many teammates as possible, though inevitably not all will be able to make it. Discuss strengths, weaknesses, strategy, & supplies. Make a google doc summarizing what everyone committed to bring.

Put in t-shirt order. Choose tank based on stock availability. Bemoan last-minute rush; rejoice in teammate’s clever design.

Photo by France Barbeau

Day of event

Wake up earlier than expected because everything is just so gosh darn exciting.

Meet teammate to set up tents (plural) at 10:30 in the morning to ensure the perfect spot in the shade equidistant from porta poty clusters. Text other teammates who have the day off multiple times to see when they can come to base camp.

Realize tents will be totally fine for a few hours. Go to Cub. Get way too much food. Take a nap.

Arrive back with supplies at 4 PM. Double check everything. Realize you forgot THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. Anxiously await teammates’ arrival so you can run back without having to bring everything with you.

Register team. Distribute numbers. Zip tie numbers on to bikes of riders arriving later. Eat dinner. Organize. Lay out sleeping bags. Organize again.

Photo by France Barbeau

The ride

Rally teammates at riders’ meeting earlier than necessary. Listen to instructions. Mostly. Coordinate who will grab the sheet of bonuses at the start/finish.

Roll out on neutral lap. Make sure teammate who will ride first lap is in the front, not hanging with the team. Because priorities.

Chat with other WTFs on the ride. Amp up comradery, feel the love. Because priorities.

Route bonus stops on a Nice Ride map. Develop numbered system to record who will do each bonus when. Tape both items under written out rider order hanging from tent.

Photo by France Barbeau

Ride. Experience two hour cycles of anxiety, drive, manic euphoria, hunger, exhaustion. Try to be chill. Fail. Sleep only when the other hyper-organized person on your team is lying next to you. Because that makes sense.

Find dread in hair. Revel in hard-core-ed-ness for 30 seconds before brushing it out.

Check-in with team you have a big crush on. Tell them how awesome they are. Anticipate social media friendships.

Split volunteer shift with another teammate. Cheer for everyone who rolls through, but mostly the WTFs. Coordinate with teammates to change strategy for final laps half a dozen times.

Aggressively seek shade. Reflect for a moment on how rad your teammates are for coming together and embarking on this adventure for the first time together. Feel proud, loved, affirmed regardless of rankings.

Hustle. Hard.

Do last lap as a team pursuit because you’re fancy. Drink champagne after cleaning up base camp because you’re fancy. Lay down on ground and wait for awards because you’re fading.

Cheer, laugh, get sprayed with champagne. Look in awe at the incredible humans around you. Feel privileged to know more of them better after the past 24 hours. Hug everyone. Cry. Hug everyone again.

Think about doing it again next year, maybe.

Going to your first group ride can be intimidating. Getting in the saddle with a bunch of strangers takes trust, courage, and sometimes a friend to tag along. Whether you’re new to cycling or you usually hit the road alone, here’s a few reasons to give a WTF group ride a try.

1. It’s a fun space. Really. I haven’t ever been on a WTF ride that wasn’t chocked-full of toothy grins. From trying out polo at Babes in Bikeland to literally howling at the moon at a Full Moon ride, a WTF-only ride offers an opportunity for people to be silly with each other without having to worry about a cis male gaze.
2. It’s a safe(r) space. Riding in a WTF group doesn’t always mean there won’t be egos, microaggressions, judgment, or assumptions. But, it does mean that everyone involved sees value in having a separate space for WTF riders. A WTF ride recognizes there is something about cis male-centered cycling spaces that doesn’t work for everyone. Many rides even start by setting an intentional tone and laying down some ground rules. While a separate space isn’t everything, it can be a great jumping off point for larger conversations.
3. You will be setting an example. Visibility means something. It can be hard to break into a new activity or community when you don’t see yourself in it. Don’t think for a second the person coming out of the global market and the youngster on training wheels don’t notice when you have fun riding with your friends.
4. You will meet some truly rad people. I used to be the kind of girl who hung out with mostly guys and had a few close WTF friends. In the past year I’ve met dozens of jaw-dropping-ly incredible WTFs and re-learned what it means to be in supportive, empowering, non-competitive friendships. I owe most of my current relationships, and all of my new-found babe love, to the Twin Cities cycling community.
5. It feels awesome. There’s nothing quite like riding in a group of WTFs. I first got into cycling through a dude. It took me a while to see the community of people who ride bikes as my own space. It still feels novel every time I ride down the greenway in a group of four or more WTFs without a male ‘escort.’ But it feels awesome. Like euphoric awesome. I recommend it. Highly.

As winter in Minnesota is quickly drawing to a close (although I know Minnesota well enough to not put the winter bike away quite yet), I thought this would be a good time to share some random thoughts on my first winter bike commuting. I’ve been a bike commuter during the spring, summer and fall for the past five years, but I would put the bike away and start taking the bus after the first snowfall. It was the ice especially that made me nervous. During the past year, I tried to bike more and more to run errands and get around, and come November realized that this was the year I would become a winter bike commuter. The thought of having to wait to catch the bus at the end of the day – my least favorite part of my day – wasn’t a routine I was interested in getting back into.

My winter warrior

After doing some research on all my options, I decided to find a used, beater bike for my winter ride. Luckily, one trip to the Recovery Bike Shop was all I needed to find my winter bike. I decked it out with studded tires, fenders, a rack and new lights. I have to admit, I thought this bike was pretty ugly when I first purchased it, but I’ve come to appreciate it more and more as it’s carried me through a wide variety of winter conditions.

Biggest challenges

I wasn’t sure what my biggest challenges would be when I first started riding in the winter – the weather, road conditions, equipment, darkness, etc.? I faced all of these challenges at different times throughout the season. The road conditions were pretty tough after the first snowfall in November, but that just meant I learned a lot about winter riding in the first week. Although dressing for the weather has been surprisingly easy, I have often overdressed and occasionally underdressed at different times. In fact, I think I made a new rule of thumb for dressing for winter riding almost every time I ventured out. Remembering to charge my lights, struggling home in a brisk headwind, learning how to see in the dark with my rose-tinted goggles have all been challenges at some point, but overcoming these challenges have been a big part of the fun.

Favorite pieces of clothing

I could go on and on about my different layers, but here are a few pieces that I couldn’t have gotten through winter without:

• Scarf:  Figuring out how to keep my face warm while still being able to breathe was a huge challenge early on. Luckily, I dug out a scarf my grandma had made that had been sitting around for a few years.  I can wrap this scarf twice around my neck, pull it up over my face and still breathe! It was great to have something lying around the house that I never really used become a critical part of my daily commute.
• Windshell jacket: I picked up this piece at the Grease Rag gear swap for FREE! I don’t wear it every day, but on the coldest days this thin shell keeps my surprisingly warm.
• Thin, fleece hoodie: Another key piece of advice picked up at the Grease Rage winter skill share was that thin hoodies can provide a nice layer of warmth to both your core and your head. I found a few at a good price at Marshall’s, and wear one every day.
• Lobster gloves: The cross-country skier in me already swore by lobster gloves, but I splurged on some biking-specific lobsters that provide a bit more wind protection. These have kept my hands warm enough at -30 windchills.

Least favorite riding conditions (early on)

½” or so of loose snow on top of the packed ice and snow. At first, my heart would jump into my throat every time my bike got a bit squirrely in these conditions.  To keep me going, I kept reminding myself how much better I would be at mountain biking after this winter! Which leads me to…

Least favorite riding conditions (now)

I got more comfortable and things got less scary. My heart jumps into my throat a little bit less, and my least favorite riding conditions in winter now are clear, dry roads. I like the sound my tires make when riding on some packed snow, feeling like my studded tires are being put to good use.

Least favorite weather element

The wind. It makes things so much colder and harder than it needs to be.

Least favorite days

When I wasn’t able to ride! I found that no matter the weather – snowy, 20 degrees below, salty, muddy, etc. – I would miss the time I got to spend on my bike when I wasn’t able to ride. Riding in the winter has really changed my perspective on biking weather – to me, there really is no bad weather for riding anymore.

Favorite rides

Some of my favorites rides this winter have occurred in all sorts of conditions – I never knew when a ride would become one of my best rides. A few of the magical rides I’ve had this year:

• -30 windchills when Minneapolis schools were cancelled. After deciding that no, I wasn’t crazy for riding my bike in this weather (I’d probably be colder waiting for the bus), I threw on an extra layer, made sure that I didn’t have any skin exposed and ventured out. Being dressed perfectly for some extreme weather made me feel invincible.
• Enjoying the increasing daylight in late February and hanging out with some bald eagles on the shores of the Mississippi River on my way home (on what just happened to be International Winter Bike to Work Day).
• Riding in newly falling snow at the beginning of March after a winter of yearning for more snow.

Least favorite label

Badass. I find that the conversations I have about riding in the winter with colleagues and friends tend to follow the same pattern. The person I’m talking to admires me for biking in the winter, but then expresses how they could never do it themselves. I find this so frustrating. I try to explain that they could – I’m just a normal, impatient person that loves biking and hates waiting for the bus! The more I have these conversations, the more I want people realize that biking in any season is very doable and not relegated to badasses (or at least, that anyone can be a badass!).

“The best rides are the ones where you bite off much more than you can chew, and live through it.” – Doug Bradbury

The Corner

It is a corner I have ridden often. It has a 90 degree turn to the left with a bit of outward slope. It’s after a killer climb and all I want to do is shift up and increase my speed from a turtle pace of five mph to a moderately quick turtle pace of ten mph. Despite its smooth curve, each time I take it I tense up a bit, tap my brake, and know that it is deceivingly simple and think someday that turn will take me down. Sure enough, that day came.

The Dirt

The dirt was dry and packed into hard dirt lumps with some fine dirt on top. It was so dry, the dust of the person in front of me was in my teeth. The surface was like loose sand on top of cement and I was blazing around the corner and my back wheel just couldn’t grip. I fell fast and a three second left side body skid on the hard dirt ground felt like 30 seconds. It burned me good but gosh, that dirt smelled good. My arm, ribs, hip, and even ankle were bruised and scraped. Despite my enjoyment of getting to know the ground more intimately, this was my first fall on a mountain bike that made me skittish about the next fast turn on loose gravel or the steep rooty drops. It’s like when someone betrays your trust, it’s hard to trust fully again. I lost my confidence in my tires and in my abilities to control my bike.

The Fear

I’m an amateur mountain biker and I’m progressing quickly. I don’t want to hold myself back each time I take a itty bitty witty tumble. What do YOU do to keep going? What do you tell yourself to get over the fear?

The quote at the beginning of this post seemed appropriate because I’ve experienced biting off more than I can chew and surprise!, I’ve lived through it. I was afraid of being slow as a woman mountain biker and feeling inadequate even though I have legs that wrap around the world and probably could beat the Minnesota Leg Wrestling Champion (ok, there isn’t a Leg Wrestling Champion…not yet). My fears were wrong and I won my first mountain bike race. Another time was when I was afraid of using clipless pedals and the first time I tried them, wouldn’t you know, a large gust of wind came just as I clicked my cleat in and I couldn’t clip out. I was laughed at, I got angry, and then I had to get back on my bike and clip in. Also as someone who had not yet realized my one-armed riding mallet swinging prowess, I was terrified to try bike polo with a large group of competitive men and my first game was difficult but fun. I kept practicing and became a valuable member of the bike polo club.

We have all experienced moments of biting of more than we can chew and/or getting into situations that created fear within ourselves. We have to find ways to get passed the fear and work with it. Most recently and also this very thing I’m doing now, writing for this blog, may be more than I can chew but I’m doing it because I care about this group and its mission. I’m excited to soak in the knowledge of other WTF riders, create dialog between us, and inspire one more person to ride and ride often!

***I found an article on top ten 29er mountain bike tires but I’d like to hear your opinions based on your rad experiences.

http://oldglorymtb.com/top-ten-guide-best-29-mountain-bike-tires/