I #LoveMnWinter! Today, I love Grease Rag!
By Kat McCarthy
Photo by Ellie Kingsbury
Do you know why I love biking in winter? Because of you! Because of Grease Rag! Because of this incredible community we have created, nurtured, and grown! Y’all breathe life into me daily with your positivity, comradery, and encouragement! Seriously!
These are a few of my favorite things…
Let’s start with the Grease Rag Winter Skill Share: This event has happened every November for the last NINE years! This is where we get new riders prepared for the changing seasons. We cover how to dress, how to maintain your bike, how to keep your mind and body healthy, and how to stay seen and stay safe! Thank you to all our organizers and presenters for sharing your skills and labor to grow our community.
The Winter Gear Swap: This has been such an important addition to our annual skillshare. Accumulating winter biking gear can be expensive, and the gear swap aims to provide more people with access to gently used clothing and accessories to make winter riding easier. If you bought something to try this winter, but didn’t end up using it, bring it in to the next swap so someone else can give it a try!
Full Moon Rides and Craft Nights: What a great excuse to get out and ride, appreciate the moon, warm up with a hot drink. Thank you to our ride leaders and destination hosts.
Open Shops and Cleaning Parties: How else are you going to keep your winter ride in good condition? Our open shop nights happen all year round and are a great place to let your bike dry out and give it the attention it deserves. Thank you to our facilitators and partner shops for keeping the doors open and accessible!
Grease Rag Facebook Group: Y’all contribute so much good content! Need to know the road conditions for your morning commute? Need some advice on which gloves to buy or how to keep your skin moisturized? Want to give a fellow commuter a shout out? Want to make sure you’re not alone and that you’ve got this? Check the group!
Selfies! I love them! Keep ’em coming!
NO SHAME! Seriously! If I feel like taking the bus, or driving, or staying home, no one shames me for not being “hard core” enough. You all understand that we need to listen to our bodies and do what is right because winter is harsh.
And lastly, the #ILoveMNWinter blog series: Such a heartwarming, uplifting daily stream, when we all need it most: February. Thanks for starting the tradition, Low! Thanks Carolyn for uploading the content!
Tweet your own loves: #lovemnwinter @greaseragmpls.