The second ever Open Streets Minneapolis event will take place this Sunday on Lyndale Avenue South between 22nd Street and 42nd Street. The street will be car-free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday so that visitors can take over the street by bike or by foot (or whatever other non-car transportation you can come up with) and check out local businesses and the like. Last year there were plenty of food trucks, tiny dogs, and special events, and this year’s event should top last year’s! You won’t want to miss it.
Open Streets will include musical performances, bike safety and repair classes, yoga, dancing, and numerous other activities. Bring your bike, your dog, your kids, or even your cat if you’re into that kind of thing!
To start off Open Streets, Calhoun Cycle is bringing the 2012 Brompton Championship Race to Minneapolis for the first time ever. To participate, you must only have a Brompton folding bicycle and wear a blazer, button-up shirt, and tie. I’ll be participating in the race (thanks to Calhoun Cycle for this super cool opportunity) and I have my outfit picked out to complement the pink Brompton I’ll be riding. While I saw the lack-of-pants requirement as an opportunity to ride a bike in only a blazer and underwear, I decided if I have any hope of winning best-dressed, I should at least wear a skirt.
Helmets are a requirement and you must keep any Lycra hidden (sadly this is not an opportunity for my spandex magenta onesie). The race will start off with a run to your bike where you’ll unfold it (I’ll be practicing unfolding for the next few days) and hop on your tiny British bicycle to race 6 miles with a crownd of handsomely-dressed folks. The fastest male and female will go on to the Brompton World Competition and prizes will be awarded for the fastest folder at the post-race competition, as well as for the best-dressed rider.
If you want to join me in the race on Sunday, you can register at Calhoun Cycle in person or online through Saturday, June 9. There will be a registration and packet pickup party on the eve of the event at Calhoun Cycle from 5:30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., complete with a food truck and followed by a group ride over to Merlin’s Rest. There will be Brompton folding at the party so you can practice and prepare for the competition the next day.
Whether or not you own a Brompton, come out and cheer me on at the race and then enjoy some Open Streets!
Comment