Selma’s has traditionally been a popular stop in Afton for cyclists and motorcyclists, ith a large garden and large ice cream portions. For a biker, regardless of which direction their journey will take them, the coffee, cocoa and cones are a fine bit of fuel for the [...]]]> The revolving door of ownership at Selma’s in Afton continues.

Selma’s has traditionally been a popular stop in Afton for cyclists and motorcyclists, ith a large garden and large ice cream portions. For a biker, regardless of which direction their journey will take them, the coffee, cocoa and cones are a fine bit of fuel for the coming climb out of town. (The climb is more considerable for those going south, but going back towards Hudson or Woodbury isn’t exactly flat either!)

It went through some flux starting in 2007, when longtime owner Laine McGee sold it to Joe Farrington. He was adding a pavilion, which created new regulatory requirements for the 19th century building. His death later in the year started a process of ownership changes. In 2008, it was purchased by the owners of the local Panino’s restaurants, and began to serve the sandwiches alongside the traditional ice cream parlor treats. However, this spring the restaurant didn’t reopen.

Now, it’s owned by a bank after a foreclosure sale. There is no word on the bank’s intentions with the building or business.

With Selma’s closed, one of the best bets for cyclists coming through Afton is now the Afton Bean. It’s 2 blocks further up St. Croix Trail, but before any popular turns to go towards Stillwater, Woodbury, or other points north for those going northbound; southbound, there aren’t any typical turns for 3-4 miles.

It’s a slightly revised version of my Great Googly Moogly route, as featured in the Minnesota Bike Atlas. In this case, we dodge the havoc that is the Como Avenue destruction. Rest stop is Dairy Queen.

Map is clickable for a full-size version.

Various letter writers have rehashed all the usual issues: Tax dollars used to pay for trails, bikers who don’t follow rules, same road-same rights, build more bike lanes/separate facilities, etc.

Blessedly, one [...]]]>

There have been a number of letters to the editor at the Rochester Post-Bulletin on the subject of bicyclists using the roads versus staying on trails.

Various letter writers have rehashed all the usual issues: Tax dollars used to pay for trails, bikers who don’t follow rules, same road-same rights, build more bike lanes/separate facilities, etc.

Blessedly, one of the columnists actually wrote a fair piece on everyone trying to get along.

I do think he really low-balls training speeds, though:

And I agree with the hard-core distance bicyclists who say it isn’t practical for them to train on Rochester’s bike paths or the Douglas Trail. That’s just asking for trouble. These paths are wonderful community assets, but they’re not reserved exclusively for people on bikes. On any given day you might see plodding runners like me, families with toddlers just learning to walk, senior citizens exercising their dogs, in-line skaters, or people in suits out for a stroll during a break from work.

These paths are about as safe and practical for a serious bicyclist (who trains at a 10-12 mile per hour pace) as it would be for a NASCAR driver to practice with the horses at Canterbury Downs.

Serious bicyclists training at 10-12mph? Keep in mind that 10mph is the ‘speed limit’ on City of Minneapolis bike paths. I suppose 10-12 mph is a pretty good training pace going up some hills, but it’d be a near-certain death in even a Cat5 citizen crit. I think of 10-12 mph as a good speed for an ice cream run with an occasional cyclist.

However, at least the columnist is supportive. Seems like more than a lot of the letter-writers and commenters can manage.

I, myself, am looking forward to a DQ cone with sprinkles if the wind dies off a bit…

(note: to get to the Gateway Trail after the first turn on Randolph, one needs to go LEFT on Arlington. Doh.)

28 MON 10:00 AM AB/B 62/79/89+ mi. BOP TIL YOU DROP. Depart from University of St. Thomas main lot, corner of [...]]]>

I will be running a 2008 version of the Bop Til You Drop ride on May 28 with TCBC. Last year’s map is available, but be aware that I’m making changes based on updated construction conditions.

28 MON 10:00 AM AB/B 62/79/89+ mi. BOP TIL YOU DROP. Depart from University of St. Thomas main lot, corner of Cretin & Summit Avenues, St. Paul. Shorter B route of 62 miles will visit Woodbury and Lake Elmo; longer routes visit Afton and Stillwater, with the longest route entering Wisconsin. Optional extra loop (that’s the ‘plus’) for those mileage junkies who slept in. Julie Kosbab (VanMersbergen), 651.253.2493, julie-at-rideboldly.org.

The paper — and for [...]]]>

The Star-Tribune reports that, to save time and money, MN-DOT will be closing a section of Highway 36 entirely through North Saint Paul for reconstruction. Construction is to begin in May. (See: Splitting North St. Paul in the Sunday, April 1 edition; I’m quite sure this isn’t a weird April Fool’s prank.)

The paper — and for that matter, the DNR page for the Gateway Trail — doesn’t mention if there’s going to be closure/rerouting of the Gateway Trail through there. It does mention that the Snowman gets to stay put at Margaret, so there’s a possibility that it won’t.

But I’m doubting it.

This reconstruction is great. The trail crossings that run parallel to Highway 36 between White Bear Avenue and Interstate 694 are a hazard. Because it’s a trail, cyclists and walkers and other users frequently are going counter to traffic, and drivers who don’t look both ways are prone to taking out a few trail users here or there. Highway 36 is going to an expressway format, so that can only help.

But I’m guessing that relative to the closure, it’s going to muck up the trail. A lot.

There are a lot of easy re-routes — but most of them are the same re-routes as mentioned for automotive traffic. County B is a staple road for north-side bikers, as is County C. For a lot of the recreational users of the trail, these routes aren’t appealing. Even for experienced vehicular cyclists, using these roads this summer won’t be appealing, because a lot of people on the re-routes will be frustrated with construction and having to go a different route that runs 20-30 mph SLOWER than their accustomed route — never the best people to be sharing a lane with given a choice!

Beyond that, the re-routes also are considerably less flat — another negative for many users, especially those in the pink-training-wheels set, who often are seen with parents near the MN120 crossing going to the DQ.

It will be interesting to see what kind of mayhem is created — and if the crossing up above 694 at Washington County 12 gets opened BEFORE or DURING the start of the mayhem…