Parkways ride proves popular as 4,500 cyclists take to streets

A colorful train of bikers raced to the inaugural event at the last minute, boosting ridership numbers beyond all expectations.

By Steve Brandt, Star Tribune

Last update: September 16, 2007 - 7:54 PM

Will people pay for the opportunity to bike on traffic-free Minneapolis parkways?

The answer was an emphatic yes, judging by the throng that turned out for Sunday's inaugural Minneapolis Bike Tour.

Registration was at 1,700 riders only 10 days before the tour. It hit 3,000 Friday after organizers decided not to raise their $30 early-bird registration fee as planned. By Friday night, it was 3,500. It zoomed past 4,000 after a late rush of publicity and as Sunday morning dawned with a bike- perfect forecast.

The surge to a final total of 4,552 surprised organizers. More people signed up than T-shirts were printed, and the colorful train of riders that pulsed through Minneapolis neighborhoods caused shortages of some energy foods by the late rest stops on the 41-mile route, the longer of two options available to riders.

Some came from suburbs far beyond the city limits. "I wanted to become more familiar with the bike route around the lakes," said Denise Cameron of Burnsville. She opted for the 15-mile route on her four-month-old comfort bike.

Sandy Bartenhagen of Prior Lake, fresh from a ride across Wisconsin, signed on in search of a casual ride. "This one sounded like a lot of fun," she said.

A field that included Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak varied from sleek riders on aerodynamic machines to sweatshirt-clad folks with bellies and hauling trailers with kids or even dogs. A majority opted for the short route that clung to the Chain of Lakes, but many opted for the circle of parkways that took them to new places.

"I'm really looking forward to northeast Minneapolis," said Jill Hutmacher, a South Sider. She and friend Alice Leighton rode with foreign exchange student Christine Sajons of Hamburg, Germany. "It's a great way to get up close and personal with the city," Leighton said.

The route deviated from parkways for traffic reasons in northeast Minneapolis, skirting the Mississippi River's east bank. It brushed past the eastern bridgehead of the collapsed Interstate 35W bridge, giving some riders their first in-person look at the canted slabs.

Another somber note was struck by friends and relatives of Mark Loesch, slain last week as he took a night ride near his south Minneapolis home. They rode in a hastily planned tribute with his name taped or pinned to white T-shirts.

Gene Chadwick, who was planning to ride the tour with Loesch, rode his friend's bike instead. "I wish he'd had a softer seat," he quipped. Molly Hanson, Loesch's sister-in-law, wore his silver helmet.

The tributes started even before the tour began, said one of Loesch's childhood friends, Will Vervair of Maple Grove. A stranger sent an e-mail of support to Loesch's family and friends, saying he intended to ride in the tour on Loesch's behalf, Vervair said.

"It was pretty neat," Vervair said. "It's something that Mark would have done."

For Kevin Ellingson and Emma Pachuta of Minneapolis' Whittier neighborhood, the ride was a chance to ride for fun on bikes that are an everyday mode of transportation for them. Ellingson bikes 10 blocks to work daily, and Pachuta bikes to work in St. Paul twice a week.

The ride claimed at least two casualties. One rider was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center with undisclosed injuries after a crash. Another had an allergic reaction to a banana.

The crowd was an auspicious start for a tour run just one week after the St. Paul Classic tour of that city's parkways. St. Paul's annual ride started with just 2,850 riders and now approaches 7,000.

Staff writer Tom Ford contributed to this report. Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438

Steve Brandt • sbrandt@startribune.com

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