Bike U

TCBC Bike University Program: TCBC Ride Showcase 2026 – Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 07:00pm. See the Zoom Registration information below.

Bike U is presenting what will hopefully be an annual event called the TCBC Ride Showcase! The 2026 riding season is nearing our prime riding months, when there will be multiple daily rides to choose from throughout the metro at all levels, as well as rides to explore outside the metro by joining club members on Outreach Rides. This is a chance to meet our ride leaders and learn about the diversity of TCBC rides. The program will be a fast-paced evening with up to 20 or more rides being showcased by ride leaders. Each speaker will have up to 3 minutes to present the name and history of their ride, what part of the metro or place for Outreach Rides, what TCBC Level of ride it is, and things about the ride that those who have not been on it would like to know. As always, there will be plenty of time for questions and answers.

Registration: You must register for the Zoom Program in advance by going to this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Efq_oIiCSDuUE8SL8pyavA

After Program Information: Dan Miller organized and moderated the program. This special Bike U program featured 16 ride leaders showcasing upcoming TCBC rides at all levels throughout the metro area and beyond.  Included were several outreach rides: Chippewa Valley Century, Tour of Lakes, Grand Rapids Weekend, Bicycle Around MN, and the Minnesota Randonneurs.

Within the allotted 3-minute time limit, many presenters shared information on multiple rides. The presentations allowed attendees to learn insights about the ride and the ride leader that augmented what can be learned from the ride description on the TCBC Calendar. Many rides have multiple routes and levels. Rides that have been with us for many years have evolved with new leaders offering new versions of the ride. Everyone learned there is a lot to explore and discover across the metro and beyond that are worth making the effort to support.

Additional Information:

Karen Beadles Summary of the Program: https://biketcbc.org/wp-content/uploads/Bike-U-ride-descriptions-2.docx

Mike Beadles Presentation: https://biketcbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026.05.14-BikeU-MrBikey-presentation-1.pdf

Bob Gambrel Presentation: https://biketcbc.org/wp-content/uploads/TCBC-Bike-U-Bob-led-rides-1.pdf

Norman Ehrenreich – MN Ranonneurs: https://biketcbc.org/wp-content/uploads/Minnesota_Randonneurs_and-TCBC-Ride-Info.pptx

If you watched this program, please fill out the survey at https://biketcbc.org/bike-u-survey/

Please follow the link below to the Zoom recording of the session on the TCBC YouTube Channel:

TCBC Bike University Program: Transitioning to an E-Bike – Katie Angle, George Bentley, and Bob Mackie – Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 07:00pm. See the Zoom Registration information below.

Learn about transitioning to an E-Bike from TCBC Members, Katie Angle, George Bentley, and Bob Mackie. In the program, they will cover issues in moving from a regular bike to an E-Bike, how riding in TCBC Group Rides are different, how they have managed battery life, what mechanical issues they have had, dealing with a heavier bike, the expense of E-Bikes, and how they researched the best E-Bike for their needs.

Katie Angle –  Katie is a lifelong Minneapolis area native. She is a retired Minneapolis public school teacher, is married with two children, and has four grandchildren. Growing up in the pre-Title 9 era, there were no sport opportunities for girls, so biking became her sport. Katie joined TCBC in 1998, where she met Jim Angle, who has a similar enthusiasm for bicycling with the club and also organized bike tours.

George Bentley – George grew up in Chicago until he went to college in Northfield and moved to the Cities after graduation.  He soon found myself in the food industry, which led to me meeting Jean Bentley and getting married just before he turned 36.  Jean introduced George to TCBC, and since he had ridden bikes since a young age, he was happy to join. George and Jean have two grown children and live in White Bear Township, having lived in Como Park for 27 years previously.

Bob Mackie – Bob is 80 years old and has been a serious road biker and an occasional mountain biker for 36 years. He joined TCBC post-COVID and shortly after retiring from work as a gastroenterologist. Bob has loved everything about the club and recently joined the TCBC Board of Directors.

Registration: You must register for the Zoom Program in advance by going to this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/b6vzd2h9RWukufCrYodeiQ

After Program Information: Katie, George, and Bob answered several questions about their transitions to e-bikes. These included how long they have been riding an e-bike and what was the most difficult part of transitioning. Additionally, they talked about managing riding in TCBC Group Rides, how that was different from a regular bike, any mechanical issues they have had, and how they best managed the battery power level, including in colder weather. Each of them talked about how far they have gone on a full charge, with both Katie and Bob being able to ride 100 miles! Next, they talked about any difficulties they have had with the added weight of the bicycles. Katie changed from lifting the bike into the back to getting a rack with a ramp. George talked about the difference between his first, much heavier e-bike and his current one. They all talked about how expensive e-bikes are compared to their older bikes. Finally, they talked about what they liked best about riding an e-bike. They all mentioned being able to keep up in group rides.

There were several questions regarding software updates and battery life. George and Bob talked about the phone apps that come with managing their e-bikes. A newer feature is customizing the power levels to meet their needs. Another question was on the life of the battery, but none of them had noticed any degradation of the battery’s power.

The program did not cover e-mountain bikes, but Bob talked briefly about what he knows about mountain biking, and some of his friends who have e-mountain bikes, and being careful with the extra power.

If you watched this program, please fill out the survey at https://biketcbc.org/bike-u-survey/

Please follow the link below to the Zoom recording of the session on the TCBC YouTube Channel:

TCBC Bike University Program: 402 Days – Thirteen Months Together on Bikes – Diana and John Munger  – Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 07:00pm. See the Zoom Registration information below.

Join Diana and John Munger as they talk about their 19,000-mile journey through five continents and forty countries. Bikes. Food. Camping and lodging. People. Their marriage. Hear about all of it as they discuss their trip on this multimedia Zoom presentation.

Find out more on their blog – www.ourventures.bike – or by checking out Diana’s Strava feed.

Diana was born and raised in Queens, New York. John was born in Topeka, Kansas, but has spent most of his life in Minnesota. They met in college in New York and were married eight years later – after Diana finished medical school. John went on to law school, and Diana completed her family practice residency at North Memorial in Minneapolis. Diana went on to practice medicine at North Memorial’s St. Anthony Clinic, where she has enjoyed a fulfilling career with a wonderful panel of patients. John practiced law for several years before starting the Loppet Foundation, which he ran until 2020.

They have two children – Ellie and Lauren – who are now 24 and 21, respectively. Once the kids were off in college and stuff, Diana and John decided to take a big bike trip. They have been going on shorter trips basically since they started dating, but this was going to be much bigger. They practiced with a trip to Chicago in 2022, and another to Toronto in 2023, both of which they loved – so in September 2024, they headed out.

Thirteen months, 19,300 miles, forty countries, and a whole lot of blog posts later, they returned. Don’t miss this incredible bicycling adventure story!

Registration: You must register for the Zoom Program in advance by going to this link:

TCBC Bike University Program: Clinical Bike Fitting for Injury Prevention – Peter Bzdusek, PT – Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 07:00pm. See the Zoom Registration information below.

Peter Bzdusek, PT – Peter Bzdusek is a board-certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy. He practices at M Health Fairview in orthopedic and sports rehabilitation. He has a special interest in bicycle and triathlon injury rehabilitation. Peter manages the BikeFit program in these clinics.

Peter will explore bike fitting from a clinical perspective, working live with a TCBC member and their bicycle. He will discuss basic adjustments from an injury prevention perspective. Peter will also discuss common joint injuries that he sees in his practice and what can be done to prevent them on and off the bicycle.

We are looking for a volunteer to be the live-fitting subject of the presentation. If you are interested, you must do the following:

1. Be a TCBC Member in Good Standing

2. Register for the program

3. On an evening before the program, work with Peter in person before the session at his clinic to complete some preliminary work and also to be at the live session, each with your bicycle.

4. The deadline for volunteering is April 21, 2025, at 11:59pm, and if there is more than one volunteer, there will be a random drawing to pick the winner. Submit your interest in volunteering via e-mail to BikeU@BikeTCBC.org. The clinic location in SE Minneapolis will be shared with the volunteer chosen. The session will be live broadcast on Zoom, but there is no room for others to attend in person.

Registration: You must register for the Zoom Program in advance by going to this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/L-223nIBRpisGIJPC6chkQ

After Program Information: Tim Rand organized the program and served as moderator. Peter Bzdusek presented a very informative program on clinical bike fitting for injury prevention. Peter, is a board-certified physical therapist who manages the BikeFit service of M Health Fairview’s rehabilitation services. He began with some basics of various bike adjustments, including seat adjustments and angles, as well as pedaling and handlebar issues. Peter also talked about the differences between clinical bike fitting and a fitting you would receive from a bike shop, including both the positive and negative attributes.

With the help of TCBC member and volunteer, George Skinner, who won the lottery contest to have his bike fitted, Peter demonstrated some real-time issues that he has seen over the years. He also addressed a multitude of joint issues experienced by cyclists and demonstrated exercises and techniques on and off the bike that supported healthy cycling patterns.

A big thanks to Peter for this excellent program and to George for participating as the volunteer subject. Also thanks to the Bike U Team of Dan Miller and John Benda, who provided the video and audio functions during the on-site program at M Health Fairview.

Please follow the link below to the Zoom recording of the session on the TCBC YouTube Channel:

TCBC Bike University Program: TCBC Swap Meet – Valerie Olson and Linda Johnson – Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 07:00pm. See the Zoom Registration information below.

Tune in as Valerie Olson and Linda Johnson talk about the history of the TCBC Swap Meet, location changes, some interesting stories over the years, the importance of volunteers, and what is being planned for 2025.

Valerie Olson – Valerie lived in the Twin Cities for most of her life, but recently relocated to California. She joined the club around 1990 and founded the TCBC Swap Meet in 2004, organizing for its first 15 years. In 1995, Valerie rode her bicycle across the USA, then in 2000, around the world! She worked as a software engineer before retiring in 2020. Valerie travels part-time with a solos RV club. Going traveling, hiking, bicycling, and enjoying our many amazing national, state, and regional parks are her favorite pastimes.

Linda Johnson – Linda has always been a garage sale junkie, shopping them or having one. She coordinated a large, annual handcrafted gifts and home goods Boutique, with over 100 vendors for 25 years, and did everything from advertising, set up, point of sale, to clean up. Linda sold handcrafted folk art and custom wood craft at a local shop and helped manage it part-time. She also worked for the Independent School District 624 in the health office in an elementary, middle school, and ending at the high school for 29 years. Linda is a current Ride Leader and has been one of the top riders with both TCBC Club and Green Miles for several years.

Registration: You must register for the Zoom Program in advance by going to this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/f7rleotrQvS4mIZEFV2yjg#/registration

After Program Information: Edward Eroe organized and moderated the program and asked Valerie Olson and Linda Johnson several questions regarding the history of the program, finding the location, what worked and didn’t work over the years, and how the program was advertised. They also discussed funny stories, buyers finding exactly what they wanted, how the Swap Meet is organized, the setup required in advance, keeping everything in order, finances, parking, issues in moving the event from Hopkins to White Bear Lake, the influence of the COVID Pandemic, a large snow storm one year, and how many attendees there have been and how many were TCBC club members and non-members there have been over the years. Linda also talked about the upcoming 2025 Swap Meet scheduled for April 5, 2025, and asked all members to assist in publicizing the event.

Both Valerie and Linda emphasized the importance of volunteers that are needed to make the Swap Meet successful. There are other Swap Meets in the Twin Cities, but they all charge the sellers and participants, which makes the TCBC Swap Meet unique and different.

There were several questions and comments by the participants, including having Linda lead a TCBC Garage Sale Bike Ride, being a place to catch back up with other TCBC members after the winter, and thanking both Valerie and Linda for organizing the Swap Meet.

Please follow the link below to the Zoom recording of the session on the TCBC YouTube Channel:

TCBC Bike University Program: Fundamentals of Group Riding Panel Discussion – Paul Arsenault, Jean Bently, Carol Fitzgerald, and Scott Larson – Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 07:00pm. See the Zoom Registration information below.

This panel discussion is designed to start off our riding season so that new and veteran riders have a better idea of what the ride briefing is all about, expectations of riding together, and, hopefully, will bring an increased level of comfort, courtesy, and safety to riding together on TCBC rides. This program will provide a solid framework for all levels of riders!

Paul Arsenault – Paul began biking in the early 1980s for exercise. His first organized ride was in the 1982 MN Ironman, and he has been a member of TCBC since the inception of the club. He began racing with the Gopher Wheelmen Bicycle racing team in the early 1990s and raced on and off for twenty-five years. Paul was one of the founders and current board member of NorthStar Development Cycling, a junior development bike racing team, and he was formally a USA Cycling certified coach. In 2018 and 2019 he was the team director for NorthStar Development Cycling at Tour de L’Abitibi, an international stage race for junior boys held in Quebec, Canada. He currently enjoys social rides with TCBC and other local groups.

Jean Bently – Jean got hooked on biking when she started training for a trip through Europe in 1981, after finishing nursing school. She ended up touring for three months before our money ran out, and had to commit to the real world of work.  She joined TCBC in 2000, became a ride leader in 2009, and is currently in her third year on the TCBC Board of Directors, serving as the Safety Liaison.  Jean has found her volunteer work to be a valuable way to give back to the club, and it has enriched her life. There have been so many new routes she has experienced and is grateful for TCBC!

Carol Fitzgerald – Carol ended up in Minnesota by way of New York, Massachusetts, and Florida and worked at various office jobs along that route including Kodak, Polaroid, a Florida legislative lobbyist, North Central Life, and Bremer Bank. In Minnesota, she became a TCBC member and started doing rides. Carol and her husband owned a cabin in Hayward, Wisconsin, and got involved in cross-country skiing and racing, so for about 15+ years, she switched from bike wheels to roller ski wheels, and was pretty focused on the racing and dropped out of TCBC activities. When Carol retired, she came back to TCBC and became a ride leader and discovered people liked her rides. A few years ago, before COVID, she decided she might be able to lead 100 rides in a season, and did! Not sure if that will be her goal every year, but she really enjoys leading rides and taking lots of members on new roads to areas they have never ridden before. So, as long as Carol’s e-bike keeps rolling, and she can keep it upright, look for her on the Ride Calendar.

Scott Larson – Scott is a ride leader with TCBC and joined in the late 1990s when he did the Minnesota Ironman bike ride, but didn’t become active with the club until 2001. He became a ride leader in 2002 and has been quite active in that role. Scott rode his bike as a kid with a paper route, but then stopped for a while when he was in his 20s. He rode occasionally for a few years before he really started riding in 2000. Since then Scott has ridden 2000+ miles with TCBC each year and usually rides a similar number of miles outside the club riding with friends and doing different tours around the USA.

The program has been coordinated and will be moderated by Council of Regents Member, Mary Miller.

Registration: You must register for the Zoom Program in advance by going to this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9QN_fAIhQJaR9sXLbPGQaQ#/registration

After Program Information: Mary Miller, the Moderator who arranged for the program, asked each of the panelists, eight questions, which included Paul Arsenault, Jean Bently, Carol Fitzgerald, and Scott Larson. This led to some great discussions and questions from the participants. A big thanks to Mary for all her planning and work on this very educational program.

The esteemed panel of long-term ride leaders and highly experienced cycling coach, Paul, answered several questions, hoping to encourage positive camaraderie, courtesy, and safety amongst our riders who hopefully will take their advice for the coming riding season. The discussion has appeal for all ride levels; and the panelists agree, that although the style and etiquette may vary on ride levels, the fundamentals remain the same across all levels. For instance, a paceline on a BC ride might differ in some ways from one ridden on an A/B ride.

TCBC Bike University Program: Bicycling Into Your Eighties and Beyond Panel Discussion – Carol Fitzgerald, Pete Hawkins, and Lyle Koehler – Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 07:00pm. See the Zoom Registration information below.

Come join this session and learn how three of our TCBC Members are actively bicycling into the eighties and beyond. Each panelist member will provide some background on both their professional and cycling lives, their secrets to keep on peddling, and the importance of bicycling in their lives in general.

Carol Fitzgerald – Carol ended up in Minnesota by way of New York, Massachusetts, and Florida and worked at various office jobs along that route including Kodak, Polaroid, a Florida legislative lobbyist, North Central Life, and Bremer Bank. In Minnesota, she became a TCBC member and started doing rides. Carol and her husband owned a cabin in Hayward, Wisconsin, and got involved in cross-country skiing and racing, so for about 15+ years, she switched from bike wheels to roller ski wheels, and was pretty focused on the racing and dropped out of TCBC activities. When Carol retired, she came back to TCBC and became a ride leader and discovered people liked her rides. A few years ago, before COVID, she decided she might be able to lead 100 rides in a season, and did! Not sure if that will be her goal every year, but she really enjoys leading rides and taking lots of members on new roads to areas they have never ridden before. So, as long as Carol’s e-bike keeps rolling, and she can keep it upright, look for her on the Ride Calendar.

Pete Hawkins – As many of you know, Pete was one of the founding members of TCBC in 1993 and has held multiple club officer and board member positions. He was recently recognized with a Life Time Achievement Award from the club in 2024! Pete worked for forty years with Onan/Cummins as an Electrical/Mechanical Engineering Technician, working on Electrical Generator Research and Development. Even though his speed and mileages are tapering down, bicycling and TCBC have been, and continue to be, a major part of his life as he is entering his ninth decade.

Lyle Koehler – Lyle was born in 1932 in rural Minnesota, served three years in the Army, and received an Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Minnesota. He worked at Honeywell for 30 years and retired to a hobby farm near Aitkin in 1990. Lyle moved back to the Twin Cities and joined TCBC in 2013 at age 80, and became a ride leader in 2015. Ridestats says that he has been on 1,434 rides and has ridden 37,883 miles with the club so far. He is one of the top ride leaders in the club.

Registration: You must register for the Zoom Program in advance by going to this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lcu2uqjMjG9FO34gLmkSXqj1tFOge85OW#/registration

After Program Information: John Benda, Moderator who arranged for the program, asked each of the panelists, seven questions, which included Carol Fitzgerald, Pete Hawkins, and Lyle Koehler. This led to some great discussions and questions from the participants. A big thanks to John for all his work on this very enlightening program.

Here are the questions that John asked during the program.

1. Would each of you provide your 3-Minute Bicycle Riding History from childhood to the present, including your involvement with TCBC?
2. What has been your secret that has allowed you to continue to bike so actively for so long?
3. What advice will you provide on how riders can keep biking into their later years and get the same amount of enjoyment out of it?
4. What importance has bicycling held for you over the years?
5. How has your experience of bicycling changed over the years?
6. Have you ever thought, “Gosh, I just can’t push the pedals like I used to”, and what did you do or tell yourself to keep riding?
7. What are your favorite places to ride, both in the TCBC area and other areas too?

Carol, Pete, and Lyle each gave a brief bike riding history from their younger days up to the present. They also shared their secrets for being able to continue biking for so long, how their experience of bicycling has changed over the years, and other pearls of advice for those who hope to follow in their bike prints. Here are a few gems from each panelist:  Lyle enjoys the social interaction and physical exercise he gets from riding with TCBC, and “one of these days” he’s also going to focus on his diet. Carol (jokingly) says she really has no friends, so if she didn’t lead rides, people wouldn’t play with her. Pete advised that “Motion is Lotion” and continuing to ride his bike is the therapy that keeps him moving. He also said “Keep Doing What You Can Do” and “As You Age, You Don’t Bounce Back, You Bounce Forward” For those who missed the live session, you are encouraged to grab a warm or cold beverage and take the time to listen to the wisdom shared by Lyle, Pete, and Carol. Thanks to John for this wrap-up.

Please follow the link below to the Zoom recording of the session on the TCBC YouTube Channel:

TCBC Bike University Program: Tuesday Tuneup Ride 25th Anniversary – Jim Angle, Larry Miller, and Dick Stardig – Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 07:00 pm. See the Zoom Registration information below.

Three of the Ride Leaders from the TCBC Tuesday Tuneup Ride will talk about the history of the ride that goes back more than 25 years and what techniques they have used over the years to make it such a successful ongoing ride on the TCBC Ride Calendar. While there are many great TCBC rides, all ride leaders can learn that by sharing responsibility, consistently having a ride on the calendar, and having various routes, they can have a ride that TCBC riders come back to week after week and year after year.

The speakers are:

Jim Angle – Born in Nebraska, he has lived in the Twin Cities for the past 50 years. He retired in 2012. Jim joined TCBC back in 1999 and became a ride leader in 2005. He has led rides on the west side, out of Lake Minnetonka, Long Lake, and Wayzata.  Jim joined a group that has led the Tuesday Tuneup ride since 2013 when Chuck Sunder passed it on to a group of ride leaders.

Larry Miller -His first Tuesday Tuneup ride was in September 1998. That was an American Youth Hostel ride that Chuck Sunder started. Larry retired in September 1998 and this allowed him to ride in the morning, and was a ride leader in the early years as well as the voice of the telephone hotline for ten years until the TCBC computer website was created. He has done 460 Tuesday Tuneup rides to date, and other riders started riding Tuesday Tuneup from the start which may exceed his number of rides, but he hasn’t kept track of them. Larry leads and rides for the camaraderie, and the fact this ride is on the west side of town. It is also a personal commitment to ride every Tuesday, even though he can no longer keep pace with the majority of the riders.

Dick Stardig – He has a love of cycling that extends back 25 years and currently pursues road, mountain, gravel, and fat biking.  That love of cycling motivated Dick to join TCBC some 19 years ago.  Since then, he has become an active member of the club, participating in numerous club rides throughout the years.  For the past two and a half years, Dick has had the honor of serving as the TCBC club president.  When he retired in 2018, Dick looked for rides that ran during the week in the daytime. He was immediately drawn to the Tuesday Tuneup since it was a recurring ride with several different routes and was attended by many of his TCBC friends. The Tuesday Tuneup became a regular event on Dick’s calendar that he seldom missed.  A couple of years back, he became one of the rotating ride team leaders. The Tuesday Tuneup continues to be one of Dick’s top favorite TCBC rides.

Registration: You must register for the Zoom Program in advance by going to this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsduusqjguE9ZeLl5d0yZYXWS3ZAJtU5y3

After Program Information:

Larry, Jim, and Dick provided the history of the ride, which was started by Chuck Sunder over 25 years ago. Chuck led the ride until 2013 when the ride was turned over to a group of ride leaders who have carried on the ride to the present. Chuck originally had four different routes and they have continued with some editing. Two more routes were added, and Pete May put them all in Ride with GPS. The ride has always started at the Minnetonka Ice Arena.

Dick talked about all the past and current ride leaders who have been part of the Tuesday Tuneup. The ride has been an A/B ride and for the 2024 season, a B option was added. He also talked about some of the challenging aspects of managing six different routes with road construction and closures.

The speakers talked about having a group of ride leaders and how this model makes it easy to have a consistent ride every week from May through October. They also said that having the comradery of the group makes the ride so much fun.

Larry also talked about being the voice of the TCBC Hotline, which provided information on rides before the club moved to an online presence.

A big thanks to Larry, Jim, and Dick for taking the time to talk about this well-run ride that serves as an inspiration and model for other TCBC rides.

Please follow the link below to the Zoom recording of the session on the TCBC YouTube Channel:

TCBC Bike University Program: Year-Round Bicycle Commuting – Sophie Beal, Travis Norvell, and Chris Chavie – Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 07:00 pm. See the Zoom Registration information below.

BikeU is excited to host three panelists of intrepid year-round bicycle commuters!

The panel discussion will discuss tips on overcoming challenges to regularly commuting by bicycle, including weather, gear, personal safety, and traffic interactions. The panelists will include Sophie Beal, TCBC Member and Associate Professor of Portuguese at the University of Minnesota; Travis Norvell, Pastor of the Judson Baptist Church and adjunct faculty member of Union Theological Seminary, aka the “Biking Pastor”; and Chris Chavie, Author of the Minnesota Trail Navigator blogspot.

Registration: You must register for the Zoom Program in advance by going to this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMof-GqrDwpHdFgmXWg-QhEegVq03gFXATl

After Program Information:

Tim Rand, TCBC Bike U Council of Regent member, coordinated and moderated the program. Unfortunately, Travis Norvell was not able to attend the program due to some urgent business at his church. Tim introduced both Sophie Beal and Chris Chavie, who are regular year-round commuters that both bike between 11–20 miles most days to and from their jobs.

They shared their tips for dealing with challenges such as weather, traffic interactions, visibility, appropriate gear, and clothing. Mostly, however, they emphasized the mental and physical benefits of commuting as well as their passion for this bicycling opportunity in their lives.

The program ended with a discussion about how TCBC could support commuting and broaden its perspective beyond recreational group cycling. The Green Miles program was recognized as a step toward encouraging cycling as a transportation option. Other ideas included the expansion of Green Miles to include other commuting, organizing rides by geographical zones, and planning rides that would accompany members who are commuting.

MN Bike Trail Navigator – https://mnbiketrailnavigator.blogspot.com/

Center For Transportation Studies – https://www.cts.umn.edu/news/2022/september/happiness

Please follow the link below to the Zoom recording of the session on the TCBC YouTube Channel: