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Falling Cycling

Fall Cycling

The trees are changing colors, the air is turning cooler, and it's Pumpkin Spice season! This time of year is the perfect time to catch some beautiful scenery and weather before the snow begins to fall. Read more below about our favorite bikes, places to cycle in the fall, and some apparel for the dropping temps.

Fall Cycling Attire

Attire

Dressing with proper clothing is important as temperatures drop. As any good Midwesterner knows, layers are key. We have some great layering pieces for both men and women.

This men's Pearl Izumi cream and navy colored jacket on the left is soft and great as a warm mid layer, perfect for fat biking. 

This women's wind-stopping, lightweight Castelli zip up is a great layer piece for this cooler weather as well. We also have wind-blocking shell pants with a warm inner lining that are great for both this time of year as the temps change, and for winter riding.

Some of our clothing is available in store only. Visit us in store at either location to see our options for fall apparel. 

Fall Mississippi River Trails

Our Favorite Trails

Some of our favorite places to bike in the fall are along the Mississippi River. The beautiful fall colors along the river are truly a sight to see. There are many trails along the river, and one of our favorites is the River Bottoms trail. There are two trailheads, one at the end of Lyndale Ave, and one at Bloomington Ferry Rd. Almost the entire trail follows the river, except for a few areas where it splits off. 

Minnesota River Bottoms Sibley House

Along the River Bottoms trail, you can stop by the Sibley House, home to the oldest structures still standing in Minnesota. From the center of the fur trade to the center of government, this site witnessed some of the key people and events at play in the tumultuous history of the early days of Minnesota statehood, as stated from the Sibley Historic Site website.

Sibley House/Mendota to Cedar Bridge is a 6 mile popular green singletrack trail located near Bloomington. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions. 

Otso Voytek

Our Favorite Fall Bikes

The fall is a great time to start getting into fat biking and gravel biking (if you haven't already). Some of our favorite bikes to go out and explore the trails with are the Otso Voytek, the Giant Yukon, the Salsa Beargrease, and the Cervelo Aspero. 

The Otso Voytek is truly a hardtail for all seasons. The Voytek has the narrowest Q-factor of any fat bike in the world at 183mm. With a narrow Q-factor, your weight is closer to the centerline of the bike. This is important when cornering for tight, responsive control. The frame was designed around an 83mm bottom bracket, where most fat bikes have a bottom bracket north of the 100-110mm range. With the Voytek, you don’t need to compromise agile handling to ride up to 4.6” tires.

Cervelo Aspero

Why follow tracks when you can make your own? with the Giant Yukon, experience the “foot out, flat out” fun of fat bike riding in any season. Whether you’re tackling fresh snow pack or drifty sand dunes for days, the Yukon will keep you rallying your favorite terrain in a whole new way.

The Salsa Beargrease was designed to keep you rolling on trails and beyond. 27.5” wheels maintain momentum and the carbon frame and fork keep weight to a minimum. The frame and fork feature bottle and cargo mounts for all the extra equipment you need for endurance effort or just long days out. Equipped with SRAM’s X01 Eagle components, this Beargrease is a smooth, efficient carbon fat tire bike for winter racing or hitting local trails year-round.

If you're someone who loves the freedom and exploration that gravel culture was founded upon but who has a hunger to ride hard, to go all out, the Cervelo Aspero was made for you. The Aspero performs like you’d want a road bike to perform off-road. The flip-chip in the fork keeps the trail measurement consistent whether you choose 700c or 650b tires. This maintains the bike’s personality and handling characteristics when you switch from mid-fats to full-fat.

Fall in the Midwest is such a lovely time of the year, though it is short lived. Get out there and explore some trails today!

If you have any questions, or need assistance making sure your bike ride is as spectacular as can be, feel free to contact us, or stop in either of our two locations. We'd love to chat and help you out. 

St. Paul, MN - (651) 644-2354

75 North Snelling, St. Paul, MN 55104

Arden Hills, MN - (651) 490-7709

1201 County Road E West, Arden Hills, MN 55112