New to the Area

[ozman05]

Hello everybody! I just moved here in January from Missouri and am looking for some input. I'm living in Burnsville, but because I've been so busy with my job I haven't really had much time to get out much. Can anybody recommend a good bike shop in the Twin Cities area? Right now I just need to get a good tune up and get ready for the riding season. Also, a girl from work is wanting to get a bike so we can bike together so we're both going to need help in picking her out a decent bike. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide me. Hope to see all of you around!

[socrates]

Hello everybody! I just moved here in January from Missouri and am looking for some input. I'm living in Burnsville, but because I've been so busy with my job I haven't really had much time to get out much. Can anybody recommend a good bike shop in the Twin Cities area? Right now I just need to get a good tune up and get ready for the riding season. Also, a girl from work is wanting to get a bike so we can bike together so we're both going to need help in picking her out a decent bike. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide me. Hope to see all of you around!
I've had good luck with Erik's on 42 just east of 35E

[Ish]

John,

First - Welcome! I hopefully you will enjoy the biking up hear and will become a member of MORC. :)

From a shop perspective, it really depends on what you want. For run-of-the mill stuff Erik's is good as well as Penn Cycle in Eagan. For more high-end stuff and personalized attention you can try one-on-one or Freewheel.
Also, check out Gravity Labs next to Buck Hill.

[TML]

Hello everybody! I just moved here in January from Missouri and am looking for some input. John,
Welcome to the area and welcome to the MN mountain bike scene! I'll be heading down to your former neck of the woods for the Midwest MTB Advocacy Summit in KC, this weekend.

As far as shops go, hit Freewheel in Mpls for some decent selection. Also hit the One on One bike studio for the Mpls vibe. In St. Paul, there's Now Bikes on snelling and also try County Cycle, Cty Rd C and Lexinton in Roseville.

Any suggestions for rides that I shouldn't miss while in the MO neighborhood? There are a few obvious ones that I know of, but just curious for your input.

[Kevin Leis]

Ramsey Ricycles on Hwy 10 in Ramsey offers free tune-ups for life on new purchases and shop turn around is quick.:shocked:

[ozman05]

Thanks so much for all of the input! I'll definitely be checking out some of the shops that everybody has mentioned. As far as rides in MO, I guess it depends on where you're going. There's the Katy trail which is an old abandoned railroad track system. It's a nice ride, but it is FLAT. There are a few good trails in the Columbia area, but unfortunately there's not a whole lot. I was from Jefferson City so unless I wanted to travel there really wasn't much there. I only lived in MO for a few years. I grew up in Kansas and didn't get into mountain biking until college in Lawrence (go Jayhawks!) :D They had some pretty decent trails there. I'm just a recreational rider anyway...nothing too serious. I went to Colorado while in college and had a pretty bad wreck up there and haven't really gotten back into cycling until recently. Anyway, enough babble. Thanks again for all of your help. Take care!