I have tried to true a wheel in the past and ended up making it worse. I have another wheel that is slightly out of true that I would like to learn how to get it back to good enough. Would the grease pit be able to help with something like that?

I recently bought a Class 1 long tail cargo Ebike. I had hemmed and hawed about getting one for years, and I finally pulled the trigger. And it has been great! I wish that I had bought it years ago. I have two young kids and riding around Minneapolis with them is so simple, easy, and fun. Obviously, I knew certain things, like going up hills, would be much easier on an Ebike. But something that I was not expecting an Ebike to do better over an "acoustic" bike: defensive riding around town is more relaxed and therefore more enjoyable.

Prior to buying the Ebike (and the birth of my second child), I had been using an old Specialized Sirrus (a fitness/hybrid style bike) with a rack on the back and child seat to carry my first kid. In this configuration, riding around town could be frustrating and scary at times. It felt like I could never make the timing of the lights. I'd have to come to a stop at nearly every signal. Sometimes, I'd have the signal to cross, but a car would cut me off anyways. Again, I would have to stop and then get going. Drivers would get frustrated with my slow acceleration. All and all, it was a lot of work and anxiety.

But with the Ebike, a lot of these issues don't matter. I can get up to speed faster, so I find myself making the signals more often. When approaching intersections, I find myself going slower than I did on the acoustic bike. There is no desire to try and carry my momentum like I had with the acoustic. The electric motor nearly instantly helps me regain it. So I'm able to approach intersections more slowly and cautiously, and then proceed through. If I have to unexpectedly stop, no big deal. I'll just downshift the internal gear hub and keep going. Easy.

Now, I'm not saying that an Ebike is plain better than an acoustic bike. Plenty of people will do just fine on an acoustic. But I am saying that they can be a better tool for a lot of people trying to get around Minneapolis. For all its high rankings as good bicycle city, Minneapolis still has a very patchy bicycle network. An Ebike can help most people smooth out the bumps of trying to get around.

It really has made defensive riding much more relaxed, and I was not expecting that. So if you are like me, and thinking of buying an Ebike: I say do it. As expensive as they can be, they are still the fraction of the cost of a car. And even if you already have a car, buy an Ebike and just plan to hold on to the car longer than you would. You'll be surprised how much you use the bike and how often the car stays home.

I'm new to the area and I'm looking for a place to do hill repeats. I do have a car if there's nothing really in the cities. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone I'm 5'6! I have a small Surly Preamble and while I love it I have maxed out the gears and I'm wanting drop bars and to get into road biking, but wow is everything so expensive! So just shooting my shot and seeing if anyone wants to trade or has good deal on a road bike! Or good entry affordable bikes? Or maybe if I am better off modifying the preamble? Thanks!

Did a big loop of both cities yesterday and noticed a distressing number of people with no helmet! Perhaps due to an influx of infrequent cyclists due to the weather, but that’s no excuse! I have literally turned around a half mile into a ride because I forgot one - I’d never ride without!

I have a Montague Navigator. I’ve brought it to a couple shops for tune ups, but there’s a specific issue that none have been able to correct so far. The two halves of the bike seem to be separating. When it first started, it was just a little difficult to get my bike to clamp in place. But it has separated to the point that it can no longer clamp in place. I’m in MSP, but willing to drive anywhere in the metro for a place that can fix this.

Someone broke into my garage near Pizza Luce Uptown and stole my bike that I primarily use for getting to work in the winter.

It's a Scott Scott SUB 10 that is which with red rims and grips and looks distinct.

It has a belt drive, black fenders and rear rack. It currently has studded tires.

It's been registered on bike index since I got back in 2011 and I've filed a police report.

If anyone sees it, please reach out.

Current photo:

Newest image of bike

Older photo of the front:

Older front image

Night photo showing distinctive reflective spoke tape:

Night view

Here's a couple videos, note that I tagged the points of interest, there's a bunch of dead space.

Video Inside the garage

Video outside of garage

If I do recover it, I will not be upset if you stop and ask to take a pic of me, my id and my bike together, or let me show you pics of the bike from 2011 in my photos app. The thief won't do this.

This post has identifiable info, so I created an alt that won't dox my main account.

One of the legendary Twin Cities bike shops is closing its doors after more than 40 years in business. That’s a bummer; a major bummer.

https://www.twincities.com/2026/03/20/st-paul-bicycle-shop-grand-performance-will-shutter-doors-in-next-few-months-now-that-owner-is-retiring/

For Minneapolis, still gotta be this abrupt drop from bike path to narrow sidewalk across a highway entrance ramp on Lyndale. There are already off-street bike paths on the west side of Franklin and the Wedge Co-op grocery store is right there, as are several other businesses around Franklin and 22nd. So close, yet so far away.

If you like maps and like helping people find low-stress routes to bike on, consider signing up here https://www.bikestreets.com/make-a-map

Bike Streets is free and provides turn-by-turn navigation from crowd-sourced maps. There are also other cool features like ride tracking and specifically community riding. They have a bunch of cities already onboarded with them. If you'd like to join, you can download the app right now and start playing around with it and provide suggestions. You should also sign up via the make-a-map form by 3/31 and Avi (founder) will get together the group for an orientation.

Edit: I forgot to mention but you can also add constructions and detours which as we all know would be supremely helpful this summer.

Does anyone know a good resource for maps of the bike trails and routes in and around the metro area?

I am currently in my early 20s living with my parents in central WI. I used to live in the twin cities growing up and now I'm thinking of coming back home if you will.

My question is, what neighborhoods should I avoid or look at to move to the MSP area possibly car-free. Ideally close to a light rail station as well. Also, is it possible to work an entry level position and afford a house while living alone or am I disconnected from realty in that? And if it is possible what types of jobs are in need currently in the area?

I’m interested in getting into Gravel biking and those Canyon bikes visually look like prettiest to me. I’m not afraid of the price because I’ll stay within my budget regardless of the Brand/Model.

I’m wondering if anyone has had difficulties with Local shops working on these? I’ve read that some of the foreign parts cause headaches to fix and as someone that knows little to nothing about bike maintenance I’ll need to find a shop that knows the bikes well.

Sorry if this is dumb, I’m very new to this.

Hey everyone, I’m (30M) looking at moving to Minneapolis later this year (probably July/August timeframe) and I want to try something I’ve never done before, which is be car-free. I’m moving from South Carolina, so I’ve had a car my entire adult life but hate having to deal with them (and I love cars), between car payments, maintenance, insurance, etc. How is living in Minneapolis without a car, just using a bike? I’m looking at living off of Hennepin (either the 270 or 222 apartments). My job has an office in north Minneapolis about 6 miles away by bike, but I travel for work and would just get Ubers to the airport when needed. I feel I’m in a prime position to make this transition, and I guess just would like a little confidence boost by some locals to make sure I’m not crazy for jumping in headfirst like this.

Looking to purchase a silver or black fixed gear wheelset. Ideally, HED, H Plus Son, or Velocity. Fixed/fixed hub is ideal, but a flip-flop hub will get the job done as well. Looking to spend less than $300. Need 120 rear / 100 front spacing.

Also looking for a 50-52cm track/fixie frame! Do any shops in the area offer gear oriented around SS/fixed gear cycling? Does anyone have a frame they'd be willing to part with? I was recently hit by a car on my daily driver, and later noticed the head tube has fully split D:

Thanks! :-)

one of my favorite things about watching MPLS news coverage is spotting the bikers in the background. the biker in this one got a shoutout by the journalists!