Zach and Anna

Here is another oil painting recently completed by my sister, Karen Kersten!

Edina Bike Rodeo

Here are some pics of the wonderful event, thanks to Catherine Elliott for her Gold Star award project for Girl Scouts plus several bike shops, community groups, and volunteers. For a more structured image set with text, visit Photos at www.BikeEdina.org.

More than 100 visitors attended at about 70 children received bike inspections, helmet checks, safety instruction, and navigated simulated city roads in a course marked on the parking lots complete with real road signs.

MS150 to Blaine

Self-photo shadow, Barb & volunteers hard at work, starting out in Hinckley, Erica, Lance, and friend at the finish, scene on my bike home from Blaine to Edina.

MS 150 Saturday Night

Setting up the tent, evening festivities, C.H. Robinson's team song, enjoying the GMAC ResCap tent.

MS 150 to Hinckley

This is Day 1. More than 3000 bikers! $2.2MM raised. A few shots show biking with Mike and David, finishing in Hinckley after riding from Duluth (75 miles).







Note: The "butts" are not real! They are rubber, just in case you were concerned.

Last Day Highlands

Today is the last day of school where Aliya, Artem, and Alex all walk to Highlands together. Next year, Alex will be in middle school. I will miss going with them to the edge of the school each morning. Great kids!

Biking Downtown

I’m heading toward Hennepin on 9th Street. This is a typical scene at rush hour, which as you might know is a bit of a misnomer: The cars aren’t rushing—they’re stuck. I’m the one rushing. Biking in any urban center involves special thrills. Almost every second requires full attention, moving or track-standing. Being out in the open allows me to sense the sounds, smells, and movements in a close and personal way that drivers don’t experience.

Pot Head

David won't be taking any calls at this time. He's quite busy.

Snirt Dale

Here is one of the highlights from Hiawatha Bike Club's ride starting out at GMAC-RFC in Richfield, which went through Bloomington and Edina. The group included Erica, Kirk, Matt, Aldo, Chris…and Al's yellow helmet.

Our route included a trip around the Hyland Lake Park Reserve area and then headed on a spontaneous trek up "Chain Break Hill" in west Edina. We covered about 18 miles and averaged a pretty good speed. Lots of fun. Plus, we visited one of the few remaining winter remnants: Here is Chris tackling "Mount Snirt" near Southdale.

Comics in a Tent

Here are Artem and Alex (now 12!) enjoying a spring day with a makeshift tent and a few comics.

Spring-klers

Bart the Hydrant Man visited the Highlands neighborhood and Aliya and Alex followed him around to test the water. Cold! Wet! Fun!

Published Article

My first newspaper article published in March 2007: "Bike Edina Task Force keeps rolling along"

Bike Edina Task Force keeps rolling along

By Kirk Johnson - Guest Columnist
(Created: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 9:30 PM CDT

MN Sun-Current

According to survey work completed by the Bike Edina Task Force, bicycling is an important activity to many Edina residents.

More than 18,000 residents indicated that they ride their bikes each year. Even though Edina is home to these thousands of bicyclists, for the first time we are seeing specific efforts to create a sense of community for Edina bicyclers. This is an exciting time for bicycling in Edina.

All residents are invited to consider themselves a part of the Bike Edina community. How can you specifically be involved in the Bike Edina community?



Some simple steps include joining one of many Edina group bicycle rides, using the Bike Edina website (explained below), visiting Edina's local bike shop, and taking part in various classes, seminars, and other educational activities.

There are now biking activities during all seasons, even in the winter. Even if you are not a biker, you can appreciate the benefits of biking. Additionally, if you are a motorist, you can offer courtesy to bicyclists on the road: Minnesota state law gives bicyclists full privileges to ride on the road, so remember to be kind and share the road.

To give more visibility to biking and offer a social group outlet for bikers in Edina, several community residents are involved in ride-leader training with the Hiawatha Bicycle Club. The result is more group rides originating in Edina.

Already this year, Edina enjoyed its inaugural Polar Bear Ride: Starting near City Hall, a group ventured out for a brisk 12-mile ride on Jan. 1. Additionally members from the Bike Edina Task Force have organized a Winter Ride Series that runs through March. Another spring series will start in April and run through May.

All riders are invited, and different rides have different focuses for speed, distance, and terrain. For example, one ride was designed around some of the steepest hills in Edina. Another ride recently featured a slower, flatter pace and looped around Lake Harriet and was suitable for children accompanied by adults.

Where can residents find news, learn about group rides, meet other bicyclists, share tips on commuting, and engage in interesting bike-related discussions? For the first time in Edina's history, we now have our own community website and interactive forums to accomplish all of those things.

At www.BikeEdina.com, the Bike Edina community can engage in the interactive forums area, stay informed on the latest community news, plan for upcoming rides and seminars, ask questions about bicycle safety and maintenance, etc. The site features information on commuting as well.

Another way to engage in the Edina bicycling community is to visit Edina's one and only local bike shop, Edina Bike and Sport, on Valley View Drive. The shop has been kind enough to sponsor the Bike Edina website and some related efforts. This is a great source of advice, products, and service for biking and other sports.

Edina Public Schools offers community education for all ages. The website is http://www.edina.k12.mn.us/ces/, plus you may have received periodic catalogs. The recent catalog features some bicycle classes such as bicycle commuting and a class on bicycle maintenance.

Additionally, clubs like the Hiawatha Bicycle Club offer "Smart Cycling" events where you can learn more about specific topics such as training, touring, safety, etc. The Club's site is www.hiawathabike.org.

For a consolidated list of events and education specifically related to or located in Edina, visit the BikeEdina.org site and register in the Forums area to view the calendar.

Steve Rusk is chair of the Bike Edina Task Force and can be reached at BikeEdina@earthlink.net or 952-929-9771.

Kirk Johnson, is an organizer of several group rides in Edina and is also a bicycle commuting advocate and webmaster for the BikeEdina website. He can be reached at Kirk@BikeEdina.org or 952-922-3344

Muchacha y Su Cabello

Here is my sister's recent horse and person portrait, completed March 2007 in oil. I think it is one of my favorites of this type. Comments anyone?

Fun with Artem

Here are a few pics of recent fun activities with Artem. His vocabulary is increasing. Instead of asking "Are we going back to that thing?" while on a ride around Lake Harriet getting back to the bandshell structures, he actually asked, "Are we getting closer to that little stadium?" Also, we watched some snow windsurfers, and instead of commenting on "Those people doing those things" he asked if we were getting near the people doing the "winter activities." Great!

So, here is Artem clowning with Dad after dinner with the big arms. Also pictured before riding off to Lake Harriet. The photo by the door is on his way to an old fashioned school study trip. Snow tubing. Aliya's half birthday. And the guy doing that thing back at the thing.

Ice Biking at Lake Harriet

Alex, Hans, and I had a good time on Lake Harriet. John is looking on from the shore. This is during the heavy snow storm that we all enjoyed this weekend. But not quite enough to shut down schools and offices. Maybe next time!

BikeEdina Website

Check it out! BikeEdina.org

Some Favorite Stupor Bowl Pics

At sub-zero temps, my camera and its battery didn't cooperate. But, I did get a few shots. These are thumbnails, so you can click to enlarge. You can see how packed we were in part of the One on One Bike Studio for the Stupor Bowl X. As you can see, it was a friendly crowd. I think between 200 and 300 riders were there.

-9F and Dropping

It was a GREAT day. Completed 11 of the 19 stops and picked up all the poker cards. More on that later. Jeff is OK and hit several stops, too. For memory's sake, here is the weather during part of today. My total miles were 43. I brought home all my body parts.

Anyone ready for Stupor Bowl XI? Yo, over here! Saturday, February 2. And I'm hittin' all them stops!

Dressing for Success

How does someone dress for a 3-hour outdoor bike race? In the winter? When windchill is MINUS 35F and the high temp of the day is only -2F? That's the forecast for today on Stupor Bowl Saturday! Yeah! Check out My overall clothing scheme. Really, with a little planning, anyone can enjoy cold winter weather very comfortably. You can do it! There's nothing like riding out in sub-zero temps and being "dressed for success" because you will feel like you have super powers!

On really cold days like today I wear most but not all of those layers. You can see all the stuff in the bag (I really don't take the first aid kit, but it's a good idea in theory). Finally, here is my night visibility stuff.

Later this month I'm going to assist with a winter commuting clinic, so I'm thinking about putting together a pamphlet. I'd be interested in hearing your comments for what you like to use for cold weather riding.

Cars-R-Coffins Visit

Visited Cars-R-Coffins coffee shop today to see StuporBowl X artifacts and check out the scene. Cool stuff! The photo of the people running is the start of a previous Stupor Bowl. The poster is for this year's event (10th annual). The other is just a snapshot I took in the coffee shop. The crowd was pleasant...I sort of expected something rougher. I'm looking forward to the race!