The Red Bull Skyride bike race in St. Paul’s skyway system on Feb. 8 is quickly becoming more than just a thread on a message board. The Pioneer Press did a piece about it last week, highlighting the enthusiastic support of downtown business leaders like David Fhima and Bill Buth, also revealing that it didn’t hurt that Red Bull promised to repair any and all damages to the skyways and buildings. More information has also been posted on the Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists forum. Some helpful guy even took the description of the course and laid it over a skyway map for a good approximation of the nearly mile-long course: registration at LoTo, start at Galtier Plaza (at 7:45), finish at the Xcel. The course does indeed appear to feature many “janky” turns. There will be a party at McGovern’s after the racing.
Skyway Bike Race Comes Alive
Jan 25 2006 — 2:00am
12 Reader Comments
12:57 pm
too cool, too cool. but i still don’t get the invite thing: it seems more like a private race — why not have a lottery?
1:24 pm
my guess is they were just trying to get a good crop of riders, especially members of MORC (who’s putting together the race). yes, it’d be fun if we all had a chance, but i think this is such a rare opportunity that their members might be a little peeved if the field was a bunch of non-members.
anyway, as i’d probably kill myself if i’d tried racing on the course, i’m mostly bummed that the only official place for spectators is the start and finish. i understand why (racers flying down narrow skyways + crowds of spectators = danger!) but it’s still gonna suck to not be able to find a good slippery corner and watch some folks wipe out. er, i mean, ring my cowbell and cheer them on!
1:35 pm
i wonder if it would be fun at all to watch from the outside of the skyway
3:16 pm
I’ve always wanted to stage a race of some sort around the 494-694 loop. Maybe a “Freejack” style Gran Prix? A mix of Segways, motorcycles and autos would provide the perfect mix for maximum mayhem.
3:34 pm
“I’ve always wanted to stage a race of some sort around the 494-694 loop. Maybe a “Freejack” style Gran Prix? A mix of Segways, motorcycles and autos would provide the perfect mix for maximum mayhem.”
The same thought (694/494 loop) has crossed my mind. I ultimately decided it would be a really, really boring race. Like a NASCAR oval times 100. You might be on to something with your ideas for vehicles, but the best way to think of how exciting the race would be is to imagine yourself driving the entire course… I think I’d fall asleep.
4:03 pm
gerg-
Agreed. That’s been the major obstacle in getting this thing off the ground – it would be pretty tiresome to wait the hour or so after the Indy cars race by for the Segway bandits.
I wonder what the circumference of the loop is, 50 miles?
4:29 pm
According to the Google Maps Pedometer, it’s about 70 miles.
4:57 pm
thanks moe, i’ve always wanted to know that.
driving it could make for one of the most boring hours of your life, if you ever have some time to waste!
2:45 am
I tried to get something going like your 494/694 loop race back in 1999 and again in 2001, but could never find enough people willing to fight the traffic:
http://ry4an.org/rrr/
8:33 am
This would have to be on the honor system, but why don’t people just do the 494/694 Loop whenever they want and post their time?
Of course I don’t want to encourage anyone to break any traffic laws, so first place wouldn’t necessarily be the best time, but the best story?
SB (looking for sponsors)
4:45 pm
We need to lobby to get one of these built here.
9:10 pm
MORC is not putting on the event. Just to make that clear.