Wow, thank you so much for all this information! I'm clueless on anything road, this will help a lot. I'm way out here in Chaska and I know there are some good rides here, just don't know yet and I'm waiting for the street cleaners to get rid of all this sand.

I hope to see both of you too! If ever you are planning a ride that can include newbies like me, please shoot me a PM. I'd love to break into the Minneapolis road riding scene. Thanks again.