OK, so maybe WOOLLY DAY hasn’t achieved national holiday status yet, but it is a big deal in Woollyland. What started several years ago as a group ride on an unseasonably warm fall Sunday has grown into one of the busiest day of the year on the Woolly trails. Races are fun, but hanging out with close friends, and previously un-met friends alike, with some casual riding, food, a camp fire and possibly an adult beverage or two being consumed really makes a great fall Sunday afternoon.
This Sunday, October 8 (unless the trails are too wet, then it will be October 15), we will gather at the Woolly Trailhead around 1pm. We will have several group rides heading out starting around 1:30. We will have a full lap (including West Ridge), a upper lap, a ladies only group and a kids group. All groups will be casual, no-drop rides with focus on enjoying the ride. All ages and abilities are welcome and encouraged to join us. Last year our biggest group was the kid’s lap with many parents joining the young’uns for this one.
After the ride, we will fire up the grill. The Woolly Bike Club provides hot dogs and brats, lemonade and water, plus (everyone’s favorite) the Woolly Day cake. People are encouraged to berng something to share, but don’t feel like it is required because there is always plenty to go around. Rumors are this year, soon to be open local brew house, Trap Rock Brewing Company, will have some samples of their different brews for adults to check out.
Due to the high number of younger MTBers last year, we are adding some fun activities around the trailhead to keep them busy. We will have a mini-skills course, some “slow races” and other challenges led by the Chisago Lakes MTB team, a Halloween themed scavenger hunt, and chainsaw juggling…I guess the chainsaw juggling isn’t allowed by state, federal and common sense regulations, but everything else will be fun for the whole family.
Basic Schedule on Sunday October 8:
1:00 PM Arrive (Trailhead Parking Lot will be closed for the day, so plan to park on the surrounding roads.)
1:30 PM First Group Ride heads out around with all groups starting shortly after
3:00 PM Grill gets fired up and the eating and hanging out starts with kids activities around the trailhead.
Much Later Take your bike and go home