The Tour de Tonka 2014

Tour de Tonka

This is a big bicycle ride put on by the Minnetonka, Minnesota school district.
I have ridden this ride many times in the past. Of late I have not been able to  ride it for many reasons. This year I got to be the Tonka Cycle and Ski goodwill ambassador and bicycle mechanic. I was positioned at the first rest stop of the short route at the Grays Bay Dam.
I had not been to the Grays Bay Dam before. I first went to the Grays Bay Motorboat Ramp. There were a lot of trucks and boat trailers, but nobody from TdT anywere. Backtracking I went the opposite way on Grays Bay Boulevard deep into a beautiful residential neighborhood. As I was about use my cell phone I had arrived. as Gomer Pyle would say “Golly”. It is a beautiful spot.
I unpacked my truck as other volunteers arrived. Besides myself there was a gaggle of volunteers from MW Bank and the boss lady Jen. She explained to all of us the plan. Get people to stop at a certain spot, dismount, then ditch their bikes and walk down the path to the refreshments. The people who did not need to be refreshed could ride their bikes down the same path as the walkers and then ride across the dam bridge and continue their ride.
My little work shop, with the logo encrusted tent sat on the grass adjacent to the turn. Across from me on the opposite side of the path was the spot for the DJ. You heard me correctly the DJ. I watched as his dad drove up and parked the car. Two young men popped out and started to unload the equipment while the dad sat in the shade and watched. I was impressed. DJ / MC Brian Lederer was dressed in black pants, his black DNS Productions logo t shirt, and black kicks. His black hair was perfect too. This young man looked to be of Jr High age. I asked him if he and his homeboy needed any help. He said thanks but no they had it covered. He told me he packed the car the night before and layed out his clothes to be ready. I was impressed. This kid will go far. His dad said that he has been doing this for a couple of years now. They got set up. The generator was started and now it was time to wake the neighbors. The first track was the Black Eyed Peas “Let’s Get It Started”.
We were all ready. The music played. Water cups were filled. Oranges and bananas were halved. Go-Gurt was iced down. My tools were lovingly layed out on the tailgate of my Element. Tire pumps were placed tactically on the perimeter of the tent. I sat whittling my balls in a cage to keep calm.
Then it happened. DJ Nexstep was cranking out the hits, riders were arriving in droves and on bicycles. The volunteers were yelling to the riders to park their bikes and walk over to the refreshments or ride on through if they were not in need. I know I was confused too. I continued to whittle untill folks needed bicycle help. One women needed air. A man with a new POS Schwinn did not like the fact that his handle bars moved up and down. He said it made it hard to steer. I concured and got a 6mm out it’s scabbard and tightened up the clamp. Off he rode into the fray. I got my hands really dirty tightening the cones on the rear hub for another guy. You really don’t need even half that much oil on your chain. A young man with a mountain bike complained of poor shifting. I was polite. I adjusted his rear derailleur. The hand me down fourth generation bike’s shifter would not shift the front derailleur. The shifter was toast and the rusted cable was well beyond it’s sell by date. I adjusted the front derailleur limit screws and made the bike into a 1×7. It took a bit of explanation but he finally heard me over the music. There were one or two more minor tweeks done and then the riders were all gone. We all looked at each other. We had all survived an hour and a half onslaught. Everyone of the “staff” wore smiles. We all packed up our gear and left. It was fun. I would do it again next year now that I know where the dam is. I was not done. I went back to the shop and unloaded the truck with the aid of my colleague Tim and settled into a normal crazy Saturday at Tonka Cycle and Ski.