Nice Ride to the Northside Benefit Concert

Post, image, and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

While videos are uploading from the phenomenal Northside Benefit Concert this evening, a preliminary post about my first Nice Ride experience is due.

I started at the kiosk at Farview Park, and found the bikes a bit clunky.  Getting them in and out of the kiosk is tricky at first, but not too hard to master.  Nice Ride bicycles are heavier than the average street bike, and that slowed me down a bit.  They also have only three speeds, and it wasn't until I was limited to such a low number that I realized how I am almost constantly shifting gears on my 21-speeder. 

That being said, the convenience of not needing to bring along a lock or other supplies, and not worrying about what to do if I met some friends after the concert and headed elsewhere allowed me to bike to a show that I otherwise would have driven to (and paid for parking).

In keeping with my biking themes, it's a nice coincidence that I made it to the kiosk at 4th and Hennepin in - you guessed it - fifteen minutes.

Since I already have a bike, my primary use of Nice Ride bicycles will be in situations like this.  They're perfect for heading from NoMi to downtown quickly, and best of all, parking is free.