Kenyon residents looking to stay active have a new recreation option.
Kim Helgeson is starting a weekly bike group, inviting community members to join her for Wednesday evening rides.
Most trips will be around 20 miles, although Helgeson said that’s negotiable depending on how people are feeling. However, keeping a steady pace is important, and she said participants should be able to maintain a speed of 10 to 12 miles per hour. Rides will begin at Depot Park and depart around 5:45.
Helgeson, her husband Kevin and son Adam developed a set of expectations for anyone looking to join. They wanted to get back into biking, and decided to open their group to the public.
“We used to be avid bikers, and just have gotten away from it and decided that it was time to start again,” said Helgeson.
Riders should come with a dependable bike and must wear a helmet. They should also bring their own tools and a spare tire tube in case they run into any maintenance issues. Helgeson recommended everyone bring their own water, snacks and cash.
Anyone looking to join the group should arrive at Depot Park at 5:30 on a Wednesday to allow time to discuss plans for the route and make any introductions if necessary. While they’re hoping to make the rides a regular occurrence, people can join without any expectation they have to participate every week.
Kids around 10 and up are welcome if they can keep up the pace, but they will not be allowing riders to pull carts behind their bikes, so younger kids should stay home. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. There will not be a vehicle following to pick anyone up, so riders should come expecting to complete the route.
If a ride has to be cancelled due to inclement weather, Helgeson will make an announcement on the Kenyon Happenings Facebook page.
While they expect each rider to be responsible for their safety, the group also encourages participants to look out for each other. Helgeson stressed they will be doing “no drop” rides.
“If somebody breaks down out there, we’re not just going to leave them out there. We start together, we return together,” she said.
Helgeson plans to switch up the routes and ride through a variety of areas around Kenyon. On the inaugural ride she took with her husband and uncle Paul, they took County Roads 12 and 1, stopping at Holden Lutheran Church before the return journey.
“As they say, it’s not about the destination, it’s the journey. It’ll be just however we decide to ride that week,” said Helgeson.
Helgeson said she hasn’t seen much of an active cycling culture in Kenyon. Currently, some people go to surrounding communities like Northfield and Faribault for the trail systems there. Kenyon doesn’t have much of a trail system yet, but she hopes that may soon.
Helgeson noted the bike group is separate from her work on the Park and Recreation Committee, but suggested people who want more trail options in the community should take the trails survey recently released by the city of Kenyon. The purpose of the survey, which was crafted by the newly formed Kenyon Trails Committee, is to determine what kinds of trails people would like to see and where they want them located, among other questions.
“That will help Park and Rec and the Trail Committee determine where we want to focus first,” said Helgeson.
TO JOIN The bike group will depart from Depot Park at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information, call Kim Helgeson at 507-210-1595. To view the Kenyon Trails Survey, visit shorturl.at/aLOPX ac5fa9c5-ae77-4b1d-82a9-f926fd09ae95
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