Balance Cycling 2026 Ride Schedule

MONDAYS @ 6 PM: BALANCE LADIES

RIDE LEADERS: SHANNON MCKEEGAN & AMBER QUITO

MEETING LOCATION: BRYANT AVE S & W 29TH ST (SE CORNER PARKING LOT)

RIDE LEVEL: B- (AVERAGE 15–16, ROLLING 16–18)

RIDE DESCRIPTION: Women-led, friendly, moderately-paced, middle-distance ride. Perfect for less experienced female cyclists who want to learn the dynamics of group riding in an accepting and encouraging atmosphere!

DISTANCE: 25–40 MILES

Meeting Location

TUESDAYS @ 5:30 PM: MEDIUM PLUS

RIDE LEADER: RYAN HUFFMAN

MEETING LOCATION: BRYANT AVE S & W 29TH ST (SE CORNER PARKING LOT)

RIDE LEVEL: B+ (AVERAGE 19, ROLLING 20-26)

RIDE DESCRIPTION: Let’s call this the Throw Down for riders a little too inexperienced to tackle the Thursday Throwdown. A mix of B+ and A+ riders attacking and regrouping through six Minneapolis suburbs (“southside six”). Sporty intervals.

DISTANCE: 35–40 MILES

Meeting Location

MONDAYS @ 6:00 PM: IntermEZiate

RIDE LEADER: JEFF KIRKWOLD & “MO” JETHA

MEETING LOCATION: BRYANT AVE S & W 29TH ST

RIDE LEVEL: B- (AVERAGE 18, ROLLING 19-23)

RIDE DESCRIPTION: A step up from EZ Does It and a step down from Medium.  This will be a tempo/threshold ride depending upon fitness level.  The purpose is to get used to riding in a disciplined fashion at a higher pace, practicing clean pacelines with frequent changes at the front.  There will be a couple sprint segments with a regroup after each.

DISTANCE: 20–25 MILES

Meeting Location

WEDNESDAYS @ 6 PM: EZ DOES IT

RIDE LEADER: SONJA CRAIN (Crain.sonja@gmail.com)

MEETING LOCATION: BRYANT AVE S & W 29TH ST (SE CORNER PARKING LOT)

RIDE LEVEL: C (AVERAGE 15, ROLLING 16–18)

RIDE DESCRIPTION: Friendly, moderately-paced, middle-distance ride. Perfect for less experienced cyclists who want to learn the dynamics of group riding in an accepting and encouraging atmosphere!

DISTANCE: 25–35 MILES

Meeting Location

WEDNESDAYS @ 6 PM: Intermediate/Fastische

RIDE LEADERS: MORGAN HENDRICKS & JASON BECK

MEETING LOCATION: BRYANT AVE S & W 29TH ST (SE CORNER PARKING LOT)

INTERMEDIATE RIDE LEVEL: B (AVERAGE 16–18, ROLLING 18–20) NO DROP

RIDE DESCRIPTION: This ride will have two ride intensities, which may alternate week-to-week. The ride intensity for Intermediate or Fastische will be posted on Facebook in the ride description each week.

Intermediate rides will be moderate tempo, mostly steady efforts with a sporty sprint from to time-to-time. Riders will regroup at the top of hills or after sprints. NO DROP.

Fastische rides will be higher tempo than Intermediate rides with more sprints and efforts. Ride will still regroup after most hills and efforts but riders should be able to find their way home if they get dropped.

DISTANCE: 25–35 MILES

Meeting Location

THURSDAYS @ 5:45 PM: THURSDAY THROWDOWN

RIDE LEADERS: PETER OLEJNICZAK (A LEADER), RYAN HUFFMAN (B LEADER), JORDAN JESSEN (A/B LEADER)

MEETING LOCATION: BRYANT AVE S & W 29TH ST (SE CORNER PARKING LOT)

RIDE LEVEL: A++++ (AVERAGE 21–23, ROLLING 26+, INTERVALS 30+)

RIDE DESCRIPTION: Sporty interval ride with advanced racing skills and maximal efforts. Prepare to be shredded, dropped and humbled… a good time is had by all.

DISTANCE: 25–40 MILES

Meeting Location

THURSDAYS @ 6 PM: BALANCE LADIES

LADIES FAST RIDE LEADERS: KELLY TROM, LISA MARTENS, CHELSEA DUNKEL

MEETING LOCATION: BRYANT AVE S & W 29TH ST (SE CORNER PARKING LOT)

RIDE LEVEL: B (AVERAGE 16–18, ROLLING 18–20)

RIDE DESCRIPTION: Women-led, quick-tempo ride for a great work weekday workout. Ladies: Hone your group-riding and SPRINT skills! Frequently ends with treats.

DISTANCE: 25–30 MILES

Meeting Location

SATURDAYS @ 9 AM: FAST COFFEE RIDE

RIDE LEADER: RYAN HUFFMAN & JORDAN JESSEN

MEETING LOCATION: BRYANT AVE S & W 29TH ST (SE CORNER PARKING LOT)

RIDE LEVEL: A+ (AVERAGE 20–22, ROLLING 22–28)

RIDE DESCRIPTION: Fast, consistent tempo ride with a coffee stop at the midpoint. Expect a few spicy intervals tossed in.

DISTANCE: 70–100 MILES

Meeting Location

SATURDAYS OR SUNDAYS @ 9 AM: MEDIUM CLASSIC RIDE (pop-up ride: check facebook)

RIDE LEADER: JULIET ALDEN

MEETING LOCATION: BRYANT AVE S & W 29TH ST (SE CORNER PARKING LOT)

RIDE LEVEL: C- (AVERAGE 15, ROLLING 16-17)

RIDE DESCRIPTION: Moderately-paced, middle distance tempo ride.

DISTANCE: 50–60 MILES

Meeting Location

SATURDAYS @ 9 or 10 AM: “SPEEDIUM”

RIDE LEADERS: CARLOS SABILLON & WEIWEN NG

MEETING LOCATION: BRYANT AVE S & W 29TH ST (SE CORNER PARKING LOT)

RIDE LEVEL: B (AVERAGE 17-19, ROLLING 18–23)

RIDE DESCRIPTION: Moderately-fast paced, friendly ride with optional sprints and a little bit of spice. This ride is a great way to level-up your group riding skills. Socializing guaranteed and post-ride treats frequently. Quite possibly the best, highest fashion, chill but challenging, friendly yet feisty Balance ride.

DISTANCE: 50-65 MILES

Meeting Location

SUNDAYS @ 9 AM: FAST BIKE CHURCH

RIDE LEADER: RYAN HUFFMAN & JORDAN JESSEN

MEETING LOCATION: BRYANT AVE S & W 29TH ST (SE CORNER PARKING LOT)

RIDE LEVEL: A (AVERAGE 20–22, ROLLING 22–28)

RIDE DESCRIPTION: Long tempo ride with advanced skills. Emphasis is on group dynamics, consistent tempo, and effort over longer distances. There will be a coffee stop at the mid-point. No actual religious worshipping happens on this ride.

DISTANCE: 70–100 MILES

Meeting Location

TUESDAYS @ 6 PM: SPORTY SPICE

RIDE LEADER: ALISON RYNCARZ, SARA SUPPAN & WEEKLY SPECIAL GUEST LEADER

MEETING LOCATION: BRYANT AVE S & W 29TH ST (SE CORNER PARKING LOT)

RIDE LEVEL: B+ (AVERAGE 16-18, ROLLING 18-21)

RIDE DESCRIPTION: A women's ride for experienced group riders who want to build speed together. We'll pick up the pace as the season progresses, seek out those long open roads, and throw some sprints in the mix. Friendly and sporty, with a focus on skills and having a good time! 

DISTANCE: 25-35 MILES

Meeting Location

TUESDAYS @ 6 PM: LADIES FAST

RIDE LEADER: KIRSTEN “KIKI” HOOGENAKKER & JENNY BECKMAN

MEETING LOCATION: BRYANT AVE S & W 29TH ST

RIDE LEVEL: A (AVERAGE 20, ROLLING 23-26+)

RIDE DESCRIPTION: This is a Ladies Throw Down and drop-ride. Expect fast intervals and advanced pacelining skills. Our weekly goal is to beat the previous week's time around the HOP-route, frequently followed by community time.

DISTANCE: 30 MILES

Meeting Location

SATURDAY FAST AF (pop-up ride: check facebook)

RIDE LEADER: KARL NYGREN

MEETING LOCATION: BRYANT AVE S & W 29TH ST

RIDE LEVEL: BEYOND CATAGORY

RIDE DESCRIPTION: This is a bi-weekly/monthly pop-up ride for elite riders with race experience looking for a fast AF, DROP, weekend, tempo ride. Riders must be able to contribute on the front. If you are able to maintain 3.5 watts/kg or more for 50+ miles, this is the ride for you.

DISTANCE: 60-75 MILES

Meeting Location

Rider Key

A

A-rated rides are very fast-paced 40–100 mile rides that do not have required re-group spots. The rides vary from sustained tempo to a series of attacks on hills and flats. The rides emphasize pack riding skills like pace-lining and echeloning. If you are not in top form, you run the risk of being dropped during the ride. The ride leader will expect you to know the route or be able to find your way home. Please visit our Facebook page for each week's specific route or special instructions.

Groups tend to re-group at the tops of climbs, at major turns, and for mechanical instances. Groups will wait for those that seem to be keeping pace with the majority of the group.

AVERAGE SPEED: 20–22 MPH

ROLLING SPEED: 22–27 MPH

INTERVALS: 30+ MPH

B

B-rated rides are moderately-paced 35–85 mile routes. Weekend rides tend to be longer and hillier, while weekday rides are shorter and a bit faster tempo. These rides are ideal for cyclists experienced riding in packs that want to refine their skills or contribute on the front of the line. This ride does not have required regrouping points and is NOT a no-drop ride.

Groups tend to re-group at the tops of climbs, at major turns, and for mechanical instances. Groups will wait for those that seem to be keeping pace with the majority of the group.

AVERAGE SPEED: 16–18 MPH

ROLLING SPEED: 17–21 MPH

C

C-rated rides are easy-paced 25–35 mile, relatively flat routes. These rides are great for cyclists looking to join an organized, but social group. C rides are NO DROP, making them perfect for people new to cycling or the club. Learn how to ride in a group without the pressure of higher speeds.

AVERAGE SPEED: 14–16 MPH

ROLLING SPEED: 15–17 MPH