Staff photo by Fritz Busch Despite a below-freezing wind chill, New Ulm Bicycle Group members clean up their portion of the New Ulm Bike Trail Saturday. Pictured from left near German Park are Pat Schumacher, Bob and Linda Beck, all of New Ulm.

NEW ULM — Not even a below-freezing wind chill could stop the New Ulm Bicycle Group Earth Day Cleanup Saturday morning.

Group members Bob and Linda Beck, Pat Schumacher, Aldean Hendrickson, Scott Grimm, and Brandon Steffl met at the base of German Park, put on gloves and cleaned up the adopted trail portion by putting refuse in large bags.

“This is about the fourth time the bike group cleaned up its adopted section of the bike trail,” said Bob Beck. “We’ll do a fall trail cleanup in September. It’s gotten easier to cleanup the trail because we’ve done it a few times. It takes us about an hour for the cleanup.”

After the trail cleanup, bike group members walked to the Ulm Sweet Ulm lower level for a bicycle maintenance party to prepare them for riding this year.

Beck said the group is planning a May bicycle ride in and around New Ulm. Group events, many of them bike rides, are planned every month.

The group works to make New Ulm a bike-friendly community by riding roads and trails, updating city signage and requesting new routes.

Beck said his favorite place to bike rids is the bottom road (Nicollet County Highway 21) from New Ulm to Fort Ridgely State Park.

“It’s always entertaining with birds singing, eagles soaring and other wildlife,” he said.

Aldean Hendrickson said he most enjoys riding on The Red Jacket Trail south of Mankato with its fall colors.

Scott Grimm said a trail behind Schell’s Brewery is great for fat tire, mountain bike riding.

Pat Schumacher said he enjoys riding on country roads with their farm fields and wildlife.

Linda Beck said the Root River Trail in southeast Minnesota is her favorite spot.

Brandon Steffl said he enjoys biking on the K. C. Road because its cool with lots of shade and low traffic levels.

New Ulm was recently designated a bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.

The designation reflects efforts to improve safety, infrastructure and education for cyclists and pedestrians.

New Ulm Parks & Recreation Director Joey Schugel said the designation is awarded every five years. He credited the New Ulm Bicycle Club for leading the application process that includes extensive data collection including demographics and engineering plus details from city departments, schools and regional partners.

Bob Beck said New Ulm is one of 33 Minnesota communities to receive at least a bronze designation.

Beck said the group’s main goal is to make New Ulm safe and friendly for bicyclists and pedestrians. The club sponsors rides, educational events and policy discussions with city staff.

He said most anyone can join the bicycle group which maintains a Facebook site.