Most used route: City streets to Northbound bike lane on Minnehaha Ave, duck through residential to Lake street to cross the Mississippi. Take a quick jog on Mississippi River Road to Summit Ave bike lanes, another quick jog to Grand Avenue and into downtown. I'm so late route: Straight across 46th to cross the Mississippi (bridge is down to two lanes,) up Ford Parkway to Snelling Ave. Right on Randolph to West Seventh. Left on West Seventh. 8.x miles. Shortest route, but high traffic, some narrow route, and killer hills. 7.2 miles. Safest route: 1 block south to Minnehaha Creek bikepath, cross Mississippi R on the sidewalk of the Ford Parkway bridge, bikepath along the river all the way to downtown St Paul. 9.6 miles of occasionally rough pavement.
I keep shirts, ties and dress pants on the back of my office door, shoes and belts in an overhead cabinet. I ride an 80's touring bike during the seasons which are not winter, and a 70's road bike converted to fixed gear during the winter.
Worst moment: being run off the road by a gravel truck. Best moment: Any day I can pass the same car at three consecutive stop lights.