A slow and easy bike race? Don't count on it

Here's a chance to get in touch with your inner Lance Armstrong. Or at least the reverse-image version: a bicycle competition in which the winner will be the last person to reach the finish line.

The Nice Ride Family Slow Race is going to be a lot harder than you might think, promised Patty Soldner, events manager for the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota.

Entrants of all ages will be challenged to navigate a course laid out in a parking lot, going as slowly as they can while -- and here's the tricky part -- maintaining control of their bikes.

The anti-race is part of the Living Green Expo Saturday (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Centered in the 4-H and Education Buildings, the expo includes exhibits, workshops and demonstrations showcasing sustainable living.

This year's event has a special focus on bikes, which is where the Bike Alliance comes in.

The group is hosting a Bike Rodeo that includes repair workshops, skills-development sessions (for kids and adults) and organized "family fun" rides through the fairgrounds. As for the Slow Race, it's something that's off-the-wall but also practical.

"Kids have a tendency to zoom off on their bikes," Soldner said. "We're trying to show them how to keep things under control. It's about safety."

Admission to the expo is $3 online (www.livinggreenexpo.mn) and $5 at the door. Kids 18 and under are free. The website includes a schedule of the events.