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Kayaked from Dayton to Anoka the other day on the Mississippi River, then used our bikes for the return shuttle. The wind pushed us downstream, but created a real battle on the return bike ride.
The photo is of a structure in the Rum River near the dam in downtown Anoka. Does anyone know what it is?
The screenshot is from a prototype Paddlesports map I’m developing. More on that later.
The Stillwater Lift Bridge will reopen to pedestrians and bicyclists in June. Final repairs are being done on the bridge now and a trail along the St. Croix River connects downtown Stillwater to the Hwy 36 Bridge. No need to climb the big hill to get out of town! The trail splits into an upper and lower trail next to Hwy 36. Both are good trails, but the lower one is closer to the river and quieter than the upper trail.
The new trail will be part of a June update to the mobile Twin Cities Bike Map.
Looking for a couple of lakes to circle, but not the Mpls Chain of Lakes? Try the Demontreville/Lake Jane loop off the Gateway Trail, near the intersection of I694 and Hwy 36. The loop is approximately 7 miles around. More distance can be added by making a triangle with the Gateway Trail and South Av/40th St. Check your mobile Twin Cities Bike Map for details.
Love the Mississippi River, but not the crowds? Try this bike ride in Anoka. Mississippi West Regional Park is a little gem of prairie, woods and river bottoms. My ride started at Levee Rd, off Benton Rd, just after crossing the Hwy 169 bridge in Anoka. Note the parking- enough for four cars. Alternate parking in the park. Total distance about a dozen miles, including exploring residential streets off the NW corner of the park.
Even with Stay at Home directives, the governor and health officials encourage us to get outside to bike and hike. The key to stopping the spread of Covid 19 is to do these activities at a safe social distance. Our most popular city parks have become too congested for safe social distancing, so branch out. Try a less well known trail or ride the many bicycle friendly streets of the metro.
The attached screenshot shows my ride for today. I was researching the impact of LRT construction on the routes around Hopkins. The ride was short, less than 12 miles, but note that I wasn’t close to any busy trails. I met cyclists along the way, but we easily stayed over 10 feet from each other.
The Great Outdoors has not been canceled. Get outside. Breathe fresh air. Enjoy the sun, but keep your social distance.The most popular city parks are getting so crowded that keeping a safe distance is difficult, so try the less well known trails.
If you need suggestions, download the newly updated 2020 Twin Cities Bike Trails from Bikeverywhere and explore at a safe social distance. If you already have the map, download the update at no cost.
The 2020 version of the Twin Cities Bike Map reflects thousands of miles of research on new and existing bike trails and bicycle friendly roads since the July, 2019 update. New trails, trail alignments and bicycle friendly roads have been added and old routes retired. More highway symbols have been added to major roads to help with navigation on small screens. The 2020 update is free if you already have the 2019 version. All updates in 2020 will be free.
To update the 2019 Twin Cities Bike Map, go to “My Maps” and click on the “Updates Available” link. You have the option to replace the old version or add the new version and keep the old. Replacing the old version will save all placemarks, routes, lines and photos from the old version and add them to the new version automatically.
First time buyers, click Twin Cities Bike Map 2020 using the device you wish to download the map onto.
Construction of the SW LRT line will include some improvements for the bike trail as well. The attached photos show construction of a new bike bridge across Beltline Blvd in St. Louis Park. This is the intersection where bicyclists had to cross two lanes of traffic, then wait in a center island until two lanes of traffic in the other direction cleared.
The following story was published in the Star Tribune on November 21, 2019. It’s about an annual bike ride that takes place during the first full moon after the leaves fall.
The mobile map, Cannon Valley Bike Rides, shows all of the roads used at different times during the annual ride. The routes include the Cannon Valley Trail, gravel roads and paved roads. These routes can be mixed and matched to create endless options. All of the routes can also be ridden during daylight hours to take in the scenic beauty of the area.
Cannon Valley is about 40 miles south of the Twin Cities Metro.
Hi Viz, the fundraising party for the Cycling Museum of Minnesota is Thursday, November 14. Music, some cool old bikes, Hi Viz Costumes, prizes, silent auction and just plain fun with other cyclists. For more information, check out the Cycling Museum’s website
