Hi gang,
Alright, I signed a one year lease in NE mpls, I've been living here for a couple of weeks, and I cannot find a decent route for a rode ride. My pace is 20 mph, and I like to go out for about 20-50 miles. Everyday. Can anybody help me?! I've asked guys in the bike shops, but wherever I go, I end up having to sit up and brake every couple of minutes due to baby strollers or crackheads swerving back and forth down the paths on bikes they probably stole the night before (one of my bikes was jacked my first week here).

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Riding partners would also be appreciated, but not necessary.

A LOT of people talk about "bike culture" in this city, but does anyone actually ride?

Nope. We are all posers. Every last one of us.

Thanks for confirming my point, shak. Instead of suggesting a ride, you leave a sarcastic comment. I'm not trying to start a fight, I just want to find some local favorite routes. When did biking become so complicated?

http://www.mplsbikelove.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=26

Just hang on Ted Welter's rides.

So my options (for cycling in mpls) are...

1. Bike to pizza luce with a bunch of potheads. Or...
2. Follow some hack (named Ted?) riding a recumbent sporting mirrors and a bright orange flag at 11 mph. Or...
3. Join the "bike culture". Put cards between my back spokes to express my individuality, wear my keys around my bicep, and post pictures of my spray painted schwinn.

I get it, Minneapolis. Just stay out of my way.

What the fuck are you talking about?
First and foremost, Ted and Snak Shak are two of the nicest people I've ever met. Most of all of us are nice and will be pretty nice to newcomers. But that doesn't mean you never need to take some things with a grain of salt.
Secondly, World records are set on recumbents. This is part of the reason Ted rides one; he likes to go fast as hell. Ted commutes faster than 20mph.
Lasty, check out TCBC. They have a lot of road rides.

I'm not even going to touch culture.

Go hook up with Eric's or TCBC - that's probably your scene.

Sorry to Ted. Just because I've never seen a recumbent moving faster than a snails pace doesn't mean they're not capable. Sorry to Sack Shak. I didn't know you were a "nice guy" because you came across as a dick on this forum. I'm not looking for a "scene". I'm looking for a "fucking road to ride on". This is a waste of time. Thanks for your help, mplsblikelove.

Classic stuff, keep it coming!

Heh. You funny man. That being said, remind me to bring my diamond frame racing bike if you want to come out and ride with us on Wednesday. I don't want to hurt you .

Ted doesn't just ride a recumbent.

I LOL'd.

Edit: Also, please do come to the Wed night ride. If there's some sort of challenge on the table it's sure to be a fast one. Those are my favorite rides.

I do feel your pain about dodging strollers.

To get this thread back on track, here are some fast trails:

Cedar Lake Trail - The majority of this trail is divided into three paths, two one-ways for bikes and a two-way ped path. If you continue west (south) on this trail, it will hook around back onto the Greenway in Hopkins. Stop at The Depot, have a coffee, say hi to Suspeckted from the forum., then head back on the SW Regional LRT (turns into the Greenway)

Fort Snelling Low Road - A long, fun downhill that brings you to a couple other options such as crossing the Mendota Bridge, which will involve climbing a big hill to get up onto the bridge. From over here you can jump in the middle of the Big Rivers Regional Trail, which I'll talk about next. Do this once just so you become familiar with this bridge, but I have a feeling you're looking for a longer ride from here like this. From here, you can get onto the...

Big Rivers Regional Trail - This is the trail you're looking for. Fast, flat, no other traffic, minimal crossing. This is the place to do nothing but sprint and trade pulls if you're with a partner. It will dump you off across the river from St Paul. From here you can go do the...

Mounds loop - After you cross the river and get back down to the low road and it's adjacent path, you start climbing. You'll climb and climb for about 10 minutes until mile 4 or so. Stop and take a look at the Native American burial mounds and take in the scenic overlook of all of St Paul. From here, Jump on the road and enjoy the downhills you've earned. Get going fast down Kellogg bridge since there's a radar station at the bottom that will pick up bikes.

Probably the most efficient way back to Minneapolis from here is Summit Ave which you can get to by doing some pussy shit or by manning up and climbing the infamous Ramsey Hill. But you seem like a very competent cyclist. Shouldn't be a problem for you.

However, you've probably still got some ride in you, right? Get back down to the Shepard Rd trail and take it back to 35E. From here you can either cross the river and head either way on the Big Rivers Regional Trail, take Shepard Rd to E River Rd and head back to Minneapolis, or you could ride around Crosby Farms/Hidden Falls which will also take you to E River Rd unless you could bail at Hwy 5 bridge and head back over to Fort Snelling.

Also, consider taking a trip to Stillwater (that map isn't complete, but you just jump back onto the Gateway and head back the way you came) using the beautiful Gateway State Trail. You'll probably have to dodge some morons on here though, but it's still a good trip and you should take a stop at The Bikery when you're in the city.

Do the Medicine Lake Loop. You'll get to ride the Luce Line (Which is pronounced "loose" not "loochay" and no affiliation with pizza or potheads.)

PM me if you've got any questions or want a sherpa.