Hi everyone. I'm a Maine resident visiting some family in Maple Grove next week. It's gotta be kismet, right? Just happens that I'm visiting the nation's top cycling location during a week in March when it's supposed to be 70 degrees all week. SO crazy.
I'm planning on renting a road bike for the week and getting out every day. I've grabbed a couple MapMyRide routes but those don't really tell me the places I NEED to see. I'm a beer guy too so any routes people could recommend that show me where the good good craft brews be at would be much appreciated. Thanks so much. Can't wait to see your fine city the way it should be seen.

What? It's always like this in mid-March! Welcome to Minnesnowta in the era of global warming.

I'd recommend almost any part of the Minneapolis Grand Rounds myself. If you're a lower-speed cyclist (<~15 mph), you'll probably prefer the off-road trails generally. Otherwise, you can compete with the vehicle traffic and go faster on the parkway roads where you'll generally find traffic fairly light, except occasionally during rush hours or events. Brew options include Victory 44 in the north, Fulton Brewing (weekends only) downtown, and Town Hall Brewery near the University of Minnesota. Many other places have good selections of local microbrews.

Most of the Chain of Lakes have paths around them, and most are one-way although you can avoid that by taking the parkway if you prefer. Other adjacent routes and connectors worth considering include the Midtown Greenway, the Cedar Lake Trail, and the Luce Line. Google 'em.

Since you're starting from Maple Grove, you might also consider Elm Creek Park and the North Hennepin Corridor Trail. You'll be able to maintain pretty much any pace you'd choose on those routes. You could also connect in various ways to the Grand Rounds from there if you're ambitious. Try Cyclopath for details. Actually, Maple Grove itself has a pretty decent system of bike paths if you want to stay close by.

I hear there are also bike paths in St. Paul. Unless you want to see the Summit Avenue mansions or test your appetite for self-destruction on Ramsey Hill, I'd skip 'em myself though.

Enjoy and welcome to the land of Minnesota Nice. It's pretty much b.s. actually, but we like to believe it anyway.

Where to begin...

All of what I'm about to rattle off can easily be found via Google\Google Maps:

-Ride across the Stone Arch bridge. Great views of the mill ruins, Mpls skyline, river.
-Ride along the parkways that go along the Mississippi.
-Ride around the lakes: Calhoun, Harriet, Isles.
-Ride the Midtown Greenway, stop at the Midtown Bike Center
-Get out of Maple Grove unless you're a fan of chain restaurants and strip malls. There are tons of great, independently owned bars and restaurants all over Mpls\St.P. There's a particularly high concentration in South Minneapolis and Uptown.
-Visit one or more of the art museums (Walker and MIA are big ones.)
-Since you're in Maple Grove, visit Coon Rapids Dam. It's accessible via bike trail. Maybe visit Elm Creek Park Reserve, also in the vicinity.
-Want to know what's going on? Grab a City Pages, or visit them online.
-Keep an eye on the ride sections of the forum. There might be a ride you want to join. OR make your own ride.

There are lots of beer snobs lurking here that will chime in with their fave spots. Surly is pretty popular around here- you might look into a tour there.

Hey, Maple Grove has an Olive Garden! What more do you want?

I've been driving myself apey for the last two hours checking out the descriptions of these key areas you've mentioned. It all sounds amazing. I think I will find myself limited on time. I've got a chance to get in four really great rides, and since I'm supposed to be doing the family thing I don't have all day to ride unfortunately. Sounds like Elm Creek/Coon Rapids one day, Grand Rounds another. I also want to get down to Stone Arch and prob come back up the W River Pkway, which is probably going to be the most ambitious ride and from what I think I've ascertained the best chance of getting a decent beer. Have I got a decent route coming back through Crystal from W River to get back over to stip mall central? Thanks bunches for all the info. I'm gonna have a blast and I'll be able to avoid my in-laws all week.

Sounds like a plan. Both downtown/Stone Arch and The Lakes are very nice. If you can make it to Minnehaha Falls, I'd try to do that as well. In fact, the path between the falls and the lakes along Minnehaha Parkway is one of my very favorites. Too bad it'll be before leaf-out, but the creek is pretty scenic anyway.

As far as getting back to Maple Grove, the best alternative is probably the Luce Line to Medicine Lake (paths on either side) and north from there past French Park to Maple Grove. Depending where you'll be in Maple Grove, there should be paths of some sort most of the way. Some streets in Maple Grove can be quite bike-hostile (it is a white bread suburb after all), but there are usually decent alternatives as well. Suburb or not, some of the paths really are quite nice.

Going up West River Parkway from downtown can work as well. However, getting west to Maple Grove is a bit more problematic. There are various possibilities, but they tend to be through less safe neighborhoods and/or less bike-friendly roads than the Luce-Medicine Lake alternative. If you're adventuresome, it can be done though.

Have fun and good luck!

From where on W. River Rd to where in Maple Grove? OK if you just give intersections- someone will give you a route.

Surly's tours are booked months in advance. They're the Oprah of Minnesota beer culture.

Here in Maine we feel the same about Shipyard Brewing. Luce Line looks like the way to go for getting back to homebase at Fish Lake. I was actually thinking about linking Grand Rounds to Powderhorn over to the Bridge coming back on Luce Line. Would be a hell of an outing but I can't think of a much better way to experience the city. I have to plot it out and see how long a ride that would be and if I have the time to work it in. You both have been spectacularly helpful.

If you need to quickly find a route in the area there's Cyclopath.