Renewal through riding.

A couple days ago I found myself with a large block of time that was totally unspoken for so I decided to go for a ride. I ride almost every day but it is usually to work, I had not been on a recreational ride since Easter, so I seized the opportunity.

I was aiming for a century which I later realized was a little too ambitious but I did end up coming close. I rode on nearly every surface you can think of that is readily available in Minnesota. Bike path, street, gravel, crushed limestone, dirt, mud, water, and single track. Doing this type of adventure was definitely made more fun by having the ECR. That bike can do anything.

I took the LRT regional trail out to Hopkins and kept on going through til it spit me out in Chanhassen, I was trying to follow the signs to get down by Murphy's Landing but got turned around somewhere and ended up by Lions Tap and 212. I topped off my water bottle at the artesian well and started climbing back up the obnoxious hill towards Pioneer Trail. Then I headed west into Chaska. I crossed over 41 and took a rest stop at the gas station then hit the trails going around the lakes. While I was riding around the lakes I saw one of the openings for the trail to hop on to Mammoth, so I hopped. All of a sudden it spat me out on the side of highway 41, so I took that north to highway 5. I took highway 5 over to Carver Park Reserve and then got on the Minnetonka Regional Trail to start heading back.

A more prairie covered section of Eden Prairie.

I took another break in a shaded boat launch in Minnetonka close to where the regional trail is closed for the bridge maintenance. I took the road around and eventually found my way back on the trail. I took the trail back into Hopkins and stopped at The Depot for a delicious coffee and sandwich. I left The Depot and headed north on the Cedar Lake trail which brought me back to the Greenway. I stopped in at Midtown to lube my chain because my drive train was making all manner of sounds. Then I continued on to the river road and took that south to 35th and met my roommate at Blue Door Pub for a burger and a beer. It was delicious. We mounted up and headed up on 38th street.

Some blurry Mammoth.

The bridge is up now, hopefully the regional trail will open up again soon.

All told I ended up putting on about 80 miles. I was pooped and my legs are still sore but it was totally worth it. The time out there in the saddle really helped me to clear my head and relieve some of the mounting stress I had building up. I always tell people that cycling is the best anti-depressants that money can buy and it is true.