Tonight I decided, based on being both bored and curious, to embark on a loop ride I'd been planning in my head for a while. I want a longer trail/road route to take with friends rather than just going back and forth on the Keystone. I was looking for something more challenging and scenic.
So, I was thinking I'd head north. Last time I did this I went up to Boyer Chute, but I was led by a guide and hadn't ever been there by car OR by bike. Being very unfamiliar with the area, tonight was just an adventure. I traced a loop in my mind north to Hwy. 36, and then east towards the river, and the riverfront trail. Following this, I found that in the evening, 90th is relatively quiet. Bennington, even more so. I love the spread of acres upon acres of farms and trees as you head farther north. It's hilly, but I welcome that these days. On a fixed gear it's easier to pansy around on those hills, but if you really go for it, it's nothing but gruelingly good conditioning.
When I turned east on Hwy. 36, I encountered a fun construction nightmare. The westbound lanes were being repaved, so the only open lane was eastbound, and it was serving double duty for both directions of traffic. If I had been in car, the wait looked like it would've been 8-10 minutes, but by bike, just hop on the shoulder and keep riding. Like I said, fun nightmare. I took this road, forgetting what other names it turns into, down to the riverfront trail, and followed it back to the north downtown area, went for a jaunt in the Old Market (would've been a great place to stop for a snack if needed) and then followed Farnam up back to Midtown Crossing, and home. It's almost a perfect loop--about 30-35 miles, depending on where you come from to meet the Keystone trail northward. Hopefully, there will be a few gentlemen adventurous enough to join me for a few windy and cold rides on the "Farm to Market" loop before the snow hits.
