During my bike workouts for my summer triathlon, I’ve enjoyed a very cool side of the city behind the handlebars. My favorite all-time rides wound around the northeast trails along the Mississippi River.
If you want a scenic off-road ride, then try this route: In Uptown, jump onto the Greenway from a number of street entrances. (The Nicollet entrance is a little sketchy and hard to find but the quickest route if you are close to Lyndale Avenue). Also known as the Midtown Greenway, this straight, smooth trail takes you on a 5.5 mile ride through a swath of diverse neighborhoods that vary socio-economically, racially, ethnically, culturally and demographically. The Greenway is also an open-door to a variety of public street art that articulates the local character and flavor of this city.
I could go forever on the coolness of cruising the Greenway, including a must-stop at the Freewheel Midtown Bike Center. (Showers for commuters and even free watermelon!) Check out some pictures from one of my training rides along the West River Parkway. It was a hot hazy afternoon in July, so some of the pics appeared blurry, but I think the haziness adds a cool effect to the overall composition of the shot.
Minneapolis
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