Turns out I will be in Minneapolis next weekend (August 3rd-5th). I'm busy Friday and Saturday evening, but have Saturday free. I'll bring a bike with me. We're staying at 50th and France in Mpls. Anybody up for slowing down for an old guy on an old bike Saturday morning?

How long of a ride do you want to do? And do you want to just exercise or do you want to see the city a bit more? I can't play tour guide, but I live literally 6 blocks away, so I could make some recommendations.

If you're interested in a nice organized ride: Tour de Tonka

I typically try to get in one ride a week of between 30-50 miles. I have two century rides coming up in September, so I'm trying to add mileage. I no longer ride to work on a daily basis, which cuts down on my weekly mileage a bit.

[MENTION=478152]RGMN[/MENTION] Thanks for the Tour de Tonka link. I'll check it out...

The TdT is well-organized (rest/food stops, traffic control, etc) and really flat - it wouldn't be a bad option at all..

I'll second TdT as a good option. They have a ton of ride length options. I'll be there doing the century version. It's probably the best organized ride/event in the area. Lots of food and friendly people.

If not, I'd suggest going east just a bit to the lakes and go around Harriet, Calhoun (now renamed to Bde Maka Ska) and then you can catch the Greenway east to the river, go south to Minnehaha falls and then back along Minnehaha Creek; and all of that route once you get to Lake Harriet is on bike path.

I was going suggest something along these lines, too, but rather than the Greenway, I'd do the N Cedar Lake Trail (? I think - I always forget the name) that runs under Target Field and then connects with the river downtown. That'll be a little over a 20 miles, but looping around the lakes (Calhoun, Harriet, Lake of the Isles) would probably add another 10 or so.

My coworkers said that west river road is closed (again) near Franklin, so I'm not 100% sure if the bike trail is open from downtown along the river. I was only half listening, but I think they said it was more mud sliding there. I haven't been out that way in about a month, so I don't know for sure one way or another.

It's open - it was a false alarm (not that I'm sure how that happens - there's either a landslide or there isn't). It was closed for one day for inspection and then reopened.

While the Tour de Tonka looks interesting and sounds like an extremely well-organized ride, I think I'd rather stick a bit closer to our digs and not leave my wife without the car.

Ahh, thanks. There must have been some pretty major damage that they had to rebuild to have them close it so cautiously like that.

Anyhow, I understand about not wanting to steal the car away. I think either heading up to the lakes/creek or over to the river (or both if you have time) will be a nice ride.

It is most definite open - I rode it today on the N. Cedar / W River Parkway / Minnehaha / Harriet / Bde Maka Ska route. It is an easy, scenic route but if it is a nice day (like today) there will be a LOT of family bike traffic, walkers, runners, bladers, roller skiers, electric scooters....

From 50th & France it is a short ride to the south end of Harriet. All the trails around the chain of lakes is MUP. Much of it has separate one-way bike paths from the pedestrians but it will not be the most challenging route. You can also take the Greenway west thru Hopkins to Excelsior & the Lake Minnetonka area. Hennepin County has a good online trail map or a download version or all the trails in the area. Again, this will be a relatively flat route, and a good portion will be crushed limestone.