MN Bike Trail Navigator: June 2012

6/30/2012

Bike Trail Picture of the Day - 6/30/12

Morning ride around the Chain of Lakes

Taken 6/30/12

Location: Lake Harriet

Grand Rounds Scenic Byway

Chain of Lakes District

Minneapolis, MN

4th of July Rides

If you are looking to get in a ride or race this 4th of July there are several to choose from for 2012.

The Twin Cities Bicycling Club will hold it's 31st Annual Watermelon Ride starting at Battle Creek Regional Park in Maplewood, MN. It consists of 15, 25 and 50 mile routes and will conclude with a 4th of July picnic. This ride has full support for the 15 and 25 mile routes, but the 50 mile route is unsupported so be prepared for flats and minor repairs. Online pre-registration ends June 30th. Same day registration is available by filling out the registration form and bringing it to the registration table before the ride start with a check made out to the Twin Cities Bicycling Club.

The Hiawatha Bicycling Club is sponsoring its 13th Annual Tour D'Amico Bicycle Tour. The tour starts at the Preserve Village Shopping Center in Eden Prairie, MN and will include rides of 29, 46 and 63 miles with hydration stops and full SAG support. Online registration is available.

Milltown Cycles will be holding their 13th Annual 4th of July Northfield Criterium in Downtown Northfield, MN. This race event draws some great amateur cyclist from all over the state and if you are not participating, it's exciting to watch. Online registration is open until 12 pm the day before the event.

The Driftless Region Bicycle Coalition has put together the 4th of July Ride. This is an unsupported 50 or 60 mile ride without rest stops starting at Kistler Park in LaCrescent, MN. The route will challenge riders as they travel through river valleys and bluffs of the Driftless Region of Southern Minnesota. Route map

6/25/2012

Bike Trail Picture of the Day - 6/25/12

Landslide along the trail

Taken 6/25/12

Location: Cannon Valley Trail

Near Welch, MN

City Trails Leading to Cannon Valley Trail Suffer Extensive Damage

Minnieska Park

The city trails from the Cannon Falls Trailhead that travel through Minnieska Park and the trails from Two Rivers Park which both lead to the start of the Cannon Valley Trail received significant damage from recent flooding. These trails have been closed to cyclists and pedestrians. The flooding has left behind a large amount of silt, trees and debris covering them making it impassable in some areas. Front end loaders have started clearing some of the silt and mud from the trails but there is still a lot of clean up remaining.

The bike/pedestrian bridge crossing the Cannon River from Two Rivers Park received extensive damage. If acted as a barricade catching whole trees and branches as they were washed downstream by the raging flood waters.

Cyclists can still park at Two Rivers Park, but they will have to take a detour by heading south on N. 4th Street to W. State Street and then turning left onto N. 3rd St. Here is where you can get back onto the city trail that leads to the start of the Cannon Valley Trail on Water Steet.

Cannon Falls Trailhead

The Cannon Falls Trailhead on Main Street W. near the Cannon River Winery is still available for parking, however cyclist will need to follow the detour arrows through town to reach the Cannon Valley Trail.

A third option is on-street parking at Water Street between 2nd and 3rd Street or on side streets adjacent to this area.

For more information on the closure of a section of the Cannon Valley Trail, see the post "Flooding Causes Damage and Closure of the Cannon Valley Trail". The section of trail from Cannon Falls to Welch has been reopened.

Note: Flood damage photos taken 6/24/12.

6/24/2012

Bike Trail Picture of the Day - 6/24/12

Watching the boats pass by

Taken 6/24/12

Location: Dakota Rail Trail

Lake Minnetonka-Crystal Bay

Minnetonka Beach, MN

The Metropolitan Council is Using Smart Phone App to Make Region More Bike Friendly

San Francisco Transportation Authority

The Metropolitan Council has licensed the use of a smartphone app developed by the San Francisco Transportation Authority for use by Twin Cities area cyclists. The app which is available for Android smartphones and Apple's iPhone will allow cyclists to track and volunteer their ride information to the Metropolitan Council for future transportation planning.

The Cycle Tracks app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or Apple's iTunes Store. It will allow cyclists to use the GPS on their smartphones to track and record their actual rides and send that information to a centralized database. The Metropolitan Council can then access the data which will give transportation planners a better picture of cyclists routes to improve future regional transportation planning.

The app is free, easy to use and all trips are sent anonymously to the San Francisco Transportation Authority.

iPhone Screenshot

6/23/2012

Bike Trail Picture of the Day - 6/23/12

Heading into the banked S-turn

Taken 6/23/12

Location: Terrace Oaks East Park

Burnsville, MN

Flooding Causes Damage and Closure of the Cannon Valley Trail

Strong storms with high winds and heavy rains on June 14th had closed the full length of the Cannon Valley Trail. The trail suffered significant damage as a result of the flooding. Sections of the trail have been washed away, there are significant landslides and one of the bridges has been dislodged. Cannon Valley Trail staff in cooperation with Goodhue County, Red Wing and Cannon Falls Public Works have been busy removing debris from around bridges, culverts, the trail and repairing damage to the area.

It is estimated that repairs could run around $200,000 but the overall damage is still being assessed. Cannon Valley Trail Manager Scott Roepke stated that it could be at least three to four weeks to repair the damage and reopen the section from Welch to Red Wing. "That would be the longest closure I have ever been involved with," stated Roepke. The section of trail from Cannon Falls to Welch has been reopened and a short detour has been put in place in downtown Cannon Falls with directional arrows to lead you to the trail.

Fore up to date closure information and reopening of the Welch to Red Wing section visit the Cannon Valley Trail website.