I thought it would be fun to write about a few of the northern routes that I like to ride. Many of these rides were passed on to me by the same friends that taught me about road cycling. In a future article I’ll write about some southern routes.

We’ve giving away a Ridley Excalibur carbon road bike with a free professional fitting! Check out our web site for lots of other July events and specials. Volunteers are needed for 2 hour shifts at the Excelsior 4th of July events. Contact Terry Roeser at 952-474-2300 or send your name, email address and phone number to troeser at amfam.com.

I would like to encourage readers to post comments to this article in the excelcycle blog to add their own rides or help point out road construction and detours that they’ve been using this season.

By the way, if you find yourself riding alone there’s a simple rule about which direction to ride from your starting point. To make the last half of your ride more enjoyable, ride into the wind during the first half. The wind on the return trip will then give you a little push home. This rule doesn’t matter nearly as much if you’re riding in a group because the extra effort spent riding into the wind is spread out across all the riders that are with you.

On to the first ride.

The Winter Loop

I think this is one of the very first ride routes that I was taught, and it’s been modified only slightly from the original. This route generally takes no more than 1 hour to complete and is about 17.5 miles. It’s a quick loop that’s great in the winter because at 20 degrees the water in your bottle isn’t going to stay liquid for very long! The route meanders through the local neighborhoods making it a nice, relaxed ride.

You can follow this route at MapMyRide here.

From excelcycle head south on Mill Street, which changes into Powers. Take a right on 78th in Chanhassen, running parallel to Hwy 5. Follow 78th all the way to Hwy 41, and take a right. Follow all the way to the Shorewood Village Shopping Center, crossing Hwy 7. Take a left on Lake Linden Drive, and another left on Yellowstone Trail. Follow until Eureka Road, take a right, and then turn left at Smithtown Road. The next turn is right onto Howards Point Road, and then right onto Edgewood Road at the stop sign. At the tee in the road turn left onto Birch Bluff Road. At the second stop sign turn left to continue on Birch Bluff Road until it meets Hwy 19 (Manitou Road), Turn right, and follow back into Excelsior.

Around the Lake

This is a consistent favorite for everyone that experiences it. You can ride the loop in either direction, clockwise as I’ll describe it or counterclockwise, depending on the wind direction. There are may alterations to the ride that you can also make, but be sure you avoid Hwy 15 east of Hwy 19. The shoulder on Hwy 15 isn’t wide enough to be safe for riding. There are much safer choices. The route takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes and is about 24.5 miles long.

You can follow this route as well at MapMyRide here.

Take a left on Lake Street out of the excelcycle lot, then left on Water Street. At the stop light for Hwy 19 (Oak St) take a right. Stay on Hwy 19, passing Hwy 15, to the tee at North Shore Drive. Take a left, then a right on the next street which will be Maple Place to bypass the sketchy and tight curve on Hwy 19. Very quickly you’ll turn left on Cherry Ave, and then right at the stop sign onto Hwy 151 (North Arm). Continue on Hwy 151, turning right to stay on North Arm (watch for this), passing the Lakeview Golf Course. This will come back to Hwy 19 where you’ll turn right. Take another right on Bayside Road and go up the sharp hill. Follow to Leaf Street, turning right. This changes to Fox Street, which will have a quick jog right and then left as it crosses Old Crystal Bay Road. Stay on Fox Street until the sharp hill and stop sign at Orono Orchards Road, then go right to Hwy 15. This will be quite busy during rush hours, but you’ll cross and turn left onto a wider, safer shoulder that takes you to a right turn to Ferndale Road. Follow this to Shoreline Drive and veer right onto Lake Street, going through Wayzata past the yacht club on McGinty Road. At the stop light on 101 turn right, then when 101 makes a sharp 90 degree left-hand turn you’ll go straight to follow Breezy Point Road. At the next stop sign turn left onto Maplewood Road, and follow this onto Minnetonka Blvd. Stay on Minnetonka Blvd (it’ll turn right at Vine Hill), then right on Excelsior Blvd to arrive back at excelcycle. Total distance is about 24.5 miles.

Loretto Addition

You can add some additional miles to the route around the lake by going to Loretto. One way to do this is to continue on Hwy 19 to Maple Plain. Go through Maple Plain, crossing 12 on to Budd St. turning left onto Pagenkopf Road and right onto Independence Road. When that tees with Hwy 11 turn right and then left to get back onto 19 to Loretto. Once you’re through Loretto turn right on Chippewa Road, and right on Pioneer Trail. At Haml Road turn left and follow to turn right onto Hunter Drive (a small amount of road construction at this intersection).Turn right on Medina Road, then left on Tamarack, left on Hwy 6 (6th Ave) to Ferndale Road back south into Wayzata. Continue with the route around the lake.

Lyndale Addition

Another way to add even more miles to the route around the lake adds Lyndale and Loretto, and also some very intense hills. At the intersection of Hwy 19 and North Arm past the Lakeview Golf Course, go straight instead of turning right. Follow through the gruelling hills to Hwy 110, turning right and then left onto Hwy 26. After more rolling hills you’ll find Hwy 92, turn right to go to Lyndale. At Lyndale turn right on Hwy 6 (Watertown Road), then left on Hwy 90. Cross Hwy 12 (this can be busy during rush hours), then turn right on Pagenkopf Road, and then left on Independence Road. Continue with the Loretto Addition.

Hopefully I’ve introduced a couple of new routes to some folks. Again, I’d like to encourage you to add your favorite ride to the excelcycle blog, and help us all by posting your own workarounds for any road construction you’ve encountered.