Beautiful day today! Clear and Sunny.
Summary: 43.2 miles, 9.8mph average (see below), 1 destination, 1 beer.
Leg 1: Badger Hill
- (Plymouth Road - Baker Road - Eden Prairie Road - Pioneer Trail - Bloomington Ferry Road - CH101 Trail - Hwy 101)
Badger Hill is a brewery/taproom in Shakopee. They used to share space with Lucid/Bad Weather in Minnetonka before getting their own location and opening a taproom a year back.
Wanted to go to Badger Hill because they brewed a limited edition Russian Imperial Stout for New Year's Eve, and I wanted to try some before it was gone. I thought it was pretty good.
Had a little trouble on the way down. After crossing the Minnesota on the CH101 trail (a bike/pedestrian bridge), I hit a section of trail that was unplowed. If it was virgin powder, I could have plowed through, I sink down and the studded tires give me enough traction. But it had a fair amount of foot traffic, and also a few fat bikes had been through. There was only about an 8" wide part that was packed enough to stay on top, but I kept sliding off that part. The rest of the trail was a mix of powder/slush/hardpack that was halfway between biking a rock field and biking a beach. I biked some of it, but way too exhausting, especially since I lost traction every time the tires bounced on the uneven surface. Sigh. I ended up walking about 2/3 of a mile.
Leg 2: Home
- (101 - Flying Cloud Drive - Spring Road - Eden Prairie Road - Baker Road - Plymouth Road)
I didn't want to walk my bike again, so I took 101 home. The bridge across the Minnesota was redone, and there is now a bike/pedestrian trail, but it isn't open yet so I just biked 101. A little hairy, especially where it necked down to one north-bound lane, but most of it had a 2 foot shoulder and 2 lanes so it wasn't too bad.
Weather: 19 at the start, warming to 29 degrees, sunny. 12mph wind, mostly as a cross-wind except on the east-west legs.
Roads: Generally clear.
Trails:
Mix of clear and up to ½” of packed snow. Two segments that were unplowed and close to unbikeable. (I detoured around one, and slow-rode/walked the other)
Gear:
Bike: Specialized Sirrus, Gravdal studded tires (38mm), rear fender.
Head: Two bandannas (scalp, chin/neck), goggles, helmet
Body: Long sleeve underarmour baselayer, light short sleeve shirt, arm warmers, light wool shirt, windbreaker, biking shorts, jeans
Feet/Hands: medium wool socks, athletic shoes, booties, Sturmfist 4 gloves
Comfort: Generally OK. Started overheating on the way back but opened my pit zips and was OK after that.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Friday, January 1, 2016
New Year's Day - Eastlake Craft Brewery, Republic 7 Corners
I’ve had several people suggest I start a blog on my biking/beer expeditions. I’m not convinced my excursions are of general interest, but who knows? If nothing else, it will serve as a diary.
Basically... I bike - a lot - year round. And I drink a lot of (craft) beer. Often on the same outings. This blog will talk about the taprooms, brewpubs, and bars I go to, and will also talk about the biking.
I’ll post more background info in the next several posts. But… New Year… New blog… Don’t want to fall behind on Day 1.
Overall, today was a nice day for biking/beer. Almost up to freezing, and nothing was too crazy busy (roads, taverns, …) I assume most folks are watching football and/or recovering from last night.
Summary: 28.3 miles, 10.5mph average, 2 destinations, 2 beers
Leg 1: Eastlake Brewery
- (394 Frontage Road, Flag Ave, Minnetonka Blvd, Cedar Lake Trail, Midtown Greenway)
Eastlake is a brewery/taproom in the Midtown Global Market (MGM), in the old Sears building. This is my fourth visit there, my first being the the day they opened. I would say they are above median, although not outstanding IMO. It was kind of quiet at Eastlake today. MGM itself was closed. Maybe 8 folks at Eastlake. Had a “Sassy Molassy” porter. A fine beer, I could drink this again. Tried to record it into the BeerAdvocate app but the only Sassy Molassy they know is brewed by a San Diego brewery.
Some nice things about Eastlake Brewery:
- One of the few taprooms open 7 days per week
- MGM has a gazillion food places to chose from. Lots of different ethnic food options.
MGM has bike racks on Lake Street, viewable from the tap room. According to one FB group, it’s a hotbed for bike theft, but I figure there’s not much that will happen in broad daylight…
Leg 2: Republic Seven Corners (7C)
- (Midtown Greenway, Hiawatha Trail, Minnehaha, Riverside)
I wanted to hit Republic 7C today since they had a Surly tap takeover last night, and I wanted to get some Darkness. I settled on the 2014 BA Darkness. It was pretty darn good, although I wouldn’t say it knocked my socks off. I assume most craft beer folks know Republic 7C (seven corners), but if you are into craft beer and have never been there - GO! One of the best beer bars in the metro. It’s rated as one of the top 100 beer bars in the US, and with good reason.
There’s always a wide variety of craft on tap, often including some unusual or rare beers.
Some nice things about Republic:
- In my experience they’ll put darn near anything onto a flight without an upcharge. (I didn't ask about the Surly specials, but I've put lots of high-test imperial stouts and the like onto flights. )
- Decent food
Republic 7C has bike racks, but on the far side of the patio so I just locked up to the fence.
Leg 3: Home
- (West River Parkway Trail, Cedar Lake Trail, Glenwood, Luce Line)
Weather: 28 degrees, sunny. 12mph tailwind outbound, 12mph headwind inbound.
Roads: Generally clear, some slush/snow
Trails: Mix of clear and up to ½” of packed snow. Only a little ice. A few areas where I had to power through 4" of fresh-ish snow and/or plow mounds.
Gear:
Bike: Specialized Sirrus, Gravdal studded tires (38mm)
Head: Two bandannas (scalp, chin/neck), goggles, helmet
Body: Long sleeve underarmour baselayer, light short sleeve shirt, arm warmers, light wool shirt, windbreaker, biking shorts, jeans
Feet/Hands: heavy wool blend socks, athletic shoes, booties, Sturmfist 5 gloves
Comfort: Generally OK. Fingers got cold. Toes sweaty outbound, chilled inbound
Basically... I bike - a lot - year round. And I drink a lot of (craft) beer. Often on the same outings. This blog will talk about the taprooms, brewpubs, and bars I go to, and will also talk about the biking.
I’ll post more background info in the next several posts. But… New Year… New blog… Don’t want to fall behind on Day 1.
Overall, today was a nice day for biking/beer. Almost up to freezing, and nothing was too crazy busy (roads, taverns, …) I assume most folks are watching football and/or recovering from last night.
Summary: 28.3 miles, 10.5mph average, 2 destinations, 2 beers
Leg 1: Eastlake Brewery
- (394 Frontage Road, Flag Ave, Minnetonka Blvd, Cedar Lake Trail, Midtown Greenway)
Eastlake is a brewery/taproom in the Midtown Global Market (MGM), in the old Sears building. This is my fourth visit there, my first being the the day they opened. I would say they are above median, although not outstanding IMO. It was kind of quiet at Eastlake today. MGM itself was closed. Maybe 8 folks at Eastlake. Had a “Sassy Molassy” porter. A fine beer, I could drink this again. Tried to record it into the BeerAdvocate app but the only Sassy Molassy they know is brewed by a San Diego brewery.
Some nice things about Eastlake Brewery:
- One of the few taprooms open 7 days per week
- MGM has a gazillion food places to chose from. Lots of different ethnic food options.
MGM has bike racks on Lake Street, viewable from the tap room. According to one FB group, it’s a hotbed for bike theft, but I figure there’s not much that will happen in broad daylight…
Leg 2: Republic Seven Corners (7C)
- (Midtown Greenway, Hiawatha Trail, Minnehaha, Riverside)
I wanted to hit Republic 7C today since they had a Surly tap takeover last night, and I wanted to get some Darkness. I settled on the 2014 BA Darkness. It was pretty darn good, although I wouldn’t say it knocked my socks off. I assume most craft beer folks know Republic 7C (seven corners), but if you are into craft beer and have never been there - GO! One of the best beer bars in the metro. It’s rated as one of the top 100 beer bars in the US, and with good reason.
There’s always a wide variety of craft on tap, often including some unusual or rare beers.
Some nice things about Republic:
- In my experience they’ll put darn near anything onto a flight without an upcharge. (I didn't ask about the Surly specials, but I've put lots of high-test imperial stouts and the like onto flights. )
- Decent food
Republic 7C has bike racks, but on the far side of the patio so I just locked up to the fence.
Leg 3: Home
- (West River Parkway Trail, Cedar Lake Trail, Glenwood, Luce Line)
Weather: 28 degrees, sunny. 12mph tailwind outbound, 12mph headwind inbound.
Roads: Generally clear, some slush/snow
Trails: Mix of clear and up to ½” of packed snow. Only a little ice. A few areas where I had to power through 4" of fresh-ish snow and/or plow mounds.
Gear:
Bike: Specialized Sirrus, Gravdal studded tires (38mm)
Head: Two bandannas (scalp, chin/neck), goggles, helmet
Body: Long sleeve underarmour baselayer, light short sleeve shirt, arm warmers, light wool shirt, windbreaker, biking shorts, jeans
Feet/Hands: heavy wool blend socks, athletic shoes, booties, Sturmfist 5 gloves
Comfort: Generally OK. Fingers got cold. Toes sweaty outbound, chilled inbound
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