S.T.o.W. Ride - The Sakatah Trail on Wednesday 2 Mankato, is actually going to be on Friday this year_.  Pack it, tote it or stow it, whatever you need for this century 101 mile ride with 1862 ft of elevation gain.  If you have any desire to ride a fairly easier century ride, this could be for you.  It is almost all on trail and fairly flat, but it is still 101 miles of riding and will consume most of the day, so be sure you have done some longer rides before hand for the endurance.  If the weather is forecast to be undesirable, it can be bumped to the next day becoming a S.T.o.T. ride (or S.T.o.T., Sakatah Trail on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday), so be sure you register to get email notices or texts if weather is questionable.  I am hoping to be able to get down to Mankato the beginning of the week to check out areas that possibly have had rain issues.

We start in Fairbault at the White Sands Park, about an hour drive south of the metro, and go the full length of the Sakatah Trail to the beautiful river town of Mankato.  The poorer sections of the trail have been repaired so it is beautiful, pleasant riding,  It passes through cool, wooded areas as well as open, sun drenched farm fields and connects the several smaller communities with Fairbault and Mankato.  We'll have a short stop in Elysian, about mile 20.  There is a convenience store across the highway, if you want to buy something.  As we near Mankato, the scenery is unbelievably beautiul.  On the outskirts of Mankato we will go along the Minnesota River Trail, connect with the W Mankato Trail and the Red Jacket Trail and go out and beyond Mankato, to climb our one monster hill of 10%+, and have another stop at Minneopa park.  Restrooms but no food to buy, so bring something for this stop.  From there we head back into town for a well deserved break at Arby's.  Ride leader may get nostalgic passing by her first house and may need to regroup, but highly unlikely.  The return will climb out of Mankato and the valley and past Good Counsel, where ride leader worked many moons ago.  Optional reststops at any of the small towns on the return as needed for water or restrooms. Most likely stop in Elysian on return at the ice cream stop.

This will be a stay together ride, at about a 15-16 mph avg but we are on a trail, with many crossroads that you need to slow or STOP at, so it may dictate slower speeds depending on conditions or volume of traffic but no one will be dropped.  

I will not have any maps/cue sheets at the ride start, so if you want the route, download to whichever navigation device you use. To print a map and cue sheet, click the GPS Route Link below, then click on More in the black box above the ride name, then Print Map & Cue PDF then Print Official

Please pre-register for the ride if you intend on riding it.  It is a big help to the ride leader, before and after when reporting the ride.  You will then receive any emails notices about delays or cancelation.  Any questions or if the weather is questionable, feel free to call or txt the ride leader at 651-295-1908.