The Market Loop – Darkness Day
The ride starts at the Market at Malcolm Yards. This will be a “B” effort ride that will be mostly on bike trails and low traffic roads. The ride leader will ride at a “B” effort pace and attempt to keep everyone that wants to ride at that pace together, but self-sufficient faster or slower riders are invited to ride at any pace that they prefer.
The route will be mostly on scenic paved bike trails throughout Saint Paul and Minneapolis. We will be riding on the Como Park, Reservoir Woods, Trout Brook, Gateway, Phalen, Bruce Vento, Lilydale Park and Crosby Farm Park trails. We will also ride on the new bike trail through the old Ford Assembly Plant, where we can view the restored Hidden Falls Creek. Slower riding speeds and riding single file will be necessary on most of the trails.
I have one planned rest stop at a Starbucks at mile 21. There are other options along the route for restroom stops.
Restrooms and water will be available at The Market at Malcolm Yards.
Here is the RWGPS link for the 38-mile route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41108729
Why is this ride called ‘Darkness Day’? It’s because October 8th is Surly Darkness Day. The only day and place that the beloved 22-ounce bottles of Surly Darkness will be available, will be the Surly Brewery, just one block away.
I will have a limited supply of route maps or que sheets at the ride start, so please download the route you intend to ride onto your GPS bike computer or 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 preregister, the ride leader will thank you.
There is a lot of parking at the Market at Malcolm Yards, but please park in one of the back rows and leave the close in parking for other customers. The ride briefing will be on the front beer garden patio.
Please join me for post ride drinks and food at the Market, then walk over to Surly to pick up you bottles of Darkness.