On Sunday and again yesterday morning I went on two bike rides through Lincoln totaling around 55 miles. I wound up covering brand new territory as well as areas I haven't seen in many years. It was a blast.
My route was basically: Boosalis Trail to Rock Island Trail to Billy Wolff Trail to Mopac Trail. I run on Boosalis all the time so that was nothing new. Ditto for Rock Island. The Billy Wolff trail through Antelope Valley was a big shock for me. It was the first time I've really seen many of the Antelope Valley changes up close. For the most part the trail and surrounding environs are fantastic. We'll see how the area matures, of course, but for right now it's very nice. The area near UNL's Beadle Center sure doesn't look like the Trago Park I used to know when I lived in an apartment near 23rd and T. And being able to ride underneath Downtown's streets is wonderful. When I was a kid riding that trail I used to have to wait at so. Many. Stoplights.
The connection between Billy Wolff and Mopac is a little, erm, wonky, but it gets the job done. The bridge over 27th Street is nice, even if the grade is a bit of a pain. The last time I rode the Mopac the trail began at Peter Pan Park on 33rd, so the connection to Downtown is a definite plus. Other than that the trail was more or less as I remembered it, at least as far as 148th Street. One of these days I'll get out to Eagle and beyond.
The most heartening thing about my two recent trips on Lincoln's trails is the fact that the trails were so busy. In fact, yesterday morning almost felt like a spring marathon training day there were so many people out and about. (The awesomely cool temperatures probably had something to do with that.) Most of the trails are in pretty good shape. (There's a nasty crack a few blocks west of 84th Street, though!) And for the most part people obey trail etiquette. Speaking of which: I really need to put a bell on my bike because constantly hollering "On your left!" gets tiring after a while.
The next thing I need to do is explore some of Lincoln's trails that didn't even exist when I was a kid. Trails like Bison, Murdock, Dietrich, Jamaica North, and Salt Creek Levee. Riding the Homestead Trail to Cortland is a special goal of mine. My grandparents used to live in Cortland and I would love to ride to their old house. Too bad the Dairy Sweet isn't still around.
What's your favorite trail in town?
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Unfortunately there’s no trail between my house and work so I’m stuck riding up 20th St. The Jamaica Trail is great though, want to try and do a trip to Beatrice sometime and eat at the Black Crow. Hitting Cortland to see Sam at Spilker Ales would be great, too.
If I’m not mistaken, the trail is still incomplete between Cortland and Pickrell. Is that correct, or is my info out of date? You could still ride on Highway 77, of course, but that means putting up with 65+mph traffic.
I love the Homestead. It’s a gorgeous trail. I’ve been running and walking the stretch from Saltillo to Roca/Hickman for years. It’s especially nice in the mornings because a good portion of the trail is in the shade. The trail has been completed to Beatrice, and I’m told that the Cortland-Pickrell route is the prettiest section of all.
MoPac is still the best. You get the best of both urban and rural. Homestead is complete (watch out for thorns around Cortland.) Pickrell to Beatrice is rough—they used the wrong sized rock. Murdoch from 70th east to the end (120th?) is a nice hidden little gem.
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