Kensington

I live about 1 mile north of the park, so I ride out there all the time.  If you're ever out there and want someone to ride with, give me a holler.

Any yes, its damned hilly

Sounds good.  I am not fast but I bet it is more enjoyableto ride with others as opposed to alone.

When do you usually ride?  Mornings? evenings?

Thanks.

I actually work out of my house, so I can get away pretty much whenever I want as long as I don't have a meeting going on.

There are a couple good hills over there.

Did you ride the path or the road?  The road is harder!

F.Y.I.  when you're at Kensington and go by the highway there is a path that vears off.  This will take you over to Island Lake Recreation Area.  Ride the road to the back of the park and back, it's a great ride.

If you do ILRA and the Kensington loop its a nice 20 mile ride.

And later on in the evening or early on a weekend, it's fun to toss in the loop around the proving grounds as well.

I like to start at the back of ILRA, ride the connector to Kensington. Hit the road in kensington for a loop, head out to north bound Kensington road for the proving grounds and Milford loop, then back through Kensington to the connector to ILRA. Makes for a nice hilly half century if you toss in enough milford riding.

i ride at kensington, on the road, all the time. it has a couple good hills...and if you don't have a little momentum going in to them, it can seem a little though. i love riding kensington.

I was there for the Kensington Triathlon this past June (got some video up on my youtube of it).  It has a few tough hills for sure - and lot's of fun coming down!

A few of us will be at Kensington this evening (around 6). We will probably do the Kensington / ILRA loop (20 miles), and generally finish in about 1 hour. Let me know if anyone would like to meet us and I will post with a more definitive time and place.

How many miles is the ILRA loop and how many is the Kensington loop?  Seems to me that ILRA is about 6 miles each way and that Kensington is about 7 each way.  I am trying to figure out how it is 20 miles total.  I am not doubting what you are saying, but trying to determine your route.

From the ILRA/Kensington Connector to the end of ILRA and back is just over 12 miles.  Kensington bike path is an 8 mile loop.

6 miles each way = 12 miles.  Add the Kensington 8 mile loop, slightly more if you take the road as much as you can and you total 20 miles.

Edited by JC5066 2009-08-05 7:46 AM

Got it.  So to get to the 20 miles, you take the bike path for at least part of the Kensington loop?  Makes sense now.

Yes, you have to take part of the bike path at Kensington to catch the connector.  Once I hit the parking lot (either way) I jump on the road.

If you go right once you get into Kensington take the road at the first parking lot.  Once you hit about 6 1/2 miles in you will see the "Nature Center" on your right and lake with a nice boardwalk.  Immediately to your left you will see a big parking lot with a boat launch, turn here and jump on the bike path again.  The path will wind around the edge of the lake and back to the connector.

Check it out below...basically an out & back at ILRA followed by a loop of Kensington...

http://www.geodistance.com/?id=38529

Did the loop of ILRA and crossed over to Kensington for a loop there this morning.  That is a great ride - challenging with very little traffic and lots of people out exercising.  Thanks for the feedback on the course.  Also saw a few other riders out there - wondering if it were other BTers.

There are a number of BTers that do ride out there.