Ride 6 - Waunakee

Tunnel in Pheasant Br. Conservancy. 5/16/26 dwm

 A storm went through Madison after midnight Friday but by morning, skies were clear and roads were dry. 

 It was in the mid-60s when I headed north along Pleasant View Road before cutting over and up to Waunakee.

 Pleasant View is a four-lane road between Verona and Madison. Along the four-lane section there is an asphalt path for bike and pedestrian traffic.

 There are several hills on this stretch, they aren't very difficult but are enough to slow me down, which is what I attribute my lower average speed when leaving town this direction.

Eventually, Pleasant View crosses U.S. Highway 14 into an industrial park area then it intersects with the west end of the bike and pedestrian trails that wind through the Pheasant Branch Conservancy.

Cedar Ridge Rd, Middleton. 5/16/2026 dwm

The Mendota Path is under development with several stretches finished in Middleton and around Lake Mendota. The path runs next to Century Avenue for the most part, but takes a two block detour where it uses Cedar Ridge Road, which is narrow and winding (photo, right).

It's a cute neighborhood and the lay-out seems calculated to reduce speed. On my return trip using Cedar Ridge, there was a young boy and his dad looking at my bike as I rode past, both wearing big smiles.  

There were a lot of people out walking, biking, and birding yesterday. There must have been more than two dozen people with field glasses looking at birds.

The Pleasant View bridge. 5/16/2026

 The bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Pleasant View road connects a small subdivision of homes and apartments with an off-road bike trail and golf course. 

 It was built several years ago when this section of Pleasant View was two-lanes and changed into a more efficient four-lane street between U.S. Highway 14 and Old Sauk Road.

 This was the first time I crossed the bridge and it seems unlikely I'll use it again unless it eventually connects to other trails. 

According to the Bike Computer: 

Distance: 41 miles; Average Speed: 15.1 mph; Time in the saddle: 2 hours, 42 minutes.