Ride #26 - Loop Sun Prairie

An early rider at sunrise. 8/29/26 dwm

Other than Ride Across Wisconsin in early July, yesterdays trek was the year's longest. 

 

The ride was similar to the ride around Sun Prairie at the end of June, but road construction in Madison, took me around downtown where streets and bike paths are impacted.

 

My route added miles to the trip and that was fine, I'm hoping to ride at least 60 miles on every trip left this year.

 

The ride was familiar, taking the Military Ridge trail to the Capital City and then several miles on the Lake Loop until I reached Fair Oaks Street, which led me to Portage Road that took me over the Interstate and back to the Tancho Path that was celebrated at the end of June.

 

Riding past Costco. 8/29/2026 dwm

 The first time I took the Sun Prairie Loop, I went counter-clockwise, so this time I went the other way to get a different look at the same route. 

 

 The path takes riders through a busy shopping district with several big box stores (Target, Costco, Woodman's Grocery Store, Bass Pro Shop). 

 

 The path crosses Hoepker Road, which is a busy four-lane street. This summer, the farm field that borders both Hoepker and the trail is planted in corn right to the curb. Cars going 35 miles per hour can't see the bike until they reach the curb - so it's extremely important riders come to a full stop before crossing.

 

 After that, the trail gets you past Costco's parking lot and another for Marcus Theaters, then you turn left and into a residential area. As always, you need to be vigilant while riding. The time of day you choose to ride is important. I rode through this area around 7:30, long before any customers were in the area. I'd expect much heavier traffic around the bike path during business hours.

 

The Loop trail runs thru backyards. 8/29/26 dwm

The Sun Prairie Loop does a nice job circling the city and providing great scenery. There are a number of green spaces with stands of trees, wetlands, parks, and backyards.

 

There is two or three block stretch where the trail acts like the property boundary line because none of the homes put up fences, which creates a friendly atmosphere.

 

The trail also cuts through several parks but only one has the path run next to a playground across from a pavilion. 

 

While some riders will approach the loop like I do, as a path to ride from start to finish, the majority of cyclists will ride them from homes to parks, neighbors, or businesses.

 

Early quiet before kids and families visit. 8/29/26 dwm

 As I rode around Sun Prairie, I encountered quite a few dog walkers, runners, walkers, and folks heading home with a bag of purchases.

  

 I left home an hour before sunrise (6:17 CDT) and reached the Sun Prairie Loop around 7:30 after a 30-mile-ride. 

 

 I ate along the way: a protein shake, an Uncrustable peanut butter and jelly sandwich, four cheese sticks, a second PB and J sandwich (this time from Kwik Trip), and for the last stretch, a pint of chocolate milk. 

 

 Of course, all of that was in addition to drinking a lot of water.

 

 Tale of the Bike Computer:

 Distance: 88 miles

 2026 Miles: 1,439 

 Av Speed: 15.1 mph

 Time in the Saddle: 5 hours, 49 minutes