timcote.org

ENJOYING BLOOMINGTON

  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
WELCOME TO BLOOMINGTON
 

Bloomington is a great place for biking, running, and fitness training in general. With recreational centers such as the SCSC and HPER plus other great spots like Griffy Lake, the IU cross country course, Rails to Trails and the IU outdoor pool, you should find it easy to enjoy a good workout while being here.

Below you will find some of my favorite routes and workouts that I valued while living in Bloomington. I hope you look around and find some ride, run, or combo that suites your needs.

Enjoy!

 
  
 
  
             
  BIKE ROUTES          
             
 

This is a quick list of all my standard rides. I will be updating this page soon and hopefully making it a little more fun.

      
      North Shore

This ride is done by just about every cyclist in Bloomington at least a few times a year. It's a really pretty ride with a couple of sucker punching hills in the middle of it. I prefer to ride it clockwise so I am coming in on flat road. There aren't any good places to get water or food on this ride, so pack what you need.

here

      
             
      Forest Loop

here 

     
             
      Hoosier Hills 100k

This is a cool ride all and all. It gets a little hilly in the middle and toward the end you might hit some traffic. All said, it is still one of the tops in my book

here

     
             
      Brown County State Park

BCSP has it all. The mountain biking in the park is top notch and there are tons of trails to run as well. The roads within the park are also suitable for road riding, although the weekends are usually packed with cars. Watch out for poision ivy in the summer!!!

here (The parks website) here (HMBA trail map of BCSP)

     
             
     

The Nashville 120

This is a longer version of the locally famous Nashville 90. "The 90," as it is known to the locals, is done by every biker that lives in Bloomington. Therefore I am not going to bother putting it up on this page. If you want the 90 route just ask any person in town with lycra on (or go to a local bike shop). This version of the 90 is a little bit longer and adds some more ruralness to it. Bring some cash with you. There are stops in all the major towns...that means three stops.

here

     
             
    RUN ROUTES        
    If you are looking for nice road runs you may want to go somewhere else to find them. What comprises a good run for me is dirt, hills, and craziness. So if you are afraid of sasquatches or rabid squirrels stop now, because you will see them on these runs.      
     

Yellowwood Runs

Here are two awesome runs that I love to do at Yellowwood. Both of the runs leave from the same parking lot. The first run listed is known as the Dubois Ridge Run to any cool runner dudes. The second run is known as the Tulip Tree Run. Both runs are hilly, remote, and on dirt roads. You will encounter small amounts of pavement on both, but if you are as soft as most people you will enjoy a good surface for a bit. But don't get your hopes up though, the dirt is coming back.

here (Dubois Ridge 11.5 miles) here (Tulip Tree 14.5 miles)

     
             
     

T.C. Steele

I must confess: this run does have a three mile section of road on it. But, it also has a hill that may cause death by lactic acid poisoning. Park at and check out T.C. Steele's house and studio after your run. It is a beautiful place and you can easily understand why a man would want to capture these surrounds on canvas.

here (the run) here (Info on the park)

      
             
     

Three Lakes Loop

I don't have a good GPS map for this run. Instead you will find a hand drawn rough sketch of the route. Park at the lake off of Old 37 (it's about a half of a mile from the park entrance. Follow the trail left out of the parking lot and follow the white blazes and 3 Lakes Loop trail signs. Or if you are less adventurous go to the park office and pick up a map.

here (parks website) here (my map)