Road sign off of a flat, paved road with corn fields in the background.

Pancakes, Anyone?

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Wanting to get out on gravel but not feeling like dealing with a bunch of hills? This is the route for you! This route manages to find and string together some of the most flat-like-a-pancake roads Johnson County has to offer. Be warned, however: there’s a total of 3 miles of B road on this route — minimally maintained dirt roads that are lots of fun in good weather and that can get impassably sloppy in wet conditions. You might want to choose another adventure if you’re heading out after any significant precipitation.

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Secrest Octagonal Barn in West Liberty, Iowa

Octagonal Barn Loop

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This friendly loop takes you past the 1883 Secrest Octagonal Barn, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The barn is part of a private farmstead just west of the town of Downy, and its unique shape has helped it withstand the storms and winds of the prairie over all those decades. You’ll pedal past this red-painted landmark not quite halfway through this route. About 18 miles into your ride, you’ll arrive at a one-mile stretch of B road, minimally maintained dirt road. Given the regular rectangles of roads in this part of the county, it’s easy to navigate a mile north or south to circumvent that stretch in muddy conditions…or you might end up taking your bicycle for a walk. Choose wisely!

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Group of four road bicyclists on the horizon riding past a soybean field on a clear summer day.

Lake and Fields

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If you want to get away from the hustle & bustle but are short on time, this route is for you. You’ll take a combination of streets & paved trail to ride around the Terry Trueblood Recreation Area & a soccer park. Keep an eye out for birds, frogs & other critters through the rec area & soccer park. The lake at the center of the rec area trail was created as a result of sand & gravel quarrying & is, logically enough, named Sand Lake. If you’re in need of refreshment on the way back toward downtown Iowa City, you can stop off at Big Grove Tap Room adjacent to the Riverfront Crossings—plenty of bike parking & seating both indoors and out.

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Two road Cyclists passing U of I buildings in Iowa City.

Eastside Townie

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Starting from the Iowa City Bike Library at 700 S Dubuque Street in Iowa City, you’ll pedal north to the corner of the Pentacrest, the cluster of five University of Iowa buildings with the original capitol building at the center, built before Iowa’s capitol was moved to Des Moines. Once you head east from downtown, this route combines local streets and paved bike path to stitch together a relaxed ride through the neighborhoods of east Iowa City. Keep an eye out for the new-and-improved bike facilities—wide sidewalks and bike lanes—the City of Iowa City is continually adding and upgrading along this route.

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Single cyclist riding on a paved county road on a summer day.

A Peaceful Roll

◯ Beginner
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This easy spin will take you through some peaceful countryside on gently rolling hills. On the return, you might enjoy touring downtown Solon and stopping in one of the delicious eateries you’ll find there. You’ll find ample parking at the start-finish, and plenty of amenities nearby.

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