One of the great things about Saranac Lake is the vast cycling opportunities in the area.  Quiet roads seem to leave the center of town in every direction to take riders to smooth stretches of undisturbed pavement.  Recently I met up with native Saranac Laker and Olympic hopeful Annelies Cook for a ride on Forest Home Road.  This is one of Annelies's favorite places to train for her biathlon season ahead.  

Annelies and I met at

Blue Moon Cafe to make sure we were caffeinated before our ride, and cruised out of town on Rt. 3.  We quickly made a right turn onto Ampersand Ave. followed by a left onto Forest Home Road.  From here we enjoyed the rolling terrain, climb, and descent towards Saranac Inn.  Once riders reach Rt. 30 they can either choose to turn around a return back to Saranac Lake on Forest Home Rd. or Make a right and head for McMaster Road.  We chose to the latter and made sure to stay single file on the busier Rt. 30 and 186 until we made a right turn onto McMaster Road.  After climbing the steep hill on McMaster we made left turn back onto Forest Home Raod, screamed down the hill, and back into Saranac Lake.  

 

On our way back to town we bumped into none other than Annelies's mom riing her bike back from work.  Cycling, fitness, and healthy living is very much a part of the Cook family culture as well as the culture of Saranac Lake.