Because Kansas City's idea of a downtown bike route is posting "bike route" signs on congested city streets, street-biking hounds must demonstrate a degree of ingenuity. Escape the congested midtown and downtown scenes by following Southwest Boulevard west under Interstate 35 until it connects with Merriam Lane. The slice-of-life street offers plenty of eye candy for wayward cyclists: the Boulevard Drive-In, the House of Rocks (so that's where they come from!), Ms. Kitty's bar, Checkered Flag Hamburgers, Nigro's Western Store and a mattress store with a crazy-eyed bull mascot on the roof. Hit the Sonic on 55th Street for a limeade sugar rush and connect with the bike trail at Werner Park to embark on two miles of shady bliss. It's a bit of a bummer when you pop out at 75th Street and I-35, but the good news is that you can turn around and do it all over again.