Author Archives: Russ Lowthian

Bike Pic July 26, yeah it’s Friday, and the heat returns

This bike pic Friday, with more hot/humid weather in the forecast. Remember to stay hydrated and shred trails in the woods.

So, adjust to the warmer temps, and get into the zone when continuing your time outdoors for that #NextBikeAdventure. View all the great ideas and bike destinations in the latest Iowa or Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. Then plan your next outing with family and friends, and check out more stories at Let’s Do MN.

Thanks for viewing our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

As we pedal forward, we aim to encourage more people to bike and have fun while highlighting all the unforgettable places you can ride. As we continue to showcase more places to have fun, we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. Enjoy the information and stories we have posted as you scroll through.

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. To be considered, the photo(s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continue encouraging more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your #NextBikeAdventure. Also, check our 15th annual mobile-friendly MN Bike Guide, a handy booklet full of maps of fun places to bike and hike.

Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com on your cell phone and find your next adventure at your fingertips! Please share our pics with your friends, and don’t forget to smile. With one of our cameras ready to document your next cameo appearance while you are riding and having fun, we may be around the corner. You could be in one of our next Pic of the Day.

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

Bike Pic July 25, Pedaling The MRT to meet friends and make weekend plans

This bike pic Thursday is another perfect day to ride the Minnesota section of the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) for a cold one. Here this biker chick heads to their favorite brewery to meet friends and make plans for the weekend.

So, adjust to the warmer temps, have your rain gear ready, and get into the zone when continuing your time outdoors for that #NextBikeAdventure. View all the great ideas and bike destinations in the latest Iowa or Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. Then plan your next outing with family and friends, and check out more stories at Let’s Do MN.

Thanks for viewing our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

Bike Pic July 24, Wheelie Wednesday into your sweet spot

This Wednesday’s bike pic – if life were a mountain bike trail and a wheelie or Bunny Hop helped smooth out your day-to-day ride or helped drop you into your sweet spot, why not review the following tips to make your week an adrenaline high?

Thanks for viewing our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

A bike adds to the fun at the Gus Macker Basketball Tournament

The Gus Macker Basketball Tournament returns to the Twin Cities on August 17-18. Historically held in downtown St. Paul, this 3-on-3 family-focused tournament is now in Brooklyn Park, MN, the perfect place to bring your bike. While visiting, you will find five major paved trail systems that intersect. Plus, there are many bike-friendly streets to get to and from the games and the many attractions in the Minneapolis Northwest while visiting.

About Gus Macker

Gus Macker celebrates its 50th anniversary this year at the Hennepin Community College. The original tournament was started by Scott McNeal (aka Gus Macker), who invited eighteen neighborhood friends to play over the weekend in his parents’ driveway during March Madness. The tournament continued to gain popularity, eventually hit the road in 1987, and has become a staple in recreational sports. Since then, the Macker tour has expanded, holding 1500+ tournaments with more than 2.8 million players—male and female from seven to 50+—and more than 30 million spectators.

Exploring the Minneapolis Northwest by bike

As the Mississippi River and its internationally known Mississippi River Trail (MRT) enter the Twin Cities Metro area, visitors staying in Brooklyn Center or Brooklyn Park (also known as Explore Minneapolis Northwest) can access some of the nation’s best bike trails. You can find several comfortable bike routes from your hotel room that connect you to many other urban paved trails. The links below will give you access to the MRT to visit local parks along the river or ride trails to downtown Minneapolis for more attractions. For those interested in mountain or fat biking, Elm Creek Park Reserve is also easy to connect to by trail, no matter your hotel choice.

See an overview of the Minneapolis Northwest bike infrastructure in the Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide on pages 42-43 or the Shingle Creek Regional Trail System map.

Where to stay while visiting

Minneapolis Northwest features 14 hotels to meet the needs of every guest. From all-suite hotels with meeting space to extended-stay properties, you’ll find an option that suits you best.

Bike Pic July 23, a perfect day to ride with a clean jersey

This bike pic Tuesday looks like a picture-perfect bike pic day to ride. Here we captured the Tide biker dudes on RAGBRAI passing out samples.

Thanks for viewing our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

Bike Pic July 24, riding into the Monday morning sun

This Bike Pic Monday, looking in the archives, we captured these biker chicks riding into the Monday morning sun near Albert Lea, MN. For your next adventure, consider the Rock N’ Roll the Lakes bike ride on August 10th.

Thanks for viewing our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. To be considered, the photo (s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

Bike Pic July 21, Ice Cream Smiles Sunday adds extra mid-summer fun

It’s Ice Cream Smiles Sunday, and here in this bike pic we have a couple of ladies celebrating a mid-summer adventure with Ice cream. So pump up the tires and plan your #NextBikeAdventure with a stop at your favorite ice cream shop.

Thanks for viewing our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. To be considered, the photo (s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

Bike Pic July 20, a perfect day to ride with the Amish

On this Bike Pic Saturday, if you are in southeastern Minnesota on the Amish Buggy Byway near Harmony, you may have a chance to keep pace with a horse-drawn carriage.

Thanks for viewing our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. To be considered, the photo (s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

Bike Pic July 19, yeah it’s Friday, ready for another adventure?

This bike pic Friday, with perfect summer temps in the forecast; stay hydrated and ride off on another fun weekend enjoying that #nextbikeadventure.

Thanks for viewing our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. To be considered, the photo (s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

Bike Pic July 18, e-bikes make it easy for seniors to stay riding

This bike pic Thursday; what better way to continue your summer fun than riding an e-bike on your #NextBikeAdventure?

Thanks for viewing our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. To be considered, the photo (s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!