Teaching your child the ancient art of bicycle maintenance

Discovering how things work here is a group of neighborhood kids learning about bicycle maintenance. 

As a parent and tinkerer, one of the most fun activities I share with my two boys is teaching them how bicycle maintenance works. Now that my older son is riding more and helping me review a bike for HaveFunBiking, the time has come to teach him how a bike works. Almost everybody gets the basics, but after 20 years working in shops, I want to give as much of my experience to him as possible. Take a look at my plan for teaching my son bicycle maintenance.

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Bicycle theft prevention to keep your e-bike secure

Bikes in general, are stolen often, but for a thief in today's crazy world, an electric bike is the crown jewel. With e-bikes, normally a larger investment here are some bicycle theft prevention ideas to consider. To protect your bicycle investment, consider using a combination of a U-lock, or cable lock, along with a GPS-tracking air tag. You could also take the bike inside a building with you or use a mobile bike storage locker for storing your bike. Using a combination of the above locks will deter a thief. And with a GPS tracking device attached will help you retrieve your bike if it is stolen.

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Save the date for the annual Minnesota Bike/Walk Summit

Advocating for people who bike and walk, on March 14th, is Minnesota's Bike/Walk Summit, in St Paul. One of the most important events, the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN) needs your help at the Bike/Walk Summit. If you live in Minnesota, your presence is requested to help educate the elected leaders about the State's bicycling issues and pedestrian needs.

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Twin Cities Metro mountain bike trails to enjoy

In the Twin Cities Metro Area, find an extensive network of rugged single-track and easy-to-moderate mountain bike trails to enjoy. Explore the following list, with many regional and city parks that maintain off-road trails to provide riders at every skill level with a fun experience. Whether you are seeking a serene roll or a challenging thrill, there’s no shortage of mountain bike trails to explore in Minneapolis-St. Paul. For that next Adventure you are planning, here are more than 25 trail systems to choose from. Enjoy!

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Waterproof clothing is a surefire way to stay comfortable

The best way to stay dry is to wear waterproof clothing. While most synthetic fabrics still insulate when wet, being wet diminishes their ability to keep you warm.

With spring approaching, staying dry is the most critical and challenging part of biking or hiking in the rain and snow. The best way to keep warm and dry is to wear waterproof clothing. While most synthetic fabrics still insulate when wet, being damp diminishes their ability to keep you warm. Therefore, a waterproof jacket and pants are a great way to start, but waterproof socks and gloves complete the outfit. While many materials are naturally waterproof, once perforated with stitching, zipped closed with generic zippers, and left to be loose at all the cuffs, their waterproofing goes out the window. Before you go out and buy anything labeled "waterproof," read on to understand that all waterproofing is not the same.

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An adventure of a lifetime, along Minnesota’s Mississippi River Trail

Picture yourself riding the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) through the wilds of Minnesota, pedaling America's famous 3,000 mile bike system

In the following bike touring description, picture yourself riding the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) through the wilds of Minnesota. Here you can pedal, along with family and friends. Enjoy the scenery on the first leg of America's famous 3,000-mile bike system while riding at your own pace using bike-friendly roads and multi-use pathways.

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Before purchasing an e-bike consider these helpful tips

With the popularity of e-bikes (electric-assist bicycles) and the many options available, here are some of the many questions we answered at HaveFunBiking.com. The top question, along with the price of an e-bike, was how the new government rebate programs worked. What are the e-bike types and styles along with battery/motor options available? Followed by the range or distance you can expect to travel on a charge. Riding in rain and snow, and the maintenance tips. In conclusion, after reviewing the following tips, to narrow down the right bike for you, visit several bicycle shops that carry electric-assist bicycles. Ask them specific questions to we have touched on here. And like buying a car, test-ride the e-bike you are interested in.

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Explore Minnesota’s paved and surface bike trails

With more than 4,000 miles of paved Minnesota bike trails, the state has become a world-renowned bicycle touring destination for all to enjoy. Making considerable strides in connectivity, so in some areas, you can pedal distances of up to one hundred and fifty miles without leaving the trail. For example, in southeastern Minnesota, the Root River Trail connects to the Harmony-Preston trail for 60 miles of scenic enjoyment. In central Minnesota, the Central Lakes Trail connects to the Lake Wobegon Trails for over 120 miles of Rail-to-Trail touring pleasure. As you plan your next adventure, look through the following list of Minnesota bike trails for miles of fun memories. Many of the trails listed are available in the Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide maps for your riding pleasure.

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Winter in a bike shop is a great time to learn and get fast service

Give a call to the shops closest to you and verify they have the models you want to test ride.

The winter months are the perfect time to visit a bike shop and learn. Other than just enjoying bikes at a time when you may not be riding, there are many benefits to visiting your bike shop during the cooler months of the year. You can learn more in the slower winter months, get better deals, and have faster service.

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