Welcome. We're your premier source for fun places to explore by bicycle or on foot. Offering guides, maps and articles on road and trail riding for the novice to seasoned cyclist - helping you find your #NextBikeAdventure
Having enjoyed another summer season of cycling with many great memories, it's time to think about preparing your bike for winter storage. Unless you plan to pedal your two-wheel steed throughout the winter, wouldn't it be nice when the temperature warms next spring if you are ready to ride?
Many people realize they are eating the wrong things or leading a lifestyle that doesn’t include enough exercise. Getting into the saddle and taking up cycling is a beautiful form of exercise and can be particularly beneficial to those who have recently experienced significant surgery. Using a bicycle can be as low or high impact as you need and is relatively easy to start. Here are a few tips for bicycling after a heart attack or other cardiac incident.
Towards the southern edge of Bloomington, you will find the Minnesota River Bottoms Trail System. It is the perfect place for a great wildlife adventure. It is also a fun place to bike, hike, and watch the annual fall migration, where you can observe over 250 species of birds. I regularly use the trailhead near the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge (See flag #4 below), overlooking Long Meadow Lake. Here, at the trailhead, you can easily view the marsch land of Long Meadow Lake, which is full of waterfowl activity. You can also jump on the trail with your bike, or grab your walking stick, and use some of the other designated hiking trails to find more observation points.
Congratulations to Liz Wilkinson, our E-bike contest winner from St. Paul, MN! We are happy to announce that Liz’s e-mail was drawn from our pool of e-database contestants. We enjoyed meeting her at Pedego in Mendota Heights and giving her the keys to the new Avenue E-bike from our 2024 Bike/Hike Guide campaign. Seeing her enthusiasm […]
Bike riding in the fall can come with many challenges and, at the same time, be very gratifying. For some, the bicycle season may be winding down. In contrast, many others wish to continue to explore the incredible autumn landscape on their favorite mode of transportation, the bike. Pedaling along the colorful autumn roads or trails is so breathtaking that I will admit that fall bike riding is one of my favorite times to ride. Not too hot, not too cold, and there are fewer insects once the first frost hits.
With small town charm, sprawling countryside trails the Willmar Lakes Area is the perfect place to visit with your bike for a fun weekend getaway this fall.
Rather than putting a bike in storage early due to the fluctuation in weather, here's the answer you're looking for. To conquer this fall problem, wear layers. While this might seem obvious, the key lies in correctly layering appropriate clothing. If correctly done, it can optimize comfort for the rider. Not only that, but it can also increase the ability of each layer to work to maximize moisture and temperature regulation.
One of my favorite fall Adventures is visiting Albert Lea, Minnesota. It is a one-tank getaway that offers a beautiful bike route around Fountain Lake. Connecting to the Blazing Star State Trail is also easy for more exploring. Another option is to follow one of the routes from the annual bike ride called Rock n' Roll the Lakes. The ride usually happens on the second Saturday in August and offers cyclists of all abilities several fun, scenic route options for that #NextBikeAdventure!
With fall color officially peaking in just a month, don't rush to put that bike away too soon! When the tree foliage begins to change, first in Minnesota and then in Iowa, using the HaveFunBiking guides and the state DNR websites, it's easy to expand your recreational riding through October. As our summer bike adventures drift into fond memories, cyclists and hikers alike will have a colorful blaze of options ahead. Picture-perfect adventures with warm days, cool nights, low humidity, few insects, and trees offering brilliant autumn colors.
If e-bikes are out of your price range, or you just want a low-tech ride, let's look at the basics. Trail bikes, fitness bikes, hybrid bikes, and dual-sport bikes all fall into the same category of bicycles. Although these bikes all occupy the same category, they have very different uses. Read on to find out what bike will fit your needs best.