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This person in the Bike Pic is enjoying one of the many treats, eggs on a stick, served at a rest stops along the Tour of Lakes route. In its 26th year the ride will begin and end at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds, in Brainerd, MN. Each year, in keeping with tradition, the Tour’s routes and start/end points are modified so the scenery is always new. This year’s route choices will be approximately 35 and 70 miles.
Sorry, registration is now closed for this years Tour, but to learn more about creating your own bicycle adventure in the Brainerd Lakes Area, click herefor maps, lodging and things to do when not biking.
This week the HaveFunBiking Getaway Contest spotlights Peterson, Minn. Known for its Norwegian heritage, water sports and pie – Peterson is the ticket. Centrally located along the Root River this quaint little town is 13.5 miles east from Lanesboro and 4.8 miles west from Rushford, by way of the trail. Along with many riding opportunities, both on the paved trail and the scenic country roads that meander in and out of the bluffs, visitors will find many other activities here including birding, hiking, paddling/tubing or just hanging out along the river.
A smiling face serving ice cream at Geneva’s on Main Street, in Peterson
This Bike Getaway highlights a prize package you can build on. It begins with a complimentary one-night stay, for two, at the Andor Wenneson Inn, Peterson, next to the Root River Trail. Also included in this package for two:
Hike up the bluff on the North Peterson Hiking Trail.
The winner of this Peterson Getaway Package will be announced from our HaveFunBiking e-Database on Tuesday, June 2nd. If you haven’t already subscribed, please register now for our weekly drawings and the HaveFunBiking e-Newsletter by clicking here.
About Peterson and the Root River Trail
The City of Peterson is a popular spot for active individual’s using the Root River and the paved trail system. A charming Norwegian community, the town is a two and a half hour drive from the Twin Cities, located in South Eastern Minnesota. The bike trail here follows the Root River and intersects with Peterson’s main street making it easy to find a delicious place to eat or stop to enjoy an ice cream treat. If water sports (trout fishing, tubing and paddling) or bird watching and hiking are your thing, extend your stay for more fun. With three lodging properties in Peterson, make this your vacation headquarters waking up and relaxing to the sounds of wildlife. For more information about Peterson, the Museum or your Norwegian Heritage see: www.petersonmn.org.
A Pedal MN Bike Repair Station conveniently located in Peterson
About the Bike Getaway Contest
If you like the bike map’s in the HaveFunBiking.com “Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide” here is your chance to win a Getaway Package to one of the bike friendly areas we showcase. Each week, starting June 2nd, we will draw an email address from our e-subscriber database. The selected winner will then be informed they have won a Bike Getaway Package to one of our bicycle friendly destinations highlighted the previous week. The last drawing will be held on September 28th, for a Fahrlander Fitwell Bike. Just registering here to win, it’s simple and free.
A lonely spectator cheers on couple doing an “ABC” check (air, brakes and crank) on their bike at the Pedal MN Bike Repair Station, in Preston, MN. This is one of eight, trail head repair stations along the Root River Trail System, in Southeastern Minnesota.
See the handy At-a-Glance Root River Trail Town article for information on HaveFunBiking.com.
If you like the bike map’s in the Bike/Hike Guide and in the Destination section at HaveFunBiking here is your chance to win a bike or Getaway Package to one of the bike friendly areas we showcase. Each week, starting June 2nd, we will draw an email address from our e-subscriber database. The selected winner will then be informed they have won a bike getaway package to one of our bicycle friendly destinations, highlighted the previous week. The last drawing will be held on September 28th, for a Fitwell Fahrlander Bike.
Registering to win is simple and free. Just enter your email address by clicking below
Win this Bike or one of our weekly getaway packages
To subscribe to our complimentary HaveFunBiking e-Magazine and a chance to win. The e-Magazine will help keep you informed to the latest Bike Getaway prize package to be drawn and the many helpful tips when planning your next adventure. We will also ask all winning Bike Getaway recipients, after visiting, to share their experience with us with a short recap story, some descriptive photos or a Facebook /Twitter post. (Managed by Constant Contact, the HaveFunBiking e-database, accumulated over the last 10 years and your email address will not be sold or shared. You can opt out at any time.)
A happy cyclist riding through Peterson, after stopping for pie along the Root River Trail
Each week a winner is drawn.
At the beginning of each week, through September, we will randomly draw an email from our database and notify the winner, who will then have three (3) weeks to contact us so the prize can be sent out. If, after three weeks the prize has not been claimed we will draw again, along with that weeks scheduled prize drawing. Once the winner has been identified we will announce the Bike Getaway prize beneficiary in our e-Magazine and on the HaveFunBiking.com site.
Our weekly prizes.
Weekly destination Getaway Package prizes are donated by our Community Map Partners in the Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. Each winning package will include lodging for two, some meals and admission to area attractions.
The Fitwell Bicycle Company builds bikes around your body with both the Fahrlander and DeGroot models. They start all of their bike designs by thinking about three things: 1. Riding Goals; 2. Flexibility; and 3. Fit Index. Taking in those factors the bikes they design are guaranteed to fit and ride as you would expect. Check out their Fit profile diagrams to get an idea of which fit looks like you.
Win this bike, the Fitwell Fahrlander, to be drawn for on September 28th.
Good luck and share with your friends, the prizes and fun destinations available to explore this summer!
What a fun way to see some of Minnesota’s charm then on a bike, with old and new friends, touring several towns in southern Minnesota. Recently Bob Lincoln (the Drumming Librarian) from Tour of Minnesota shared with me final route plans for the June 12th – 19th adventure. Along the way see: the cheese caves in Faribault; the vintage bikes in Austin; and try Pickleball in Albert Lea as you enjoy the all the components of a well-organized bike tour.
Young and old, riders always have fun on the Tour of Minnesota
In Bob’s words, “the Tour of Minnesota formerly the Klobuchar Ride, is heading south this year, straight south.
We will begin our 325 mile cycling adventure in the scenic riverside town of Chaska for our rendezvous on Friday June 12th. We will be camping at Chaska Middle School West. Then after breakfast we will cycle 55 miles to Faribault, where we will visit the historic cheese caves and enjoy our first overnight stop.
There is always plenty of green space for campers on the Tour of Minnesota.
On Sunday we head to Austin for our second night and a visit to the Bike Museum there, after a 75 mile jaunt. The Rydjor Bicycle Museum has a beautiful assortment of vintage bicycles.
Directly following our longest day, is our shortest day and a day off in Albert Lea where there is plenty to do lakeside and we can get in on a game of Pickleball. I can’t wait to try it.
With a luggage truck hauling all your gear and SAG support close by, you can ride lite.
On our day off, take a field trip to Myre Big Island State Park. After our day off we head to the fairgrounds in Owatonna.
Rest stops and lunches along the route offer riders a energy boost and taste of the region. From Owatonna to Northfield, we will be having lunch at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, a beautiful park. On the last night we will stay on the campus of St. Olaf and if you prefer to get a room in one of the dorms that is an option for a nominal fee.
Rest stops and lunches along the route offer riders a energy boost and taste of the region.
We hope you can join us. Registration closes May 15th and the tour cost $410. which includes meals on ride days, transportation of gear, bicycle repair, camping accommodations and a commemorative high tech t-shirt.”
Registration for the Tour of Minnesotais: https://www.raceit.com/Register/?event=30980, If you would like to stay in Thorson Hall at St. Olaf, please email and I will send you the form.
In Minnesota, with the trees budding and songbirds filling the airwaves, spring is defiantly here. As we pack away the winter gear and get out the bikes what better way to get in shape for all the summer fun ahead then to plan and participate in one of the many organized bike event scheduled – available for you your family and friends.
Enjoying a organized ride with the family. (Photo: Russ Lowthian)
The Tinman is a great way to get a start on your season. They offer both sprint and Olympic distances with a pool swim and moderately challenging bike and run courses out of Morris MN.
A Minnesota tradition for 49 years plan to ride the 14, 27, 29 or 60 mile routes touring the scenic St. Croix River Valley, from the Washington County fairgrounds, near Stillwater, MN (see their ad in the Bike Guide on pg 5 )
The Sam’s Club Twin Cities Ride is a one-day, fully supported ride starting and finishing at Summit Brewery in St. Paul, MN., with 15, 25, or 50-mile route options and rest stops every 15 miles and the finish line is stocked with food trucks, beer and activities. (see their ad in the Bike Guide on pg 29)
In its 17th year, this “doable” non-swimming triathlon, open men and women of every age, is set in the Root River valley of Minnesota’s scenic Bluff Country. (see their ad in the Bike Guideon pg 47)
May 16 Almanzo 100(gravel road riding at its finest!)
There are three courses, all with start line; a finish line.; and a handshake at the end.- and most importantly, it will still be free! Starts and ends in Spring Valley, MN
In its sixth year, the ALs Bike Trek offers three supported routes, beginning and ending in the Marine on the St Croix, MN. Proceeds from ride benefit’s the research to cure Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Whether you are an occasional rider or an experienced cyclist, there is a route just for you, while supporting the American Diabetes Association. The Twin Cities Tour de Cure, at Minnehaha Falls, in Minneapolis is a day full of fun and excitement where riders join forces and raise funds for diabetes research, education and advocacy.
The first Northland Fat Bike Rally happened last Sunday Morning on Lake Bemidji, in Bemidji, Minn. and led into Lake Bemidji State Park.
The Northland Fat Bike Rally began at 11 a.m. last Sunday on Lake Bemidji, featuring a 10-K and 28-K race, then looped around Lake Bemidji State Park. Jillian Gandsey | Bemidji Pioneer
Expecting 20 riders for this first event, the 10-K and 28-K race had 53 bikers participate.
Young and old competed at this first annual event.
The race looped through Rocky Point, Balsam and Fish Hawk trails, out to the Paul Bunyan State Trail and back.
For more pictures of the event check out the Bemidji Pioneer for more photos or the Bemidji Mountain Bike Facebook page.
If you are tired of the cold, want some fun on a bike, Mardi Gras will soon be here and may be your ticket. The extended weekend of February 13- 17, is the most popular time to visit New Orleans. At this time you’ll be sure to catch the most popular parades and events ending with many “Fat Tuesday” celebrations. However, getting around is another story and the Bike Easy bicycle coalition has some suggestion for Mardi Gras goers and others who ride here throughout the year.
Having fun participating in one of the many Mardi Gras parades. Photo from Banana Bike Brigade’s website.
Most visitors to Mardi Gras arrive no later than Saturday, February 14, in order to enjoy the extended weekends festivities – like Endymion, Bacchus, Zulu, Rex and other celebrations throughout the city. So getting around parade road closures, avoiding traffic gridlocks before or after these events can be a challenge unless you’re on a bike.
Be a spectator or enter a parade on your bike. Photo from Banana Bike Brigade’s website.
According to Bike Easy, using a bike is a premier way to get around the Mardi Gras events in New Orleans. So being a League of America (silver) Bike Friendly City, make your experience here memorable as well as safe with the following tips when biking:
• Avoid bicycling drunk, it’s unsafe and you could get a ticket, or worse
• Beads around your neck can be a hazard, remove them before you ride you bike home
• Park your bike on the opposite street as the parade to avoid it being used as a ladder
• Be super polite when navigating around pedestrians, walk your bike in dense crowds
• Don’t skip the helmet for the wig! Wear your helmet and change into your wig when you arrive
• Wider tires and flat-resistant treatments can save the day, throws and beads can puncture your tire. Bring a tire repair kit, and know how to use it
• Feel like you are too drunk to bike: call a cab, walk, take transit or call a friend – it’s not worth it to bike drunk.
If you would like to ride in one of the parades see the Banana Bike Brigade’s website for suggestions, contacts and more photos.
Have fun and follow the tips above from Bike Easy. Photos from Banana Bike Brigade’s website.
For information on visiting and riding around New Orleans, see the following HaveFunBiking article and enjoy the Big Easy.
by Howard Schneider
During my first year of graduate school at the University of Minnesota (1967-68) I commuted all winter, for a short distance to campus, on my 3-speed … didn’t see but a few other cyclists during those long, cold, snowy months. Now fast forward to 2014. Being retired for three years, I decided to ride my bike again in the winter.
view-of-mountains-near-Bucerias
I had a really good plan! To ride a few times during my stay from mid-November to early December in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. There, I found a bike tour company located just 30 minutes north of Vallarta- Bici Bucerias. The guys were really helpful: advising me on bus transportation, fitting a bike, warning of “topes” (speed bumps), pointing out landmarks, and riding at my pace. So on two different days I did 40+ mile rides.
Biking flat ag land in Mexico
On the first day in a small group we rode from Bucerias to the surrounding agricultural countryside. I was surprised to find decently paved roads, along with rolling hills and Sierra Madre mountain views.
Our descent back towards-Puerto Vallarta
On the second day, we rode from old Vallarta and its cobblestone streets to hills and a lush jungle landscape south of town. Along with beautiful views of Banderas Bay, I watched carefully for cars along this curvy highway as we had several miles of climbing with 5-6 percent grades. What a great descent and did I mention that both days the temps were in the 80’s!
I am now planning a return visit to undertake a multi-day tour this winter!
Coming into a small Mexican Village with a view-of-mountains near Bucerias, in the background
My advice- if you plan to visit the Banderas Bay area, don’t just enjoy the beaches, sunsets, food, people, and weather. Ride a bike. Bici Bucerias offers single day rides, multi-day tours, and will also custom design your journey. And if you go say “Hola” for me.
