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
The winter/Spring edition of the MN Bike Guide is here, just in time, as temperatures start to warm. Page through the latest Guide and rediscover the trails and scenic country roads in Minnesota. Now in our thirteenth year of publishing the guide, we have added several more bike-friendly destinations in Minnesota. Also, find many bike events and info on what you will see if you attend the E-bike Challenge, in Minneapolis, on April 2 & 3.
In this Winter/Spring issue, with all the fun bike maps, we’ve added several helpful tip sheets to keep you riding comfortably, especially if your looking at e-bikes, to be more eco-friendly.
The Bike Guide is the perfect primer for the E-bike Challenge
Now, with the Omicron-fueled surge on the decline, the E-bike Challenge returns the first weekend in April. Offer consumers a comfortable environment to compare and ride the latest e-bikes. With several social distancing procedures in place around the exhibit area inside next to the huge indoor test track. Visitors will also discover, even if they can’t replace a car entirely, why most trips within a 10-mile range can be less expensive with an e-assist vehicle. And, in many cases, taking less time than a carbon-fueled vehicle for the same journey.
Some e-bike brands already registered for the E-bike Challenge include Giant, GoCycle, Serial 1 by Harley Davidson, Pedego, Riese & Muller, and Skyl Power Bikes. Along with Erik’s Bikes, Now Bikes, Power Bikes, and Trailhead Cycle, to name a few of the local bike shops with brands they carry. The event will also feature several breakout health and tech sessions, a kids’ bike test track, and other fun family activities. Plus, visitors will receive a complimentary printed copy of the spring/summer Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide, at the door. Full of new bicycling maps of popular Minnesota destinations to explore.
Check back often, the summer guide will be available in late April – until then, Enjoy!
Hicle, Inc., organizers of large electric-assist bike expos in Europe, tied to bicycle tourism, brings back the E-bike Challenge Minneapolis. A place for consumers to test and compare electric bicycles on the huge indoor cycle track. In its inaugural event last year it was deemed a success with attendees of all ages and abilities test riding e-bikes. Now the E-bike Challenge returns to the Minneapolis Convention Center on April 2 & 3.
So many styles to choose from at the electric-assist bike expo
What exactly is a pedal-assist bike or e-bike?
An e-bike is a bicycle that has a battery and electric motor allowing a cyclist to ride farther and with greater ease. The bicycle doesn’t do all the work, it assists! The bicyclist must pedal for the motor to engage, enabling an easier ride. With a variety of vendors representing dozens of electric bicycle brands at the Challenge. This will allow attendees to ask questions and test ride many styles and types of e-bikes and e-trikes while visiting. Ride models best suited for commuting, recreation riding, hauling cargo, families, and more! You will also find e-fat-tire bikes for winter or off-road riding, along with many e-bike accessories.
E-bikes and E-trikes for the whole family
Start your E-bike Challenge visit with an e-bike parade
An e-bike runway fashion show will showcase the latest models of e-bikes and
accessories. Dozens of bicycle exhibitors include Bosch, Tern Bicycles, Riese & Müller,
Yuba, GoCycle, will show their latest and greatest in electric bike innovation.
Discover the Hike & Camp area
They’re also creating a Hike & Camp; Bike Xperience area in the exhibition hall for vendor
displays including tourism destinations, trekking, mountain biking, and fun activities for kids. Attendees will not only learn about e-bikes but also fun places to ride and routes across the United States and internationally.
Plus you will find an interactive Kid’s Area
This family-friendly event will also have an interactive kids’ bike test track for ages 16 and
under, a children’s scavenger hunt, a bicycle playground with activities, and more.
Admission
Tickets for the E-bike Challenge are $8. at the door, and $6. when purchased in advance, online. Children, 12 years and under are free.
Advance, online registration for the e-bike test track is also available.
For more information about the E-bike Challenge, including vendor information or to
purchase tickets, visit www.ebikechallenge.com.
About Hicle Inc.
Based in the Netherlands, Hicle, Inc. organizes some of the biggest European consumer fairs in the world for bicycles and cycling tourism. Theo Jorna, the owner of Hicle, has been active in bicycling since the early ’70s. At a recent E-bike Challenge in Europe, held in combination with Cycling Tourism and Cycling Sports, the event covered over million square feet and attracted more than 40,000 guests.
“Our 2019 event in Minneapolis was a huge success,” said Jorna. “We definitely
capitalized on serving a new and underserved market here in Minneapolis. People want to recreate, to commute, and to run errands via bicycle, and the electric bike allows them
to do all of this for the first time.”
With the Omicron-fueled surge declining, enjoy an eco-friendly experience at the E-bike Challenge, discovering the latest in micro-mobility on April 2 & 3. The event will offer those attending a comfortable place to compare and ride the latest electric bike technology, testing the latest bikes on a mammoth indoor test track in the Minneapolis Convention Center. With several social distancing procedures in place, visitors can discover the advantages of e-bikes bikes for hauling cargo, health, and ecological purposes. Making it easy to compare the latest brands and models to learn how micro-mobility can be incorporated into a person’s daily life.
Enjoy the E-bike Challenge and be a part of micro-mobility
Micro-mobility and the return of the E-bike Challenge
Hicle, Inc., the organizers of hike and cycle fairs in Europe, held the first E-bike Challenge here in 2019, with much interest. At this year’s Challenge, those who visit can discover why the electric bikes and trikes are perfect for family activities. Perfect equipment for running errands, hauling cargo, commuting to work without working up a sweat. Then, enjoy a fun cardio workout on the return trip. Even if you can’t replace a car entirely, the event demonstrates why most trips within a 10-mile range can be less expensive with an e-bike. And, in many cases, taking less time than a carbon-fueled vehicle for the same journey.
Find a huge selection to fit your riding style.
E-bikes to ride on the large test track
Some brands already registered for the Challenge include Giant, Serial 1 by Harley Davidson, Pedego, Riese & Muller, and Skyl Power Bikes. Along with e-bikes from Erik’s Bikes, Now Bikes, and Trailhead Cycle, to name a few of the shops that will be there. The event will also feature several breakout sessions, a kids’ bike test track, fun family activities, and free maps of fun places to explore by bike.
Find micro-mobility options from around the world, returning.
Fun for the whole family
Along with a chance to compare and test ride the latest e-bikes on the mammoth indoor track. Find featured breakout sessions on Easy commuting by e-bike, E-biking back to health, and more. Also, find a kids’ bike test track, an e-bike theater, and other fun family activities. Plus, visitors will receive a complimentary 2022 Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide, full of bicycling maps of popular Minnesota destinations to explore, at the door.
For more information about the E-bike Challenge in Minneapolis on April 2 & 3, visit www.ebikechallenge.com.
With a growing demand for e-bikes, the electric bike expo organizer of several significant events in Europe is returning with the E-bike Challenge. Back at the Minneapolis Convention Center, March 11 -12, 2023, this will again be the place for consumers and businesses to test and compare the many e-bicycles and cargo bikes. Deemed a success this spring for the second year, attendees of all ages and abilities will again be able to test-ride the latest e-bikes on the enormous indoor cycle track. As the E-bike Challenge returns with more e-bikes and cargo bikes to test ride, mark your calendar and plan to attend.
So many styles to choose from at the electric-assist bike expo
What exactly is a pedal-assist bike or e-bike?
An e-bike is a bicycle with a battery and electric motor, allowing cyclists to ride farther and with greater ease. The bicycle doesn’t do all the work; it assists! The bicyclist must pedal for the motor to engage, enabling a more leisurely ride. Again, in 2023, various vendors representing dozens of electric bicycle brands will be at the Challenge. This will allow attendees to ask questions and test ride many styles and types of e-bikes and e-trikes while visiting. Select the best models for commuting, recreation riding, hauling cargo, families, and more! You will also find e-fat-tire bikes for winter or off-road riding, plus many e-bike accessories.
E-bikes and E-trikes for the whole family
Start your E-bike Challenge visit with an e-bike parade
An e-bike runway fashion show will showcase the latest models of e-bikes and
accessories. Dozens of bicycle exhibitors, including Pedego, Specialized, Riese & Müller,
and GoCycle, will show their latest electric bike innovations.
Discover the Hike & Camp area
There will also be a Hike & Camp or a Bike Xperience area to showcase outdoor activities. Attendees will learn about e-bikes and find fun places to ride and routes to explore. In the exhibition hall, you will also find tourist destinations, places for trekking, mountain biking, and many fun activities for kids.
Admission
Advanced online registration for the e-bike test track is also available. For more information about the E-bike Challenge, including vendor information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.ebikechallenge.com.
For a wildlife-rich summer, experience not soon forgotten, pedal, then paddle, the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes up in the Twin Cities Gateway Area. With an abundance of bike trails and roads to get there, you will find several options at Wargo Nature Center once arriving. Head out with a paddle, hike, or bike the trails that meander around the chain of lakes shoreline in this mammoth park reserve in the Twin City Area.
Paddling the Twin Cities Gateway’s Rice Creek Chain of Lakes is a wildlife-rich experience to remember.
You will find the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes near the community of Lino Lakes, on the south side of Interstate 35W. Once there, Nature Center can fix you up with canoe and kayak rentals to paddle Rice Creek Chain of Lakes. It is a bit of heaven in the north metro area. Being able to paddle out from the Nature Center on George Watch Lake is a tranquil experience.
What You Will See Paddling the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes
Through the summer and into the fall, you can paddle out from the dock at the Nature Center and connect to one lake after the next. Along the way, you are sure to see occasional Leopard frogs hopping off a Lilly pad. Then, perhaps you’ll ever see a Blue Heron and Snowy White Egrets lift off as you pass by.
Hawks are familiar spectators watching as you paddle along the water trail or the bike trail in the Reserve.
The creek and lakes on this water trail offer excellent bird-watching opportunities. And this is the perfect place for the novice paddler. Adventurers will see plenty of raptors such as egrets and herons perching in nearby trees or forage along the shoreline. Along the way, you may see a sandpiper scampered across a sandbar.
Egrets and Blue Heron are common to see as you paddle.
Maybe you’ll see a soft-shell turtle sliding off the bank. Or perhaps an eagle, osprey, or Turkey Vulture swooping down to grab its meal as a fish jumps. It’s scenic and wild at its best, right here in the Twin Cities Gateway!
About the Rice Creek Chain
The nearly 5,300-acre Rice Creek Chain is one of two regional parks in the Twin Cities Area that offer multiple-lake paddling. According to many who paddle this north metro chain, the mix of lake and forest vegetation makes it feel like a mini-Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The other Reserve in the south metro is Lebanon Hills Park. Lebanon Hills Park is a 2,000-acre multi-lake area with only portage paths between them.
Generally, on the Rice Creek Chain, portaging is not necessary. The only exception is the occasional downed tree to circumvent, which usually happens in the spring. This rustic North Metro reserve has a water trail wandering through several lakes before reaching Rice Creek. Rice Creek is a more challenging, less-traveled stretch that flows south to Long Lake. From there, it heads to the Mississippi River.
Paddlers who want a more extended trip can follow Rice Creek out the northwest corner of Long Lake in New Brighton. The creek flows to the Mississippi River at Manomin Park in Fridley. The complete paddle from the Lake Peltier boat ramp in the Rice Creek Reserve to the Mississippi River is about 22 miles.
Rice Creek Reserve rents equipment
Wargo Nature Center is the place for canoe, kayak, and life jacket rentals. Located on George Watch Lake, rentals can also be used on Peltier, Marshan, Rice, and Reshanau Lakes. Paddle craft rentals are available May through September, during regular hours. Here is their website for rental prices and times: https://www.anokacounty.us/874/Recreational-Rental-Equipment. Call 651-429-8007 to check watercraft availability, lake temperatures, and water levels.
For those who want to use their canoes or kayaks in the Reserve, paddling access points include Rice Creek crossings near: Hodgson Road, Lexington Avenue, County Road I, and County Road J.
In the winter, the Wargo Nature Center rents snowshoes for those who want to explore the park in a colder season.
Find the perfect holiday gift for that active outdoor person in your life with our growing list of ideas. Each Friday, up through November 26, 2021, we will be adding more gift-giving ideas that will go into the holiday issue of our Bike/Hike Guide.
Holiday Gift Ideas
Pannier Backpack a convertible office
The Two Wheel Gear 2.0 Pannier/Backpack
Two Wheel Gear’s the Pannier Backpack Convertible 2.0 PLUS was voted “Best bike pannier to hold a mobile office” and is perfect for commuting, touring, and bike packing. And its plus-sized makes it easy to hold even more gear, with its organizational pockets, including a 15” padded laptop protection slot, With another pocket on the side to hold a water bottle and a clasp on the back to attach a helmet. $179.00 See more details and order options here
HANDLE STASH – A shock-absorbing bike cup holder
HandleStash bicycle cup holder
The HandleStash cup holder is so good it is woven from the yarn of magical outspace silkworms. It looks like a million bucks, and the heavier fabric does an even better job absorbing vibrations and resisting unwanted movement. Same design as the other cup holders in the line, see video. Holds your drink with diamond hands. $38.00 See more details and order options here
Bubi a Water Bottle: Re-Imagined
Bubi Bottle -collapse
The Bubi Bottle is an environmentally friendly water bottle made from medical-grade silicone. This reusable, collapsible, BPA-Free squeegee water bottle is also heat resistant, microwave, and dishwasher safe. This eco-friendly water bottle rolls up to fit into tiny spaces, so you can take it with you wherever you go. $24.99 See more details and order options here
This Long Sleeve Tech Hunting Shirt is made from a lightweight, 4-way stretch material powered by Hydroplex™ cooling technology with 50+ UPF sun protection. The shirt features activated sweat and moisture reduction, along with tested and proven EPA-registered Insect Shield®, bug repellent technologies to protect against diseases like West Nile Viruses the mosquito carries, and Lyme Disease from ticks. A comfortable shirt for that next outdoor adventure also works great as a layering piece in cooler weather for added warmth. $36.99 See more details and order options here
Faran Insect Shield Sports Shirt (Unisex)
Faran Insect Shield Sports Shirt
Sporting a smooth texture in a crew neck style, the Faran semi-fitted, short-sleeve comes in citrine orange, cinebar red, seolfor gray, or frost white. Made of lightweight, highly breathable fabric, the shirt features Insect Shield® Technology to repel mosquitoes, ticks, and other dangerous insects. Our extreme moisture-wicking fabric is snag-resistant and quickly moves sweat away from your skin to help keep you cool and dry. Great for exploring on foot new cultures and landscapes. $29.99 See more details and order options here
Wind-Blox Focus for bike helmet ear protection
Wind Blox | Wind-Blox Focus
Not like the bulky earmuffs of your grandparent day, the new Wind-Blox Focus biking ear covers are engineered out of soft-shell sports fabric and designed to hold in-ear warmth. Plus, the Focus still relies on the Wind-Blox patented technology to block wind noise. It stays on the helmet and helps cyclists stay tuned into their surroundings for audible riding and comfort. $21.00 See more details and order options here
Also, see their new Wind-Blox patented rim-to-clip design in three sizes for less than $20.00
Kilo Endurance Sport Sunglasses
The new Tiposi line of Kilo Endurance Sport Sunglasses.
Tifosi Optics’ most unique cycling sunglasses, the Kilo, are designed to enhance your ride and are available in three models. Perfect for an unrestricted view of the road or trail, offering maximum coverage and ergonomic face-fit protection from the elements. All Tifosi glasses here are tested and tortured to enhance your sports activity. Regardless, if you’re running a 5k’er, riding your first century, or playing 18 holes of golf. Tifosi helps define its customers with enthusiasm to guarantee they have fun. 79.95 See more details and order options here
Allett the hybrid wallet
Allett Wallet Card
This Hybrid Card Wallet is sleek and tidy, with space for a stack of folded bills. The wallet’s intuitive design has two internal card pockets, a clear ID pocket, and a tiny pocket built to hold the micro pen. The exterior side has one card pocket, just the right number of pockets for the person on the go. $44.00 See more details and order options here.
The DaHÄNGER a bicycle wall hanger
DaBigRing pedal hook
The DaBigRing pedal hook is a horizontal bicycle storage system that holds the bicycle by the pedals with adjustable legs with three settings. The 18, 25, or 30-degree angle setting will allow dad to put his bike in the best position no matter the application. This pedal hook unit holds up to 65 lbs. and includes everything needed for installation. $64.00 Shop now See more details and order options here
Spurcycle a compact bike bell
The perfect brass bell housing holds a ring longer, starting with a very hard “ping.”
A sleek and attractive bicycle bell built to standards using fewer parts and a singletrack focus. Lighter and more compact, it’s the perfect bell for your mountain bike or a flat-bar commuter. The new compact form fits (half the mount width), the bell easily fits between other components on the handlebar. This compact bell is plenty loud for off-road riding and suburban commuting, but its true advantage is how long the ring lasts (or “sustains”), ending at the same frequency. $39.00 See more details and order options here hop now
C5 GORE® WINDSTOPPER® Road Cap
C5 GORE® WINDSTOPPER® Road Cap
A perfect layer under the helmet, this winter cycling cap with a visor to keep the low winter sun out of your eyes also has ear flaps to keep the chill off longer when you’re riding. The caps material is windproof and extremely breathable to block the wind and allows vapor to escape. This combination of protection and breathability will reduce the risk of overheating when you are active. $55.00 See more details and order options here
GORE® WINDSTOPPER® Face Warmer
GORE® WINDSTOPPER® Face Warmer
This face-warmer is lightweight, windproof, and breathable for cyclists riding in winter weather and looking for protection from the extreme cold. Along with the material’s ability to reduce the build-up of condensation or sweat. The mask also has an opening for the nose with additional holes for the mouth to allow vapors to escape. You will also find a velcro strap in the back of the mask to make easy adjustments. $35.00 See more details and order options here
GORE® WINDSTOPPER® Overshoes
GORE® WINDSTOPPER® Overshoes
When cycling in cold weather, the windproof material of the Gore-Tex Overshoe helps protect your feet from the wind, with some insulation factors for added comfort. The design of this boot cover is easy to slip on with elastic cuffs around the ankle and a velcro opening in the back for maximum comfort and fit. Plus, the tailored design allows for clear pedal movement. $70.00 See more details here hop now
Would you please check back periodically over the next couple of weeks for more gift-giving ideas? We will have more great gift ideas coming your way. Thanks for viewing!
Just released, the latest Kilo Endurance Sport Sunglass models from Tifosi Optics will have you riding in style on bright sunny days this fall. It’s also perfect for fall and winter glare and is available in three models with lenses for bright, low, and no light settings.
The new Tiposi line of Kilo Endurance Sport Sunglasses.
The perfect option is Kilo Endurance Sport Sunglasses
Tifosi Optics’ most unique cycling sunglasses are designed to enhance your ride. You will find an unrestricted view of the road or trail, offering maximum coverage and ergonomic face-fit protection from the elements.
The Kilo is available in three models, with two of the models equipped with multiple lenses. You will find their Blackout model, with a smoke polarized lens, perfect for those looking for a single-lens solution. The Kilo line, with the Blackout, will retail, starting at $69.95.
The Crystal Smoke Tifosi Kilo Endurance Sport Sunglasses, with polarized lenses and a handy carrying case.
The new Kilo line offers Tifosi’s new Clarion Red Fototec lens for better clarity. A photochromic lens that can adapt on the fly to ambient light, transitioning from a nearly clear tint in low light to a red mirrored smoke tint in full sun. This lens repeals, providing a clear view during the hardest workouts.
The White/Black Tifosi Kilo Endurance Sport Sunglasses, with three interchangeable lenses and a handy carrying case.
And, you will find all Kilo frames built with a lightweight Grilamid TR-90 that provides all-day
comfort. The rubber ear and nose pieces fully adjust and swell with moisture that guarantees they stay in place as you sweat. Plus, the polycarbonate lenses are shatterproof and vented, making the Kilo line ideal for endurance sports
like cycling or running.
The Yellow/Smoke Kilo Endurance Sport Sunglasses, with three interchangeable lenses, come with a carrying case.
Tifosi’s mission is to provide technically advanced eyewear to enthusiasts of
all sports and outdoor activities. All Kilo glasses here are tested and tortured to enhance
your sports activity. Regardless, if you’re running a 5k’er, riding your first century, or playing 18 holes of golf. Tifosi helps define its customers with enthusiasm to guarantee they have fun. So, find a store carrying Tifosi Sunglasses near you.
No matter your bicycle riding skills, bike lights are essential to make sure you have a safe ride, day or night. Lights aren’t only needed when the sun goes down. In fact, lights are super helpful when riding in conditions where traffic may be present or limited visibility. That’s where proper lighting comes in. Plus, many states, like Minnesota, require you to have lights on your bike. The two types of bike lights on the market are lights that allow you to see and lights that allow others to see you.
Bike lights that Help You See
Lights that help you see are usually high-output LEDs that cast a focused beam of light in front of you. These lights start at 600 lumens and increase output from there—their size and run time depending on the battery. For example, rechargeable and battery-operated lights are usually larger, while lights run by a generator are smaller.
So, how do you know which one is best for you? It all depends on how often you plan on using it. The battery-operated kind works well as backups in the rare chance you get caught in the dark. The rechargeable kind is best if you plan to use them regularly and want to save on the cost of buying batteries. If you ride long periods in the dark, it’s hard to beat a generator-powered light. Any of these lights will be great for unlit roads, trails, or paths.
When you look to buy a light, they are all compared by the lumens they produce. What’s a lumen, you ask? Well, lumens are the most popular description of brightness. In the past, lights were measured by the amount of energy they consumed (watts), but with LEDs that get more light output with less power consumption, measuring brightness with watts has become impossible. Simple rule, more lumens equal brighter light. As a comparison, the iPhone flashlight is less than 10 lumens.
Bike lights to Help People See You.
The lights designed to be seen use an LED to flash intermittently when turned on. Surprisingly they can be as small as a few coins stacked on top of one another and have run times in the hundreds of hours. Additionally, they are usually easy to move from bike to bike if needed and are great for city streets and well-lit paths. Some riders are now finding added security in running these lights during the daytime.
Reflectivity
Another great way to ride safely in the dark is to use reflective products. Thanks to advancements in reflective technology, you can find completely reflective clothing, looks like normal fabric and glows when hit by light. There are reflective stickers you can adhere to your bike and reflective bags you can mount behind the saddle or on your handlebars.
How to be Seen
Visibility is about safety, so it’s best to use a belt and suspenders approach. A headlight will allow you to see and be seen from the front. Match that with a reflective jersey, and you become visible from the sides as well. Mount a rear blinker, and you become visible from 360 degrees.
Sign up for our free, weekly E-Magazine for more great content!
On my first visit to Central Iowa, I was amazed at the intricate network of hard surface bicycle trails the Cedar Falls Area offers. On this trip, I had the opportunity to
ride with several Cedar Valley Cyclists and enjoy some of the roads and trail loops in the area they often frequent. The Cedar Falls area has something for both the seasoned cyclist and novice rider. This is also a bike-friendly community perfect for the off-road cyclist (cyclocross, fat bike, mountain biking, and BMX), with several opportunities awaiting your arrival. Not to mention the wide array of historical, educational, and entertaining attractions to take in when not riding.
About Cedar Falls and the Valley Lake Trail options
The Ceder Valley Trail System offers several loops between Cedar Falls and Waterloo.
The Cedar Valley Lakes Trail through Cedar Falls and Waterloo intertwine throughout the area – Offering over 100 miles of trails. As I discovered, some of these trails connect and meander through neighboring Waterloo for additional cycling opportunities. A Bronze Bike Friendly Community designation by the League of American Cyclists, see the Cedar Falls bike map for an overview of the vast trail systems and designated bike routes you can enjoy, as I did.
My first ride while visiting
On my first day there, before the rest of my group arrived from Minnesota, I had the opportunity to ride with Brian Will. A local realtor, Brian, is a member of the Cedar Valley Cycling Club. He volunteered to show me some of the trail loops and bike-friendly street routes used for connectivity. The first thing I noticed as we explored the trails, the majority of the trails are paved in concrete, with only a few patches of asphalt to remind me of home. Our first adventure was on the Big Woods Lake Trail. This is a perfect trail loop for biking while viewing birds and wildlife.
Brian Will stopping at the Hearst Center for a view of the Arts & Sculpture Garden along the trail.
In the afternoon, after stopping for lunch on Cedar Falls ‘promenade’ (Main Street), we went out and rode sections of the Prairie Lakes Trail. A part of the American Discovery Trail System, we found several loops that took us into some charming and historic neighborhoods in Cedar Falls. Further along, from the trail, we viewed the agricultural test field at the University of Northern Iowa. We then stopped at the Hearst Center’s Arts & Sculpture Garden before returning to the promenade to check out the new brewery downtown.
Road Bike and Trail Touring Options
Gathering for a ride on the Promenade in Cedar Falls.
The next couple of days, with a group of my friends now in town from the Twin Cities, we joined the Cedar Valley Cycling Club on several rides. With several of their members showing up, we explored the trails and roads in the area. First, we visited Waterloo and a couple of other outlying communities. Periodically stopping to visit, they shared information on the communities Bike to Work, Bike to Play program.
Mountain Bike, Cyclo-Cross, and BMX Fun Opportunities
Tondro Pray Bike Park is your headquarters for off-road fun.
At the Tondro Pray Bike Park, you have several additional options along with the mountain bike trails there. The park amenities here include a: BMX/pump track, a mountain bike skills area, and a cycle cross course.
Things to do in Cedar Falls Area after your ride
For this trip, to accommodate 18 of my cycling friends from the Twin Cities, we used one of the hotels on the west side of Cedar Falls, not far from the University of Northern Iowa. Being a bike-friendly community, the AmericInn we stayed at was convenient. The hotel was only a couple of blocks, on quiet streets, to the trailhead and less than 20 minutes, by bike, to the promenade.
Cedar Falls is a great place for cyclists to gather.
Coming off the trail, I noticed the Ice House Museum as I approached downtown, Cedar Falls. This building along the Cedar River was built in 1921. The museum houses an extensive collection of ice harvesting archives that visitors can view while learning what life was like before refrigerators.
On the promenade, you will find a wide assortment of local shops and unique restaurants that will entertain you for hours. Shops include everything: repurposed antiques; two bike shops; contemporary clothing; a cupcake shop; breweries; fair-trade artisan products from around the world; and more.
Things to do in Waterloo
The John Deere Museum offers many examples of agricultural history, from household appliances to early farm equipment.
A 10-minute commute by car or a 30-minute train ride, Waterloo offers several more opportunities when not in the saddle. One of the must-sees when in the area is the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum. The newest exhibit here highlights the history and contribution John Deere has made to agriculture and their farm families through their nearly 100-year operation in Waterloo.
Here at the museum is a John Deere bicycle, from the ’70s, displayed.
Another option if you are into plants and flowers is the Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens. This 40-acre beauty center features an award-winning Children’s Garden, 4-acre Butterfly Meadow; a Rose Garden; a stunning day lily and Hosta collections; unique Mosaiicultures; and a 1-acre Master Gardener’s Orchard.
Check here for more attractions and museums in the area, and plan your #NextBikeAdventure to Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Let’s get this out of the way first – Be Safe! With spring biking season soon here, you will be riding on roads with pedestrians, other riders, and cars. With more road traffic each year it is possible to have an accident even if you do everything correctly. To protect yourself most easily and comfortably possible, wear a helmet, review the following tips, wear a helmet that fits.
Helmets are safe and fun.
Comfort when riding on roads
Some riders experience upper body pain while riding on roads. Some of the most frequent pain is associated with the upper body due to position and fatigue. The position most responsible for this pain is the shrugging of the shoulders while riding. That shrug compresses all the muscles in your neck, shoulders, and back and fatigues them needlessly. Fatigue comes into play, starting at the hands. A firm grip on your bars is a great way to keep control of your bike, but if you hold on too tightly, you can prematurely fatigue your hands, arms, and shoulders.
Shrugged shoulders fatigues all the muscles in your neck, and shoulders
Rather than shrugging your shoulders and squeezing the bars into dust, try to relax your back (see picture) and shoulders and hold the bars firmly. By relaxing your upper body, you will preserve strength throughout your ride, making for mile after mile of pain-free riding.
Vision and Route
Cars, pedestrians, other riders, potholes, grates, as well as traffic lights and signs, need your attention while riding on roads. The best way to keep yourself safe and in control is to direct your attention outside your immediate area. Try to focus thirty or forty feet down the road rather than right in front of you. If you need to change direction or stop quickly, thirty feet is about the minimum distance you need to react. As you ride more, you will get comfortable with what your reaction time is. Additionally, knowing your route in advance leaves your mind free to concentrate on the things going on in front of you.
Control
Front brake
Your front brake is your most powerful tool in stopping. As a new rider, we get taught that the best way to stop is to use both brakes evenly and that if we use too much front brake, we are prone to crash “over the bars.” While going “over the bars” is a real concern, you can avoid it with a little practice. Not only can going “over the bars” be combated, but you will learn to stop your bike more effectively in the case of an emergency. As you begin to stop, your weight shifts forward and adds more pressure to the front wheel. This pressure can do two things. If you brace properly with your arms, that pressure to the front wheel increases traction and stops the bike. If you do not support yourself moving forward, the increased pressure to the front wheel turns into a fulcrum. Practice stopping by finding a piece of unoccupied road you are comfortable with. Get up to speed and begin applying only the front brake (see picture below). Be cognizant about bracing yourself with your arms while stopping. Do this a little at a time; each successive stop should be a bit more power. Stop once you are applying enough power to stop while the rear wheel is slightly lifting.
As you brake harder, more pressure is applied to the front wheel
Rear Brake
The rear brake is far more susceptible to skidding than the front. While skidding a tire, you are not in complete control or reducing speed effectively. The bright side is that a rear-wheel skid is far more controllable than a front-wheel skid. In wet, loose, or slippery conditions, a rear brake can be safer to use. The rear brake is also great for controlling your speed in small amounts.
Both Brakes
The ideal time to use both brakes is during turning. As you turn and brake, you are sharing traction between turning and stopping the bike. It is crucial to try and control your speed before turning rather than after turning.
Cadence
Your chances of lifting a 1000 pound weight once are pretty slim, but you might be able to lift 100 pounds ten times and can more than likely lift 20 pounds 50 times. Riding a bike is the same way. If you try to shove the bike up a hill in your hardest gear, the chances of making it are slim. Shifting your bicycle into easier gear and pedaling faster (higher cadence) will propel you up almost any hill. Higher cadence riding is just one way to be more efficient on your bicycle.
Draft
The riders above are both working too hard. The riders below are drafting well.
Another way to be more efficient is to use the work of others to your advantage. Most of your effort goes to moving your own mass at lower speeds, but as your speed increases, more and more of your effort goes to moving the air around you. In fact, air resistance grows exponentially at a rate of about 7 mph. That said, the amount of effort required to move your bike at 14 mph is twice as much as at 7 mph. Also, as you approach 21 mph, that effort is four times more than going 7 mph. A way to save energy is to ride behind another rider who has already moved the air (see above). By drafting, you are riding in the slipstream of another rider. To draft, try to ride at the same speed ahead of you and keep your front wheel within two feet of their rear wheel.
Be Prepared
Be sure to ride with the materials needed to get home. Train yourself to fix a flat and carry enough food and water to keep your energy up throughout the ride. Consider carrying packable rain gear with you as well. If you liked this info, take a look at our Mountain biking hacks also.
