Category Archives: News

With the St Paul Bicycle Classic this last Sunday are you ready for some fun at the Minneapolis Bike Tour this coming Sunday?

Bike Pic Sept 16, Minneapolis Bike Tour on the Scenic Grand Round

With the St. Paul Bicycle Classic this last Sunday, are you ready for some fun this Sunday at the Minneapolis Bike Tour on the Scenic Grand Round Byway System?

The 10th annual Minneapolis Bike Tour starts and ends at beautiful Boom Island and features three fully supported routes: 16 miles, 25 miles, and 32 miles. These routes take riders through the spectacular park and byway system of Minneapolis at their own pace, traffic free!

See many more bike events and friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. 

Thanks for viewing the Minneapolis Bike Tour Pic of the Day. 

Now rolling into our 10th year as a bike tourism media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike and have fun. While showcasing all the unforgettable places for you to ride. As we continue to showcase more place to have fun we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. As you scroll through the information and stories we have posted, enjoy.

Do you have a fun bicycle related photo of yourself or someone you may know that we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to: [email protected]. Include a brief caption (for each), of who is in the photo (if you know?) and where the picture was taken. Photo(s) should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide or larger to be considered. If we do use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continues to encourage more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your next bike adventure – Also, check out the MN Bike Guide, now mobile friendly, as we enter into our 8th year of producing the guide.

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. And don’t forget to smile, while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next photos that we post daily.

Have a great day!

By bike or car Twin Cities Trout Fishing at Cenaiko Lake is worth checking out.

Twin Cities Trout Fishing Along the MRT

Want to Test Your Skills at a Twin Cities Trout Fishing Hot Spot?

If catching Rainbow Trout is on your list, then Cenaiko Lake in the Twin Cities Gateway is a great place to check out. This small man-made lake is located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota and is the perfect place for the whole family to fish and reap the rewards. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) stocks this lake twice a year with nine to sixteen inch trout. In the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park system, the lake is next to the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) for those who prefer to commute there by bike.

By bike or car, Twin Cities trout fishing on Cenaiko Lake is fun.

A Twin Cities trout fishing hot spot Cenaiko Lake is a fun place to fish.

Each fall, after the summer trout season ends, the MNDNR stocks the lake with Rainbows. Then, again in the spring after ice has melted, they restock the lake again. Designated as a trout lake, you can also catch Small-Mouth Bass and Hybrid Sunfish here. However, note that fishing is only allowed during the trout season. Please see the Minnesota Fishing Regulations booklet for complete rules and guidelines.

Operated by Anoka County Parks, the Cenaiko Lake basin was formed from an old gravel pit where the deepest spot is 36 feet. A local fishing spot long before trout were introduced, shore fishing is accessible around the lake. There is a fee to enter the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park system, if you arrive by car. For those who choose to use a bicycle or travel into the park by foot, then the fee is waived. Connecting to the MRT you will find a paved trail around the shoreline. Along the trail you will also find  several picnic shelters and a playground to make this fishing destination a family event.

Summer Twin Cities Trout Fishing Opportunities

From the middle of April through the end of September, the entire shoreline around the lake is open for fishing. There is no boat access, but a fishing pier is available for use. The favorite bait for casting is wooly buggers and pheasant tail nymphs. See a Video of some young fishermen catching their limit.

Winter Twin Cities Trout Fishing Opportunities

Winter lake trout fishing season is mid-January (or when the ice is safe), through the end of March. For more information, visit dnr.state.mn.us.

For more information call Anoka County Parks at 763-757-3920.

Other Twin City Metro Trout Fishing Destinations

Looking for more places for fly fishing in the metro area when Cenaiko Lake isn’t producing? Learn more about fly fishing locations in the Twin Cities metro area below.

There are a few trout fishing lakes and a stream that are located in the south and west metro area. These places provide great access to fly fishing. You can also try fishing beach areas on lakes (where permitted) at dusk and dawn when other lakes are heavily vegetated.

Christmas Lake

Near Excelsior, Christmas Lake is just across MN Highway 7 from Lake Minnetonka. Water quality allows for “two-story” fish management. If you venture into the deeper waters here, you will find trout and the Bass-Panfish-Northern Pike fish community spread throughout the rest of the lake. Because Christmas is not a Designated Trout Lake, anglers can fish non-trout species during their legal seasons. Please remember trout fishing during closed seasons is both illegal and poor sportsmanship. The lake lacks shore fishing qualities, however, there is a small public access. Unfortunately, adjacent street parking is unavailable.

Courthouse Lake

In Chaska, the Courthouse Lake fish population has changed significantly in recent years due to flooding. After the flood in 1993, the lake was designated as a trout lake and a total lake reclamation was preformed. Then, in 1995, Rainbow Trout were introduced to the lake along with Brook and Brown Trout being stocked there in following years.

Holland Lake

In Eagan, located in within Lebanon Hills Regional Park Reserve, is Holland Lake were surplus adult Brown and Rainbow Trout are stocked. The water quality in the lake is excellent and trout stocked in recent years have been well received by anglers. There is no boat access and winter kill has been an issue. Thanks to the Dakota County Parks an aeration device is being used to bring up the oxygen level in  the winter.

Eagle Creek

And in Savage, Eagle Creek is at the crossroads of busy Highways 13 and 101 in Scott County.  A self-sustaining but small population of Brown Trout in the stream there requires that you obey the Special Regulation — catch-and-release only policy.

Good luck!

When you're out touring the countryside or riding your bike in town here are six bike maintenance items to carry with you to help fix the most common problems you may encounter.

Bike Maintenance – Six Items to Have Along on a Ride

 

When you’re out touring the countryside or riding your bike in town here are six bike maintenance items to carry with you to help fix the most common problems you may encounter. The good news is that these will all fit in the small pack underneath your seat or in your rear jersey pockets. And, if you don’t already have the bike maintenance tools or items, you can mostly likely pick them up for a reasonable price at your favorite bike shop.

1. A Spare Tube is Essential for on the Road Bike Maintenance

If you’re going to be out and about, the most likely problem you’ll have with your bike is a flat tire. So bring along a spare tube. They are fairly compact, easy to change out, and you’ll be back riding in no time. Never changed a flat tire? Here is an easy instruction video on how to change a flat.

Have a tube that fits your tire is the most important bike maintenance items you can carry with you.

Have a tube that fits your tire is the most important bike maintenance items you can carry with you.

In addition to a spare tube, you will want to carry a patch kit. If you get a second flat, or a friend you are riding with has multiple flats, you’re going to gain some extra points for having that kit. Plus, using a patch in a tire adds a tough skin protector to a surface area when you aren’t able to find the sharp object that created the problem in the first place.

2. A Set of Tire Levers

If you’re going to fix a flat tire, you’ll need tire levers. These small tools slide under your tire and help pull it off your rim so that you can remove the tube to patch it or replace it with a spare.

A pair of tire levers makes getting it easier to pry the tire from the rim, without pinching the tube.

A pair of tire levers makes getting it easier to pry the tire from the rim, without pinching the tube.

They fit easily in your pouch or jersey pocket, and you really don’t want to be without them

3. A Pump or CO2 Inflator

Whether you repair your tire with a patch kit or spare tube, you will need to inflate the tire again after the repair. That’s where a small bicycle frame pump comes in handy for bike maintenance on the road. Usually clamped to your frame, these little pumps will put enough air in your tire to get you back on your way.

A small air pump is a must have bike maintenance item to have along unless you prefer a CO2 cartridge.

A small air pump is a must have bike maintenance item to have along unless you prefer a CO2 cartridge.

Some riders prefer to carry CO2 cartridges – these small cylinders deliver a burst of pressurized air to refill a tube in a matter of a few seconds. They are lighter, but require a bit of practice to use or else you can blow out the tube you’ve just replaced. Plus, they cost about a dollar a piece for what is typically a onetime use. For information on how to use these inflators, check out the Youtube Video talking about it.

4. Multitool Gadget

For any number of potential fixes or adjustments you might face on the road, a multi-tool is a handy gadget that you’ll want to take along no matter how short or long your ride.

A multitool is a great bike maintenance item to have along for making adjustments, to opening a bottle of root beer.

A multitool is a great bike maintenance item to have along for making adjustments, to opening a bottle of root beer.

A multi-tool typically comes equipped with a dozen or more individual tools in various sizes including Allen wrenches, hex bolt wrenches, screw drivers, a chain tool, and more. Tucked neatly into one small package, it’s like a portable tool box for fixing your bike – in more ways than you can ever imagine. Plus, many come outfitted with a bottle opener too for when you are back and ready to celebrate another fun ride.

5. Mobile Phone

Every wonder how we got by, in the days before cell phones? It’s nice for calling home to get picked up in case of breakdown or for calling your buddies who may be ahead of you, or behind you, on those longer rides.

When bike maintenance requires calling for help a cell phone is a great tool to have along.

When bike maintenance requires calling for help a cell phone is a great tool to have along.

There is no reason not to carry a cell phone, especially with all the apps for mapping, cadence, and speed.

6. Cash/Identification and Insurance Card

This is one of those just-in-case items that you bring and hopefully will never use. Take along a few dollars for drinks and snacks along the way. And, in case of a split in your tire, a dollar bill can be laid along the split inside your tire to keep your tube from bulging out too badly until you can get it repaired. Also, be sure to bring along copies of your identification and insurance cards. God forbid you get into an accident, but in case you do, you’ll definitely want and need these items.

When bike maintenance requires some buying power cash and/or a credit card is good to have along, with an ID.

When bike maintenance requires some buying power cash and/or a credit card is good to have along, with an ID.

Tip: On the backside of these documents, write down your list of emergency contacts as well as any special medical instructions or allergies to medicine you might have. Also, if you have any pets home alone, this can be noted along with your emergency contacts so one of the contacts can take care of the pet if the need arises.

Now, with these items stowed away on your bike, it’s time to leave your troubles at home and enjoy the trails and roads. Most of all, it’s time to have fun!

 

More perfect bicycling weather - Ride Safe! Photo taken in the Twin Cities Gateway Area on a ride showcasing the bike freindly roads connecting to a vast system of trails.

Bike Pic Sept 14, More Perfect Bicycling Weather – Ride Safe!

More perfect bicycling weather – Ride Safe! Photo taken in the Twin Cities Gateway Area on a ride showcasing the bike friendly roads connecting to a vast system of trails. Here, driving their bikes and following road safety etiquette, members of the Hiawatha Bicycling Club rode a 32-mile loop.The route they toured passed through the towns of Anoka, Blaine, Fridley, and Ham Lake in the gateway communities.

Notice in the photo that the riders approaching the intersection’s stop light are riding two abreast and staying in the center lane to go straight through. This is a Share the Road procedure so vehicles in the right and left turning lanes are not blocked from making their turn. See more safety riding tips in this AAA Video. Want to take a cycling 101 class, see: BikeMN.org for their schedule or your state bicycle advocacy group.

See many more perfect bicycling weather tips and bike friendly places to explore, in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. 

Thanks for viewing the Perfect Bicycling Weather Pic of the Day. 

Now rolling into our 10th year as a bike tourism media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike and have fun. While showcasing all the unforgettable places for you to ride. As we continue to showcase more place to have fun we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. As you scroll through the information and stories we have posted, enjoy.

Do you have a fun bicycle related photo of yourself or someone you may know that we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to: [email protected]. Include a brief caption (for each), of who is in the photo (if you know?) and where the picture was taken. Photo(s) should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide or larger to be considered. If we do use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continues to encourage more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your next bike adventure – Also, check out the MN Bike Guide, now mobile friendly, as we enter into our 8th year of producing the guide.

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. And don’t forget to smile, while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next photos that we post daily.

Have a great day!

She is getting ready for Minnesota's cycle cross season with one last Thursday night mountain bike events at Buck Hill, near Lakeville, MN.

Bike Pic Sept 13, Getting Ready for Minnesota’s Cycle Cross Season

She is getting ready for Minnesota’s cycle cross season at one of the last Thursday night mountain bike events at Buck Hill, near Lakeville, MN. The next MN Cycle Cross Race is  at Aquila Park, St. Louis Park, MN.

 

See many more bike friendly places to explore to have your own mountain bike high experience in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. 

See many more bike friendly places to explore, in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. 

Thanks for viewing the Minnesota’s cycle cross season Bike Pic. 

Now rolling into our 10th year as a bike tourism media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike and have fun. While showcasing all the unforgettable places for you to ride. As we continue to showcase more place to have fun we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. As you scroll through the information and stories we have posted, enjoy.

Do you have a fun bicycle related photo of yourself or someone you may know that we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to: [email protected]. Include a brief caption (for each), of who is in the photo (if you know?) and where the picture was taken. Photo(s) should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide or larger to be considered. If we do use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continues to encourage more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your next bike adventure – Also, check out the MN Bike Guide, now mobile friendly, as we enter into our 8th year of producing the guide.

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. And don’t forget to smile, while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next photos that we post daily.

Have a great day!

A great September bicycle event is watching the MN High School Cycling Leaguge having fun at Mount Kato.

Top September Bicycle Events in the Upper Midwest

As the days get shorter and we prepare to flip our calendars into the Fall season, here are several September Bicycle Events in the upper Midwest that you may want to consider:

Thursday Night Lights Track Series – September 1st

Track Racing

NSC Velodrome, Blaine, MN

 

La Crosse Area Bicycle Festival – September 2nd through the 5th

In-town Recreational Ride, Scenic Touring, Mountain Biking, & BMX

Cameron Park, La Crosse, WI

 

Grind-Giants Ridge Iron N Dirt – September 3rd

Gravel Riding

Giants Ridge, Biwabik, MN

 

Laddies Loppet  – September 3rd and 4th

Minnesota Mountain Bike Series

Maplelag Resort, Callaway, MN

 

No Name Alleycat Race  – September 4th

Un-official Street Racing

Minneapolis, MN

 

Wednesday Night CX-Race #2 – September 7th

Cycle Cross Racing

Aquila Park, St. Louis Park, MN

 

Slow Roll Saint Paul-Frogtown – September 8th

Recreational Ride

Victoria Theater Arts Initiative, St. Paul, MN

 

Thursday Night Lights Track Series – September 8th

Track Racing

NSC Velodrome, Blaine, MN

 

Fall Community Bike Ride  – September 9th

Recreational Ride

Robbins Island Park, Willmar, MN

 

Gravel Conspiracy  – September 9th through the 11th

Gravel Bike Tour

Silver Bay, MN

 

Trail in a Day- Paul Bunyan Trail Relay – September 10th

Recreational Trail Ride

Bemidji and Brainerd, MN

 

Tour de Apple Valley – September 10th 

Recreational Bike Ride

Apple Valley, MN

 

Root River ‘Taste of the Trail’ – September 10th

Recreational Ride Sampling the Trail Towns

Lanesboro, Peterson & Whalan, MN

 

Back Forty – September 10th

Gravel Road Ride

Denmark TWP, Hastings, MN

 

Bike For Justice: Bike-a-Thon – September 10th

Cycles For Change – Recreational Ride

St. Paul, MN

 

Gitchee Gumee Traverse – September 10th

Mountain Bike Event

Duluth, MN

 

Inspiration 100 – September 10th

Gravel Road Race

Garfield Elementary School, Garfield, MN

 

Jesse James Bike Tour – September 10th

Recreational Ride

Northfield, MN

 

Open Streets Minneapolis: Broadway Ave. W. – September 10th

Community Bike/Walk Event

Minneapolis, MN

 

Square Lake Triathlon  – September 10th and 11th

Bike, Swim and Run

Stillwater, MN

 

Giant and Liv Bicycle Demo – September 11th

Mountain and Road Bike demos

Elm Creek Singletrack Trail, Champlin, MN

 

MN High School Cycling League-Race #1 – September 11th

Student League Mountain Bike Races

Austin Trail, Austin, MN

 

St. Paul Classic Bike Tour – September 11th

Recreational Ride

University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN

 

Adapted Mountain Bike Open House-Fall – September 13th

Adaptive Cycles Demos

Elm Creek Singletrack Trail, Champlin, MN

 

Wednesday Night CX-Race #2 – September 14th

Cycle Cross Racing

Aquila Park, St. Louis Park,MN

 

Fix-a-Flat Clinic at SHIFT MN Health – September 17th

Bike Repair Workshop

Powderhorn Park Recreation Center, Minneapolis, MN

 

Root River ‘Taste of the Trail’ – September 17th

Recreational Ride Sampling the Trailtowns

Fountain, Preston & Harmony

 

Mora Bike Tour – September 17th

Bicycle Road Race

Vasaloppet Nordic Center, Mora, MN

 

Northern Kettles Fall Epic – September 17th

Mountain Biking Event

New Fane, WI

 

Purple Rain Stride – September 17th

Recreational Ride

Elm Creek, in Maple Grove, MN

 

Pedal the Park – September 17th

Recreational Ride

Lakeville, MN

 

Park Tool Fall Classic Duathlon – September 17th

Run, bike, Run

Lake Elmo Park Reserve, Lake Elmo, MN

 

MN High School Cycling League-Race #2  – September 18th

Student League Mountain Bike Races

Jail Trail,  St. Cloud, MN

 

Minneapolis Bike Tour – September 18th

Recreational Ride

Boom Island Park, Minneapolis, MN

 

Open Streets Minneapolis: Nicollet Ave. – September 18th

Community Bike/Walk Event

Minneapolis, MN

 

Open Streets Penn Fest – September 18th

Community Bike/Walk Event

Richfield, MN

 

Tour of Fillmore – September 18th

Gravel Road Race

Lanesboro, MN

 

Autum Trek Ride – September 18th

Recreational Ride

River Falls, WI

 

Let’s Joyride Together: September Edition – September 19th

Recreational ride

Matthews Park,  Minneapolis, MN

 

Wednesday Night CX-Race #4 – September 21st

Cycle Cross Racing

Aquila Park, St. Louis Park, MN

 

Fall Community Bike Ride – September 23rd

Recreational Ride

Glacial Lakes State Trail, Willmar, MN

 

No Hater Rolling Dance Super Bike Mega Party 2016 – September 24th

Bike Event

Under Hennepin Ave. Bridge, West Bank, Minneapolis, MN

 

Root River ‘Taste of the Trail’ – September 24th

Recreational Ride Sampling the Trail Towns

Houston, Rushford & Rushford Village

 

Big Woods Classic – September 24th

Minnesota Mountain Bike Series

Lake Rebecca Park, Rockford, MN

 

24/7 Central Lakes Cycle Duathlon – September 24th

Bike, Run, Bike

Fergus Falls, MN

 

Headwaters 100 – September 24th

Recreational ride

Century School, Park Rapids, MN

 

Tour de Hugo – September 24th

Recreational Ride

Hugo City, Hugo, MN

 

3rd Annual Autumn Gravel Grovel – September 25th

Gravel Road Tour

Miesville, MN

 

Lifetime Gran Fondo – September 25th

Gravel Road Race

Waconia Brewing Company, Waconia, MN

 

Wednesday Night CX-Race #5 – September 28th

Cycle Cross Racing

Aquila Park, St. Louis Park, MN

Wild Ride Mountain Bike Fest – October 1st

Mountain Biking demos and Fun!

Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Eagan, MN

Wow, with so many events still scheduled we hope your bicycle is ready for some more action. Watch for more events in the Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide that is currently being updated for this Fall and early Winter. Please let us know if we missed any events you are planning or would like to attend – just submit them into the HFB Events Calendar – it’s free!

Ice Cream Smiles Friday, along the Root River Trail

 

It’s ‘Ice Cream Smiles Friday’ and this week HaveFunBiking found a family enjoying a cool treat along the Root River Trail, in Preston, MN. Tomorrow is the start of the Root River’s ‘Taste of the Trail’ happening the on the 10th, 17th, & 24th of September. A chance for the whole family to sample the fun and food along the trail.

See many more bike friendly places, like the Root River Trails, to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. 

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking. 

Now rolling into our 10th year as a bike tourism media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike and have fun. While showcasing all the unforgettable places for you to ride. As we continue to showcase more place to have fun we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. As you scroll through the information and stories we have posted, enjoy.

Do you have a fun bicycle related photo of yourself or someone you may know that we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to: [email protected]. Include a brief caption (for each), of who is in the photo (if you know?) and where the picture was taken. Photo(s) should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide or larger to be considered. If we do use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continues to encourage more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your next bike adventure – Also, check out the MN Bike Guide, now mobile friendly, as we enter into our 8th year of producing the guide.

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. And don’t forget to smile, while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next photos that we post daily.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Sept 9, Acrossing the Coon Rapids Dam on the MRT

Bike Pic Sept 9, Crossing the Coon Rapids Dam on the MRT

Biking across the Coon Rapids Dam on the Minnesota MRT (Mississippi River Trail) loop ride that starts in the Twin Cities Gateway. Here, in this photo, riders from the Hiawatha Bicycling Club rode a 32-mile loop passing through the towns of Anoka, Blaine, Fridley, and Ham Lake in the gateway communities.

See many more bike friendly places to explore, in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. 

Thanks for viewing the Coon Rapids Dam Bike Pic of the Day. 

Now rolling into our 10th year as a bike tourism media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike and have fun. While showcasing all the unforgettable places for you to ride. As we continue to showcase more place to have fun we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. As you scroll through the information and stories we have posted, enjoy.

Do you have a fun bicycle related photo of yourself or someone you may know that we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to: [email protected]. Include a brief caption (for each), of who is in the photo (if you know?) and where the picture was taken. Photo(s) should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide or larger to be considered. If we do use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continues to encourage more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your next bike adventure – Also, check out the MN Bike Guide, now mobile friendly, as we enter into our 8th year of producing the guide.

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. And don’t forget to smile, while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next photos that we post daily.

Have a great day!

For any cycle touring vacation we are blessed to live in one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world. So take some time to explore and make the most of your next bike adventure!

Tips for Planning Your First Cycle Touring Vacation

by Helen Young 

Cycle Touring Vacation

For any cycle touring vacation planned, we are blessed to live in one of the world’s most beautiful and diverse countries. The USA’s sheer scale means that the landscapes and terrains vary dramatically from state to state, making it a bicyclist’s dream. Whether you’re looking for rocky terrains, dusty desert tracks, or bumpy forest trails, you’ll find all of this and more without ever having to leave the country. Preparing to set off on your first cycle tour is exciting, but with a wealth of information available to you, both on and offline, it can also be massively overwhelming. With that in mind, here are some top tips for planning your first cycle touring vacation:

 Take it Easy on a Cycle Touring Vacation.

For cycle touring vacations we are blessed to live in one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world. So take some time to explore and make the most of your next bike adventure!

We are blessed to live in one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world for any cycle touring vacation. So take some time to explore and make the most of your next bike adventure!

Bicycle cycle touring is much more labor-intensive than simply heading out for an afternoon bike ride. It’s both physically and mentally exhausting. Because cycling is the focus of your vacation, it can be tempting to push yourself a little harder – cycling 100km each day until you are completely burnt out. Too much cycling each day could ruin your vacation and leave you feeling saddle-sore and unhappy. Instead, set realistic daily targets and take it easy. Remember that the destination isn’t necessarily what’s important. Take the time to enjoy your surroundings and the ride as you get there.

Maintain Your Bike

Taking care of your bike is vital: a good bike is a key to having a great vacation. Simple maintenance, such as cleaning and oiling the chain when needed, can go a long way to ensuring your bike is ready to go the distance. Keep your bike clean and pack basic tools and a repair kit to keep you on the road. You may also wish to carry basic tools and a puncture repair kit. If you carry panniers on your bike, a repair kit for those may well be useful too. For a longer journey, you may wish to consider cycle insurance. This insurance can be helpful if your bike sustains an injury that you are unable to repair by yourself on the road.

Consider Credit Card Touring

If you want minimalist low key touring, then credit card touring could be the right option: just you, your credit card, and the open road. Touring this way, all you have to carry with you is your basic cycling gear and clothing (which should fit your panniers or inside a small backpack). Plus, a bank card or your allocated travel money to pay for food, accommodation, and other supplies as you go along. This is a hassle-free and unencumbered way to travel, although it does take a certain degree of bravery to travel so lightly and without a formulated plan.

Protect Yourself from the Sun

Skin cancer is a genuine threat. There are over 5.4 million cases of melanoma skin cancer being diagnosed in the USA each year. Therefore, no matter how light you’re packing, it’s important to protect your skin as you travel. Pack a high SPF factor sun lotion and ensure you wear a lightweight, long sleeve shirt to protect your arms as you cycle. Nothing hampers a great cycling tour like the discomfort of sunburn.

Stay Hydrated

Carry enough water bottles and refill them often. Dehydration can come on quickly and leave you feeling sore, sluggish, and with a terrible headache. Running out of water in the middle of nowhere whilst enjoying a difficult trail can leave you feeling panicked. It can ruin an otherwise great day. Keep hydrated and drink plenty of water whenever you have the opportunity. Your water bottle is one of the most important things you will carry with you on your ride.

A Cycle Touring Vacation is a Time to Explore!

Finally, don’t be afraid to explore and make the most of your adventure! Get off the beaten track, leave the main road, and head onwards into the middle of nowhere. Don’t worry about what other people think about your decision to take a cycle touring vacation. What should you do instead? Just enjoy it. With your bike for company, this could well be the best and most exciting vacation you’ll ever have. So take the time to explore and make the most of your next bike adventure!

Ride with Mayor Mary on Sept. 10 for the Tour de Apple Valley and get your ‘One of a Kind’ Finishers Medal.

Bike Pic Sept 8, Ride with Mayor Mary at Tour de Apple Valley – Saturday

Ride in the 3rd Annual Tour de Apple Valley with Mayor Mary and the Firefighters of Apple Valley, MN, Saturday, September 10th. Climb the Palomino Alps. Concur the Cul de Diamond Path. Circle Lac Cobblestone. Parade through Downtown Apple Valley finishing at Kelly Park. Collect your well earned ‘One of a Kind’ Finishers Medal. After the Tour de Apple Valley, stay for Food, Refreshments, and Music!

See many more bike friendly events and places to explore, in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. 

Thanks for viewing the Tour de Apple Valley Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking. 

Now rolling into our 10th year as a bike tourism media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike and have fun. While showcasing all the unforgettable places for you to ride. As we continue to showcase more place to have fun we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. As you scroll through the information and stories we have posted, enjoy.

Do you have a fun bicycle related photo of yourself or someone you may know that we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to: [email protected]. Include a brief caption (for each), of who is in the photo (if you know?) and where the picture was taken. Photo(s) should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide or larger to be considered. If we do use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continues to encourage more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your next bike adventure – Also, check out the MN Bike Guide, now mobile friendly, as we enter into our 8th year of producing the guide.

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. And don’t forget to smile, while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next photos that we post daily.

Have a great day!