Category Archives: News

Biking to the Minnesota State Fair relieves the hassle-factor

It’s that time of the year again to go to the Minnesota State Fair and what better way to get there then on a bike. Biking to the “Great Minnesota Get Together” this last Saturday, we found the bicycle to be a hassle free way to get there. It is also a great way to burn-off extra calories from all of the things consumed on the stick. While spending a full day at the fair we found many interesting things bicycle related to share with you. releives

Ride your bike to the Minnesota State Fair

Planning to ride your bike to the fair? From On August 25th, through Labor Day, cyclists who commute by a non-motorized bike to the Fair, in St. Paul, will find three locations offering secure bike corrals. They are located at:

South Bike Lot: Como-Snelling Gate (#6)

North Bike Lot: Hoyt-Snelling Gate (#2)

West Bike Lot: Randall Ave-Buford Gate (#16)

Bike Corral Hours: 6 a.m. to midnight daily – See more info here.

Bike related things to do and see at the Minnesota State Fair

In the Minnesota State fair's Merchandise Building find a wide variety of headband for underneath the helmet.

In the Minnesota State fair’s Merchandise Building find a wide variety of headband for underneath the bike helmet.

Now that you are there walking around you can think about what you might need. Need a headband that can open up as a bonnet under your helmet to keep the sweat out of your eyes or the sun from the top of your head? In the Merchandise Market Building we discovered a vendor who is offering all types and styles of these headbands.

In the Education Building we found the new Minnesota Bike Map, free of charge, in the Minnesota Department of Transportation booth. They were also available in one of the bike exhibits up on the Eco Building.

Like parades?

At the Minnesota State Fair parade, its fun to see the uni-cyclists riding among the floats and marching bands.

Each day at 2 p.m. on Cosgrove Street you can watch the Minnesota State Fair Parade. If you are lucky you might see the Twin Cities Unicyclists Club preforming. These single wheeled bicyclists always do some fun tricks as they pedal along the parade route. Besides the cyclists, you will see many different floats and marching bands. As the parade ends near the Eco Progress Center you can check out the “Life on a Bike Simulator” that’s right inside.

World’s biggest bike and activities within the Eco Progress Center

At the Minnesota State Fair , check out the new Kick Gas exhibit with the “World’s Biggest Bike” hanging from the ceiling in the Eco building.

At the Minnesota State Fair , see the Kick Gas exhibit, the “World’s Biggest Bike” hanging in the Eco building.

Within the Eco Building, check out a coalition of state agencies and private organizations whose goal is to get more people on bikes more often in Minnesota. And check out the new Kick Gas exhibit with the “World’s Biggest Bike” hanging from the ceiling. You can hop onto a regular bike on the ground below, pedal and watch the gigantic 8-foot bike wheels turn above you. Also, learn what you can do with all the t-shirts you have been accumulating through the years – grocery bags anyone? On Saturday, you can “upcycle” t-shirts into grocery bags to keep green. See more on the Eco buildings schedule and opportunities here.

Like Action, Stunts?

Up in the X-Zone, on Machinery Hill; watch some BMX’ers preform some high-rising stunts right in front of you on the amazing exhibition course there.

Is fat biking your thing?

A couple blocks south of the stunt riders, we found a bike shop promoting the growing sport of fat biking. Out of Little Canada, The House of Outdoor Gear was there with a wide assortment of fat tire and road bikes. They are also offering some great deals on biking accessories one should check out.

More bike related things to see and do

If you ride your bike in the colder months, in the Grand Stand we found an exhibitor with Green Heat brand reusable heat packs. They may be the ticket to keeping your hands and feet a bit warmer this winter. Check them out so that you are ready for the cold that is just a few months away,

In the 4-H building, check out the youths that come from around the state, demonstrate their knowledge in the Minnesota 4-H Bicycle Project. Through presentations and posters they show what they have learned on: how to choose a bike, bike maintenance/repair, and road rules to make riding safe and fun.

Hope this helps you for your next visit to the Minnesota State Fair. Did we miss something you found interesting? Please let us know, we would like to add it to our preview article for next year. Send to editor@HaveFunBiking .com.

Thanks and Have Fun!

Bike Pic Aug 29, trails in bike friendly Minneapolis Northwest

A happy cyclist connecting to one of the trails in bike friendly Minneapolis Northwest of the Twin Cities. Here In this photo we found this rider using one of the low traffic traffic streets in Brooklyn Park to connect to the Shingle Park Trails System, that will take her to downtown.

Minneapolis Northwest offers many biking options in the cities of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park and in Maple Grove offering a vast amount of paved trails, designated bike lanes and the Elm Creek Park for mountain biking.

See many more bike friendly places 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. 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 Aug 28, miles of bike smiles on the Root River Trail

Here in this bike smiles photo on the Root River Trail are a couple cyclists riding last years Taste of the Trail into Peterson, MN. An annual event, this years Trail Event runs three consecutive Saturdays in September to cover all the fun you can have on your bike in Southeastern Minnesota.

Starting on Saturday, September 10th, along the central section of the Root River Trail, Lanesboro, Peterson and Whalan will show you a good time. Then on Saturday September 17th the Root River Trail Towns of Fountain, Harmony and Preston will be hosting the second weekend of fun. Wrapping up this years Taste of the Trail, on Saturday, September 24th. visit the east section of the trail in the towns of Houston and Rushford to celebrate another day of fun on the Root River Trail.

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

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

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 Aug 27, funny mountain biker showing his best facial feature

This funny mountain biker is showing off some of his best facial features. This photo was shot at Penn Cycle’s Thursday Night Races on Buck Hill, near Lakeville, MN.

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

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

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 Aug 26, ice cream smiles Friday

This ice cream smiles Friday photo was taken this summer in Stillwater, MN, at the North Star Bicycle Festival’s pro race or Grand Prix. Here in this picture we found these racing fans enjoying some cool treats while watching the high adrenaline racers maneuver the undulating road course.

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

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

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 Aug 25, happy on the Brown’s Creek Trail

Here a happy cyclist is riding her bike on the Brown’s Creek Trail that starts in Stillwater, MN and connects to the Gateway Trail, which allows cyclists to connect to the paved trail system in St. Paul.

See many more bike friendly places, like the Brown’s Creek Trail, to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

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

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 Aug 24, Lebanon Park Fun

Lebanon Park Fun is a photograph we shot this summer of a mountain biker, on the Penn Cycle Team, beating the park’s trail system while having fun. This Dakota County Park, near Lakeville, MN is in the south suburbs of the Twin Cities and offers terrain and trails for all skill levels of riders to enjoy.

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

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

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 Aug 23, the K’ul Chocolate team knows coffee comes first

History shows coffee comes first and was discovered long before the bicycle. So a cup of java should be first in the order of things to start ones day. Thanks to a number of reports and legends surrounding coffee, the first users of this stimulating refreshment goes back to the 10th century. Where as the earliest bicycle, the German draisine, only dates back to 1817. So, thanks to the K’ul Chocolate team for bringing this fact to our attention, on a shirt, at the North Star Bike Festival Races, in Stillwater, MN this summer.

As coffee comes first and you enjoy that perfectly brewed cup of Peace Coffee, maybe paired with a piece of K’ul Chocolate, please page through all the bike friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

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

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!

Fishing Spots in the Twin Cities Gateway – By Bike

They say the best part of fishing is when your line is in the water. This is especially true if the lake or stream is close enough that you can ride your bike and fish more often. Here in the Twin Cities Gateway we found several opportunities to wet a line and catch some fish in Minnesota. So get your family and friends together, plan a route, and enjoy nature while fishing the shorelines in the these north Twin City Metro locations.

Fishing at the Coon Rapids Dam

At the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park you will find one of the most popular fishing spots in the Anoka County Area. Here, as the mighty Mississippi River flows over the dam, anglers can test their fishing tackle and luck. Fish to catch includes: Bass, Crappies, Carp, and more. With the recent high waters, a report says anglers are catching Crappies using jigs and minnows. The shoreline hot spot is above the dam, in the back waters, near the bike trail.

The Coon Rapids Dam is a fishing hot spot in the Twin Cities Gateway.

A boat ramp is located behind the Visitor Center and there is no launching fee. However, there is a fee to enter the park unless you enter the park on your bike or walk. The Visitors Center also has some bait items available.

Fishing on Ham Lake

A shoreline fishing hot spot in the Twin Cities Gateway.

One of the many shoreline fishing hot spots in the Twin Cities Gateway.

Largemouth Bass brings most anglers to Ham Lake, even though the abundant population of small Northern Pike present in this lake can be frustrating. You will also find that the Bluegill (Sunfish) here are abundant and are usually biting, whereas the Crappies are hit or miss.

This lake is located east of Highway 65 and north of 153rd Street N.E. in the City of Ham Lake, Minnesota. If you don’t have a boat, you can head over to the city park where there is a fishing pier adjacent to the boat ramp that can be promising.

Two Fishing Options on the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes

Fishing on George Watch Lake

On the Chain, just south of the city of Lino Lakes, is George Watch Lake which has Walleye, Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Bullheads, and Catfish. And, if Northern Pike are your game fish of choice, reports have it that there are plenty of them and that they are of good size.

Using a canoe or kayak is another option for fishing the hot spots in the Twin Cities Gateway.

Using a canoe or kayak is another option for fishing the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes in the Twin Cities Gateway.

In the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve, operated by Anoka County, there is no boat access. However, canoe rentals are available at Wargo Nature Center. Anglers are allowed to fish from shore, but it may take a hike to reach some great sites. Fishing is also permitted from the shoreline along County Road 14. Another option, with the paved trails in the park, is to use a bike to get to other parts of the lake’s shoreline.

Fishing Peltier Lake

Across the road from Wargo Nature Center is another hot fishing spot on Peltier Lake. Here Northern Pike and Panfish are the primary target of most anglers fishing here. Walleye are present and Channel Catfish yearlings provide additional opportunities for anglers. Plus, Muskies are starting to migrating in from other lakes on the Rice Creek Chain.

This lake has good shore fishing facilities. The County has a fishing pier in the southwest corner of the lake near the boat access. Anglers often fish from the shoreline of County Road 14 near the connection with Centerville Lake. The most popular shore fishing spot may be on both sides of the dam, both upstream and in the pool downstream.

Have fun and keep your line wet!

Bike Pic Aug 19, ice cream smiles Friday!

This Ice cream smiles photo was shot as a family enjoyed the cool treats at a rest stop while participating in the LaCrosse Area Bicycle Festival, last year. An annual event over Labor Day Weekend, everyone can find a free ride or two that fits there bicycling interests. You will find ride opportunities in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. From the themed rides around town, like the Ice Cream Tours, the pump track and mountain bike events in the bluffs and scenic road tour, there is something for the whole family and skill levels.

Find many more ice cream smiles, bike friendly places and events to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

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

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!