Category Archives: News

Luce Line Trail Paving Celebrations, Sept. 26

In honor of the Luce Line State Trail paving project, the public is encouraged to attend two special celebrations in Winsted and Hutchinson, MN, Saturday, Sept. 26.

Welcome sign near Luce Line Trail.

Welcome sign near Luce Line Trail.

Winsted’s event

An open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony will start at 10 a.m. in Southview Park, which borders the Luce Line trail near the intersection of Baker and Kingsley avenues in Winsted.

Highlights of the day include:

  • a speech from Winsted Mayor Steve Stotko about the trail’s impact on wellness and the community,
  • a historical Luce Line presentation from Gary Lenz, and
  • food provided by the Winsted Lions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Attendees are welcome to walk, run, or ride on the trail. The event will take place rain or shine.

Open Streets Hutchinson banner 2015

Open Streets Hutchinson banner 2015

Hutchinson’s event

Trail enthusiasts near the Hutchinson area will also have plenty of opportunities to celebrate. The grand opening of the newly paved Luce Line trail is part of an “Open Streets Hutchinson” event Sept. 26.

The free event will close a stretch of Third Avenue NW along the Luce Line trail to automobile traffic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., opening the street for people to enjoy being active together as a community. Participants are encouraged to explore the street on foot, bicycles, or skates.

Programmed recreational activities for all ages will take place along the street, and may include yoga, Zumba, games, and dance lessons.

The schedule is as follows:

  • 8 a.m. – Open Streets 10k
  • 10 a.m. – Bike-friendly city award
  • Free paddle sport rentals at Les Kouba Point
  • 10:15 a.m. – Luce Line State Trail ribbon cutting ceremony
  • 10:30 a.m. – Inaugural trail bike ride
  • 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Open streets activities along Third Avenue NW
  • 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. – Phoenix Drumline
  • Noon to 2 p.m. – Rockin’ Hollywoods band
  • 7:30 p.m. – “ET” movie at Library Square
  • 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Farmers Market at The Depot

More details about the Open Streets Hutchinson event can be found at heartofhutch.com/openstreets.

The Luce Line State Trail stretches 63 miles (from Plymouth to Cosmos) and is a popular attraction for bikers, hikers, snowmobilers, and equestrian enthusiasts. The paving project includes about 21 miles of the trail, from the Carver County line to McLeod County Road 115 west of Hutchinson. To learn more about the Luce Line, go to www.luceline.com.

Provence Explorer Bike Trip, Wine and Cheese Party

LAST CHANCE TO RSVP!  Trek Travel Wine and Cheese Party at OneTen Cycles.

If you have been thinking about a bike trip to France, consider joining OneTen Cycles for a Trek Travel information evening Thursday, September 24th, 2015 at -7 p.m. at 1040 Dakota Dr. in Mendota Heights, MN.

They  will be hosting a simple wine and cheese event to introduce a Trek Travel Provence Explorer bike trip, which is being planned for September, 18th-23rd, 2016.

Please RSVP- [email protected], Let’s Ride!

Imagine riding your bike along the scenic roads in France?

Imagine riding your bike along the scenic roads in France?

In A Social Atmosphere You’ll feel it!

Meet your guide, Gabriel Del Rossi (on U-tube). Then discover, from the first pedal stroke on your finely tuned Trek bike. You’ll taste it in the abundant picnic lunch featuring local delights. You’ll welcome it during the afternoon ride as the Trek Travel support van appears once again offering encouragement and a ride if you need it. You’ll delight in it when your guides offer to take you to that special spot you’ve been dreaming of visiting for months. It’s the same legendary service that Trek’s provided for 28 years as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of bicycles, and it’s what sets Trek Travel apart. More information is available on trek travel.com

Again please RSVP to [email protected], for this preview party!

MN High School Teams Compete On New Trail

Brand new to this year’s selection of great courses and tracks in Minnesota, to mountain bike on, is Austin, where the Minnesota High School Cycling Leagues second race of the season was held. With beautiful skies and perfect riding weather the 2015 – Schindler Classic on this new trail offered some cool features including an exciting elevated bridge over a narrow span of water. With a course distance of 3.2 miles the new trail also offers a mix of fast straight-aways and twisty corners. As with any newly cut track, race participants experience a few added bumps and challenges on this new course that added to the fun.

A group of boys at the starting line, ready for their race, in Austin, MN. (photo Rydor Facebook page)

A group of boys at the starting line, ready for their race, in Austin, MN. (photo Rydor Bike Facebook Page)

To see race results from this last Sunday, click here.

The Minnesota High School Cycling League was organized in 2012 to provide competitive mountain biking programs for students in grades 9 to 12. With the cooperation of local race organizers, many partners and sponsors they are able to provide a high quality mountain racing experience. They believe that mountain biking is the ‘T-Ball’ of cycling and several League alumni athletes are now racing on professional teams at events like the Tour of California and the Sea Otter Classic. Due to the rapid growth and participation, the MN League has expanded to now allow middle school aged students to race.

A group of boys out in front after riding their bikes under the start/finish line, in Austin, MN.

A group of boys out in front after riding their bikes under the start/finish line, in Austin, MN. (photo Rydjor Bike Facebook Page)

Regardless of ability level, the Minnesota League is committed to providing a positive experience for all high school and middle school aged student-athletes.

More girls riding together in their race in Austin, MN.

More girls riding together in their race in Austin, MN. (photo Rydjor Bike Facebook Page)

If you are interested in visiting Austin, MN, In addition to new mountain bike trail system, checkout their new artwork center, many wonderful restaurants, the Spam Museum soon to be open in the downtown area, or even the theater and the Rydor Bicycle Museum.

See their website here for more information on the new trail and visiting Austin, MN.

See more photos here, from Rydor Bike shop.

Bike Pic – Sept. 21, Dinner Options

Mom and her young one out for a bike ride with options to pick up some dinner from a local food truck.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking, hope you enjoy the photo?

Now, rolling into our 10th year as a bicycle media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike, while showcasing unforgettable places to ride. As we search and post more fun photos worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted to help you find your next adventure. Then, if you see us along a paved or mountain bike trail, next to the route you regularly commute, or at an event you plan to attend with your bike, be prepared to smile. You never know where camera will be and what we will posted next!

Do you have a fun photo of yourself or someone you know that you would like to see us publish? If so, please send it our way and we may use it. Send your picture(s) to [email protected] with a brief caption (of each), including who is in the photo (if you know) and where it was taken. Photo(s) should be at least 620 pixels wide for us to post. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and an acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As HaveFunBiking continues to encourage more people to ride, please reference our blog and the annual bike guide to find your next adventure. We are proud of the updated, at-a-glance information, and maps we are known for in the Destination section of our website. Now, as the Bike/Hike Guide goes into its seventh year of production, we are adding a whole new dimension of bicycle tourism information available for mobile device. Plus, beginning September 2015, this year’s e-version of the Guide will move to quarterly editions where you may see some additional bike pics posted.

 Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in a pic to post!

Las Vegas Strip By Bike

What a way to see the Las Vegas strip, then on a bike!

Highly recommended in numbers for safety reasons, for the last ten years at Interbike (the largest  bike show in North America) several hundred exhibitors and show participants have enjoyed the Bike Hugger Mobile Social. A bike ride that begins at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center parking lot and travels east for six miles with colorful, highly eclectic energy along the strip to downtown area for some eats, drinks and Vegas fanfare.

 

A couple riding down the Las Vegas Strip in the Bike Hugger Mobile Social Ride.

A couple riding down the Las Vegas Strip in the Bike Hugger Mobile Social Ride.

Presented by Mobile Social BH, New Belgium Brewing and Tern Folding Bicycles, the 10th annual Bike Hugger Ride was well attended with some participants using new bicycles off the tradeshow floor, along with many custom (some eclectic) built bikes.

A couple of us at HaveFunBiking.com were fortunate to ride some of Tern’s folding bikes designed for multi-modal touring. This gave me a chance to test ride their new folding bike, a multi-model touring model, The bike with racks (back and front) for panniers had a custom tire pump that was a part of the seat post and the bike fits into regulation check-in luggage, as well as my 6′ 2″ frame.

A spectacular show of lights as the group rides down Las Vegas Strip

A spectacular show of lights as the group rides down Las Vegas Strip

As the Bike Hugger Social Ride moved down the strip, taking a lane or two as drove their bikes in a somewhat organized group, at stoplights they visited with motorists as pedestrians on the sidewalk photographed and cheered them on.

At one of the many stop lights a rider poses with a big HaveFun smile.

At one of the many stop lights a rider poses with a big HaveFun smile.

A few miles into the ride the group spread out over a couple blocks with the DEUCE (the local bus that runs from the Vegas strip to the downtown area) a part of the unofficial parade.

Looking back, riders were spread out several blocks in back and in front of the bus.

Looking back, riders were spread out several blocks in back and in front of the bus.

Arriving in Downtown Las Vegas the destination was the Gold Spike Casino where riders received a compliment New Belgium Beer, some appetizers while enjoying the many oversized lawn games and comradery.

HaveFunBiking editor Russ Lowthian stops in front of the Gold Spike Casino and Bar where the ride ended.

HaveFunBiking editor Russ Lowthian stops in front of the Gold Spike Casino and Bar where the ride ended.

Bikes of all types and styles were ridden on this after dark social ride. They included many of the standard models manufactured and displayed at Interbike and then the custom bikes like the two shown below.

A couple of the two-wheeled customs steeds used to parade down the strip.

A couple of the two-wheeled customs steeds used to parade down the strip.

Oversized lawn games included Jenga, lawn chess and other yard games  that were enjoyed in the open air court area,  in the rear area of the Gold Spike Casino and Bar.

Enjoying food and refreshments after the ride participants tested their skills playing Jenga.

Enjoying food and refreshments after the ride participants tested their skills playing a lawn size version of Jenga.

If you are considering a trip to Las Vegas and would like to ride your bike or rent a bike while there we found several bike lanes and routes to get around town and shops to support your next bike adventure to Vegas. For more information, here is a good website [http://www.bikinglasvegas.com/cycling-blog/visiting-las-vegas/] to plan your journey.

Enjoy

Bike Pic – Sept. 20, Scenic Roads

They call it God’s Country with the bluffs, contoured farmlands and river valley. Here a group are riding the scenic roads out of Houston, one of the nine Root River Trail Towns, in Minnesota.

See information on the Taste of the Trail, in Houston and Rushford next Saturday here.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking, hope you enjoy the photo?

Now, rolling into our 10th year as a bicycle media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike, while showcasing unforgettable places to ride. As we search and post more fun photos worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted to help you find your next adventure. Then, if you see us along a paved or mountain bike trail, next to the route you regularly commute, or at an event you plan to attend with your bike, be prepared to smile. You never know where camera will be and what we will posted next!

Do you have a fun photo of yourself or someone you know that you would like to see us publish? If so, please send it our way and we may use it. Send your picture(s) to [email protected] with a brief caption (of each), including who is in the photo (if you know) and where it was taken. Photo(s) should be at least 620 pixels wide for us to post. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and an acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As HaveFunBiking continues to encourage more people to ride, please reference our blog and the annual bike guide to find your next adventure. We are proud of the updated, at-a-glance information, and maps we are known for in the Destination section of our website. Now, as the Bike/Hike Guide goes into its seventh year of production, we are adding a whole new dimension of bicycle tourism information available for mobile device. Plus, beginning September 2015, this year’s e-version of the Guide will move to quarterly editions where you may see some additional bike pics posted.

 Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in a pic to post!

Bike Pic – Sept. 19, Developing Skills

Riding on a pump track can help perfect your skills level on any mountain bike course. Learning to shift your weight, when to stand or sit and when to pedal are cycling skills you can improve to make any ride memorable and fun.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking, hope you enjoy the photo?

Now, rolling into our 10th year as a bicycle media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike, while showcasing unforgettable places to ride. As we search and post more fun photos worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted to help you find your next adventure. Then, if you see us along a paved or mountain bike trail, next to the route you regularly commute, or at an event you plan to attend with your bike, be prepared to smile. You never know where camera will be and what we will posted next!

Do you have a fun photo of yourself or someone you know that you would like to see us publish? If so, please send it our way and we may use it. Send your picture(s) to [email protected] with a brief caption (of each), including who is in the photo (if you know) and where it was taken. Photo(s) should be at least 620 pixels wide for us to post. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and an acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As HaveFunBiking continues to encourage more people to ride, please reference our blog and the annual bike guide to find your next adventure. We are proud of the updated, at-a-glance information, and maps we are known for in the Destination section of our website. Now, as the Bike/Hike Guide goes into its seventh year of production, we are adding a whole new dimension of bicycle tourism information available for mobile device. Plus, beginning September 2015, this year’s e-version of the Guide will move to quarterly editions where you may see some additional bike pics posted.

 Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in a pic to post!

Bike Pic – Sept. 18, Ice Cream Smiles

A fun ice cream smile was conveyed as this young cyclist enjoys a cone during the La Crosse Bike Fest, in Wisconsin, over Labor Day Weekend.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking, hope you enjoy the photo?

Now, rolling into our 10th year as a bicycle media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike, while showcasing unforgettable places to ride. As we search and post more fun photos worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted to help you find your next adventure. Then, if you see us along a paved or mountain bike trail, next to the route you regularly commute, or at an event you plan to attend with your bike, be prepared to smile. You never know where camera will be and what we will posted next!

Do you have a fun photo of yourself or someone you know that you would like to see us publish? If so, please send it our way and we may use it. Send your picture(s) to [email protected] with a brief caption (of each), including who is in the photo (if you know) and where it was taken. Photo(s) should be at least 620 pixels wide for us to post. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and an acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As HaveFunBiking continues to encourage more people to ride, please reference our blog and the annual bike guide to find your next adventure. We are proud of the updated, at-a-glance information, and maps we are known for in the Destination section of our website. Now, as the Bike/Hike Guide goes into its seventh year of production, we are adding a whole new dimension of bicycle tourism information available for mobile device. Plus, beginning September 2015, this year’s e-version of the Guide will move to quarterly editions where you may see some additional bike pics posted.

 Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in a pic to post!

Bike Pic – Sept. 17, MPLS Grand Round

Riding across the Stone Arch Bridge on the 2014 Minneapolis Bike Tour. This year’s ride is Sunday, September 20th.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking, hope you enjoy the photo.

Now, rolling into our 10th year as a bicycle media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike, while showcasing unforgettable places to ride. As we search and post more fun photos worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted to help you find your next adventure. Then, if you see us along a paved or mountain bike trail, next to the route you regularly commute, or at an event you plan to attend with your bike, be prepared to smile. You never know where camera will be and what we will posted next!

Do you have a fun photo of yourself or someone you know that you would like to see us publish? If so, please send it our way and we may use it. Send your picture(s) to [email protected] with a brief caption (of each), including who is in the photo (if you know) and where it was taken. Photo(s) should be at least 620 pixels wide for us to post. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and an acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As HaveFunBiking continues to encourage more people to ride, please reference our blog and the annual bike guide to find your next adventure. We are proud of the updated, at-a-glance information, and maps we are known for in the Destination section of our website. Now, as the Bike/Hike Guide goes into its seventh year of production, we are adding a whole new dimension of bicycle tourism information available for mobile device. Plus, beginning September 2015, this year’s e-version of the Guide will move to quarterly editions where you may see some additional bike pics posted.

 Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in a pic to post!

Bike Pic – Sept. 16, Women Race Southside

The women have fun competing in the Southside Sprint, in Minneapolis. Second on the left is Anna Luckow, from HaveFunBiking.com.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking, hope you enjoy the photo.

Now, rolling into our 10th year as a bicycle media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike, while showcasing unforgettable places to ride. As we search and post more fun photos worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted to help you find your next adventure. Then, if you see us along a paved or mountain bike trail, next to the route you regularly commute, or at an event you plan to attend with your bike, be prepared to smile. You never know where camera will be and what we will posted next!

Do you have a fun photo of yourself or someone you know that you would like to see us publish? If so, please send it our way and we may use it. Send your picture(s) to [email protected] with a brief caption (of each), including who is in the photo (if you know) and where it was taken. Photo(s) should be at least 620 pixels wide for us to post. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and an acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As HaveFunBiking continues to encourage more people to ride, please reference our blog and the annual bike guide to find your next adventure. We are proud of the updated, at-a-glance information, and maps we are known for in the Destination section of our website. Now, as the Bike/Hike Guide goes into its seventh year of production, we are adding a whole new dimension of bicycle tourism information available for mobile device. Plus, beginning September 2015, this year’s e-version of the Guide will move to quarterly editions where you may see some additional bike pics posted.

 Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in a pic to post!