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This ‘Miles of Smiles Sunday’ photo here shows a young couple on a tandem fat bike having fun riding the trails at Bootleg Canyon Mountain Bike Park, in Nevada. Photo shot out at the Worlds largest 2-day outdoor demo, at Interbike, September of 2015.
Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking (HFB).
Now, rolling into our 10th year as a bicycle tourism media our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike, while showcasing unforgettable places to ride. As HFB searches and presents more fun cycling related photos, worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted that may help you find your next adventure. Then, while out there if you see us along a paved or mountain bike trail, next to the route you regularly commute on, or at an event you plan to attend, be prepared to smile. You never know where our camera’s will be and what we will post next!
Do you have a fun bicycle related photo of yourself or someone you know that you would like to see us post? 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 a minimum of 800 pixels wide or larger for us to consider using them. If we do 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 print and quarterly digital Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide to find your next adventure. We are proud of the updated – At-a-Glance information and maps we are known for at the HFB Destination section on our website and in the guide. Now, as the Guide goes into its seventh year of production, we are adding a whole new dimension of information, now available for mobile devices.
So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in one of the next photos we post.
A morning bike ride along the trails and through the parks will offer a chorus of bird songs that will only intensify as the season progresses.
Woodpeckers are the exception to the courting and territorial songs of most birds. Their “song” is a distinctive drumming on anything that will amplify the noise. Around the Three Rivers Park District, over 200 miles of trails in the Twin Cities you can see up to seven woodpecker species through the spring and summer — each with a unique drumming pattern. The largest, the pileated, starts slowly, accelerates through the middle and tapers off at the end with only one or two “drums” per minute. Both males and females drum to claim territory and advertise for a mate. Head to Dakota County Parks and listen for the sound of the not-so-distant drums this spring.
HaveFunBiking.com (HFB) is an established Richfield, Minn. based digital/event/print media firm on a fast-growth track, looking for marketing and communication experts to join our team. Over the last 10-years we have published fun, bicycle-related information through our print and digital media’s to help more people find their next adventure. In 2016, we are looking to expand our footprint by developing a new digital publications and need added talent.
HFB still operate in an entrepreneurial mode and needs people who can catch on quickly, have ideas to further develop our operations and help us move to the next level. Flexibility and an active, can-do attitude are key requirements for this position.
After looking over the HaveFunBiking.com website and our latest digital bike publication send a descriptive cover letter on how your talents and vision can help us move forward. Please send your cover letter along with resume to [email protected]. Thanks!
Here a father and son are out on a Mountain bike trail enjoying some quality time together. Photo taken on a trail near Lakeville, MN – A great place to bond with your kids in 2016!
Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking (HFB).
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 present more fun photos worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted to help you find your next adventure. Then, while out there if you see us along a paved or mountain bike trail, next to the route you regularly commute on, or at an event you plan to attend with your bike, be prepared to smile. You never know where our camera’s will be and what we will post 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 use them. 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 print and quarterly digital Bike/Hike Guide to find your next adventure. We are proud of the updated – At-a-Glance information and maps we are known for in the HFB Destination section on our website and in the guide. 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 devices where you may see some additional bike pics – maybe of yourself so.
Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in one of the next photos we post.
“Fun Sunday Memories shows a photo of two ladies having the time of their life on the Minneapolis Midtown Greenway, this last summer.
The Greenway, is a 5.5-mile long former railroad corridor in south Minneapolis with bicycling and walking trails. It is owned by the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority and the trails are maintained by the City of Minneapolis.
For most of its distance across the city, the corridor is grade-separated from the street grid, either in a gorge passing under bridges carrying streets overhead, or on a levy with traffic passing underneath it. This offers barrier-free bicycling that can make cross-town trips faster than going by car.
To the west, the Greenway connects with paths around the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes and the Southwest LRT Trail extending to the western suburbs. To the east, the Greenway connects with paths along the Mississippi River.
Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking (HFB).
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 present more fun photos worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted to help you find your next adventure. Then, while out there if you see us along a paved or mountain bike trail, next to the route you regularly commute on, or at an event you plan to attend with your bike, be prepared to smile. You never know where our camera’s will be and what we will post 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 use them. 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 print and quarterly digital Bike/Hike Guide to find your next adventure. We are proud of the updated – At-a-Glance information and maps we are known for in the HFB Destination section on our website and in the guide. 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 devices where you may see some additional bike pics – maybe of yourself so.
Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in one of the next photos we post.
I saw a grassy opening in the forest off the side of the road up ahead, with a stream and a pebble beach. I was about to suggest we stop for lunch, but my wife beat me to it. “I’ve got a flat,” Lucy announced from a few bike lengths back.
Making a stop along the Oregon Coastline for a family photo moment
We were in the middle of an eight-day bike camping trip on the Oregon coast. Lucy was on her city bike, and I was biking with the two kids, ages 5 and 6, on a tandem with a trail-a-bike attached. By this time, the kids had perfected their self-eject technique: They didn’t wait for me to stop before they jumped off their seats to explore. Lucy and I rolled to a stop.
We couldn’t have planned a better place for a midday break. The flat tire could wait. It was lunch in paradise.
My family and I had been on several short bike camping trips over the last few years, short jaunts close to our home in Portland, Ore. This past summer, we stepped it up a notch to spend a week on a family bike tour. It was the vacation of a lifetime.
As with any family vacation, a trip by bike will inevitably involve tears and disagreements. Flats happen. Headwinds blow. Climbs outnumber descents and no matter what the mode of travel, our kids intuitively know the least opportune moment to ask, “Are we there yet?”
But in the end none of that matters, because something magical happens on a bike trip. It’s condensed quality time. Every day seems to contain a week’s worth of perfect moments. A grassy patch by the side of the road becomes an ideal place to stop and eat an orange and a handful of almonds while the kids run. Bliss is found and that’s the type of memory that lingers.
With some smart planning, a little gear and a “take it as it comes” attitude, a bike trip could be your next — and perhaps most memorable — summer vacation.
Selecting an off road family bike vacation is another option
The obvious first step is that you need bikes for everyone. We used a standard bike trailer for our first couple of trips, when the kids were small. We moved up to a longtail cargo bike (a bike with a longer frame designed to be loaded) after we decided that we liked family biking, both in the city and on trips.
When we started looking into a longer tour, a friend let us borrow a tandem outfitted with a special set of pedals on the back position for short legs. We added a trail-a-bike for the second child. It functioned as a triple bike — dad plus kid plus kid — which worked well for our eight-day trip, riding about 40 miles a day.
To help figure out your family’s bike needs, one strategy is to attend a family cycling event where you can meet other families that bike and see their setups or a family oriented bike shops is another valuable resources.
With the bikes loaded with gear, dismounting and walking through irregular stretches is a safe way to go
If you want to go the bike camping route, you will also need camping gear and racks or bags to carry it. Gear does not need to be new, high tech or ultralight, but weight does matter. Backpacking gear, even if outdated, is more practical to carry than car-camping gear. We were able to fit gear for four people into eight panniers (four per bike) on our big coastal trip.
Kids’ gear is important, such as their own headlamp or handlebar-mounted water bottle holder. One of the best gear investments we made was a small handlebar bag for each kid. The kids can put whatever they want in it: toys, rocks, leaves.
Now that you’re outfitted, take some time to play around with loading the bikes and taking short rides. When we borrowed the tandem, we did a few loaded trips to the park to get used to the bike. Test rides can also give you a feel for what mileage you are comfortable pedaling daily.
To find a short bike trip research nearby destinations. How are the roads to get there? Is there a low-traffic alternative route? Are there any services along the way? Can a regional trail be incorporated into the route? Where will you stay? Hotel? Campground?
Family time, in a wilderness setting is what makes a bike vacation magical
For our first bike overnighter — when the kids were 2 and 3 years of age — we drove with another family to a forest road near Portland that was closed to motors but open to bikes, horses and hikers. Lacking proper panniers or racks, we piled all of our gear into our trailer with the 2-year-old. The 3-year-old had to ride her balance bike.
We had more enthusiasm than knowledge or equipment, but after cycling three miles in we found a nice spot and stayed for two nights. We played in the river, hiked, caught frogs, climbed rocks and watched stars. Before the trip was over, we were talking about the next one.
Following an announcement from London mayor Boris Johnson yesterday, cycling in central London looks set to become significantly safer. Two new Cycling Superhighways are planned for the city, and – subject to final approval from Transport for London – work on building the routes will begin in March.
Here the image depicts the new Cycling Superhighway at St. George’s Circus The render at the to of this article depicts the new Cycling Superhighway on Blackfriars Road, London ( Both images from: Transport for London)
Though we’re still waiting on confirmation from the mayor’s office regarding the exact length of the new cycle routes, they are cited as “Europe’s longest substantially-segregated urban cycleways.” We originally reported on the plans back in 2013, but some changes have been made in the meantime to mitigate disruption to motorists.
The original proposal would have increased the morning rush-hour commute for drivers by a painful 16 minutes, but following a redesign that involved narrowing the two-way paths from 4 m (13 ft) to 3 m (9.8 ft) in some places, the current estimate is a more reasonable six minutes at the worst section – between Limehouse Link and Hyde Park Corner. Cyclists will be segregated from the road by a kerb at almost all times, excepting one area near the Upper Thames Street tunnel.
The new cycle routes will complement London’s four existing Cycle Superhighways and cross the capital from east to west and north to south, intersecting at Blackfriars. The east-west route will join London’s existing Cycle Superhighway 3 and begin at Tower Hill, passing through areas including Victoria Embankment, Parliament Square, Hyde Park, and Westbourne Terrace. The north-south route will run from Elephant and Castle to King’s Cross.
The mayor’s office says that each of the new routes will have the capacity for up to 3,000 journeys an hour.
Twin City bike shops and race teams sling wrenches with Greg LeMond this coming Tuesday, November 11th, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. If you have time come to Free Bikes 4 Kidz (FB4K’s) charity event for an evening of fun while volunteering to clean or wrench on some of the thousands of bikes donated, come check out the action.
Battling for the coveted trophy, that has been passed around the last couple years; the award is made from bicycle parts
Cheer on 3-time Tour de France champion, Greg LeMond, who is coming out of retirement for one more race on a 20″ Barbie bike –showing his blinding speed, jam-packed sprints and tassels. Throughout the evening Greg will challenge wrench-slinger-shootout bike mechanics and techies from United Healthcare Pro Cycling, Tonka Cycle & Ski, Freewheel Bike, Maple Grove Cycling and Penn Cycle. So get there early, help clean or repair some bikes for a while and watch the fun!
Enjoy food available from the taco truck, while sipping some local craft brews as you help, visit and watch the wrenching competition. For those that enter the evening’s raffle, you will have a chance to win three great prizes: a new Fat Tire Bike or your choice of any one of the 5,000 bikes in the FB4K’s warehouse.
Free Bikes 4 Kidz is a passionate group of cyclists who love giving as much as riding. It’s their goal to help every child feel the joys and freedom of riding his or her first bike. Through our bike philanthropy method, we aim to help our communities grow stronger and closer through the power of cycling. On October 11th, with help from Allina Health, they collected 5,000 bikes and have until December 5th to clean and refurbish all of them. To date, 1,500 are completed which means that there are approximately 3,500 to complete in a little over three weeks!
Help to make sure each kid has a bike before Christmas
Warehouse/volunteer hours: M-Th 9-9, Fri/Sat 9-6 and Sun 12-6. Shifts are scheduled in 3-hour blocks but they can be flexible to accommodate schedules. Registration at: www.fb4k.org/volunteer. Please note- once you enter your information, you’ll be brought to the calendar screen where you can see available volunteer slots for each shifts.
The day before Race # 2, in a series of five, a powerful, but short, rain storm came through St. Cloud, Minn. Then on race day, September 21st, the clouds moved out and the sandy Jail Trail dried up to ideal conditions for 450 high school student riders from 41 schools, battling it out for points and race day trophies. Now with Race #3 this coming Sunday, excitement is brewing amongst the Minnesota High School Cycling teams with a race day in Rochester.
Boys Frosh D1, Luke Sicora, Armstrong | Jail Trail Race #2
Regarding Race #2, on the 21st., the”Jail Trail always delivers.” said MN League Director, Josh Kleve. “All of the student-athletes impressed not only each other, but themselves with their performances today.”
Freshman Boys, Div 2 tear out of the start chute at Jail Trail
Eastview School took top slots with the Doolittle brothers Luke and Joshua. Luke took home the JV Division 2 first place medal and younger brother Joshua took first place in Middle School Division 2…by seconds, just ahead of Henry Hall, from Minneapolis’s Southside.
2014 Race 3: Soph Boys Div 1 | Jail Trail –
There were a number of exciting photo finishes: Freshman Girls: Moriah Johnson from Duluth East beat out Siri Bohacek from Stillwater for first place by just over a second! Varsity Girls: Jordan Horner from Burnsville held onto first place over Cianna Swanson from Lakeville North by 29 seconds!
MS Boys, Jail Trail
Race Results and Photos
Individual results are now posted to the minnesotamtb.org site. Photo Credit: Todd Bauer, tmbimages.com. MN League Official Photographer
Individual Race Results:
Middle School Girls: 1. Zoe Camp — Mpls Southside Comp 2. Courtney Johnson — Crosby Ironton 3. Anastasia Antanovich — Eastview High School 4. Kira Anderson — Chanhassen High School 5. Gracen Hardy — Cuyuna Lakes Middle School Boys Division 1: 1. Nick Gordon — Minnetonka High School 2. Max Kennedy — Stillwater High School 3. Luke Larson — Prior Lake High School 4. Ian Ruh — Stillwater High School 5. Grant Hietpas — Stillwater High School Middle School Boys Division 2: 1. Joshua Doolittle — Eastview High School 2. Henry Hall — Mpls Southside Comp 3. Liam O’Kelly — St. Croix Valley Comp 4. Connor Bich — Duluth Comp 5. Henry Seiser — St. Croix Valley Comp Freshman Girls: 1. Moriah Johnson — Duluth East High School 2. Siri Bohacek — Stillwater High School 3. Hannah Brown — Stillwater High School 4. Elli Pfeiffer — Prior Lake High School 5. Katia Swanson — Lakeville North High School Freshman Boys – D1 1. Ian Derauf — Duluth East High School 2. Sebastien Frimat — Edina Mountain Bike Team 3. Luke Sicora — Armstrong Cycle Club 4. Shawn Higgins Jr — Duluth East High School 5. Jack Lange — Stillwater HS Freshman Boys – D2 1. Braeden Anderson — Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Team 2. Alex Sipe — Wayzata Mountain Bike Team 3. Gavin Abric — Duluth Comp 4. Jasper Kiefer — Bloomington Comp 5. Stephen Hatt — Lakeville North High School Sophmore Girls 1. Nikita Finnerty — Crosby Ironton 2. Madeline Pernat — Chanhassen High School 3. Sophie Dirnberger — Hopkins High School 4. Kali Meckle — Washburn High School 5. Molly Junker — Stillwater High School Sophmore Boys – D1 1. Michael Davis — Duluth East High School 2. Dylan Kiefer — Minnetonka High School 3. Elliot Forst — Minnetonka High School 4. Nathan Latz — Hopkins High School 5. Nathan Edstrom — Hopkins High School Sophmore Boys – D2 1. Will Curtis — St. Paul Central 2. Xavier Mansfield — Minneapolis Patrick Henry High School 3. Connor Rono — Crosby Ironton 4. Eli Markworth — Washburn High School 5. Luke McDonell — Highland Park High School Junior Varsity Girls: 1. Sophie Farrow — Duluth East High School 2. Amanda Susnik — Duluth East High School 3. Sydney Carlson — Apple Valley HS 4. Ellie Hedlund — MPLS Southside Comp 5. Justice Sahaydak — Mpls Southside Comp Junior Varsity Boys – D1 1. Collin Maynard — Hopkins High School 2. Brandan Eisma — Prior Lake High School 3. Jason Colestock — Edina Cycling Team 4. Ben Johnson — Duluth East High School 5. Matt Trumper — Stillwater High School Junior Varsity Boys – D2 1. Luke Doolittle — Eastview High School 2. Campbell Karjala — Bloomington Composite 3. Nathan Bich — Duluth Composite Team 4. Wyatt Furois — Roseville Area Composite 5. Mac Hansen — Mpls Southside Comp Varsity Girls 1. Jordan Horner — Burnsville High School 2. Cianna Swanson — Lakeville North High School 3. Josie Welsh — Armstrong Cycle Club 4. Kalli Opsal — Lakeville South/Farmington Comp 5. Camille Sjoquist — Apple Valley High School
Samuel Olson | Current Leader of Varsity Boys | Jail Trail #2
Varsity Boys 1. Samuel Olson — Duluth Composite Team 2. Samuel Hayden — Duluth East High School 3. Samuel Elson — Cuyuna Lakes High School 4. Sam Hedlund — Mpls Southside Comp 5. Josey Weik — Duluth Composite Team Middle School Team Results 1. Mpls Southside Comp 2. Crosby Ironton 3. Eastview High School Team – Division 1 Results 1. Duluth East High School 2. Hopkins High School 3. Edina Cycling Team Team – Division 2 Results 1. Mpls Southside 2. Lakeville North High School 3. Apple Valley High School 2014 MN High School Cycling League venues and dates: 9/7 – Race #1 – Buck Hill, Burnsville, MN 9/21 – Race #2 – Jail Trail, St. Cloud, MN 10/5 – Race #3 – Game Haven, Rochester, MN 10/12 – Race #4 – Mt. Kato, Mankato, MN 10/26 – Race #5 – State Championships: Whitetail Ridge, River Falls, WI 11/1 – Season Awards Banquet
Race #3 – Game Haven, Rochester, MN
Another exciting race weekend is almost here and 41 teams from all across Minnesota are preparing to head to Rochester for Race #3, to compete on the Game Haven Trail. See Race Flyer and Course Map, then, come and listen for the cowbells and be sure to cheer on the students as they head to the finish line in Rochester.
All Race Results and Photos
Individual results are now posted to the minnesotamtb.org site. Photo Credit: Todd Bauer, tmbimages.com. MN League Official Photographer.
The Minnesota High School Cycling League, founded in 2012, serves all Minnesota high school and middle school-aged students, and regardless of ability level, is committed to providing a positive co-ed cycling experience. Each MN League season includes summer camps, a five-race series, wilderness first aid certification courses and a Spring Leaders’ Summit for training and certification of coaches. The MN League exists by virtue of a range of fundraising activities, as well as generous donors, and MN League sponsors including the founding national sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components; as well as establishing NICA sponsors Easton Foundations, SRAM, and Trek Bicycles; major sponsors, Giro, Clif Bar and Company, Primal Wear, Quality Bicycle Products, GU Sports, Cannondale, Kinetic, Maxxis, CamelBak, Feedback Sports, Optic Nerve, Easton, Athletic Event Supply, Fort Lewis College, Lees McRae, Fox Racing Shox, Sho-Air, Yakima, Lizard Skins, DeFeet and Ritchey Designs; media partners Bicycle Retailer, Dirt Rag, Singletracks, Switchback and Cyclingnews. MN League specific sponsors include Founding Retailers Penn Cycle and Erik’s Bike and Board Shop, AAA, Mt. Borah, Life Time Cycle, Minnesota Mountain Bike Series, Salsa, Peace Coffee Racing, Park Tool, Karma Race Management, Ipsity Marketing, HaveFunBiking.com, Trailhead Cycling and Valley Bike and Ski. For more information on the MN League, visit minnesotamtb.org.
Picture perfect weather energized the 20th anniversary of Minnesota’s biggest bicycle ride, the Saint Paul Classic Bike Tour, on September 7th. With the upper Midwest’s recreational ride season wrapping up here is your chance to ride one more time, the 4th Annual Mankato River Ramble Ride. Register before the end of the day, Oct. 1, on-line and save.
For a city so close – just 77 scenic miles from the Twin Cities, find out why Mankato thinks its Minnesota’s best kept secret, as a bicycle destination. Named a bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, visit Mankato and discover all the trails and safe bike routes the Area enjoys.
Plenty of delicious treat and beverages at the rest stops
With peak fall foliage, the River Ramble offers one great ride with four scenic routes, with four fun rest stops that feature great live music, delicious treats, cold beverages, hot coffee and refreshing fruit. In addition to a 12, 26 or 42 miles routes, the 2014 ride will feature “The Hilly Half-Century”, a loop through Garden City adding eight miles to the 42-mile route for a 50-mile ride.
Register for the Mankato River Ramble on-line, or at the event.
If you are looking for a weekend getaway next week, or anytime, besides the great riding there is plenty to do! Hike in Minneopa State Park, mountain bike at Mount Kato, or float down the beautiful Blue Earth River with Bent River Outfitter, specializing in guided kayak, canoe and stand up paddleboard trips in the river valleys surrounding Mankato. Contact Bent River and ask about their planned activities on Saturday, before the Ramble.
Also on Saturday, October 4th, join Mankato Brewery for a live music event with food and beer. The brewery opens at noon, tours and tastings at 1 p.m., food at 4 p.m. and live music from 5 – 10 p.m.. Ride your bike and the brewery crew will valet park it for you. River Ramble riders will receive a beer discount all day long! Or stop in after the ride on Sunday for a cold one. The tap room will be open from noon – 5 p.m. Find details on the brewery website.
Proceeds from the 20th Annual St. Paul Classic and the upcoming Mankato River Ramble will benefit the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota’s education programs to make bicycling in the state safer.
See the most recent HaveFunBiking, At-a-Glance article when planning or visiting Bike Friendly Mankato.
Saint Paul Classic Bike Tour Recap
Fun for the whole family
Celebrating its 20th year, Sunday, September 7, 2014, over 6,000 cyclists enjoyed the rolling festival of live music and tasty treats that circled the Saint Paul Grand Round parkway system on nearly traffic-free roads.
BikeMN and the Classic’s director would like to thank all of their amazing sponsors, musicians and the 400 volunteers who helped to make the event run smoothly. A special thanks to the City of Saint Paul, Parks and Rec, Public Works and the ST Paul Police Department for their dedication to safety during the event. Riders came from 22 states, ranged in age from 0-90 and gender was an almost perfect 50/50 split.
