Tag Archives: Albert Lea

MnDOT makes 125 county level bicycle maps available

County level bicycle maps are now available in Minnesota. As the second most bicycle friendly state in the United States, according to the League of America Bicyclists, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has recently announced the first of a series of bicycle maps. These are county by county level bicycle maps for the state. In the link below, you’ll find 125 maps with some counties split into more than one sheet. All at this one link location, click on any County Bicycle Map and see trails, road conditions, and more.

Selecting One of the County Level Bicycle Maps

Once you have selected a map, you can print out any of the maps by county (on 8.5×11 or 11×17 paper) to take along to help navigate your bike adventure. Please note, there are no printed versions of these county bike maps available, so you will need to print you own.

Additional Minnesota Maps to Cross Reference

For major metro areas in Minnesota you should also consider referencing local bicycle maps. Local bike maps may have more current local roadway data and trails. Click the following links for these Minnesota cities with bike maps: Albert Lea, Anoka County (TwinCities Gateway) Brainerd, Bemidji, Cuyuna Area, Duluth, Grand Rapids, Hastings, Hibbing/Virginia, Hutchinson, Lakeville, Little Falls, Mankato, Minneapolis Northwest, Minneapolis (Hennepin Co.) Park Rapids, Prairie Waters Area (Western MN), Rochester, Root River Trail Towns, Stillwater, St. Cloud, St. Paul, Walker, Willmar and Winona.

According to MnDOT, “because this is the first effort to show data at the county scale there are some gaps and we will continue to work with the counties to improve the data and layout of these maps with future versions.” They also welcome your comments on how to improve the maps. Submit feedback or changes by emailing [email protected].

Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide dedicated to all fathers, next Sunday

Summer Minnesota bike guide is live!

Now available quarterly, the 2016 summer edition of the Minnesota Bike/Hike guide is now digitally available and dedicated to all those fathers, nexy Sunday!

Here is a shot of the e-version of the Summer Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide, now live – enjoy and have fun!.

In our 7th year of printing this handy pocket sized book full of bike travel ideas, HaveFunBiking.com (HFB) has now updated the printed version into a Minnesota e-edition, so check it out. With our new digital platform we are now able to update information on bike travel and tips regularly to help you find your next adventure. Plus, we will be adding additional maps of destinations you may want to explore in the future.

Please take a look at the most recent MN Bike/Hike Guide and bookmark it to your hand held devices for use when on the go. Formatted to fit your mobile phone and note pad the updated e-version offers bike events recently posted and more bike friendly maps, with links, then what is in our print edition. On each map you will find a QR code and link to the HFB Destination landing pages for easy At-A-Glance information when on the go.

From Mankato, over to Stillwater or up to Bemidji, we have highlighted many special landing pages offering you At-A-Glance information when on the go. All offering helpful links while visiting communities you are planning to ride that include: where to eat, where to sleep and other pertinent information that correlates with the maps to help you make your next adventure fun.

After reviewing the latest edition please share the link of the 2016 MN Bike/Hike Guide with your friends. Give them a chance to find their next bike adventure too. Maybe you will ride together or share your escapades the next time you get together. Either way, the guide opens up many opportunities for bike travel and memories that will last a lifetime!

Albert Lea Bike-A-Thon A Success Even With Cold/Wet Weather

Info and photo source Micah Bader, Albert Lea Tribune
Cold, wet conditions didn’t stop participants of the Freeborn County Bike-A-Thon earlier this month. An annual bike ride to raise money for cancer research this year’s event was held on May 3rd. According to Bike-A-Thon organizer LeAnn Juveland, “there were 54 riders, many from Albert Lea with a few from out of town that come back each year for this event.

Team Navarro, a five-man group had members from three states: Minnesota, Iowa and Colorado participate. “The Navarro family has been directly affected by cancer, as Robert Navarro died of kidney cancer. Dave Navarro, Rich Navarro, Brian McDonald, Scott Norman and Ramon Navarro rode to honor Robert,” Dave Navarro, stated.

With the weather this year, many participants shortened their route instead of completing the 100-mile course with rest stops in Alden, Glenville, Gordonsville, Myrtle, Hayward, Geneva, Hartland, Freeborn, Conger and Albert Lea. Food, including bananas, oranges, water, granola bars and hot dogs was available at the rest stops . Refreshments were provided by generous area businesses donations, said Jody Dreyling, a volunteer with the ride.

With the highest temp for the day was 42 and the low at 33 degrees a common route was a ride to Glenville and back or a ride to Glenville with a lift back in a pickup. “There were quite a few people who came but chose not to ride,” Juveland said. “One of them was from Washington D.C., and they had ridden other years, but chose not to ride this year, because conditions were horrendous.”

Juveland has been organizing the event for 11 years. “The money raised, several thousand dollars this year will be presented to the American Cancer Society,” she said. “David Anderson of Albert Lea alone raised $2,100.”

As the weather warms up, there is no better way to enjoy the beauty of the countryside here, around the Albert Lea area, than on a summer bike ride. Click here for an At-A Glance look at biking in this area.