Tag Archives: ALS Bike Trek

On the 25th day of 30 Days of Biking, dress accordingly as rain is in the forecast, again later today!

Bike Pic April 27, another soggy day of 30 Days of Biking

On a soggy note, this bike pic Thursday, using a bike to run errands could make your life more carbon-free. Maybe it’s time to start planning that #NextBikeAdventure

So, get into the zone when continuing your time outdoors and your #NextBikeAdventure. View all the great ideas and bike destinations in the latest Iowa or Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. Then plan your next outing with family and friends, and check out more stories at Let’s Do MN.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

Now rolling through our 19th year as a bike tourism media, enjoy! As we pedal forward, we aim to encourage more people to bike and have fun while highlighting all the unforgettable places you can ride. As we continue to showcase more places to have fun, we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. Enjoy the information and stories we have posted as you scroll through.

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. Photo(s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide to be considered. You will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram if we use your photo.

As we continue encouraging more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your #NextBikeAdventure. Also, check out the MN Bike Guide, now mobile-friendly, as we enter our 14th year of producing this handy information booklet full of maps.

Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com on your cell phone and find your next adventure at your fingertips! Please share our pics with your friends, and don’t forget to smile. With one of our cameras ready to document your next cameo appearance while you are riding and having fun, we may be around the corner. You could be in one of our next Pic of the Day.

Have a great day with a safe and memorable year ahead!

Minnesota’s top ten bike rides to start your summer of fun

With so many bike rides to choose from here are some of Minnesota’s best recreational and touring rides to check out for fun in April, May, June and July, of 2016.

Minnesota Ironman Bicycle Ride – Sunday, April 24th

Celebrating its 50th year as Minnesota biking tradition this organized recreational  ride tours the scenic St. Croix River Valley, near Stillwater and is a great way to get out and experience riding with others – Plus, bragging rights are guaranteed for the rest of the summer.

See more at: MN Ironman Bike Ride

Riders on the 49th Annual Minnesota Ironman Bike Ride.

Riders on the 49th Annual Minnesota Ironman Bike Ride.

Bike MS: Twin Cities Ride – Saturday, May 7th

Bike MS: Twin Cities Ride presented by The Toro Company is a must-do for any Twin Cities cyclist. A charity ride more than 1,000 riders choose their own challenge — biking 12, 22, 40 or 50 miles through St. Paul and Minneapolis for one cause: a world free of MS.

See more at:  Bike MS: Twin Cities Ride

ALS Bike Trek – Saturday, April 21

The ALS Bike Trek Minnesota is a charity ride created by ALS TDI to raise awareness of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig Disease) and funding toward an effective treatment. The seventh annual ALS Trek enjoys the scenery along the St Croix River Valley.

See more at: Als Bike Trek

Twin Cities Tour de Cure – Saturday, June 4th

Each year the Twin Cities Tour de Cure celebrate everyone who lives with type 1 and type 2 diabetes as their heroes on the day of this annual event. If you, a family member or friend have diabetes, join the American Diabetes Association members as they tour the bicycle routes, starting at Minnehaha Falls, in Minneapolis.

See more at: Tour de Cure

These Twin City Tour d' Cure bike participate pause at the end of last years ride for a photo opp. by Coppersmith Photographers

These Twin City Tour d’ Cure bike participate pause at the end of last years ride for a photo opp. by Coppersmith Photographers

Tour of Minnesota – June 17-24th

The Tour of Minnesota, formerly known as the Jaunt with Jim Klobuchar ride, is a multi-day bike tour exploring  communities throughout the state. In its 42nd year, this year’s tour trip will visit Brainerd, Walker, Park Rapids, Itasca State Park, Bemidji and Pine River in Northern Minnesota.

See more at: Tour of Minnesota

HBC Tour D‘Amico – Monday, July 4th

Celebrate the day riding the Tour D’Amico, a ride that tours the west suburbs of the Twin Cities. Choose from three routes, a 29, 45, or 62.2 miles option that includes hydration breaks along the way and a D’Amico & Sons Italian buffet lunch at the end, in Golden Valley.

Enjoying a D' Amico and Son's Italian picnic after the ride.

Enjoying a D’ Amico and Son’s Italian picnic after the bike ride.

See more at: Tour D’ Amico

TCBC Watermelon Ride – July 4th

On the east side of the Twin Cities celebrate the day riding the Watermelon Ride, with a 15, 25, or 52 mile tour option. Starting in Battle Creek Park, snacks will be provided  at rest stops along the way and a picnic lunch will be served at Snail Lake Park, in St. Paul.

See more at: TCBC Watermelon Ride

Root River Bluff & Valley Bicycle Tour – July 8-10th

On this three-day tour see why many call this area “God’s Country” the hidden jewel of Minnesota’s Southeast region. Starting in Whalan explore the valleys and bluff of the area while visiting all the Root River Trail Towns: Lanesboro, Fountain, Preston, Harmony, Houston, Rushford and Peterson before returning back to Whalan.

See more at: Root River Bluff & Valley Bike Ride

Here a family of cyclists enjoy exploring the scenic roads, by bike, that circle and cross the Root River Trail, in Southeast Minnesota's Bluff Country.

Here a family of cyclists enjoy exploring the scenic roads, that circle and cross the Root River Trail, in Bluff Country.

Bike MS: TRAM – July 20-24th

Bike MS: TRAM Ride 2016 (The Ride Across Minnesota) is Minnesota’s greatest cycling vacation. Nearly 1,000 riders will travel through the picturesque scenery and rich history of central Minnesota, starting in St. Joseph with overnight stops in Sauk Centre, Fergus Falls, Wadena and Little Falls. There is a 3-day route option also.

See more at: Bike MS: TRAM

Riders enjoy getting together each year on the M.S TRAM

Riders enjoy getting together each year on the M.S TRAM

Red Ribbon Ride – July 21-24th

Red Ribbon Ride is a fully supported 4 day ride, starting at the Mall of America, to raise vital funds for HIV/AIDS services, treatment, prevention and awareness, benefiting service for: African American AIDS Task Force, Clare Housing, Hope House of St. Croix Valley, MN AIDS Project, One Heartland, Park House, Rural AIDS Action Network and The Aliveness Project.

See more at: Red Ribbon Ride

Here a bike rider on a Red Ribbon Bike Ride, in the Twin Cities, is flanked by angels on cycles.

Here a bike rider on a Red Ribbon Bike Ride, in the Twin Cities, is flanked by angels on cycles.

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

A Beautiful Day and 300 Riders Made The ALS Bike Trek A Success

Rita Wilczek                                                                                                                                                                                             This year’s ALS Bike Trek MN was held on May 17, a beautiful day to bike in Marine on St. Croix along the Minnesota/Wisconsin border.

ALS-1There were over 300 bicyclists and nearly $121,000 was raised for research to cure ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  Riders, donors, sponsors, organizers all contributed to the success of this year’s Trek.

ALS-6Why do so many support the mission to cure ALS when there are so many other good causes?
Likely they have a parent, brother, sister, friend or co-worker who has or had ALS.  Life expectancy for someone diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the motor neurons, is only 2-5 years.  So bicyclists ride the Trek in honor of, or in memory of their relative or friend.

ALS-8And they ride because they can.  It seems a cliche to say, “they ride because they can”, but for anyone who has had an injury that prevented them from biking temporarily, imagine giving up biking forever.  People diagnosed with ALS will lose their ability to walk, use their hands, eat, swallow and eventually breathe.

ALS-2The picture to the right is an ALS Walk we did with my brother, Mark in 2006.  He was diagnosed in 2005 at the age of 52 and lost his battle 3/11/2007 at the age of 54.  Many lives are cut short by ALS and we hope to change that by supporting the efforts of ALS TDI (Therapy Development Institute).  Your help is appreciated.

Plan to participate in the ALS Bike Trek MN, next year on May 16, 2015 and ride because you can!

ALS-7