Tag Archives: Bike accessories

Clothing items to wear for fall bike riding.

What to wear for fall bike riding

by Jess Leong, HaveFunBiking.com

Fall bike riding is a gorgeous time to get on your two-wheel steed and put the pedal to the medal – or maybe just the pedal. The crisp autumn air makes breathing easy, and heat stroke isn’t an issue without a hot sun. With the gorgeous hues of oranges, yellows, and browns that color the landscape, fall bike riding is arguably the best.

Rather than putting a bike in storage early due to the fluctuation in weather, here’s the answer you’re looking for. To conquer this fall problem, wear layers. While this might seem obvious, the key lies in correctly layering appropriate clothing. If correctly done, it can optimize comfort for the rider. Not only that, but it can also increase the ability of each layer to work to maximize moisture and temperature regulation.

Fall bike riding base layer

Your base layer should have excellent moisture and wicking ability to keep your body dry. Also, opt for something you’d wear if it were to get on the warmer side compared to the colder side for this layer. For example, wear a short-sleeved jersey, undershirt, and arm warmers compared to a long-sleeved jersey or shirt. If it gets too warm, you can only do so much with long sleeves, whereas you can always take off the arm warmers if you become too toasty.

For fall bike riding, at temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, knees should always be covered.

For fall bike riding, knees should always be covered at temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

For your bottoms, keep up with this same principle. Realize that your legs will warm up quickly while pedaling. Whether you keep them bare by wearing shorts or your usual spring/summer attire or long knickers, it’s good to layer these items. Leg warmers are also a good thing to use if you have them. Also, they can quickly come off and be put away when the temperature rises.

Remember, knees should always be covered at temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Even if they warm up during the ride, with wind, it’s best to keep them protected from the cold.

Top Layers

The top layers are arguably the most essential layers you need to choose. This is because these are the layers that you’ll remove to try to reach that ideal temperature. There are many different potential items that you can layer over the base layer, but the rule of layering for fall weather applies. The Rule: Layer smartly. Remember that the last item you’re putting on should be the one you’d want to take off first.

Clothing items to wear for fall bike riding.

Arm warmers are great clothing items for fall bike riding if you have them.

We like the idea of having a long-sleeved jersey or shirt that can help keep the arms warm, whether that ends up over or under-arm warmers (if you decide to use them). A windbreaker can be exceptionally helpful. Even if no gales of wind are going through the area, biking moves you through the air and produces a ‘wind’ that can chill you. Over the long sleeves, we’d recommend a jacket – heavy or lighter, depending on you and the weather. Other layers can be added as well.

Other Important Areas – Head, Fingers, and Feet

Today, many different accessories and products can help keep the other parts of your body warm, keeping you happy and riding longer. Scarves, earmuffs, full-fingered biking gloves, cycling caps, and shoe covers to reduce cold air into the shoe – these are all things that you can consider adding to your list.

Clothing items to wear for fall bike riding.

Depending on the outdoor temperature, fingered gloves may be more desirable for fall bike riding.

Neck Up

Scarves help ensure cold air doesn’t sneak into your jacket where you don’t want it – plus, it keeps your neck and can keep part of your face warm!

Riding is hard when your ears are cold and aching. This is where earmuffs, or a hat with earflaps, are welcome. It’s something you won’t regret once out biking, especially when it gets colder or the wind picks up!

Your head tends to be overlooked when going out to bike. While the helmet can feel warm while biking, when the temperature drops more, sometimes a little more is needed to keep your scalp warm. Today, many helmets allow some leeway for biking caps or headbands to help keep the rider’s head warm.

Hands and Fingers

Many bikers have fingerless cycling gloves, but full-fingered biking gloves are a must when it comes to colder weather. When your fingers are frozen, stiff, and numb, you can lose your grip and find it difficult – if not near impossible – to shift gear. Since this is so dangerous for the rider, we highly recommend getting a good pair of full-fingered biking gloves.

Feet and Toes

Shoe covers aren’t generally necessary until the temperature drops – usually below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Socks made of wool have excellent breathability and warmth, but even so, your toes can get chilled when the wind picks up. Shoe covers can help keep the wind out from those breathable athletic shoes many wear in the summer.

 Again, if you’re unsure how to layer, remember that the last article of clothing you put on should be the first item you’ll want to take off.

No mater what your choice in clothing items to wear for fall bike riding, get out and have fun.

No matter your choice of clothing items for fall bike riding, get out and have fun.

It might take a few tries to get this right. With so many different material types, combinations, and conditions to factor in, it takes a few trial-and-error runs to find the order to layer on clothing. However, once you figure it out, it’s easy sailing! Then, you can reach your perfect temperature and adjust whenever needed during your bike ride.

HaveFun and ride on!

Jess Leong is a writer for HaveFunBiking.com.

Bike Pic Sept 1, E-bike smiles while at the Minnesota State Fair

This Bike Pic Sunday is a perfect weather day to go to the Minnesota State Fair and check out the latest e-bikes in the Eco-Building. If you are going to the Great Minnesota Get Together, consider using one of the three free bike parking corrals to get there.

So, adjust to perfect weather temps today, drink lots of water, and get into the zone when continuing your time outdoors on that #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 daily bike pic

As we pedal forward in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

We aim to encourage more people to bike and have fun while highlighting all the unforgettable places you can ride. While continuing 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. To be considered, the photo(s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide. 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 our 15th annual mobile-friendly MN Bike Guide, a handy booklet full of maps of fun places to bike and hike.

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 Pic of the Day stars.

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

Bike Pic Nov 16, wearing sunglasses makes fond memories

In this Thursday’s bike pic photo, we demonstrate that wearing a helmet and sunglasses can set the stage for a truly fun ride!

So, adjust to the cold and 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 today’s 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 in 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 fall!

This new national bicycle guide offers bicyclists of all levels easily access the latest information on places to ride a bike, helpful tips and more.

The inaugural issue of the Have Fun Biking National Guide is here

From all of us at HaveFunBiking.com (HFB), We are elateded to introduce you to our inaugural issue of the Have Fun Biking Guide. We began with the HFB website in 2006 and have been publishing bicycle guides ever since.

What you will see in the Have Fun Biking National Guide

Like the Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide and our website, our goal is to help cyclists easily access the latest information on bicycling, including the best places to ride a
bike, plus helpful tips on gear, maintenance and safety for the next bike adventure. That
vision and process still holds true today as you page through the following feature
stories, tips and reviews in this new digital publication.

This new national bicycle guide offers bicyclists of all levels easily access the latest information on places to ride a bike, helpful tips and more.

This new national bicycle guide offers bicyclists of all levels easily access the latest information on places to ride a bike, helpful tips and more.

Many of the articles and tips you see in the guide are also on our blog at HFB. So if you are looking for more updated details, along with additional descriptive photos and links, we have you covered.

A sneak peek at in future bi-monthly issues

Furthermore, if you want a sneak peek at what might be in our next issue of this guide or further details when on the go, please sign up for our weekly eNewsletter on the next page. I promise your email address will not be sold to, or shared with, a third party. Also, if you would like to view our daily photo ‘Pic of the Day’ please like – our Facebook or Instagram page.

Whether you are new to bicycling or a seasoned cyclist, we hope you enjoy and bookmark this handy guide to your favorite electronic device. Our goal is to continue publishing biking information to help you stay active and healthy.

Be an HFB partner, share you stories, pictures and ideas

To make future issues available, please check out all the links our sponsors have provided and let me know what you would like to see in our upcoming bi-monthly issues. This publication is a partnership between HaveFunBiking, our sponsors and you, our readers. We need your input
to be successful, so please feel free to share your opinions, ideas, photos and stories on bicycle related topics with us. Just send an email to: [email protected] and we will get back to you.

Read on and have fun!

Russ Lowthian, Editor
HaveFunBiking.com

Riding your bike to the Minnesota State Fair cyclist can choose between three secure bike corrals to park their bike while visiting the Great Minnesota Get Together.

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.

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!