Tag Archives: bike minnesota

The Great River Energy Mesabi Trail Tour has split into three fun weekends

The Great River Energy Mesabi Trail Tour has a whole new look to keep everyone safe in 2021. By splitting the event over three different weekends, they have created the ultimate in safe social distancing. Helping to make sure everyone has a memorable time. This year’s tour #1 is July 31st, Tour #2 is August 28th, and Tour #3 is September 18th. Regardless of the three Mesabi Tour dates you choose, you will experience the same outstanding customer service and reliable logistics they have been famous for over the past 15 years.

The Mesabi Trail Tour, on the trail, crossing one of the iron ore tracks.

While you pedal (fully supported) along one of Minnesota’s premiere paved bicycle trails, you will encounter historic & scenic points of interest, food & music at rest stops, and a finish line celebration complete with a picnic lunch and more music!

Cost of riding the Mesabi Trail Tour in 2021

The cost of riding this year’s event (cost per weekend ride) is $45 for riders 17 years and older. The ride is still free for kids 16 and under, with a parent or guardian riding along.

Noticeable changes to the 2021 Mesabi Trail Tour

If you have ridden the Mesabi Trail Tour before, here are the changes you will see for 2021:

Instead of one big tour in August – choose from three smaller tours throughout the biking season.
Instead of one long linear route – each tour will travel out & back on the Mesabi Trail from the same location – you will encounter TWO-WAY bicycle traffic.
Instead of four linear routes – choose from two routes of about 25 & 50 miles, out & back on the Trail.
The number of participants will be limited to 200 per tour each weekend instead of accepting an unlimited number of riders in the past.
Instead of opening registration in January – registration will open six weeks before each tour, running for about four weeks or until limits are reached.

The scenery is stunning along the Mesabi Trail.

Spring, Summer, or Fall, your riding experience on the Mesabi Trail is what great memories are made from.

The view is stunning as you cross over the Rouchleau Mine Pit. Open to both walkers and bikers in the summer, and snowmobilers can enjoy crossing here in the winter. The contrast between the aqua blue water and the red cliffs below is breathtaking. The bridge spans across an abandoned mine pit that was named after Louis Rouchleau. It is now filled with water that is 450 feet at its deepest point. With many natural springs feeding this three miles long, by five miles wide open pit, it is the main water supply for the City of Virginia.

More information to plan your visit to the Mesabi Trail

For more information and lodging options, visit the Iron Range Tourism Bureau: https://ironrange.org/motel

Be sure to add to your summer biking itinerary a visit to the Mesabi Trail. This paved trail system currently offers over a hundred miles to explore. The trail will reach 155 miles when complete, connecting Grand Rapids, at the Mississippi River Trail to Ely, next to the Boundary Waters. To learn more, go to: http://www.mesabitrail.com/.

Bike around Hutchinson and enjoy Minnesota’s hometown feel

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by Andrew Ellis

As tourism opportunities open up again, I wanted to revisit Hutchinson, MN. A bike-friendly community with Minnesota’s hometown feel and small-town charm, it is worth checking out. A short drive west of the Twin Cities, it’s one of those areas where it’s easy to lose track of time as you enjoy all the fresh air. Arriving in town, you have several biking options with several lakes and parks nearby for added recreational pleasure. If you enjoy pedaling around rather than driving when you reach your destination, you will have no trouble creating some new memories riding your bike.

Riding the Luce Line Trail through Hutchinson on the Jaycee’s Water Carnival, June 8th.

Aside from mountain biking, trail riding, and touring, the countryside offers more opportunities than you can cover in one day. Besides, you can immerse yourself in the local arts created by those who inspire the natural beauty around them. Spend some time learning about the town’s history. Or, if you are looking for a unique place to eat or a gift to take home, there are plenty of opportunities waiting for you to discover.

Minnesota’s hometown feel is in bike-friendly Hutchinson

Located a little over an hour from the Twin Cities, the community here is also known as ‘Minnesota’s Hometown.’ It’s a great place to escape the often road-rage-inducing atmosphere of the big city. Here you can ride the Luce Line State Trail to clear your mind and let the calm country scenery work its magic.

Nothing is better than McCormick’s Family Restaurant in Hutchinson to start your day and plan your ride. Voted the number one place for Eggs Benedict in Minnesota, their pancakes and waffles are good too.

When it comes time to take a break from pedaling, there is no shortage of attractions to keep your adventure moving forward. Hutchinson has its share of one-of-a-kind eateries, and if you’re looking for some more action outside, you can try your hand at some paintball.

Riding opportunities in and around Hutchinson

It’s easy to get out to Stahls Lake Park from Hutchinson.

Like many small towns in Minnesota, pedaling around isn’t difficult. Here in Hutchinson, there is one big trail system that takes you beyond the town limits. In fact, you can ride the trail all the way to the Twin Cities. And, if you’re up for the challenges, you will find a few mountain biking opportunities.

The Luce Line State Trail

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 paved trail includes about 21 miles from the west Carver County line, through Hutchinson, to the west McLeod County line. To learn more about the Luce Line, go to www.luceline.com.

Mountain Biking

Tartan Park is located in Hutchinson and is a skills park that is perfect for beginners to advanced mountain bikers.

Tartan Park is located in Hutchinson and is a perfect skill park for beginners to advanced mountain bikers.

Those wishing for more than paved, level trails are in luck. Thanks to the Hutchinson Area Mountain Bike Association, there are two tracks within reach: Tartan Terrain Park and Stahls Lake Park. Tartan Park is located in town limits and is a skills park that caters to beginners and advanced. If you want to venture outside the town limits to Stahl’s Lake Park, there’s a nice single-track that caters to all experience levels. Two double track loops range from .5 miles to 1 mile long. One single-track loop is over 2 miles.

Road Biking Opportunities

Like many of Minnesota’s smaller communities, navigating the area on your bike couldn’t be easier. The roads allow you to see all the area’s beautiful scenery, perfect for your next Instagram post. You can use the roads to explore the area’s parks, shops and more. Plus, you will find plenty of city trails that help you around as well.

Come, enjoy the bike-friendly fun in Minnesota’s ‘hometown feel’ of fun.

For more information on playing or staying in a community with Minnesota’s hometown feel. Check out our HaveFunBiking, At-a-Glance Hutchinson article for your next bike adventure. For places to stay and campgrounds, see Explore Hutchinson.

Bike Pic July 08, staying cool on a family fun ride in St. Paul

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In this bike pic, here is a family dressed in matching tie-dyed T-shirts enjoying the shaded lane along Summit Avenue, in St. Paul, MN to stay cool. Stay hydrated as you enjoy your activities in the heat.

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 in one of Minnesota’s HaveFunBiking Destinations. An now, check out more stories at Let’s Do MN.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

Now rolling through our 16th year as a bike tourism media, enjoy! As we pedal forward, our goal is to encourage more people to bike and have fun while highlighting all the unforgettable places for you to 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]. Include a brief caption (for each) of who is in the photo (if you know) and where it was shot? Photo(s) should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide or larger to be considered. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continue to encourage 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 into our 13th year of producing this handy information booklet full of maps.

Remember, 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. We may be around the corner with one of our cameras ready to document your next cameo appearance while you are riding and having fun. You could be in one of our next Pic of the Day.

Have a great day, with a safe, memorable 2021!

Bike Pic June 22, a beautiful Tuesday to ride along Summit Avenue

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It’s a beautiful bike pic Tuesday and we captured a young biker chick enjoying an outing riding along historic Summit Avenue, in St Paul, Minnesota.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

Have a great day with a safe, memorable 2021!

Bike Pic June 13, ice cream smiles Sunday around the world

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This ice cream smiles Sunday around the world bike pic, we captured a group of young biker dudes a bit envious of each other’s flavor choices.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

Have a great day, with a safe, memorable 2021!

Bike Pic June 06, stay’n cool on this hot ice cream smiles Sunday

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As the humid heat tries to zap your energy, drink plenty of fluids on your bike ride today. Stopping frequently for a cool treat as these two Bike Pic candidates are doing this Sunday.

While relaxing in the shade or air-conditioned ice cream parlor, 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 in one of Minnesota’s HaveFunBiking Destinations. An now, check out more stories at Let’s Do MN.

Thanks for viewing our latest Sunday Smiles bike pic

Have a great day, with a safe, memorable 2021!

Bike Pic May 28, yeah its Friday are you excited for a long weekend?

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Yeah its Friday, another beautiful day for a ride or preparing for that #NextBikeAdvenure, this Memorial Day Weekend. Here in this photo we caught this biker chick taking a break from her ride at a farmers market.

Get into the zone and plan your next bike outing with family and friends. Check out the latest Iowa and Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide; there are many bike-friendly maps inside for your #NextBikeAdventure.

Thanks for viewing our ‘Yeah Its Friday’ Pic of the Day

We are now rolling into our 15th year as a bike tourism media. As we pedal forward our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike and have fun while we highlight all the unforgettable places for you to 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 that we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Include a brief caption (for each) of who is in the photo (if you know) and where the picture was taken. Photo(s) should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide or larger to be considered. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continue to encourage 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 into our 8th year of producing this hand information booklet full of maps.

Remember, 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. We may be around the corner with one of our cameras ready to document your next cameo appearance while you are riding and having fun. You could be in one of our next Pic of the Day.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic May 20, fond memory and some kids never grow up!

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This soggy bike pic Thursday, we hope you have a similar chance of reliving your childhood as this biker chick discovered along the Minnesota River Trail.

Thanks for viewing our ‘fond memories’ Bike Pic

Have a great day, with a safe, memorable 2021!

First impressions: Bloomington River Bottoms Trail

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By Andrew Ellis

Towards the southern edge of the Bloomington river bottoms trail, there’s a bridge that takes you across the Minnesota River. Right before the Bloomington Ferry Bridge, you’ll see a rocky slope that travels down into the woods. This slope is the start of a great adventure. It’s known as the Minnesota River Bottoms Trail. Now, you may worry that you can only ride with a mountain bike on the singletrack trail, but you are safe on a regular trail/path bike also. You have to watch where you’re riding.

The Bloomington River Bottoms Trail

The ride itself is fun and challenging. The trail is made out of the dirt. While it may be smooth riding, for the most part, it’s not immune to the unpredictability of Mother Nature. Pedaling along, you may come across places that are soft and muddy from recent rainfall. Not only that, but this trail is used pretty regularly, so you’ll see other tire tracks that have gone through and made the puddles deeper and muddier in the aftermath. Usually, you can ride through or ride around it. If you ride through, you may feel your tires slip, but as long as you keep going, you should be fine. Riding around the puddle will take a little more concentration. You may either be able to find a dry area around its perimeter where your tires can fit or an area that hasn’t been touched.

It’s Friday and time to ride off on another weekend of fun taking in that next bike adventure that maybe includes testing out a fat bike ride.

The Minnesota River Bottoms is not only a great place to ride Fatbikes, but the birthplace of them.

For most of the ride, you’ll be along the river with a few trails leading you away. You’ll come upon many obstacles as well, such as logs set up for you to ride over if you wish and different turns that will keep you alert. Small trails will split off the main path and take you to other scenic areas but eventually connect back to the main trail. While the trail is mostly flat, the sandy conditions can make it hard to pedal. Also, the trail often changes shape after the river floods, which makes for unique rides!

Here is a fallen branch that acts as a bridge in the MN river bottoms.

Here is a fallen branch that acts as a bridge crossing Bloomington’s river bottoms.

You’ll find a few opportunities to cross the tributary streams that feed the river. One is a wood bridge that’s also partly on a fallen tree branch. You can certainly try riding across and risk falling in, or you can carry your bike across. There’s also a floating dock that allows room for you and your bike. You’ll use the rope to pull yourself across the river so you can continue your ride.

Why the trail is fun!

It takes a little more concentration than paved trails, but the uncertainty of what you’ll encounter is all part of the fun. You can have plenty of fun with the different twists, turns, climbs, and descends on a paved trail. You’ll even have plenty of views to stop and look at. But this track is different. While it is maintained, the trail gives you the feeling of being unprotected. It’s just you and the elements. There will be plenty of debris on the trail and more than a few low branches that you’ll either have to dodge or be okay with them hitting you in the face.

Winter fat bike fun is back in the upper Midwest as this biker takes a break for this photo opp.

And winter biking is always fun on the Bloomington River Bottoms Trail.

Find out more about Bloomington’s biking opportunities here.

Bike Pic May 01, yeah its a perfect weather day for a ride

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Yeah, it’s bike pic Saturday with sunny skies and warmer temps making it an enjoyable time to ride with family and friends. Here in this photo, we caught this biker chick pedaling the country roads in Minnesota’s Bluff Country.

Thanks for viewing our bike pic today!

Have a great day, with a safe, memorable 2021!