Tag Archives: cycle cross

Bike Pic Oct 03, fun riding into the Tuesday morning sun

In this bike pic, with fall colors popping and another day of above-normal temps, enjoy pedaling your favorite route or trail like this biker dude. If you can’t make it out today, check out the destinations and peak color links for this coming weekend.

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 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!

No matter the distance, bring plenty of water on your next ride

Regardless of the length of your bike ride or other outdoor activity, don’t forget to bring plenty of H20. Many times riders will assume that because the weather is cool or a ride is a short distance, they don’t need to bring water. Truth be told, the biggest drain on your energy level while riding can be related to dehydration. Stay hydrated by bringing water or a sports drink along on all rides.

Yeah, stay cool. Bring plenty of water along!

Stay hydrated before, during, and after your ride!

Here are five tips on how much to drink and what to drink when biking:

1. On days that are going to be hot, first thing in the morning, drink at least a pint (20 to 24 Fl. OZ.) of water. If you have a lemon handy, squeeze some juice in with the water. This combination wakes up your metabolism and replaces lost water from sleep. Plus, the vitamin C from the lemon helps build resistance to catching a cold.

2. Then, one to two hours before heading out on your bike, consume another pint of fluid an hour before you start riding. This is particularly important on the hotter days.

In colder weather, avoid consuming large amounts of fluids in the morning before your bike ride. This is because, in cold weather, your body will want to reduce the supply of blood going around your body. It will make you want to use the bathroom to eliminate excess fluid.

3. On longer rides, when riding for several hours, replace fluids with an electrolyte drink. Evidence shows that people hydrating only consuming water don’t replace electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride. This will result in a dramatic drop in performance and create fatigue. Several brands on the market use a richer mix during the winter (because you are drinking less) and a weaker solution during summer (because you’ll be drinking more).

On longer rides, consider mixing one of your water bottles with an electrolyte drink mix and grapefruit juice. Or, for a high carbohydrate burn rate, use gels with water.

Drink before you get thirsty

4. The main thing to remember when cycling, drink before you get thirsty. Sip on the water and the electrolyte drink on those hot days. Ideally, target to take a couple of sips of fluid every two or three miles on hot days. Everyone is unique, so this still might not be enough on really hot days. However, it is better to consume plenty of fluids early in the ride to help reduce the chance of hydration issues later in the day.

5. Hydrate and replenish after each and every bike ride. Do not just get home and have some water! You need to replace protein, carbohydrates, and electrolytes, and water alone won’t help your body recover quickly for that next planned activity. A quick recovery drink alone isn’t enough; you have to pay attention and keep hydrated the rest of the day too

Remember – Staying hydrated is unique to each individual. So please experiment with the steps above and the products available to determine what works best for you. If you feel faint, dizzy, or start to get a headache while out riding, please stop and seek shade or an air-conditioned room) and call medical assistance ASAP.

So, stay hydrated and have fun no matter how hot it gets!

Remember – Drink water before you get thirsty!

Bike Pic 30, fond summer memories on the cycle cross course

Reflecting back, there were a lot of fond summer memories this last year. Is your bike ready for that #nextbikeadventure ahead in 2018?

Have you had your bike into the shop for a tune-up yet, check out our article on why winter is the best time to get your bike ready.

View the new National Bike Guide and all the fun rides coming up in 2018.

Thanks for viewing today’s ‘summer memories’ Pic of the Day

Now rolling into our 11th year as a bike tourism media, our goal is to continue 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 destinations you can have fun at we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. As you scroll through the information and stories we have posted, enjoy!

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 do use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continues to encourage more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your next bike adventure – Also, check out the latest Bike Guide, mobile friendly as we enter into our 9th year of producing print and digital guides.

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. Please share all our pic’s with your friends and don’t forget to smile. We may be around the next corner with a HFB camera ready to document your next move while you are riding and having fun. Capturing you in one of our next ‘Pic of the Day’ posts.

Have a great day and a memorable new year!

Bic Pic Jan 20, more fond summer memories from last year

Reflecting back, there were a lot of fond summer memories this last year. Is your bike ready for that #nextbikeadventure in 2018?

Have you had your bike into the shop for a tune-up yet, check out our article on why winter is the best time to get your bike ready.

View the new National Bike Guide and all the fun rides coming up in 2018.

Thanks for viewing today’s ‘summer memories’ Pic of the Day

Have a great day and a memorable new year!

Bike Pic 13, fond summer memories on the cycle cross course

Reflecting back, there were a lot of fond summer memories this last year. Is your bike ready for that #nextbikeadventure that lays ahead in 2018?

Have you had your bike into the shop for a tune-up yet, check out our article on why winter is the best time to get your bike ready.

View the new National Bike Guide and all the fun rides coming up in 2018.

Thanks for viewing today’s ‘summer memories’ Pic of the Day

Have a great day and a memorable new year!

Join the Fun May 6th, the Twin Cities Fulton Gran Fondo

from Tucker Gerrick, Fulton Brewery

Join the fun at the 4th annual Fulton Gran Fondo, an event of bikes, bands, and beer. Both the long and medium routes depart in the morning of May 6th from the Fulton Production Brewery, in northeast Minneapolis. This year, both the 100 mile “Gran” and the shorter 45-50 mile “Medio” Fondo will be offered. The Gran Fondo starts at 9:00 am and the Medio starts at 11:00 am. A free block party begins from 1:00 pm until 9:00pm and is open to all. One highlight of the days activities includes the unveiling of a Session IPA, called Hopstar. Plus, Fulton’s favorite brews and the “Highplains Grifter” beer cocktail will be returning.

While still working on building in 2014, what is now our Northeast Minneapolis production brewery (as if we didn’t have enough to do already), we came up with the idea of putting together a bike ride. More specifically, a century ride with a celebration at the finish line. Many of us were and continue to be avid cyclists. Our taproom in downtown Minneapolis was a frequent stopover for many of those commuting to/from work and has continued to be a weekend destination for those on a bike. Partnering with our friends at All-City Cycles, we also created the All-City X Fulton cyclo-cross team. Now fancying ourselves not only a bike friendly brand, but also a bike forward part of the community.

In Its First Year Fulton’s Gran Fondo Was a Surprising Success

The first year of the Fulton Grand Fondo, we had hoped (between staff, friends and family) to get a couple hundred riders. Much to our surprise, we ended up with 600 cyclists who registered. We quickly learned how passionate, dedicated and fun our new cycling (and drinking) buddies were. We called the day a success and promised to do it again.

Fast forward three years and we’re proudly hosting our 4th annual Fulton Gran Fondo. In the past few years, we’ve added a Medio (45-50 mile) route. We have also built up an incredibly dynamic and entertaining block party to welcome everyone back at the end of the Fondo. We’ve donated thousands of dollars to local charitable partners, while never going thirsty making it happen. At the block party this year, we’re excited to announce the launch of a brand new beer, Hopstar, which will be served alongside Fulton’s other favorites like Lonely Blonde, Sweet Child of Vine, 300 Mosaic IPA, and our Standard Lager.

Registration for this year’s ride is open through the end of April and you can sign up for either the 50 or 100 mile route by following this link. For those who are out to cheer on the riders, are on the injured list, or simply just want to relax that day, we’ve got you covered too.

Shortly After the Medio Fondo Takes Off the Free Block Party Begins

The Fulton Gran Fondo block party is free to attend and begins a few short hours after the first mass start. This year’s musical lineup is the finest we’ve created yet featuring: Catbath, RLGDPPL, Posh Lost, Koo Koo Kanga Roo, Monica LaPlante and Dem Atlas. Plus, “Camp Fondo,” a Minnesota Chef Camp, will provide a curated space for food, activities, and a selection of Fulton’s community partners for all to enjoy.

We hope you’ll join us Saturday, May 6th to celebrate cycling, good food, and great beer at the Fulton Gran Fondo.

Bike Pic Jan. 31, having fun on a cycle cross course

Picture show a young lady on her bike having fun on a cycle cross course, in St. Louis Park, MN, early last Fall.

#FindYourNextAdventure

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.

Have a great day!

Youth cycling teams compete at Jingle Cross bike event in Iowa

by Beverly Van Buskirk, LeMars Sentenial

This weekend, nineteen members of the Central Junior Cycling Devo Dirt Militia, from LaMars, IA. are heading to Iowa City to compete in Jingle Cross, a cyclocross event.

“There will be over 2,000 participants at Jingle Cross,” said Monte Brent, one of the coaches for the team.

These Central Junior Cycling Devo’s are making it over some obstacles in training for the seasons grand finale. (photo from Central Junior Cycling Devo Facebook)

The bicyclists ride on a closed-circuit course. Each competitor will earn points during the three-day competition, for a cumulative score.

“Our kids will be racing against some of the nation’s best,” said Brent.

The competitors will come from Wisconsin, Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa.

Categories are junior boys 9-12, junior boys 13-15, junior boys 16-18, junior girls 9-13 and junior girls 14-18.

The weekend’s competition also includes adult races.

“Our kids are having a good time with cyclocross,” Brent said.

This year there are 65 youth in the program, with about 30 of them real regulars, according to Brent.

Coaches for the team are Dale Hurt, Teresa Ferguson, Paul Sunde, Scott Feuerhelm and Brent.

Central Junior Cycling Devo members range in age from 8 to 17.

“For us, it’s more about participation,” said Brent. “Great things happen. It’s not always about racing or the bicycle, it’s about a great team individual sport.”

These Central Junior Cycling Devo’s are intent on racing the course, in training for the seasons grand finale. (photo from Central Junior Cycling Devo facebook)

He added strong community support, from parents to businesses, has helped the club develop and be able to participate in events.

The cyclocross season runs from August through December, according to Brent.

Team members have raced several times in Minneapolis, as well as Knoxville, Iowa, Omaha, Nebraska, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Some even went to La Cross, Wisconsin, Brent said.

He describes the Iowa City race as a regional event.

He added Le Mars is fortunate to have the number of participants it does.

“We’re really small town compared to many of the clubs,” he said.

Brent encourages youth to join in the cycling fun.

For information contact Brent at [email protected] or call Bike Central at 712-540-7076.