Tag Archives: free bike maps

Bike Pic July 19, With Proper Protection, Its A Great Day For Trail Fun

With sun glasses, sunscreen and other articles of protection, its a great day for trail riding fun, at any age. Photo captured in Lebanon Hills Park, near Lakeville, MN.

What better way to start your Summer and your #NextBikeAdventure. View all the fun ideas and bike destinations in the latest Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. Then plan your next outing with family and friends in one of Minnesota’s HaveFunBiking Destinations.

Thanks for Viewing Our ‘Proper Protection Pic of the Day

We are now rolling into our 10th 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 apperance while you are riding and having fun. You could be in one of our next Pic’s of the Day.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic July 15, A Fun Day To Ride The Mississippi River Trail

Another fun day to ride the Minnesota section of the Mississippi River Trail on this picture perfect Saturday. Here in this photo a cyclist round the scenic waterscape, with the Minneapolis downtown skyline in the background.

Get into the zone and plan your next bike outing with family and friends at one of Minnesota’s HaveFunBiking Destinations. View all the fun ideas and bike destinations in the latest Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for Viewing Our ‘Mississippi River Trail’ Pic of the Day!

Have a great day!

Bike Pic July 7, Yeah Its Friday and Time For Another Bike Adventure

Now that it’s Friday, it’s time to ride off for a weekend of fun on that next bike adventure. Plan your next outing with family and friends in one of Minnesota’s HaveFunBiking Destinations. Here in this ‘Yeah It’s Friday’ Pic of the Day , riders are kicking off the 2017 Root River Bluff & Valley Bike Ride in SE Minnesota.

What better way to start your Summer and your #NextBikeAdventure. View all the fun ideas and bike destinations in the latest Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for Viewing Our ‘Yeah It’s Friday’ Pic of the Day

We are now rolling into our 10th 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 weorth a grin. Enjoy the information and stories we have posted as you scroll through.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic July 6, Another Perfect Day to Ride the Mississippi River Trail

Another perfect day to ride a Minnesota section of the Mississippi River Trail. Here a cyclist rounds the scenic waterscape with views of both the Minneapolis and St Paul skyline.

Thanks for Viewing Our ‘Mississippi River Trail’ Pic of the Day!

Have a great day!

Bike Pic July 1, Still Time For The Bluff & Valley Bike Tour Next Weekend

If you are yearning to explore Southeast Minnesota’s Bluff Country there’s a couple more openings for the Root River Bluff & Valley Bike Tour next weekend, July 7, 8, 9, 2017.

Thanks for Viewing Our ‘Bluff & Valley’ Pic of the Day!

Have a great day!

Bike Pic June 27, A Twin Twin Cities Tour On The Mississippi River Trail

Another perfect day to ride the Mississippi River Trail, as many cyclists round this scenic waterscape with views of both the Minneapolis and St Paul skylines in sight.

Thanks for Viewing Our ‘Mississippi River Trail’ Pic of the Day!

Have a great day!

Bike Pic June 25, With Friends Rolling In Its Ice Cream Smiles Sunday

With all their biker friends rolling in its Ice Cream Smiles Sunday! So pump up the tires and plan your #NextBikeAdventure with a stop at your favorite ice cream shop.

What better way to start your Summer and your #NextBikeAdventure. Plan your next outing with family and friends at one of Minnesota’s HaveFunBiking Destinations. View all the fun ideas and bike destinations in the latest Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for Viewing Our ‘Ice Cream Smiles Sunday’ Pic

Have a great day!

Experience Fridley’s Nature, Arts and 49er Days in Twin Cities Gateway

by Andrew Ellis, HaveFunBiking.com

You’re outside your hotel, maybe the new WoodSpring Suites, and ready to ride your bike around Fridley. It’s got a great balance of big chain stores and the beauty of the natural world. With the area’s bike friendly attributes, you’ll be able to travel to a place where you have the chance to be up close with various birds, get a great taste of history, and view art all in the same place. You could ride the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) or try out your go-cart skills down the road. Don’t forget 49er Days this coming weekend. It’ll be an adventure you’ll never forget.

Fridley’s Springbrooke Nature Center

There are two parts to Springbrooke. The inside contains information about the center, and interactive section in the back. You can learn about the different kinds of trees, see live snakes, frogs, turtles, wild turkey, and more. It’s a great place to prepare for a hike on the Nature Trail.

After walking through Springbrooke’s Interpretative Center take a stroll down one of the many trails there.

Once you get outside there are a couple access points to the trail – and this is where the real adventure begins. Everywhere you go you will be surrounded by nature. You’ve got trees of different kinds everywhere, small and large bridges that will take you across all kinds of creeks and wetlands. There’s even a large walkway that takes you across a semi-large pond were you’ll have the best chance to catch some bird sighting.

Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts

This former Inn for soldiers and traders on the Red River Trail is now a place for developing and established artists. It’s an old house, in a calm and peaceful setting. Inside you will find wooden flooring that creeks every now and then. Paintings from the different exhibits line the walls, with studios and an art library upstairs. You will find special events here, like a reading at 7 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. By the parking lot there is sculpture named Homegrown, made entirely out of litter found in Minnesota’s public water, since 1929.

The center is also right by Mahnoman County Park and has a paved trail that ventures further into the park. Just down the road is a Park and Ride, for the North Star Commuter Rail Line. This trail also connects to the MRT for more exploring.

Fridley’s MB2 Go-Cart Racing

The MB2 Raceway is an indoor go-cart racing facility for all skill levels.

Those downhill trails connecting to the MRT can give you a great rush on you bike, but what about trying out some four-wheel fun at the recently-opened MB2 Raceway. This is an indoor go-cart racing facility for all skill levels. It’s the perfect break from biking, and is sure bring out some friendly competition. There are different packages to choose from and it also hosts parties as well.

Fridley’s Annual 49er Days

Come for the 49er Parade, stay for all the fun activities and food scheduled throughout the day.

If you’re in town on July 17^th then steer your bike on over to Commons Park for 49er Days. There’s a parade along with games, food, a martial arts demonstration, live music, and more.

Bike Pic June 12, A Monday Morning Mountain Bike Ride In The Woods

What better way to start your week then a Monday morning mountain bike ride in the woods for your #NextBikeAdventure. With warm, sunny summer weather ahead you will be glad you did.

Only in Minnesota you can ride portions of the upper Mississippi River Trail (MRT), enjoy the paths and trails around the states 10,000 lakes or hit one of the many mountain bike trails here. View more in the latest Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for Viewing Another Mountain Bike Ride Pic of the Day

Have a great day!

Consider Buying a Nicer Helmet That Adds Comfort to Bicycle Safety

by John Brown, HaveFunBiking.com

While talking with a neighbor over the weekend, he told me “I need to go get a helmet….to set a good example for my son.” Knowing my background in the cycling industry, he proceeded to ask a few questions about what he should get. In our conversation, I mentioned an earlier article “Riding safely with your kids” and reviewed all the reasons to buy a helmet and how to find the right one. Then I added some additional reasons why buying a more expensive helmet is a really good option.

A Nicer Helmet Adds Comfort to Safety

First, all bicycle helmets sold in the US need to pass CPSC tests. These tests are the baseline requirements for helmet safety in the US. So, if all helmets pass the same tests, why buy a nicer helmet? Well, there are more safety features that are available for helmets, like MIPS. This makes a helmet safer, but the way it makes MIPS safer is not yet specifically tested for. So the first reason to buy a better helmet is safety.

Ventilation and weight

Beyond Safety features, the most compelling reason to buy a nicer helmet is ventilation. Ventilation is the reason helmets become more expensive. As an example, the larger holes in the helmet required for better ventilation makes it more difficult for the helmet to pass safety testing. So, to pass testing more complex molds need to be used to make the helmet, more steps are required to make the helmet and more technology is added to make the helmet. All this added process, makes the helmet both better ventilated as well as more expensive. Also, more expensive helmets are much lighter than their basic counterparts. Overall, a lighter and more ventilated helmet will be more comfortable.

The helmet on the left has a very small amount of ventilation compared to the helmet on the right

A Nicer Helmet Offers More Comfort

Another great reason to buy a nicer helmet is comfort. Nicer helmets are made in many sizes that fit different sized riders more comfortably. Additionally, they use retention mechanisms that hold the sized helmet on your head properly, so the helmet is touching your head as little as possible.

Example

As an example, Lets look at Specialized’s line of helmets. Beginning with the Align ($40), you have a well ventilated one size fits all helmet. Moving on to the Echelon 2 ($70), that helmet has larger ventilation ports, as well as 4 sizes to fit riders better. Finally, we look at the Prevail ($200) which has the largest vents, lightest weight, as well as a Kevlar, internal, roll cage to hold the helmet together on impact. It has the most refined retention mechanism and comes in many sizes to fit riders comfortably.

From left to right: Specialized Align ($40), Echelon 2 ($70), Prevail ($200) and cutaway example of the Internal Kevlar Roll Cage

Testing Helmets

First thing to do is make sure the helmet you select from the many brands available Is comfortable and fits well before you purchase it. Once you find a few helmets that seem comfortable, take them for test rides on your bike (most shops will allow this if you leave an ID behind). Concentrate on what helmet is most comfortable and best ventilated. Then, buy what feels great!