Tag Archives: free bike maps

Bike Pic July 27, wheelie Wednesday into your sweet spot

This bike pic Wednesday, if life were a mountain bike trail and Wheelie Wednesday helped smooth out your ride, why not drop into your sweet spot. Here are some tips to make the rest of your week an adrenaline high?

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. And now, check out more stories at Let’s Do MN.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

Now rolling through our 18th 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 the pic was shot? Photo(s) should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide or larger 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 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 and memorable year ahead!

The music in Shoreview will have you dancing on your pedals to natures beat

by Andrew Ellis

The trails here in Shoreview can be your playground for you and your bike – there’s nowhere you can’t go. This Twin Cities Gateway community here offers friendly road routes, trails, and sidewalks so you can take another bike journey wherever you wish. The city also offers some off-road paved trails to get closer to nature and all the beauty the community has to offer. You may even find some smaller paths worth exploring. It’s your adventure and it all starts as soon as you leave your hotel in the Twin Cities Gateway, and don’t forget Slice of Shoreview Days, July 22-24.

A perfect vacation headquarters, the Twin Cities Gateway is a cooperative of nine communities including Shoreview and just a few bike-friendly miles north of Minneapolis. Here you can enjoy:

Concerts in the Shoreview Commons

Shoreview’s Concerts in the Commons is the perfect way to get a pedal dancing rhythm for your #NextBikeAdventure.

This summer offers free entertainment outdoors at the Shoreview Community Center concerts. Each Wednesday, starting in June, the Center features an outside concert with a different band, each week starting at 7 pm. It’s free, so steer your bike over and get ready to tap your feet.

Rice Creek North Regional Trail

Get close to nature on all the paved trails winding through Shoreview.

With more than 50 miles of paved trail (see map) there’s plenty of riding for several visits. Although it is hard to see some trail markings, these trails offer many opportunities to take wildlife pictures and discover the area’s diverse landscape while catching scents of wildflowers. As you ride you will also see and hear plenty of birds of different kinds chirping away. Every once and a while the trail crosses over the creek and you may want to consider some fishing.

Other Activities

If you want to take a short bike ride over to nearby Spring Lake Park, you can also enjoy the Shoreview Sweetroll Skate Park. The SweetRoll is a tier-one skating facility on the north side of the Community Center. The park here includes a wedge, a spine, a fun box, a quarter pipe, grind rails, and a mini ramp.

Water park

If you’re looking for a fun way to cool off, you can bike over to the Shoreview Community Center for their tropical-themed water park in the Twin Cities Gateway. This three-story water slide-equipped park features a one-of-a-kind jukebox with over 100 songs ready to play along with a light show that sliders can enjoy as they twist and turn down to the bottom. At the main pool, you can also play volleyball and there is even an adults-only whirlpool and patio area.

Disk Golf

Disc golf opportunities are always a highlight in the many parks of the Twin Cities Gateway.

For those wanting a round of disc golf all you have to do is ride over to Hansen Park in New Brighton. With 12 holes, this disc golf course is complemented by stands mature trees amongst open spaces to skillfully connect with the baskets. It’s a great way to take a break from biking while still enjoying the amenities of Shoreview.

And don’t forget Slice of Shoreview Days

Consider biking to the Slice of Shoreview for a weekend of fun.

If you’re exploring the area in July, from the 22^nd to the 24^th, then you will be in time for the annual Slice of Shoreview Days. This celebration. is packed with fun for the whole family. There is live music, local arts, chalk drawing, a petting zoo, pony rides, a carnival, fireworks, and more.

Visiting Shoreview with your bike can be a memorable weekend you won’t soon forget.

Bike Pic July 10, Ice Cream Smiles Sunday adds fun to the weekend

Its Ice Cream Smiles Sunday! So pump up the tires and plan your #NextBikeAdventure with a stop at your favorite ice cream shop.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

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 the pic 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.

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

Bike Pic July 03, Ice Cream Smiles Sunday adds fun to the weekend

On this bike pic Sunday, celebrating the 4th of July weekend with family and friends, it’s Ice Cream Smiles Sunday that caps the weekend! So pump up the tires and plan your #NextBikeAdventure with a stop at your favorite ice cream shop.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

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 the pic 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.

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

Bike Pic July 01, riding into the Friday sun along the MRT

This Bike Pic Friday riding into the morning sun, we captured this biker chick riding the Minnesota section of the Mississippi River Trail (MRT). Now preparing for the 4th of July weekend plan your #NextBikeAdventure.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

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 the pic 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.

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

Bike Pic June 17, yeah it’s Friday a perfect weather day on the MRT

This Bike Pic Friday, we captured these two bikers riding a Minnesota section of the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) in the Twin City Gateway community of Fridley.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

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 the pic 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.

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

Bike Pic June 06, riding into the Monday morning sun along the MRT

This Bike Pic Monday, we captured this young biker chick riding the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) in the Twin Cities, with the Minneapolis skyline in the background.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

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 the pic 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.

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

Bike around Hutchinson with its hometown charm

by Andrew Ellis

As tourism opportunities open up again, I wanted to revisit Hutchinson, MN, from their map on pages 46-47 in the MN Bike/Hike Guide. A bike-friendly community with a hometown feel and small-town charm this community 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, enjoy pedaling around rather than driving your car when visiting. Enjoy several biking and hiking options around lakes and parks in the area for your recreational pleasure. You will have no trouble creating some new memories while riding your bike in Hutch.

Riding the Luce Line Trail through Hutchinson on the Jaycee’s Water Carnival Ride.

Aside from riding the mountain bike trails north of town or touring the countryside, you will find many more outdoor adventures here than you can cover in one day. Besides, you can immerse yourself in the local arts. 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 your visit here.

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 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.

When it comes time to take a break from pedaling, there is no shortage of attractions to keep your adventure moving forward. Hutch 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.

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.

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 some off-road adventures, you 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 within the 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 here allow you to see the beautiful scenery, perfect for your next Instagram post. You can also use the city streets and trails to explore the area’s parks, shops, and more.

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.

The winter/spring bike guide is here to help you plan your next adventure

The winter/Spring edition of the MN Bike Guide is here, just in time, as temperatures start to warm. Page through the latest Guide and rediscover the trails and scenic country roads in Minnesota. Now in our thirteenth year of publishing the guide, we have added several more bike-friendly destinations in Minnesota. Also, find many bike events and info on what you will see if you attend the E-bike Challenge, in Minneapolis, on April 2 & 3.

In this Winter/Spring issue, with all the fun bike maps, we’ve added several helpful tip sheets to keep you riding comfortably, especially if your looking at e-bikes, to be more eco-friendly.

The Bike Guide is the perfect primer for the E-bike Challenge

Now, with the Omicron-fueled surge on the decline, the E-bike Challenge returns the first weekend in April. Offer consumers a comfortable environment to compare and ride the latest e-bikes. With several social distancing procedures in place around the exhibit area inside next to the huge indoor test track. Visitors will also discover, even if they can’t replace a car entirely, why most trips within a 10-mile range can be less expensive with an e-assist vehicle. And, in many cases, taking less time than a carbon-fueled vehicle for the same journey.

Some e-bike brands already registered for the E-bike Challenge include Giant, GoCycle, Serial 1 by Harley Davidson, Pedego, Riese & Muller, and Skyl Power Bikes. Along with Erik’s Bikes, Now Bikes, Power Bikes, and Trailhead Cycle, to name a few of the local bike shops with brands they carry. The event will also feature several breakout health and tech sessions, a kids’ bike test track, and other fun family activities. Plus, visitors will receive a complimentary printed copy of the spring/summer Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide, at the door. Full of new bicycling maps of popular Minnesota destinations to explore.

Check back often, the summer guide will be available in late April – until then, Enjoy!

Bike Pic Feb 01, springtime memories as winter continues

This Bike Pic Tuesday, digging through the archives, we caught this biker chick riding the ALS Trek Ride MN.

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. And now, check out more stories at Let’s Do MN.

Thanks for viewing our latest bike pic

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