Tag Archives: Great Minnesota Get Together

Bike Pic Aug 24, a wheelie may get you into your sweet spot

In this Wheelie Wednesday bike pic, we thought it would be fitting to show a picture, from our archives, of our BMX’rs friends from The Ride Factory a couple of years ago. They performed some high-rising stunts right in front of an audience at the Minnesota State Fair. We hope to see them back, will keep you posted.

Remember, take a chance; if life were a mountain bike trail and a Bunny Hop or Wheelie Wednesday helped smooth out your day-to-day ride or aided you to drop into your sweet spot. Why not review the following tips to make 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, 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 to the image, who shot it, and where. 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 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!

Remove the hassle factor going to the Minnesota State Fair!

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As many return to the Minnesota State Fair, using your bicycle to get there is a stress-free or comfortable mode to consider. If you are planning on attending this year’s ‘Great Minnesota Get-together’ bicycle parking is still free. Ride your bike from home or do a multi-modal commute to the fair. Haul your bike with your car or use the Metro Transit Bus and park a few miles away and ride to one of the fair’s bike corrals. Commuting by bicycle can take the hassle factor out of the annual get-together. Besides, it is a great way to burn off some of those calories from all of the fun things you can eat on a stick.

RIDING YOUR BIKE TO THE FAIR, CYCLISTS CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN THREE SECURE BIKE CORRALS: This year the fair started on August 25th and runs through Labor Day, September 5th. So there is plenty of time to go; plan your mode of transportation to get there and what you will see.

Three hassle-free bike corrals at the Minnesota State Fair

Riding your bike to the Fair, cyclists can choose between three secure bike corrals to park their bicycles while visiting. As in the past, riding your bike to the fair can be fun and reduce the hassle of traffic congestion getting there. Each day, those who commute by bicycle to the fairgrounds will find three (3) secure bike locations, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. They are located at:

North Bike Lot: Hoyt-Snelling Gate (#2)

West Bike Lot: Randall Ave-Buford Gate (#16)

South Bike Lot: Como-Snelling Gate (#6) is a popular location. This bike corral fills fast so if it is not too inconvenient, plan your route to one of the two above locations.

CHECK THE LATEST IN ECO-FRIENDLY E-BIKES IN THE ECO PROGRESS CENTER.: Here is a map from the MN Pollution Control Agency showing the best bicycle routes to ride your bike comfortably to the fair.

Bike-related things to do and see at the Minnesota State Fair

The Shoe Clip Light is an ideal item for bike commuter safety: Now that you are at the fair walking around, you can think about what you might want to purchase. Maybe a shoe clip light so you are more visible when out riding at night? You will find out more about where to purchase this item and other fun things on the free Minnesota State Fair App at the Google Play store.

At the Minnesota State Fair, check the latest in environmentally friendly exhibits, like the e-bikes, in the Eco Progress Center.

IN THE ECO PAVILION, SEE THE LATEST ON ELECTRIC ASSIST BIKES (e-bikes).: Need a new Minnesota Bike Map? In the Education Building, look for the Minnesota Department of Transportation booth, where you will find the latest maps free of charge.

Like parades?

DAILY, SEE UNI-CYCLISTS RIDING AMONG THE FLOATS AND MARCHING BANDS IN THE PARADE: At the Minnesota State Fair parade, it’s 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 performing. These single-wheeled bicyclists always do some fun tricks as they pedal along the parade route. As the parade ends near the Eco Progress Center, you can check out the latest exhibits in environmentally friendly living.

Fun foods at the Minnesota State Fair to try

YOU WILL FIND PLENTY OF FUN FOODS TO TRY AT THIS YEAR’S “GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER”

You will find plenty of fun foods to try at this year’s Minnesota State Fair. Every year there are many fun and wacky foods entrees to try at the fair. This year is no exception looking at the latest published list of new foods to try. Items that have caught my attention to try include:
the “All Quaked-Up Sandwich,” the vegan “Earthslider.” Breakfast Gnocchi,” and the “Gray Duck Sundae,” to name a few.

Hope this helps you plan for your visit to this year’s Minnesota State Fair. If we missed something, you may have discovered. Please let us know; please leave a comment below.

Thanks for viewing our latest review, and Have Fun at the fair. Share your experiences below!

Bike Pic Sept 15, unicyclist have fun going hand in hand

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In this bike pic, shot at the Minnesota State Fair, we caught these two unicyclists having fun in the daily parade. What new thing will be on a stick at the 2019 MN Fair?

Get to the x-Zone at the fair 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 Iowa or Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for Viewing Our ‘Unicycle’ Bike Pic!

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.

Smooth Out Your Day-to-Day Ride

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 Pics of the Day.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Sept 07, yeah it’s Friday, another fun year at the fair!

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This Bike Pic Friday we are showing you a couple biker chicks, from the Twin City Unicycle Club, riding their monocycle in the daily parade at the Minnesota State Fair. With record attendance this year it looks like everyone had a good time!

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

Thanks for Viewing Our ‘State Fair’ Bike Pic’

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.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Aug 29, Wheelie Wednesday at the MN State Fair

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In this bike pic, shot at the Minnesota State Fair, if life were a mountain bike trail and a wheelie or Bunny Hop Wednesday helped smooth out your day-to-day ride or aided you to drop into your sweet spot, why not review the following tips to make your week an adrenaline high?

Thanks for Viewing Our ‘Bunny Hop or Wheelie’ Bike Pic!

Smooth Out Your Day-to-Day Ride with Bunny Hop Monday, and:

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!

Using the west or north bike corral can relieve the hassle-factor biking to the fair

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It’s that time of the year again and what better way to go to the “Great Minnesota Get Together” then by bike and parking in one ot the three, free bicycle corrals there. Riding from home or drive/park a few miles away and multi-modal commuting with your bike can take a lot of the hassle factor out of visiting the fair. It is also a great way to burn-off those extra calories from all of the fun things you may want to indulge in, on a stick.

Your bike can be a hassle -free way to get to the Minnesota State Fair

It is probably the fastest and most inexpensive way to get to the fair, riding your bike. If you don’t live near the fair, a multi modal commute is another fun option. Drive your car, with your bike(s) along and park it in one of the St Paul neighborhoods, close by. Then bike in on one of the city’s designated bike routes. Use this St Paul map along with Google Maps, to plan your route to get to the fair.

Riding your bike is probably the fastest way to get to the fair.

Planning on riding your bike to the fair? From On August 23rd, through Labor Day, August 3rd, cyclists who commute by a pedal bike to the fair, from 6 a.m. to midnight, each day will find three secure bike locations. They are located at:

West Bike Lot: Randall Ave-Buford Gate (#16). For cyclist coming from Minneapolis and the western suburbs, this is a handy location and in the past has the most options for parking and convenience.

North Bike Lot: Hoyt-Snelling Gate (#2) For cyclist coming from north Metro, this is a handy location and in the past has had more options for parking and convenience than the South Bike lot.

South Bike Lot: Como-Snelling Gate (#6) the most popular location, this bike corral fille fast especially on weekends.

See more info here.

Another option are the free shuttle buses to et to the fair.

Another option is to take one of the free shuttle buses from a satellite parking lot. Allow one to two hours each way for this option.

Bike related things to do and see at the Minnesota State Fair

The lighted spurs clip to your shoes so you are more visible when riding your bike.

Now that you are in the fair grounds and walking around here are some bike related ideas you might like to see. Need some lights to lite up your bike shoes for more visibility at night; Maybe a new Minnesota Bike Map from MnDOT; or the latest on e-Fat Bikes? It all at the Minnesota State Fair.

Pick up one of the last few 2017 guides at the DNR Info Center.

Pick up one of the last few remaining 2018 MN Bike/Hike Guides at the DNR Info Center.

For the newest gizmo in bike safety and awareness, check out the clip on safety lights for your shoes while biking, See them in a booth under the Grand Stand. Need the newest Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide, in hard copy paper format? Head on over to the DNR Info Center. For the Minnesota Bike Map? You will find a paper copy, free of charge, right below the big bike hanging from the ceiling in the Eco Building.

In the Creative Activities Building we found this clock. Congratulation Brad Kacter, from Shoreview, MN.

In the Ag-Horticulture Building we found this grain art piece. Congratulation Darlene Thorud, of Bloomington, MN.

In the Ag-Horticulture Building last year we found this grain art piece. Congratulation Darlene Thorud, of Bloomington, MN. I wonder what bike art will be present this year?

Like parades?

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

CHECK THE LATEST IN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY EXHIBITS IN THE ECO PROGRESS CENTER.

Also, within the Eco Building check out the coalition of state agencies and private organizations whose goal is to get more people on bikes more often in Minnesota. Also 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 extra t-shirts you have been accumulating and make grocery bags out of them. See more on the Eco buildings schedule and opportunities here. While there enjoy a sample of the latest coffee or tea at the Peace Coffee station.

Like fun action biking stunts?

Up in the X-Zone, on Machinery Hill in their new location (Murphy Ave and CosGrove St); watch some The Ride Factory preform some high-rising stunts, right in front of you, on the amazing exhibition course there.

Watch the Ride Factory preform some high-rising stunts right in front of you.

Fun foods at the Minnesota State Fair to try

A favorite MN Fair food, the Tipsy Pie made with caramelized onions, gouda cheese and infused with brown ale was a hit last year.

Every year there are many fun and wacky foods entrees to try at the fair. This year is no exception looking at this list. Item that caught my attention that I might have to taste included:

the Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl, Firecracker Shrimp Stuffed Avocado, Irish Tater Kegs just to name a few. Hope I can still get a cup of the maple cream nitro cold press coffee, leike last year?

The Minnesota State Fair App

Download the Minnesota State Fair App. It’s absolutely free and features their famous Food Finder, Fun Finder and Merch Search tools to help you find your favorites at The Great Minnesota Get-Together. Available now absolutely free at the Apple App Store or Google Play store.

Hope this helps you for your 2018 visit to the Minnesota State Fair. Please let us know, if we missed something you think we should add it to this preview article. Please leave a comment below.

Thanks and Have Fun!

Bike Pic Aug 25, yeah its Friday and time for that next bike adventure

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Now that it’s Friday, it’s time to ride off for a weekend of fun on that next bike adventure. If you are going to the Minnesota State Fair, check out our hassle-free get-to-the-fair-tips and while there take in the Ride the Factory stunt show.

What better way to continue your summer fun 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 ‘Yeah Its Friday’ Pic of the Day

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!

Planning a trip to the Minnesota State Fair by bike just got easier

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It’s that time of the year, planning a trip to the Minnesota State Fair. What better way then by riding your bike. Riding from home, parking a few miles away, or incorporating the Metro Transit for a multi-modal commute can take the hassle factor out of visiting the fair. Plus, the Fair has expanded the space for free bicycle parking. It is also a great way to burn-off those extra calories from all of the fun things to eat on a stick. In St. Paul, this year the fair run from August 24th, through Labor Day, September 4th. HaveFunBiking plans to be out there on opening day to review the latest in interesting bicycle related opportunities hope to see you out there.

A hassle -free way to get to the Minnesota State Fair

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.

As in the past, riding your bike to the fair can be fun and lessen the congestion getting there. Avoid the hassle of State Fair traffic inconveniences and limited parking options. This year, take the bus, ride your bike or both by multi modal commuting. Each day, those who commute by bicycle to the fair ground, from 6 a.m. to midnight each day, will find three (3) secure bike locations. They are located at:

South Bike Lot: Como-Snelling Gate (#6) A popular location, this bike corral has added 100 addition spot for daily bike paring here.

North Bike Lot: Hoyt-Snelling Gate (#2)

West Bike Lot: Randall Ave-Buford Gate (#16)

Here is a map, from St Paul Smart Trips, showing the best bicycle routes to ride your bike comfortably to the fair.

Bike related things to do and see at the Minnesota State Fair

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 , check the latest in environmentally friendly exhibits in the Eco Progress Center.

Now that you are at the fair walking around you can think about what you might want to purchase. Maybe a headband that can open up as a bonnet under your helmet to help keep the sweat of your eyes or the sun from the top of your head? You will find out where to purchase this item and other fun things on the new Minnesota State Fair App, that is free – see below.

Need a new Minnesota Bike Map? In the Education Building, look for the Minnesota Department of Transportation booth where you will find the latest maps free of charge. They are usually available up in one of the bike exhibits up on the Eco Building, also.

Didn’t get a printed copy of our 2017 Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide? Pick up a copy at the Minnesota DNR Information Center, while supplies last.

Like parades?

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 on one-wheel you will see many different floats and marching bands. As the parade ends near the Eco Progress Center you can check out the latest exhibits in environmental friendly living.

Fun foods at the Minnesota State Fair to try

You will find plenty of fun foods to try at this years Minnesota State Fair.

Every year there are many fun and wacky foods entrees to try at the fair. This year is no exception looking at the latest published list of new foods to try. Item that caught my attention that, I might have to try, included: the Bacon Fluffernutter (say that ten times), the triple truffle trooter, Memphis Tochos and a cup of maple cream nitro cold press coffee. And that’s for starters, besides all the tried and true treats I normally only indulge in once a year.

See the latest in action biking stunts?

Take a load off your feet and watch the BMX’ers perform some stunts, at the X-Zone.

Up on Machinery Hill you will find the X-Zone. Here watch some BMX’ers preform some high-rising stunts right in front of you on the amazing exhibition course they have laid out.

Interested in fat biking?

Located in the Ramberg Senior Center, kiddie-corner from the Haunted House, you will find out what Team Fat Bike is all about. Visit their brightly colored e-bike assisted models on display at the fair. From folding bikes, beach cruisers, mountain extreme bikes, classic step-threw and more you will see. Check them out, they may be a little easier to pedal and more fun!

New Minnesota State Fair App

Download the Minnesota State Fair App. It’s absolutely free and features their famous Food Finder, Fun Finder and Merchandise Search tools to help you find your favorites at The Great Minnesota Get-Together. Available now absolutely free at the Apple App Store or Google Play store.

Hope this helps you plan for your next visit to the Minnesota State Fair. If we missed something you may have discovered? Please let us know, we would like to add it to our preview article, coming later this week. Please leave a comment below.

Thanks and Have Fun at the Minnesota State Fair!