Welcome. We're your premier source for fun places to explore by bicycle or on foot. Offering guides, maps and articles on road and trail riding for the novice to seasoned cyclist - helping you find your #NextBikeAdventure
This bike pic Thursday, with fresh snow on the ground, why not jump on a fatty, a tube, or hike to burn off a few of those calories from Valentine’s Day?
So adjust to the above-normal temps and 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 today’s ice cream smiles Sunday bike pic
Now rolling through our 20th 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 15th 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.
n this bike pic Monday photo, a biker chick rides across Minnesota’s frozen lakes as the the winter temps warm up.
So, adjust to the above-normal temps and 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 today’s bike pic
Now rolling through our 20th 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. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.
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 15th 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.
For winter fun, this bike pic is Saturday; jump on a fatty, a snow tube, or hike to burn off a few of those remaining holiday calories.
So, adjust to the above-normal temps and 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 today’s bike pic
Now rolling through our 20th 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. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.
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 15th 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.
Famous for mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and bird watching, the Minnesota River Bottoms in Bloomington MN are some of the last natural trails in the Twin City metro. At the Bloomington Ferry Bridge site, you will find one of three starting points for many outdoor adventures along the river.
Trailhead locations and the Bloomington Ferry Bridge history
You have the option to cross under three bridges by riding the trails here along the Minnesota River. The first is the Bloomington Ferry Bridge. Started in the summer of 1849, the Bloomington Ferry began operations next to the Minnesota River bottoms. It carried people from the Bloomington shores to Shakopee. Exactly 40 years later, the first Bloomington Ferry Bridge was opened. Carrying people, carriages, and motorists across the river for over 100 years. No longer open to auto traffic, the trailhead here on the west side of Bloomington is a good starting point.
The two other trailheads are down steam from the Ferry Bridge. The next access to the trails is next to the 35W bridge. The final trailhead is at the Old Cedar Bridge site.
What are the Minnesota river bottoms?
The riders, hikers, and runners who frequent the Minnesota River bottoms.
To locals, the “River Bottoms” is a trail network stretching from the southwest corner of Bloomington to the trails of Fort Snelling State Park. These trails are enjoyed by mountain bike riders and runners who frequent them. While under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, they are not maintained by any government entity and often take on a “path of least resistance” or direction. It is not uncommon for new tracks to spring up after heavy rains and high river flooding. While riding, expect dirt trails exclusively with some log crossings, sand sections, and occasional overgrowth. Warning: in the summer, pay particular attention to the Urtica Dioica plants, or stinging nettles, growing on infrequently used trails.
Wildlife of the Minnesota River Bottoms
Bikers, birdwatchers, and hikers can enjoy wildlife sightings along the banks of the Minnesota River.
The River Bottoms are great for all types of recreation. It’s not uncommon to see hikers, bird watchers, and people fishing along the banks of the Minnesota River. I have enjoyed sharing with my son the sights of Bald eagles and Beavers who make the watershed here their home. Additionally, being a natural area, the River Bottoms are home to countless animals, including white-tailed deer and mink.
What to expect
On the map are a few more popular entrances to the River Bottom trail, including Lyndale Ave, Crest Ave, and Old Cedar Ave. These entrances offer ample parking and a clear trailhead. Once you start down the course, you will see that nothing is paved but worn-in enough to be firm under your tires. Except at the Lyndale trailhead, you will find a short section of paved land heading east, perfect for walking and wheelchair use. While a mountain bike is best for unpaved trails, fat tire bikes navigate well in winter. If you need to cross a stream, there are bridges, and at the 9-mile creek in the summer months, there is a rope ferry to get you across. Because the River Bottoms are so smooth, they are an ideal place for kids to go mountain biking.
You will find runners who frequent the natural settings of the Minnesota River bottoms.
When to ride
The Minnesota River bottoms are a natural haven for cyclists in spring, summer, winter, or fall.
The best part of the River Bottoms is that it is one of the first places to dry out each spring. It is also one of the first places to freeze when winter rolls through. Like most off-road trails, please avoid this trail in early spring as they thaw or after heavy rain. Other than that, these trails are sandy enough to drain quickly. One of the best things about the river bottoms is riding fat bikes. Fat bikes can trace their development directly to the river bottom in the winter. When the snow falls, the river bottoms are the perfect mixture of flat trails, bermed turns, and accessibility to create a near-perfect winter track.
Living in the Twin Cities, we are lucky to have a place like the river bottoms to ride. The fact that it is left free to change and natural is unique in a metro area. You will find some of the metro’s last natural trails from the Bloomington Ferry Bridge to Fort Snelling.
About John Brown, the author
John operates Browns Bicycle in Richfield, MN, as a lifelong cyclist and consummate tinker. It all started for him in grade school when the bike bug bit, and the fever still existed. Now, and over the past thirty years, he has worked at every level in the bike industry. He is starting, like most, sweeping floors and learning anything he can about bikes. He eventually graduated as a service manager and then as a store manager. Through the years, he has spent extensive time designing and sourcing bicycles and parts for some of the largest bike companies in the world. All the while focusing on helping as many people as possible enjoy the love of riding a bike. In that pursuit, he has taught classes (both scheduled and impromptu) on all things bikes. John also believes in helping every rider attain their optimal fit on the cycle of their dreams. Please feel free to stop in any time and talk about bikes, fit, and parts or share your latest ride. You can also see more of John’s tricks and tips on the Brown Bicycle Facebook Page.
Yeah its Friday and with warmer weather predicted in a day or so, its time to get the bike, skis or walking boots our for some winter fun.
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 new HaveFunBiking Guide.
Thanks for viewing our ‘Friday Fun’ 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.
Tuesday morning and this mountain biking chick finds a dry trail to enjoy. In Minnesota, check MORC trail conditions to see which trail systems may be open after all the rain, the last couple days.
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 ‘Mountain Biking’ 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.
Saturday morning and this mountain bike rider finds a dry trail along the Minnesota River bottoms in Bloomington MN. to enjoy. In Minnesota, check MORC trail conditions to see which trail systems may be open after all the rain, the last couple days.
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 ‘Mountain Bike Skills’ 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 you seen the winter bike guide issue yet? The new edition of the Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide has been updated with more maps and helpful tips for your viewing pleasure. Inside you’ll find up-to-date information to help you plan your next trail ride, back country road adventure, or bike event. You’ll also find great restaurants and other attractions to stop by along the way. And it’s all easily accessible through your mobile device.
Regularly Updated Digital Bike Guide
The digital version of the guide Minnesota Bike Guide is published quarterly. This allows us here at HaveFunBiking.com to provide you with regular updates for your next bike adventure. This platform also allows for the inclusion of more maps and bike events taking place over the next few months.
Mobile Friendly
It only made sense to make this guide for mobile devices, because you’re always on-the-go. Our maps include links to our web site full of information to make your trip a great experience. There are many updates since our summer issue so be sure to check it out!
Spread the Word
After you look through the bike guide, feel free to share the link with your friends. They can find their own adventures, or you can plan a group trip full of memories waiting to be made.
Send Us Your Pictures
We want to hear about how much fun you’re having out there so send us your pictures! Add #NextBikeAdventure, tag us in the photo, or email [email protected] for a chance to be featured in our pic of the day.
Please take a look at the most recent e-MN Bike/Hike Guide – Fall Edition. So, you think you already have it downloaded? Please check to make sure it’s the newest edition to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information. Then, bookmark it to your hand held devices for use when on the go!
Autumn E-Edition of the MN Bike/Hike Guide is Available
Now available is the digital, quarterly 2016 fall edition of the Minnesota Bike/Hike guide. In HaveFunBiking’s (HFB) eighth year of printing, this handy pocket-sized book of bike travel maps and events are now updated quarterly in an e-format. With our new digital platform we are able to update information on bike travel tips regularly. Plus, we have added two more features to the guide. They include additional maps of places you may want to explore and current bike events for the next three months.
And now, our latest editions of the guide is formatted to fit your mobile phone and note pad devices. So, all bike event listed in the guide and bike friendly maps are easy to read. Plus, all of our maps include At-A-Glance links to our HFB Destination landing pages for easy access to information when on the go. Offering you more information on where to ride, eat, and stay while in an area. Plus, it’s updated from our summer edition. So, don’t miss out!
Share You Bike/Hike Guide Adventures
After your review, please share the 2016 MN Bike/Hike Guide – Fall Edition link with your friends and give them a chance to find their #NextBikeAdventure. Maybe you will ride together or share your adventures the next time you hang out. Either way, the guide opens many opportunities to stay active while having fun!
Don’t forget that you can send us your bike adventure pictures too! Add #NextBikeAdventure, tag us in your photo, or e-mail us to be featured in one of our bike pics of the day!
Finding where the irrigation spray is hitting the road is the ultimate why to cool down!
Wrapping up the month of May, here in the Upper Midwest, if the combination of heat and humidity over the last couple days is any indication to what’s ahead here are some suggestions. Hot weather can make a normal ride more difficult. Then, throw in the humidity and you may want to stay off the bike altogether or cut your ride short. But that’s not necessary when you use these simple tips to keep cool on your bike. You can beat the heat, stay safe, ride longer and still have fun with the following.
1. Squirt Water on Your Head
During hot weather riding, a second water bottle can be a bonus for squirting water on your head through the vents in your helmet. Depending how hot every 2 to 5 miles will really help cool you down. First, the water itself will be cooler than your head and so that will be an initial and immediate blast of temperature relief. Next, the evaporation effect will continue to help keep you cool as the water dries by carrying heat away from your body as you continue riding.
Just make sure you have access to water along the route, so you can replenish your supply as you ride. If that is questionable and you have a way to carry several bottles, a few extra pounds will be well worth the extra effort it causes. You certainly don’t want to dump all your water on yourself, with nothing to drink and no place to refill?
2. Wrap a Wet Bandana or Towel Around Your Neck
If you don’t like getting your hair wet wrap a water-soaked piece of fabric around your neck. This old and proven method can do wonders to keep your body cool while riding your bike, hiking, paddling, etc. Here the moist coolant (H2O) in the loose fitting fabric wrapped around the base of your neck will help lower the blood temperature flowing between your heart and head – Allowing you to handle the warm weather with less chances of a heat stroke.
If you’re not inclined to do-it-yourself towel wraps, so-called “Neck Coolers or Wraps” are available at many local bike shop or department store.
3. Freeze Your Water Bottles Overnight
For colder water longer, consider freezing one of your water bottles overnight. The ice will melt as you ride, offering you cold water along the way instead of the too warm stuff that’s not so refreshing.
This may be a little bit trickier than the other steps, as you want to make sure the water will be melting so that it is available for drinking as you need it. Experiment with this until you know what is right for you. If you carry two water bottles, maybe freeze just one of them, saving that to be the second one you drink, after it has had the chance to melt, some.
Remember, if you plan to freeze one of your water bottles, fill it only to the 3/4 full level. Any more than that and the water may burst your bottle(s) as it expand while freezing.
If you use a water bladder device, verses a water bottle, add ice then fill with water. If you can add ice outside the bladder, in the pack, this will also help keep the contents cold, melting and dripping onto your back.
4. Wear the Right Kinds of Clothes
Choose clothing, in lighter colors, that allows perspiration to evaporate quickly and cools you down better. That’s going to mean materials like cotton and silk are totally out since they absorb and hold on to sweat. Look for “technical” fabrics instead, like spandex and lycra. If you don’t want to look like a bike jock, all decked out in gear that makes you look like you are ready to race in the upcoming Tour de France, you will be glad to know there are other options. Many golf and tennis-style cloths are now made in technical fabrics that look normal, feel comfortable and perform well.
5. Wet and Shady Heat Relief
When road temps near or exceed 100 degrees, schedule breaks often where there is water and or shade. When you need a drink from your water bottle or to rewet your neck wrap look for shade under a tree, on the north side of a building or under a overhang to make the stop more enjoyable. If you see a water park, lake or even a lawn sprinkler to run through, be a kid again and cool off.
So drink lots of liquids, stay cool and have fun riding!
