Tag Archives: LaCrosse Area Bicycle Festival

Bike Pic Oct 18, yeah its Friday time for that next bike adventure

This bike pic Friday, with temps in the 70s and fall colors peaking, it’s time to ride off on that next bike adventure!

So, adjust to the warmer temps, drink lots of water, and get into the zone when continuing your time outdoors for that #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

As we roll into our 21st year as an outdoor 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. To be considered, the photo (s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide. 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 our 15th annual mobile-friendly MN Bike Guide, a handy booklet full of maps of fun places to bike and hike.

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 fun as we pedal into a colorful fall of fond memories!

Ride the driftless monster at the La Crosse Bike Festival

For nine years, the La Crosse Area Labor Day Bike Festival has hosted all kinds of fun rides, for all kinds of riders. This year, along with the: family-friendly neighborhood tours, ice-cream rides, mountain biking, live music, and scenic road rides, there is the “Monster”. A 100-mile ride (with a 62 and 125-mile option) that will take you on an unforgettable journey through the scenic valley of the Mississippi River.

Travel on low-traffic rural roads, or at least on roads with bike facilities.

The Monster Ride is 100 miles, with 10 climbs, and 7,400 feet of elevation gain. Six of the climbs on this route count as real “Driftless Monsters,” or hills with over 300 ft of elevation gain and at least one has a grade of 14% or greater. Through the weekend, starting at the registration tent in Riverside Park, you can complete this route anytime between sunrise and sunset (6:28 a.m. to 7:35 p.m.) each day of the festival. Plus, it’s free, but you will need to register!

* NOTE CHANGE: Mass start is at 8 a.m. if you want to leave with the pack.

This is a self-supported, self-guided event; not a race. Challenge yourself or feel free to grab some friends and see if you have what it takes. The routes are not marked on the road. Rather they will be on Ride With GPS as an “event” with all available features. PDFs of the route and a cue sheet are also available.

Family fun for everyone at the LaCrosse Area Bicycle Festival.

Sign-up for the La Crosse Area Labor Day Bike Festival

The Festival registration, most in-town rides, the Open Streets fair, and live music are all complimentary. However, premium festival registration will give you many additional benefits including text-based weather updates; t-shirts and a special bag of goodies. The Gravel Enduro Series and Gran Fondo are also optional fee-based events with timing and added benefits.

In-town Bike Festival rides

Family fun for everyone on the La Crosse Area Bicycle Festival ice cream tour.

Most in town guided rides are free, except money for cool treats, and are suitable for families, kids, and are easy. They leave from Riverside Park at the designated time, make frequent stops,

Pump track fun at the LaCrosse Area Bicycle Festival is easy and will help you improve your mountain bike skills.

and have a leader and volunteers to shepherd the ride through the city.

Bike Festival self-guided bike routes

The Bike Festival team have designed these countryside routes to be ridden self-supported. Ride your bike alone or in small groups, without the need for a tour guide or ride leader. All mapped routes are designed loops, leaving from public parks or parking lots. Wherever possible, you’ll travel on low-traffic rural roads, or at least on roads with bike facilities. To help you stay self-sufficient, maps show optional stops every 25-30 miles at convenience stores or public parks.

Time to make plans now!

For lodging options see: Destination La Crosse

Enjoy a holiday bike Festival pedaling through the scenic Driftless Area

For eight years, the La Crosse Area Labor Day Bike Festival has hosted all kinds of rides, for all kinds of riders. This year, along with the: family-friendly neighborhood tours, ice-cream rides, mountain biking, live music, challenging road rides, are two new event options.

Family fun for everyone at the LaCrosse Area Bicycle Festival.

New on the 2018 schedule are the Gran Fondo and Gravel Enduro Series, both optional fee-based events. These are collections of fun rides exploring gravel and road routes in the Driftless region. “Enduro” and “Gran Fondo” means that riders leave together on a neutral start, with several sections timed along the way. The Gravel Enduro Series includes two rides over Labor Day weekend and a bonus recovery ride on Labor Day. The Gran Fondo will have two different rides on two days, with varying distances from 30-75 miles. Take your pick — join them on all of the rides, or pick just of one.

Sign-up for the La Crosse Area Labor Day Bike Festival

The Festival registration, most in-town rides, the Open Streets fair, and live music are all complimentary. However, premium festival registration will give you many additional benefits including: text-based weather updates; t-shirts and a special bag of goodies. The Gravel Enduro Series and Gran Fondo are also optional fee-based events with timing and added benefits.

In-town Bike Festival rides

Family fun for everyone on the La Crosse Area Bicycle Festival ice cream tour.

Most in town guided rides are free, except money for cool treats, and are suitable for families, kids, and are easy. They leave from Riverside Park at the designated time, make frequent stops,

Pump track fun at the LaCrosse Area Bicycle Festival is easy and will help you improve your mountain bike skills.

and have a leader and volunteers to shepherd the ride through the city.

Bike Festival self-guided bike routes

The Bike festival team have designed these countryside routes to be ridden self-supported. Ride your bike alone or in small groups, without the need of a tour guide or ride leader. All mapped routes are designed loops, leaving from public parks or parking lots. Wherever possible, you’ll travel on low-traffic rural roads, or at least on roads with bike facilities. To help you stay self-sufficient, maps show optional stops every 25-30 miles at convenience stores or public parks.

The Bike Festivals Grand Fondo and Gravel series

Join the Gran Fondo Series

Two days with two different distances in two states to choose from each day. Explore road routes through the Driftless region on the Grand Fondo. This type of event will have riders leave together and have three timed sections for the longer route and two timed sections for the shorter route each day. It’s all for fun! Competition is based on your time to complete the sections; your finish order compared to other riders doesn’t matter. Timed segments start outside of cities and villages on low-traffic roads, and end before reentering them. This allows for a great warm-up and cool-down, while encouraging riders to take a break and visit local businesses as they ride through towns. Riders are required to obey traffic laws at all times.

Join the brand-new Gravel Enduro Series

Starting with the Hoka Hilly Hundreds August 19th, this is a collection of fun gravel rides and events explores several gravel and mixed gravel/road routes in the Driftless region. Enduro-style means that riders leave together on a neutral start, with several sections (either gravel or hill climbs) timed along the way.

It’s all for fun! Competition is based on your time to complete the sections; your finish order compared to other riders doesn’t matter. Timed segments start outside of cities and villages on low-traffic roads, and end before reentering them

The Gravel Enduro Series features five events on three weekends and a bonus recovery ride on Labor Day. Take your pick —join old and new friends on the gravel this summer!

Time to make plans now!

Register today for the La Crosse Area Labor Day Bike Festival. Win a Wyatt’s fat bike at the LaCrosse Area Bicycle Festival by registering before August

For lodging options see: Destination La Crosse

Top September Bicycle Events in the Upper Midwest

As the days get shorter and we prepare to flip our calendars into the Fall season, here are several September Bicycle Events in the upper Midwest that you may want to consider:

Thursday Night Lights Track Series – September 1^st

Track Racing

NSC Velodrome, Blaine, MN

La Crosse Area Bicycle Festival – September 2^nd through the 5^th

In-town Recreational Ride, Scenic Touring, Mountain Biking, & BMX

Cameron Park, La Crosse, WI

Grind-Giants Ridge Iron N Dirt – September 3^rd

Gravel Riding

Giants Ridge, Biwabik, MN

Laddies Loppet – September 3^rd and 4^th

Minnesota Mountain Bike Series

Maplelag Resort, Callaway, MN

No Name Alleycat Race – September 4^th

Un-official Street Racing

Minneapolis, MN

Wednesday Night CX-Race #2 – September 7^th

Cycle Cross Racing

Aquila Park, St. Louis Park, MN

Slow Roll Saint Paul-Frogtown – September 8^th

Recreational Ride

Victoria Theater Arts Initiative, St. Paul, MN

Thursday Night Lights Track Series – September 8^th

Track Racing

NSC Velodrome, Blaine, MN

Fall Community Bike Ride – September 9^th

Recreational Ride

Robbins Island Park, Willmar, MN

Gravel Conspiracy – September 9^th through the 11^th

Gravel Bike Tour

Silver Bay, MN

Trail in a Day- Paul Bunyan Trail Relay – September 10^th

Recreational Trail Ride

Bemidji and Brainerd, MN

Tour de Apple Valley – September 10^th

Recreational Bike Ride

Apple Valley, MN

Root River ‘Taste of the Trail’ – September 10^th

Recreational Ride Sampling the Trail Towns

Lanesboro, Peterson & Whalan, MN

Back Forty – September 10^th

Gravel Road Ride

Denmark TWP, Hastings, MN

Bike For Justice: Bike-a-Thon – September 10^th

Cycles For Change – Recreational Ride

St. Paul, MN

Gitchee Gumee Traverse – September 10^th

Mountain Bike Event

Duluth, MN

Inspiration 100 – September 10^th

Gravel Road Race

Garfield Elementary School, Garfield, MN

Jesse James Bike Tour – September 10^th

Recreational Ride

Northfield, MN

Open Streets Minneapolis: Broadway Ave. W. – September 10^th

Community Bike/Walk Event

Minneapolis, MN

Square Lake Triathlon – September 10^th and 11^th

Bike, Swim and Run

Stillwater, MN

Giant and Liv Bicycle Demo – September 11^th

Mountain and Road Bike demos

Elm Creek Singletrack Trail, Champlin, MN

MN High School Cycling League-Race #1 – September 11^th

Student League Mountain Bike Races

Austin Trail, Austin, MN

St. Paul Classic Bike Tour – September 11^th

Recreational Ride

University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN

Adapted Mountain Bike Open House-Fall – September 13^th

Adaptive Cycles Demos

Elm Creek Singletrack Trail, Champlin, MN

Wednesday Night CX-Race #2 – September 14^th

Cycle Cross Racing

Aquila Park, St. Louis Park,MN

Fix-a-Flat Clinic at SHIFT MN Health – September 17^th

Bike Repair Workshop

Powderhorn Park Recreation Center, Minneapolis, MN

Root River ‘Taste of the Trail’ – September 17^th

Recreational Ride Sampling the Trailtowns

Fountain, Preston & Harmony

Mora Bike Tour – September 17^th

Bicycle Road Race

Vasaloppet Nordic Center, Mora, MN

Northern Kettles Fall Epic – September 17^th

Mountain Biking Event

New Fane, WI

Purple Rain Stride – September 17^th

Recreational Ride

Elm Creek, in Maple Grove, MN

Pedal the Park – September 17^th

Recreational Ride

Lakeville, MN

Park Tool Fall Classic Duathlon – September 17^th

Run, bike, Run

Lake Elmo Park Reserve, Lake Elmo, MN

MN High School Cycling League-Race #2 – September 18^th

Student League Mountain Bike Races

Jail Trail, St. Cloud, MN

Minneapolis Bike Tour – September 18^th

Recreational Ride

Boom Island Park, Minneapolis, MN

Open Streets Minneapolis: Nicollet Ave. – September 18^th

Community Bike/Walk Event

Minneapolis, MN

Open Streets Penn Fest – September 18^th

Community Bike/Walk Event

Richfield, MN

Tour of Fillmore – September 18^th

Gravel Road Race

Lanesboro, MN

Autum Trek Ride – September 18^th

Recreational Ride

River Falls, WI

Let’s Joyride Together: September Edition – September 19^th

Recreational ride

Matthews Park, Minneapolis, MN

Wednesday Night CX-Race #4 – September 21^st

Cycle Cross Racing

Aquila Park, St. Louis Park, MN

Fall Community Bike Ride – September 23^rd

Recreational Ride

Glacial Lakes State Trail, Willmar, MN

No Hater Rolling Dance Super Bike Mega Party 2016 – September 24^th

Bike Event

Under Hennepin Ave. Bridge, West Bank, Minneapolis, MN

Root River ‘Taste of the Trail’ – September 24^th

Recreational Ride Sampling the Trail Towns

Houston, Rushford & Rushford Village

Big Woods Classic – September 24^th

Minnesota Mountain Bike Series

Lake Rebecca Park, Rockford, MN

24/7 Central Lakes Cycle Duathlon – September 24^th

Bike, Run, Bike

Fergus Falls, MN

Headwaters 100 – September 24^th

Recreational ride

Century School, Park Rapids, MN

Tour de Hugo – September 24^th

Recreational Ride

Hugo City, Hugo, MN

3rd Annual Autumn Gravel Grovel – September 25^th

Gravel Road Tour

Miesville, MN

Lifetime Gran Fondo – September 25^th

Gravel Road Race

Waconia Brewing Company, Waconia, MN

Wednesday Night CX-Race #5 – September 28^th

Cycle Cross Racing

Aquila Park, St. Louis Park, MN

Wild Ride Mountain Bike Fest – October 1^st

Mountain Biking demos and Fun!

Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Eagan, MN

Wow, with so many events still scheduled we hope your bicycle is ready for some more action. Watch for more events in the Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide that is currently being updated for this Fall and early Winter. Please let us know if we missed any events you are planning or would like to attend – just submit them into the HFB Events Calendar – it’s free!

Bike Pic Aug 19, ice cream smiles Friday!

This Ice cream smiles photo was shot as a family enjoyed the cool treats at a rest stop while participating in the LaCrosse Area Bicycle Festival, last year. An annual event over Labor Day Weekend, everyone can find a free ride or two that fits there bicycling interests. You will find ride opportunities in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. From the themed rides around town, like the Ice Cream Tours, the pump track and mountain bike events in the bluffs and scenic road tour, there is something for the whole family and skill levels.

Find many more ice cream smiles, bike friendly places and events to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking.

Now rolling into our 10th year as a bike tourism media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike. While showcasing all the unforgettable places for you to ride. As we continue to showcase more place to have fun 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 MN Bike Guide, now mobile friendly, as we enter into our 8th year of producing the guide.

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. And don’t forget to smile, while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next photos that we post daily.

Have a great day!