Tag Archives: Mesabi trail

Bike Pic Dec. 8, family mountain bike fun

Here in this photo above mom follows the kids down a mountain bike trail as junior pops a wheelie out in front, here near Grand Rapids. Along the MRT (Mississippi River Trail), this bike friendly community is the Gateway to the paved Mesabi Trail System and also offers miles of quiet, scenic Northern Minnesota county roads for bike touring fun. See more biking here at At-a-glance Grand Rapids.

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

Now, rolling into our 10th year as a bicycle media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike, while showcasing unforgettable places to ride. As we search and present more fun photos worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted to help you find your next adventure. Then, while out there if you see us along a paved or mountain bike trail, next to the route you regularly commute on, or at an event you plan to attend with your bike, be prepared to smile. You never know where our camera’s will be and what we will post next!

Do you have a fun photo of yourself or someone you know that you would like to see us publish? If so, please send it our way and we may use it. Send your picture(s) to [email protected] with a brief caption (of each), including who is in the photo (if you know?) and where it was taken. Photo(s) should be at least 620 pixels wide for us to use them. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and an acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As HaveFunBiking continues to encourage more people to ride, please reference our blog and the annual print and quarterly digital Bike/Hike Guide to find your next adventure. We are proud of the updated – At-a-Glance information and maps we are known for in the HFB Destination section on our website and in the guide. Now, as the Bike/Hike Guide goes into its seventh year of production, we are adding a whole new dimension of bicycle tourism information available for mobile devices where you may see some additional bike pics – maybe of yourself so.

Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in one of the next photos we post.

Have a great day!

#FindYourNextAdventure

Bike Pic – Oct. 10, Colorful, Though Chilly

A bit chilly today, though colorful! Photo above shows the beautiful fall scenery as this cyclist is bundled for cool weather riding on the Mesabi Trail, east of Grand Rapids, MN.

For Fall color riding in Minnesota this weekend see the Explore MN Color Guide.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking, hope you enjoyed the photo?

Now, rolling into our 10th year as a bicycle media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike, while showcasing unforgettable places to ride. As we search and post more fun photos worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted to help you find your next adventure. Then, if you see us along a paved or mountain bike trail, next to the route you regularly commute, or at an event you plan to attend with your bike, be prepared to smile. You never know where camera will be and what we will posted next!

Do you have a fun photo of yourself or someone you know that you would like to see us publish? If so, please send it our way and we may use it. Send your picture(s) to [email protected] with a brief caption (of each), including who is in the photo (if you know) and where it was taken. Photo(s) should be at least 620 pixels wide for us to post. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and an acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As HaveFunBiking continues to encourage more people to ride, please reference our blog and the annual bike guide to find your next adventure. We are proud of the updated, at-a-glance information, and maps we are known for in the Destination section of our website. Now, as the Bike/Hike Guide goes into its seventh year of production, we are adding a whole new dimension of bicycle tourism information available for mobile device. Plus, beginning September 2015, this year’s e-version of the Guide will move to quarterly editions where you may see some additional bike pics posted.

Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in a pic to post!

A 2013 Great River Energy Mesabi Trail Tour Recap

Ardy Nurmi-Wilberg. Great River Energy Mesabi Trail Tour Director
It was a perfect day to ride a bike on the Mesabi Trail. Perfect temperature, lots of sunshine, even the wind cooperated giving everyone a little help from behind.

Held on the first Saturday in August, last year the Great River Energy Mesabi Trail Tour traveled from Grand Rapids to Virginia with nearly 700 riders from all over the upper mid-west participating. And the proceeds benefited Ampers (Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities) and the Mesabi Trail.

Designed for both the serious rider and families with children, all riding is exclusively on the Mesabi Trail passing through many of the unique towns & cities of Northeast Minnesota. Each year this unique linear route ride starts & ends in two different locations offering four routes, a 12, 33, 53 or 69-mile option. Along the way you will find food & music at six rest stops and a picnic dinner & concert at the finish – with a complimentary t-shirt and bike water bottle to take home. This fully supported ride also provides transportation for riders and their bikes.

Each routes gives riders a taste of history and culture along the trail as the tour stops at places like the Greyhound Bus Museum, in Hibbing and at the Hill Annex Mine State Park, in Calumet, or the Hull Rust Mine, in Hibbing. Just a mile off the tour this is the world’s largest active open pit mine – often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the north. Whatever section you choose to ride the Mesabi Trail offers ride participants an up close look at the northland forest, passing by lakes and rivers and the majestic water filled iron mines.

From our 2013 ride, we would like to extend gratitude to the 128 volunteers who donated almost 1,500 hours of their time. Also a special thank you to our sponsors: Great River Energy, Mesabi Trail, MediaCom, Villas at Giants Ridge, Itasca Trails Task Force, UCare, Century Link, Amper’s, Frandsen Bank & Trust, Idea Drilling, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Mesabi Masonry, NE Technical Services, Iron Mining Association, Mining Minnesota, Range 11 TV, Mesabi Daily News, Hibbing Daily Tribune, Grand Rapids Herald, Hometown Focus. We couldn’t do it without you!

Here are some of our rider comments from the 2013 Tour:
• “Love this event – it gets better every year. Your volunteers are the best on the planet!”
• “This is one of funnest and best organized rides I’ve been on. We’ll be back!”
• “The ride is extremely well organized. Snack food at rest stops was a great variety. The musicians were fantastic. Overall a great experience!”
• “Solid, I’d do it again!”

In our 10th year, the 2014 Great River Energy Mesabi Trail Tour is Saturday, August 2, on the Mesabi Trail in Northeast Minnesota. This year the ride is going in reverse of the 2013 route, traveling west from Fayal Township (near Eveleth) to Coleraine (near Grand Rapids). For more information on riding the Mesabi Trail or to register for the Bike Tour, click here.