Tag Archives: Minnesota Bike Guide

Bike Pic July 26, yeah it’s Friday, and the heat returns

This bike pic Friday, with more hot/humid weather in the forecast. Remember to stay hydrated and shred trails in the woods.

So, adjust to the warmer temps, 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 our bike pic

As we roll along in 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 through a summer of fond memories!

Bike Pic July 25, Pedaling The MRT to meet friends and make weekend plans

This bike pic Thursday is another perfect day to ride the Minnesota section of the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) for a cold one. Here this biker chick heads to their favorite brewery to meet friends and make plans for the weekend.

So, adjust to the warmer temps, have your rain gear ready, 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 our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

Bike Pic July 24, Wheelie Wednesday into your sweet spot

This Wednesday’s bike pic – if life were a mountain bike trail and a wheelie or Bunny Hop helped smooth out your day-to-day ride or helped drop you into your sweet spot, why not review the following tips to make your week an adrenaline high?

Thanks for viewing our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

A bike adds to the fun at the Gus Macker Basketball Tournament

The Gus Macker Basketball Tournament returns to the Twin Cities on August 17-18. Historically held in downtown St. Paul, this 3-on-3 family-focused tournament is now in Brooklyn Park, MN, the perfect place to bring your bike. While visiting, you will find five major paved trail systems that intersect. Plus, there are many bike-friendly streets to get to and from the games and the many attractions in the Minneapolis Northwest while visiting.

About Gus Macker

Gus Macker celebrates its 50th anniversary this year at the Hennepin Community College. The original tournament was started by Scott McNeal (aka Gus Macker), who invited eighteen neighborhood friends to play over the weekend in his parents’ driveway during March Madness. The tournament continued to gain popularity, eventually hit the road in 1987, and has become a staple in recreational sports. Since then, the Macker tour has expanded, holding 1500+ tournaments with more than 2.8 million players—male and female from seven to 50+—and more than 30 million spectators.

Exploring the Minneapolis Northwest by bike

As the Mississippi River and its internationally known Mississippi River Trail (MRT) enter the Twin Cities Metro area, visitors staying in Brooklyn Center or Brooklyn Park (also known as Explore Minneapolis Northwest) can access some of the nation’s best bike trails. You can find several comfortable bike routes from your hotel room that connect you to many other urban paved trails. The links below will give you access to the MRT to visit local parks along the river or ride trails to downtown Minneapolis for more attractions. For those interested in mountain or fat biking, Elm Creek Park Reserve is also easy to connect to by trail, no matter your hotel choice.

See an overview of the Minneapolis Northwest bike infrastructure in the Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide on pages 42-43 or the Shingle Creek Regional Trail System map.

Where to stay while visiting

Minneapolis Northwest features 14 hotels to meet the needs of every guest. From all-suite hotels with meeting space to extended-stay properties, you’ll find an option that suits you best.

Bike Pic July 24, riding into the Monday morning sun

This Bike Pic Monday, looking in the archives, we captured these biker chicks riding into the Monday morning sun near Albert Lea, MN. For your next adventure, consider the Rock N’ Roll the Lakes bike ride on August 10th.

Thanks for viewing our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

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.

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

A guide to planning a safe and fun mid-summer bike trip

By John Brown

Now that summer is progressing, allowing more fun in the sun, let’s plan a bike trip adventure. As hundreds of people flock to the lakes and local pools to cool down, many, like myself, will find refreshing the soul on two wheels the best way to go. Please take a look below at how I plan an enjoyable bike trip through the summer.

A Short Bike Trip

Just because you are limited on time doesn’t mean you must miss out on riding your bike. You can have fun right around your neighborhood! I have found that a great way to plan a short ride is first to determine a destination point. That destination can be an ice cream parlor, a road you have driven down but never seen up close, or a nearby water park. Once you pick your destination, try to link in some sections of a bike path, rail trail, or some quiet back streets or road, even though they may not be the most direct route to your destination. After you pick a destination and a route, the rest of the planned excursion tends to materialize quickly.

What To Bring Along

For a short trip, pack water and the tools to fix a flat. These rides usually only last an hour or so but can greatly improve your peace of mind.

Ice cream is always a great mid-ride snack, whether it’s a long or short bike trip.

A Long Bike Trip

A longer bike trip requires more planning, though it follows the same order. Pick your destination with several attractions or points of interest close to one another. Then, add some bike-friendly routes, and the rest of the planned bike trip will materialize. On longer trips, it is also important to make sure your bike is working well. Lube the chain, adjust the brakes, check your fit, or drop it off at your local shop for service at least two weeks before you plan to depart.

For longer trips, I like to employ guidebooks (Like our Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide) to find the best places to ride. Once you determine the location, contact local businesses like bike shops, hotels, business associations, or tourism boards to see more details about the area. As I mentioned, a bike guide is a great place to start planning and contact the local tourism bureau. Bike paths and trails have become a popular attraction for most towns. The visitor centers we list are happy to discuss their bike-friendly amenities and usually have the most up-to-date information. Also, use software programs like Ride with GPS, Map My Ride, and Strava for more route ideas.

Packing For A Longer Trip

Packing for a long trip is more involved than what a short trip requires typically. If you are driving a long distance or flying to get to the ride, you don’t want poor weather to keep you off your bike – so pack for the worst! For example, I once did a 24-hour long mountain bike race in West Virginia in July, and while the race started under sunny skies at 95 degrees, it was snowing on the top of the mountain that night. Please look at our comprehensive bike trip list for all the items you may be forgetting.

Bike safety

A great bike trip is a safe bike trip. There is no more important part of bike safety than a bicycle helmet that fits. While crashes are uncommon, they happen, and a helmet is the best way to protect yourself from severe damage. Besides the helmet, practice riding safely with hand signals, situational awareness, and limited distractions to keep you out of trouble. If you are on a family trip, it’s also important to talk to your kids about bike riding safety.

Bring The Bike Lock

If your ride involves time-stopping, maybe at a restaurant or ice cream parlor, lock your bike securely. Follow these three rules when locking your bike. One, Lock it to something secure. If the bike rack or a signpost you plan to lock your bike to isn’t safe, you are making a would-be bike thief’s job easier. Two, Lock the frame and at least one wheel of your bike. Locking just a rear or front wheel makes it easy for someone to walk away with the rest of your bike. Three, Lock your bike in a well-trafficked area. Bike thieves will be less likely to try to take your bike with witnesses around.

It’s All About The Fun

The most important part about making a bike trip memorable is having fun. We all have days that start late, roads that get closed, out-of-the-blue downpours, and generally, stuff that happens. Remember that the bike trip is all about the ride, not necessarily the destination, so enjoy your time in the saddle.

Always keep it fun!

About John Brown, the author

As a lifelong cyclist and consummate tinkerer, John operates Browns Bicycle in Richfield, MN. It all started for him in grade school when the bike bug bit him, and today, the bicycle fever is still there. Now, and over the past thirty years, he has worked at every level in the bike industry. Starting, like most, sweeping floors and learning anything he could 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 bike of their dreams. Please feel free to stop in any time and talk about bikes, fit, and parts, or just share your latest ride. You can also see John’s tricks and tips on the Brown Bicycle Facebook Page.

Bike Pic July 21, Ice Cream Smiles Sunday adds extra mid-summer fun

It’s Ice Cream Smiles Sunday, and here in this bike pic we have a couple of ladies celebrating a mid-summer adventure with Ice cream. So pump up the tires and plan your #NextBikeAdventure with a stop at your favorite ice cream shop.

Thanks for viewing our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

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.

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

Bike Pic July 16, a perfect day at any age to be on the trail

It’s Tuesday, and it’s another perfect day to be out on a mountain bike trail. Here, we found a little biker dude out having fun in Lebanon Hills Regional Park, near Lakeville, MN.

Thanks for viewing our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

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.

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

Bike Pic July 14, ice cream Smiles Sunday adds fun to a hot weekend

It’s Ice Cream Smiles Sunday, with continued humid temps. So pump up the tires and plan your next adventure by stopping at your favorite ice cream shop.

Thanks for viewing our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

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.

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!

Bike Pic July 9, riding into the Tuesday morning sun

This Bike Pic Monday, we captured this biker dude riding into the Monday morning sun. If you don’t have plans yet, start your day by paging through the Minnesota Bike/Hike Guides for your #NextBikeAdventure.

Then, adjust to the warmer temps, have your rain gear ready, and get into the zone when continuing your next outdoor experience. 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 our bike pic

As we roll along in our 21st year as an outdoor media, enjoy!

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.

Have fun as we pedal through a summer of fond memories!