Tag Archives: St. Paul

Bike Pic May 09, a perfect weather day for a bike ride with friends!

This Bike Pic Tuesday, we captured these two biker gals out front of the group of cyclists, riding down Summit Avenue, in St Paul, MN for another True North experience.

So, 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 our latest bike pic

Now rolling through our 19th 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, as we enter our 14th 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.

Have a great day with a safe and memorable year ahead!

Last week to save Minnesota’s North Star Grand Prix and bike festival

Do you like the idea of having the excitement of bicycle racing here in Minnesota? A fun bike event drawing in professional bicycle racers for some great blood, sweat, and gear competition around every turn? If so, the organizers of the North Star Grand Prix (NSGP) would appreciate any and all assistance in the final week to help them save the event.

Racing around a tight corner on the popular Minneapolis Uptown course (photo Stephanie Williams)

A fun bike event since 1999

The North Star Grand Prix volunteers have worked for the last year to upgrade the twentieth annual event to a Women’s 2.2 UCI Stage Race and ‘Bring the World’ to the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. They have secured three great venues and race courses to showcase high-quality professional bicycle racing for fans, athletes, and host communities.

An all-out sprint to the finish line in Downtown St Paul (photo Stephanie Williams)

The North Star Grand Prix faces a budget shortfall for 2019 and has set a May 3rd deadline to raise the necessary funds. If at that time the funds are not secured the event will be canceled for 2019 and the organization will make no further efforts to host the event in the future. The North Star Grand Prix is still open to any and all sponsorship discussions and also has created a GoFundMe page to raise the necessary funds to host the 2019 event.

Can you help?

Please consider supporting this event on their GoFundMe page and share the link on your social media platforms.

For sponsor opportunities, contact [email protected]

A victory crossing the finish line (photo Stephanie Williams)

The NSGP Minnesota stage race was first held in 1999 and was known as the Nature Valley Grand Prix up until 2014. … Originally, organizers planned a five-day stage race, June 12-16. However, they have since scaled back plans, making it a three-day event. It is tentatively scheduled for June 14-16 if funding can be secured.

Another Picture perfect fall color day for a bicycle ride

Another beautiful fall day to enjoy a bicycle ride along the trail. Here in this photo, taken a little over a week ago, a cyclist is riding along the trail in Minneapolis, MN when the colors were coming into their peak.

With the leaves turning and perfect biking weather, we hope you get out on your two wheeled steed and enjoy all the fall riding possibilities along the way. See many more bike-friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing this fall Bicycle Ride Pic of the Day

Now rolling into our 10th 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 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!

MnDOT makes 125 county level bicycle maps available

County level bicycle maps are now available in Minnesota. As the second most bicycle friendly state in the United States, according to the League of America Bicyclists, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has recently announced the first of a series of bicycle maps. These are county by county level bicycle maps for the state. In the link below, you’ll find 125 maps with some counties split into more than one sheet. All at this one link location, click on any County Bicycle Map and see trails, road conditions, and more.

Selecting One of the County Level Bicycle Maps

Once you have selected a map, you can print out any of the maps by county (on 8.5×11 or 11×17 paper) to take along to help navigate your bike adventure. Please note, there are no printed versions of these county bike maps available, so you will need to print you own.

Additional Minnesota Maps to Cross Reference

For major metro areas in Minnesota you should also consider referencing local bicycle maps. Local bike maps may have more current local roadway data and trails. Click the following links for these Minnesota cities with bike maps: Albert Lea, Anoka County (TwinCities Gateway) Brainerd, Bemidji, Cuyuna Area, Duluth, Grand Rapids, Hastings, Hibbing/Virginia, Hutchinson, Lakeville, Little Falls, Mankato, Minneapolis Northwest, Minneapolis (Hennepin Co.) Park Rapids, Prairie Waters Area (Western MN), Rochester, Root River Trail Towns, Stillwater, St. Cloud, St. Paul, Walker, Willmar and Winona.

According to MnDOT, “because this is the first effort to show data at the county scale there are some gaps and we will continue to work with the counties to improve the data and layout of these maps with future versions.” They also welcome your comments on how to improve the maps. Submit feedback or changes by emailing [email protected].

Bike Pic June 16, North Star Bike Festival in Cannon Falls today

Kids racing their bikes at last year’s North Star Bike Festival and Grand Prix, in Stiilwater, MN, where everyone was a winner!

About the North Star Bicycle Festival

The Festival draws the top pro/elite racers from all over the country and started last night in St. Paul, MN. Today the Festival moves to Cannon Falls, then on Friday evening it is in the Minneapolis Uptown Area, Saturday it is in North Mankato and Sunday all points are counted up and the race concludes in Stillwater, MN. See the full schedule here.

Find many more bike friendly events and places to ride and explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

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

Now rolling into our 10th year as a bicycle tourism media source, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike, while showcasing unforgettable places to ride. As HFB searches and presents more fun cycling related photos, worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted that may 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, be prepared to smile. You never know where our cameras will be and what we will post next!

Do you have a fun bicycle related photo of yourself or someone you know that you would like to see us post? 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 a minimum of 800 pixels wide or larger for us to consider using them. If we do 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 Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide to Find Your Next Adventure. We are proud of the updated At-a-Glance information and maps we are known for at the HFB Destination section on our website and in the guide. Now, as the Guide goes into its seventh year of production, we are adding a whole new dimension of information, now available for mobile devices.

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!

Bike Pic June 15, North Star Bike Festival and Grand Prix opens tonight

Penn Cycle & Fitness set up at last year’s North Star Bike Festival and Grand Prix, ready to help all participants check over their bikes for the Kid’s Race, where everyone was a winner!

About the North Star Bicycle Festival

The Festival draws the top pro/elite racers from all over the country, starting tonight in St. Paul, MN. Thursday the Festival moves to Cannon Falls, then on Friday evening it is in the Minneapolis Uptown Area, Saturday it is in North Mankato and Sunday all points are counted up and the race concludes in Stillwater, MN. See the full schedule here.

Find many more bike friendly events and places to ride and explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

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

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!

Bike Pic Feb. 10th, bike brew tour ends at Flat Earth

The Blue Heron Bike & Hops Society stops at Flat Earth Brewery, in St. Paul, MN, for beer as they finish up one of their weekly bike, brew tours. Pictured in the Flat Earth Brewery courtyard, (right to left) are: Pat Smith Wells, William Totten, Greg Swanson and Marcy Kelash.

Flat Earth Brewing Co. is located on St. Paul’s east side and is one of the Twin Cities’ favorite micro-breweries, where their mission is to provide the finest craft beers worth talking about.

#FindYourNextAdventure

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!

Bike Pic Oct 28, bicycle trek along the MRT

Here in the photo above four cyclists (two on Cruzbike recumbents and two on Surlys) leave St Paul, MN on the first day of a 550 mile ride on the Mississippi River Trail (MRT).

Check back often to see more of these bicycle trekkers journey on the MRT.

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

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