photos by  Michael Becker, Nicholas Carlson, Edie Kalweit and Pat Smith Wells

What a fun way to spend the early part of the 4th of July holiday – leisurely riding the parkways, scenic commuter routes and trails in and out of Minneapolis with family, friends and a selfie contest, on the Tour D’ Amico (TDA).

Here is this year’s TDA Selfie winner, Nickolas Carlson with “Love biking.”

 

Nick said, “the lady with me on the ride was Maria Rice. Our first selfie “Love Biking” was taken on a path along side Dunkirk Ln. in Plymouth, Minn. The heart was actually painted on the path… So we got a little dirty taking that picture. The middle picture “Hanging with our Forefathers” was taken alongside Lake Ave. in Wayzata. The other two pictures were taken next to the garden shed by the rest stop at The Depot in Hopkins. Thanks again, we enjoyed the ride. It was a great day!”

This 15th Annual Bike Tour started and ended in Golden Valley, on the 4th of July,

A 30, 45 and 62 mile scenic route were mapped giving everyone a chance to explore some of Minneapolis’s newest bike boulevards on the tour, after riding through parts of Edina. Hopkins. Plymouth and Wayzata .

Registration was in the court area outside D’ Amico’s Restaurant in the Golden Valley Commons Shopping Center, off Highway 55 and Winnetka Avenue. Complimentry Starbucks Coffee and Einstein Bagels were enjoyed as riders prepared for the ride.

And as these riders prepared for TDA, all you needed was a bike, helmet and a cell phone to take pictures of yourself and your friends having fun along the way.

 

Some of the Tour D’ Amico rider’s warming up for the selfie contest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They came to ride the Tour D’ Amico from as far away as Burlington, Iowa.

A happy Tour rider ready to get out on the route.

An adventure awaits these two as they leave Golden Valley.

The last two to leave the Golden Valley parking lot, some of our Hiawatha Bicycling Club Ride Marshall’s making sure everyone returned safely.

Arriving at Starbucks, in Plymouth for a Banana/Hydration Stop, the first of four rest stops on TDA.

Our happy Hiawatha Bicycling Club hosts at the Plymouth Station Rest Stop.

 Riders enjoying bananas and other treats before heading back out on the course.

 Enjoying the beautiful weather, riders enjoy the low traffic roads and scenic landscapes along the way.

This guy knows how to travel and celebrate the 4th of July.

Riding the route to the next rest stop, D’ Amico’d in Wayzata.

TDA riders here enjoying some of D’ Amico and Sons tasty salads, fruits and other treats.

You know it’s good, do we need to say more!

Here TDA riders, from all three routes meander together around Lake Minnetonka’s shoreline to Hopkins for another tasty rest stop.

More happy riders ready to check out the rest stop at the Hopkins Depot.

It looks like this rest stop was as good as the last two!

Here, this TDA rider makes her way to the D’ Amico’s in Edina.

 

 

TDA riders here enjoying some more salad sampler’s and other items at the Edina D’ Amico’s location.

Still smiling, on the last section of the 2014 Tour D’ Amico, riders here are now making their way back to Golden Valley for a picnic lunch in the court area, next to the fountain.

With so many choices, the dessert bars were sinfully delicious.

 

 

 

Everyone enjoyed the fine food and refreshments D’ Amico’s served after the ride.

This Hiawatha Bicycling Club member, a little in awe, wondered how D’ Amico’s and the Club are going top this year’s event, in 2015?

Join the club at Hiawathbike.org to learn more about all the fun rides they lead, like the Tour D’ Amico.

Proceeds from the Tour D’ Amico over the last few year’s have benefited the Children’s Lighthouse, trail maintenance projects in the Twin Cities and the bike education program of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota.

Hiawatha Bicycling Club would like to thank D’ Amico and Sons Restaurant’s, Starbucks of Golden Valley and Plymouth, Einstein Bros Bagels of Golden Valley, HaveFunBiking.com, Tonka Cycle and Ski Board, Sunrise Cycle of Minneapolis, Venture North Bike, Walk & Coffee Shop, North Star Bike Festival and the St. Paul Bike Classic for their support and all the volunteers that made this possible.