ROCHESTER, Minn.—– On Saturday, local organization We Bike Rochester organized and hosted the 2018 Bike Summit. The occasion included speakers on a range of cycling-related subjects such as city bicyle facilities, the favorable advantages of biking, and developing a biking culture. Bicyclist Steve Jorgensen used to commute on bike from Stewartville …
on this topic Cycle of life Anissa Lamare, a girl of 21, looks puny and tomboyish and can be misinterpreted for a high school lad. But do not be tricked by her stature and the childish smile. Anissa is the only female downhill mountain bicycle rider in the nation and has actually taken on men without any apprehension. Her story is …
On Saturday, April 30th, 1988 a small group of people who enjoyed biking and Wisconsin met in Madison because bicyclists needed more clout in Wisconsin. That was the first-ever gathering of the Bike Federation of Wisconsin. You can read the conference program by clicking on the image below. Thirty years later on, bike advocates will when again gathe …
Though temperature levels hovered in the balmy-for-Minnesota 40s at the start of the occasion, the 60-plus fat tire bikers who collected at the beginning line were accustomed to cycling in more frigid weather. For people like Rob Kopp, who participated in Saturday’s 10-kilometer trip, freezing temps are even part of the appeal. “Winter is the best time of the year here,” Kopp said. “I know not everyone concurs with that, but it’s enjoyable to get out, and simply that we have access to being able to do that here … It’s simply a terrific location to be outdoors and have the ability to enjoy doing that.” The yearly rally includes two main events: a 10-kilometer and a 28-kilometer race that starts on Lake Bemidji, then takes the bicyclists into the state park and up the Rocky Point Path. Attendees can also talk with fat bike experts, test out the bikes and get to know each other at an after-event social. Children can take part in their own race. “It’s enjoyable, it’s fantastic, it’s a carnival environment,” Kopp said, as the bicycle riders packed into the state park’s visitor center to review rules and routes before the races. “You type of get a chance to know people a bit more by returning and duplicating it, plus it’s the only thing we’ve got like this for fat bikes in Bemidji.” Fat bikes look like routine bikes, other than for the tires. Many are 3.8 inches throughout, though some, like the Surly Ice Cream Truck, offer tires that are practically 5 inches wide. The fat tires allow the rider to handle snowy, sandy or bumpy tracks, especially when the tires are at a lower pressure than is typical for a bike. Jerry Smith, the co-founder of Bemidji Area Mountain Bikers, said that fat tire cycling is much more typical now than it was eight years ago when he started mountain cycling. Many bike shops offer fat tire bikes now, and the Bemidji State Outdoor Program Center offers leasings. In its very first year, the Bemidji rally– sponsored by Lake Bemidji State Park, C.K. Dudley’s, Bemidji Brewing, the Bemidji Super 8 and the Bemidji Area Mountain Bikers– drew about 50 individuals. This number has actually steadily increased, according to Smith. “It’s still a growing sport,” Smith said. “It’s been around for a few years now, but remaining in Bemidji there’s a great deal of snow, a lot of trails, it readies to promote the sport here.” Smith also coaches the Trek North mountain biking group, which gains from proceeds produced throughout the rally. And while the main events take the type of a race with bib numbers, a mass start and end times, Smith said the occasion organizers do their finest to keep it casual. “We like to keep it sort of like, more of a grassroots race, type of keep it open for everyone, and like a less competitive feel,” he said. “Simply make it actually more comfortable for everybody of all abilities.”
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