Bike Month Activities Revealed on AM Minnesota

Rice County Public Health Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) Coordinator Josh Ramaker joins us this morning to talk about biking.

Saturday I went for a short bike ride and Sunday was so beautiful I took a little longer one. I enjoy getting out and raising my heart rate a bit. It is my favorite exercise these days, although I still enjoy a good game of tennis or playing some hoops now and then.

May is National Bike Month and a number of organizations will be having events to celebrate biking this month.

A number of RIce County schools, colleges, groups and businesses are offering local Bike Month activities like bike rodeos, employer-sponsored wellness initiatives, and bike-to-school or bike-to-work events. Most of these events are free and open to the public.

A Minnesota Bike Guide and complete list of some biking events can be found at www.exploreminnesota.com/pedal-mn.

I checked it out and 54 activities are listed there, including Wilderfest in my hometown of Spring Valley on May 19-21 where they offer 100-mile, 162-mile and 380-mile bicycle races through Southeastern Minnesota, Northeastern Iowa and Southwestern Wisconsin.

• Bluff Riders Charge in Mankato is June 4 and features cross-country mountain biking held at Mount Kato.
• The Red Wing Classic Bike Race is June 11.
• North Star Bicycle Festival in Mankato starts June 17 and is a multi-day, multi-location celebration of biking.
• The Shooting Star Trail Ride in Leroy is June 24.
• Root River Bluff and Valley Bike Tour in Harmony is July 6-9
• The Habitat 500 Bike Ride starts and stops in Waconia July 9-15 with four overnight stops, including in Cannon Falls.
• Don't forget the Tour De Bun during Kolacky Days in Montgomery July 29.
• You can ride with three- time winner of the Tour De France Greg Lemond on August 12 during the Apple Blossom Bike Tour and Lizfest  in Lacrescent.
• Defeat of Jesse James Days always has a scenic bike ride and the Jesse James Bike Tour is September 9.
• The St. Paul Classic Bike Tour is September 10.
• Mankato River Ramble has 12-mile, 26-mile and 42-mile bike routes October 8.

Rice County, BikeNorthfield and BikeFaribault are supporting many of the local events and we'll get the details on AM Minnesota 9:30AM.

If you can't tune in then, I would encourage you to watch the program on our YouTube channel any time of day or night.