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Other stories in "Bicycling"

• Bicycling along Lake Michigan
  Miles of trails in Milwaukee and on Ozaukee County's Interurban Trail provide non-stop scenery.
• Two trails from Two Rivers
  On Lake Michigan, bicyclists ride the breezes between a lighthouse and a submarine.
• Riding the Glacial Drumlin
  Mementos of a distant past line a bicycle trail between Madison and Milwaukee.
• Wisconsin's bike trails: a guide
  The state that pioneered rail trails isn't resting on its laurels.
• Bicycling in bluff country
  In southeast Minnesota, the Root River Trail brought swarms of tourists.
• Sightseeing on $20 a day
  Join a tour and see the best of the Upper Midwest by bicycle.
• Bicycling Minnesota
  Across the map, new trails are connecting the dots.
• Rolling through the Iron Range
  The long Mesabi Trail reveals many surprises.
• Mankato meander
  To see the best of this low-key river town, hop on a bike.
• A slice of cheese country
  On Wisconsin's Badger Trail, bicyclists bite off as much as they can chew.
• Biking in Minneapolis
  On the breathtaking Grand Rounds, bicyclists soak up the scenery.
• Bicycling around the Twin Cities
  An expanding web of trails takes bicyclists from Minneapolis and St. Paul into the lake-filled countryside.
• On a roll in Hayward and Cable
  In a famous forest, mountain bikers navigate a singular system of singletrack.
• Bash on a bike trail
  Kick up your wheels at a small-town fall festival.
• Walk 'n' roll
  Thanks to a bike trail, backtracking on the Superior Hiking Trail is a thing of the past.
• A trail for Old Abe
  On Wisconsin's Chippewa River, a bald eagle paves way for bicyclists.
• Bicycling the Central Lakes
  In western Minnesota, a 55-mile trail is a window onto the natural world.
• Bicycling the Bunyan
  A long trail cuts through the heart of Minnesota lakes country.
• Spin City
  On a bicycle, visitors can explore every inch of Chicago's lakefront.
• Bicycling to Lake Wobegon
  In central Minnesota, cyclists enter a storied land.
• Cycling in coulee country
  The famous Elroy-Sparta is just one of the trails in a picturesque pocket of Wisconsin.
• Spokes, sneakers and shops
  She likes to shop and he likes to sweat? No problem.
• Bikes, birds and bogs
  Wisconsin's Great River Trail is a happy mix of wildlife and civilization.
• Red Cedar ride 'n' glide
  Along a popular Wisconsin trail, a hardy tourist can take in the sights by water and by land.

Tours on two wheels

On organized day trips, it's easy to go along for the ride.

If you like to ride bikes and you live in the Upper Midwest, you've lucked out.

This is a bike-crazy part of the country. Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota rank No. 1, 2 and 3 for miles of rails converted to trails, and Illinois and Iowa also are in the Top 10.

Wisconsin's Elroy-Sparta State Trail sparked the boom in bicycle tourism in 1967; when surrounding towns and counties saw all the tourists who came to ride it, they built their own trails. We also can ride on thousands of miles of quiet country roads, built so dairy farmers could get their milk to market.

Now hundreds of bike tours show off the trails and the towns they go through. Nearly every tour ends with music and a picnic and offers non-stop goodies at rest stops. On the Lake Wobegon Trail, the Caramel Roll Ride matches the calories in a freshly baked pastry to the calories burned in an hour of riding ("Coincidence? Think again'').

And some towns really take advantage of what they've got. On the Tour de Pepin, riders who only want to go halfway around Lake Pepin, a wide spot in the Mississippi, get to return by paddlewheeler.

The main attraction of these tours is not only that they're fun, but they're easy. Signs mark every turn, sag wagons pick up tired riders and mechanics fix flats. There's nothing to do but pedal, enjoy the scenery and chat with fellow riders.

Below are some of the best and most scenic weekend and day tours in 2010.

For longer rides, see Sightseeing on $20 a day.

For more about trails in the Upper Midwest, see Bicycling stories.

Sign up early to save. Most rides allow same-day registration, but some rides cut off registration a month or more in advance.

Most day tours charge $25-$40, which includes sag wagons, mechanical support, food and, often, a T-shirt. Weekend tours include camping and return by motorcoach.

They're all non-profit, and most raise money for good causes. Fees nearly always are discounted for advance registrations and for families, children and teams. Some rides limit the number of riders, and some benefit rides require fund-raising. Helmets are required.

April 25, Minnesota Ironman from Lakeville, Minn. Hostelling International Minnesota sponsors this ride from the Twin Cities' southern suburbs to the Minnesota River Valley and back. Routes are 30, 65 or 100 miles, with the century ride going through Jordan, LeSueur, Montgomery and Lonsdale.

May 8, Hip Breaker from Trempealeau, Wis. The Trempealeau County Bike Club hosts this ride along the Mississippi River and into the bluffs, on routes of 10, 23 or 43 miles (the ride's name comes from the hill on the 43-mile route). Be sure to take time to see the spring wildflowers in Perrot State Park, which adjoins Trempealeau.

May 30, Leinenkugel's Chippewa Valley Century from Chippewa Falls, Wis. This ride from Irvine Park heads north along the Chippewa and Flambeau rivers, past lakes Wissota and Holcombe and across the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, ending with beer and a brat feed. Routes are 35, 50, 75 or 100 miles.

May 30, Bike the Drive in Chicago. This ride gives bicyclists a golden opportunity to ride on a car-free Lake Shore Drive. Routes are 15 or 30 miles, and there's a post-ride festival in Grant Park. This is a holiday weekend, so hotel rates should be fairly low.

For more about bicycling on Chicago's lakefront, see Spin City.

June 6, Tour de Pepin from Lake City, Minn. This ride around Lake Pepin, in its second year, has three routes: 12 miles to Wabasha, with return by bus; 32 miles to Stockholm, Wis., with return by paddlewheeler; and 72 miles around Lake Pepin, a wide spot on the Mississippi River in southeast Minnesota.

Cost includes a Friday night pasta feed in Hok-Si-La Park (an excellent place to camp), admission to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha and an excursion on the Pearl of the Lake paddlewheeler.

June 5, Tour of Lakes from Crosby, Minn. This ride in the lakes country north of  Brainerd and on the Paul Bunyan State Trail is known for the gourmet food served at its rest stops. Registration closes May 1 or at 1,200 riders. Routes are 35 or 70 miles.

For more about the trail, see Bicycling the Bunyan.

June 11-13, MS 150 from the Duluth area to the Twin Cities. Half of this ride, which benefits the Minnesota chapter of the National MS Society, is on the paved Willard Munger State Trail. Riders are bused from the finish in White Bear Lake to the start in Proctor. There’s an overnight in Hinckley. 

June 12, BRAMCO, the Bicycle Ride Around Madison County, Iowa. Bicyclists see some of the famous bridges of Madison County on routes of 40 or 60 miles.

June 12, Caramel Roll Ride from Albany, Minn. This ride on the paved Lake Wobegon Trail in central Minnesota features freshly baked caramel rolls that have 360 calories, which is what the trail association estimates is what a 170-pound adult burns in an hour of riding.

Riders can go out and back on different routes or can return on shuttles, cutting mileages in half.

For more about the trail, see Bicycling to Lake Wobegon.

June, Fat Tire Tour of Milwaukee. The original crawl through Milwaukee celebrates its 26th year with a 30-mile route that includes the new Lakeshore State Park, Lakefront Brewery, Wolski's Tavern and the Art Trail, where junk art is hung from trees. Costumes encouraged. For details, contact Phil Van Valkenberg at ticycling@yahoo.com. It's a benefit for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.

June, Tour the Raccoon from Des Moines. This ride, sponsored by the Des Moines Cycle Club, follows the paved Raccoon River Valley Trail northwest to Jefferson and back.

June 12-13, Big Mac Shoreline Scenic Bike Tour from Mackinaw City, Mich. On Saturday, this tour heads west of town along Lake Michigan on routes of 25, 50, 75 and 100 miles.On Sunday at 7 a.m., participants also get to ride across the Mackinac Bridge to St. Ignace, with bus transportation back. Enter by June 1. The tour is repeated Sept. 18-19. 888-455-8100.

June 18-19, Le Tour de Shore from Chicago to Warren Dunes State Park in Michigan. This ride from Millennium Park follows the Lake Michigan shoreline for 96 miles, with an overnight at Indiana Dunes State Park. Riders are bused back to Chicago. It benefits Maywood Fine Arts in Illinois.

June 19, Bike Ride for Nature from Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor, Wis. Ride the bucolic county roads of Door County on routes of 25, 50 or 100 kilometers.

In the sanctuary, orchids should be blooming; for more, see Bloom County.

June 19, Horribly Hilly Hundreds from Blue Mounds, Wis. This ride through the unglaciated Wisconsin River valley west of Madison isn't for novices. Routes are 100 or 200 kilometers and make a loop through Barneveld, Mazomanie and Black Earth. Only 1,300 riders are allowed on "the toughest one-day challenge ride in the Midwest,'' and the ride fills in January.

June 26, Superior Vistas from Washburn, Wis. A family-friendly ride through the Bayfield Peninsula of Wisconsin, with vistas of Lake Superior. There are loops of 13, 19, 34, 52, or 70 miles plus a century and a 40-mile route to Cornucopia and back. It benefits the Friends of Lake Superior Nordic Trails and the Washburn Cultural Center.

July 4, Watermelon Ride from Shoreview, Minn. The Twin Cities Bicycling Club hosts this family ride around lakes in the northern suburbs of St. Paul, followed by a picnic at Snail Lake. Routes are 15, 25 or 55 miles.

July 17, Tour de Brew from Amana, Iowa. Millstream Brewing in the Amana Colonies sponsors this poker run, which features a microbrew and a poker card at each stop; the best hands win door prizes.

July 17, Split Rock Bicycle Tour from Duluth to the North Shore. A scenic tour to the famous lighthouse, with distances of 15, 40, 60 or 100 miles.

July, Tour of Saints from St. Joseph, Minn. It's a "heavenly little ride'' through central Minnesota, from the College of St. Benedict to Cold Spring and St. John's University, returning on the Lake Wobegon Trail from Avon. Routes are 35 and 50 miles.

July, Bicycle, Blues & BBQ Festival in Clear Lake, Iowa. Fun rides of 14, 42 or 70 miles from this laid-back northern Iowa beach town are followed by a criterium and, on Sunday, a road race. For more about Clear Lake, see Clear Lake tranquility.

July, Midnight to Dawn Metro Tour from Minneapolis. It's the 32nd year for this full-moon ride sponsored by Southwest High School Community Education. Routes are 28 or 38 miles, and the $15 fee includes a hot gourmet breakfast. Registration ends June 20.

July 24-25, Scenic Shore 150 from Mequon, Wis. This ride follows Lake Michigan from Mequon, just north of Milwaukee, to Potowatomi State Park in Sturgeon Bay, with an overnight in Manitowoc.

The route includes three trails, the Interurban from Mequon to Belgium and the Mariners and Rawley Point trails between Manitowoc and Point Beach State Forest. The ride benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Aug. 7-8, Best Dam Bike Ride from Pewaukee, Wis. This ride in southeast Wisconsin heads from the western Milwaukee suburb of Pewaukee through kettle moraine to Madison, with an overnight in Whitewater. Riders can choose to ride one or two days, with routes of 62.5, 75 or 100 miles. It benefits the Wisconsin chapter of the National MS Society.

Aug. 7-9, CowaLUNGa from Gurnee, Ill.  This ride heads from the northern Chicago suburb of Gurnee to Hubertus through Wisconsin’s kettle moraine, with overnights in Williams Bay on Geneva Lake and Whitewater. Riders can bicycle one, two or three days, with mileages of 65, 130 or 190 miles. It benefits the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago.

Aug., Central Lakes Tour from Alexandria, Minn. This ride on the Central Lakes Trail has two routes, 22 miles east to Osakis and back or 40 miles west to Evansville and back.

For more about the trail, see Bicycling the Central Lakes.

Aug. 7, Mesabi Trail Tour to Hibbing, Minn. The ride on this beautiful paved trail through the Iron Range ends in Hibbing and includes transportation to Buhl for the 15-mile route, Virginia for the 26-mile route and Giants Ridge for the 50-mile route. Kids under 18 ride free.

For more about the trail, see Rolling through the Iron Range.

Aug. 21, Tour de Prairie Lakes from Glenwood, Minn. This tour in west-central lakes country has routes of 20, 40 or 70 miles and benefits Habitat for Humanity.

Aug., Gitchi-Gami Trail Ride from Gooseberry Falls State Park north of Two Harbors, Minn. This ride on the scenic North Shore includes two routes, 28 miles on the paved Gitch-Gami State Trail through Split Rock Lighthouse State Park to Beaver Bay and back, and 55 miles on the trail and county roads.

Aug. 21-22, Bike Van Buren from Keosauqua, Iowa. In the southeast tip of the state, this ride takes two loops through the 11 historic Villages of Van Buren, along the new Historic Hills Scenic Byway. Riders can do the 64-mile Saturday loop, the 49-mile Sunday loop or both.

Aug. 21, Tour de Pines from Itasca State Park in northern Minnesota. This 25- or 50-mile ride, sponsored by Hostelling International, starts and finishes at the Mississippi Headwaters Hostel in the park.

Aug. 22, Top of the World from Whitehall, Wis. This ride on the ridges and valleys of Trempealeau County in southwest Wisconsin has includes 15 miles in  river valley and increasingly harder routes of 23, 40 and 60 miles.

Aug. 29, Boulevard Lakefront Tourin Chicago. Ride the 15-mile South Side Ramble, the 35-mile Boulevard Tour or the 62-mile Ultimate Neighborhood Ride; there's a festival afterward in the West Loop, the start and finish.

Sept. 3-6, Bike Minnesota with Parks & Trails. This will be the sixth annual ride hosted by Minnesota Court of Appeals Judge David Minge. Cost includes camping, meals and membership or renewal in the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota.

Sept., Tour of Cuyuna from Crosby, Minn. This ride in this low-profile lakes area, on the eastern edge of the Brainerd Lakes, includes routes of 30 and 60 miles. For more, see Autumn at the lake.

Sept. 11, Jesse James Bike Tour in Northfield, Minn. This ride, part of Northfield's deservedly famous Defeat of Jesse James Days festival, traverses the rolling countryside south of town on routes of 10, 30, 45, 60 and 100 miles; the century uses part of the Sakatah State Trail from Faribault. It benefits the Mill Towns Trail, which will link the Cannon Valley and Sakatah trails.

Sept. 12, St. Paul Classic Bike Tourin St. Paul. Ride a 15-, 30- or 45-mile route along the Mississippi, lakes Como and Phalen and St. Paul parkways, starting and ending at the University of St. Thomas and punctuated by food and live music. Most of the route is car-free.

Sept. 12, Door County Century from the Door County Fairgrounds north of Sturgeon Bay, Wis. This ride through the picturesque Door Peninsula includes routes of 30, 62 and 100 miles.

Sept., Copper Country Color Tour from Houghton, Mich. There's a 50-kilometer route that takes riders to Lake Linden and back, a 100-kilometer route up the middle of the Keweenaw Peninsula and a 200-kilometer route that passes McLain State Park, mining ghost towns, Brockway Mountain and Fort Wilkins and includes pasties in Copper Harbor. Sponsored by Copper Country Cycling Club.

Sept. 18-19, Big Mac Shoreline Scenic Bike Tour from Mackinaw City, Mich. On Saturday, this tour heads west of town along Lake Michigan on routes of 25, 50, 75 and 100 miles.On Sunday at 7 a.m., participants also get to ride across the Mackinac Bridge to St. Ignace, with bus transportation back. Enter by Sept. 1. The tour also is held June 13-14. 888-455-8100.

Sept. 19, Minneapolis Bike Tour. Ride a 14- or 27-mile route on parkways along the Mississippi and the Chain of Lakes. Start and finish is Parade Field, across from the Walker Art Center; there's a party afterward.

For more on the route, see Biking in Minneapolis.

Sept. 19, Pedal the Kettle west of Milwaukee. Ride through the rolling kettle moraine landscape on this ride sponsored by the Spring City Spinners Bicycle Club of Waukesha, Wis. Routes are 30, 60 and 100 miles.

Sept., Headwaters 100 from Park Rapids, Minn. There are routes of 45, 75 and 100 miles; the last two reach Itasca State Park and return partly on the Heartland State Trail.

Sept. 25, Sugar River Bike Tour from Brodhead, Wis. The ride, on the 23-mile Sugar River State Trail, is part of the southern Wisconsin town's AutumnFest.

Oct. 2, Apple Affair from Galesville, Wis. This is ride is part of a fun festival in this pretty town up the bluff from Trempealeau. There's a relatively flat 20-mile route through orchards and hillier 35- and 60-mile routes.

Oct. 2, Tyranena Oktoberfest from Lake Mills, Wis. This ride from Tyranena Brewery, east of Madison, has routes of 18, 26, 46 and 66 miles. The fee includes beer, dinner, music and brewery tours, and it benefits Tomorrow's Hope. This ride fills quickly.

Oct. 3, Pumpkin Pie Ride from Ottawa, Ill. This ride near Starved Rock State Park in northern Illinois, sponsored by the Starved Rock Cycling Association, has road routes of 25, 62 and 100 miles and mountain-bike routes of 15, 20, 30 and 45 miles on the flat, crushed-limestone I&M Canal Towpath along the Illinois River.

For details on other rides, see the calendars at Minnesota Trails magazine, BikeIowa and Travel Wisconsin.

Last updated on February 26, 2010