Overnight Trips for 2011:

Ride Leaders: Overnight Ride Policy

Jan 14-21

RIDE ‘EM TEXAS HILLS 2011

Howdy pardners!

Time to saddle up again and ride the roads of the Texas Hill Country. Our 8th annual bike trip is again headquartered out of Marble Falls, Texas, about 50 miles west of Austin. We will be offering eight days of riding, commencing the afternoon of Friday, January 14th, 2011, and ending the afternoon of Friday, January 21st. There are no upfront costs. You will be responsible for your own meals, transportation, and accommodations.

This will be a regular TCBC A/B ride. Self-sufficient B riders are welcome to join us. Our routes will vary in length from 30 - 65 miles per day and will depart around 10:30 AM. MOST rides will have the option to add additional miles by biking to and from the “Ride Start”. Some routes will leave directly from the Best Western Motel in Marble Falls, whereas some start destinations will necessitate a short drive. Routes will not have been previewed or ridden since last year, so you must possess a “go with the flow” attitude. There is no sag service. Also, be sure that your bike is in good working order, as the closet bike shop is in Austin, 40 miles away.

January is traditionally the coldest time of the year in Minnesota, making it the perfect time for a getaway. Come join us on the quiet, rolling rural roads of the Texas Hill Country. You won’t find the terrain as steep as some of the Wisconsin hills, but it’s not flat, hence the name. You will enjoy Texas BBQ, courteous drivers, acres of cattle ranches, horses, sheep and llamas, and maybe you will spot an armadillo. Most of all, you’ll find good biking with good people.

GOOD TIMES – YEE HAW !

You have several options for transportation: You can drive from Minneapolis to Marble

Falls (1200 miles). Fly into Dallas (4 hours away), San Antonio (1 1/2 hours away) or Austin (1 hour away), rent a car and drive to Marble Falls.

As for accommodations:

Best Western (830-693-5122) This is where most people have stayed in the past.
Quality Inn (830-693-7531).
Hill Country Inn (830-693-3637) (slightly less for the budget inclined).
Hampton Inn (830-798-1895).
La Quinta Inn (830-798-2020)
Motel 6 (830-265-6565) (Slightly less for the budget inclined).
Holiday Inn Express (830-693-0707)

Rides will originate at the Best Western.

I would like to get some idea of the number of people coming. If you are interested, have any questions or need more information, please call or email Susan. We would also like to coordinate car pooling for people driving down.

See the March 2010 newsletter for an article on the last January’s trip.

click here to go to the Ride 'em Texas Hills website

Trip leaders: Susan Evan, 612-729-1441, bikersusan-at-hotmail.com and Gina McCrone 612-220-4540 gmccrone-at-hotmail.com

Mar 5-12

BikeAZona 2011

By the time March arrives, you are going to want to get out of snowy Minnesota and you’ll looking for a place to ride in sunshine and warmth. Once again we will be hosting 8 days of biking under the blue skies of Arizona. We’ll kick the week off with a 1:00 ride on Saturday, March 5th and wrap up the following Saturday, March 12th. Come out and ride 8 days with us or take a day off the bike and explore the variety of attractions that draw snowbirds to the Valley each year.

Our format will remain the same as previous years; you find your way out here and a place to stay (we have motel discount suggestions) and we’ll treat you to a variety of road biking routes designed for the A/B rider. Self-sufficient B riders are welcome to join us and a number of the routes have short cut options or are out and back so you pick the distance. Most routes are around 50 miles and some include 3,000 to 4,000 feet of climbing but we try to plan a nice downhill return. Rides will start either in Scottsdale or require a drive to a remote start to allow us the opportunity to ride in the desert.

This year’s ride will be limited to 50 riders in order to provide a safe riding environment and support for riders on unfamiliar roads. Participants will be accepted on a first committed, first signed on basis and we will maintain a waiting list if needed. To secure a place on BikeAZona 2011 you will need to send a check for $20/person made out to Kate Kovar. Ten dollars will be spent for a BBQ on Sunday night and the remaining money will cover gas for scouting routes and water and snacks for routes without rest stops. If you come to BikeAZona and cannot attend the BBQ, you will be refunded ten dollars. If you don’t come and your slot is taken, all of your money will be returned. If you don’t show and don’t give us notice so we can fill your slot, your deposit will be forfeited.

More information about the ride can be found on the BikeAZona web site here. If you are interested and wish to obtain e-mail updates on the status of the trip and more details as they unfold, e-mail us at katekovar-at-hotmail-dot-com or jimpederson-at-gmail-dot-com and we will add you to the distribution list. Already sold? E-mail and we’ll send you the address to mail your check and you’re in! Hope to see you in Arizona in March. Trip leaders Kate Kovar and Jim Pederson 763-234-5180.

Mar 7-12

"C"ARIZONA"

These will be C pace rides and fun in Scottsdale, Gilbert, Phoenix and surrounding areas. We will ride 30 plus a day. The first day wil begin with a 10:00 a.m. brunch at the home of Jan McGee and Joann Martin for a 30 mile flat ride on a central bike path in Scottsdale. On the following days we will have options, including social and tourist activities, with some hills, maps, and a "do-able pace. Weather can range from 50 to 90 degrees a day.

Ambassadors will be Mike Brown, Jan and Joann. For lodging ideas, contact Jan or Joann. Each person will arrange their own transportation. Joann's cell: 651-338-5800. John Hoffmann, ride leader, (home)715-834-7897 (cell) 715-379-1074.

Plan now for a fun vacation to "SeeAzona" with the C bikers of TCBC.

May 14-15

Cruisin' the Coulees- Spring

A nice article in last November’s Bicycling Magazine mentioned the “discovery of a new cycling nirvana” in the Midwest, full of “velvety-smooth empty roads and rolling hills”. This of course is our own “Wisconsin Coulee Country” that we’ve been Cruisin for years! Now that the secret’s out, you may want to ride this magical land before it becomes “too crowded”.

On Saturday we'll meet at Durand High School, 604 7th Ave E, Durand, WI 54736. It's about 70 miles from St. Paul. The ride will depart at 10 am.

Several ride options ranging from 28 to 74 miles. The shortest routes do not have a rest stop, so be sure to bring along adequate food and drink. The lunch stop on the longest routes will be at the Nelson Cheese Factory and Creamery in Nelson, Wisconsin. www.nelsoncheese.com They sell cheese of course, but fortunately for us they also make a mean sandwich!

Dinner plans for Saturday evening will be announced on the TCBC Message Board a few days prior to the ride.

Overnight accommodations on Saturday are at the Cobblestone Inn and Suites in Durand. Call 715-672-5055 and mention that you're with the Twin Cities Bicycling Club group. This will get you a discounted rate of $95, including taxes. That is $15 off the normal rate. A nice buffet breakfast is included in the deal as well! Be sure to book your reservation ASAP as lodging in this area is scarce and rooms will likely go fast.

On Sunday we'll begin in Alma, WI, 24 miles south of Durand on Hwy. 35. Meet at the Lock and Dam # 4 parking lot. (It’s on the north end of town across from the Quik Trip). Please park on Main St. adjacent to the lot. Depart at 10 am.
If you’re not staying at the Cobblestone Inn (where it’s included) you can get an excellent pre-ride breakfast at the Pier 4 Cafe, 600 N. Main St. in Alma, one block north of the lock and dam lot.

Distance options on this day are 42, 65, 70, 77 and 82. All routes share the initial 27 miles to the rest/lunch stop at the Waumandee General Store. (The 77 and 82 mile routes have an additional rest stop in Fountain City) The 42 mile route splits off at Waumandee.
If you choose the 70 or 82 mile route you’ll plummet down the famous roller coaster descent known as "Alligator Slide” to the floor of the serene Trempealeau River Valley two miles below. It’s simply awe-inspiring! But of course, there’s always a price to pay… just a few miles beyond looms a little obstacle called Doelle Valley Road. If you enjoy climbing walls, this one’s for you.

We’ll finish with a breath-taking switchback descent into Alma. Once down, we'll take our usual stroll over to the Fire and Ice Shop for some fine Wisconsin made ice cream in celebration of conquering the Coulees once again.

As always, this weekend is about social group riding. In other words, there’s no rush- we take time to “smell the roses”. Come along and you’ll see why Cruisin’ the Coulees is so much fun!

Be sure to check the Message Board periodically for "breaking news" about this event.

Questions? Call Bob Hoffman, 651-430-2676 or Tony Wanschura, 651-224-8360.

June 3-5

Tour of Lakes 2011

Join us for 3 days of bicycling and socializing in the beautiful Brainerd Lakes area June 3-5, 2011 on our annual Tour of Lakes weekend! If you’ve never biked in this area before, you are going to love it! The roads are low-traffic and very scenic, passing by many area lakes and forests. The Paul Bunyan trail is also nearby. We’ll do rides all three days. The rides on Friday & Sunday will be regular TCBC A/B and B rides, while the ride on Saturday will be a TCBC Outreach Ride---the Tour of Lakes, my all-time favorite 1-day ride! Plan to not only bike with the group, but eat, socialize, and relax by the lake and around the campfire with us as well at Good Ol’ Days Resort in Nisswa! I hope you can join us!

Lots more information here

July 22-24

3 Days of Biking in Grand Rapids/Hibbing Minnesota A/B Level Ride – Self Sufficient “B” Riders Welcome

Join me up at the cabin on beautiful Lake Pokegama for 3 days of scenic biking in the North Country. It’s about a 3-1/2 hour drive from the cities.

Lodging is available in town and there is some room available for camping at the cabin on a first come first serve basis or the Itasca County Fairgrounds at the Mesabi Trail Head.

Lodging Info: http://www.grandmn.com/lodging/index.html

Rides on Friday and Saturday will depart from:

Ogle’s Supermarket
503 NW 4th Street (aka Hwy 2)
Grand Rapids, MN 55744

Route Info

Day 1 Friday July 22 – Depart at 1:00 PM - We will venture out onto some beautiful back roads taking us out of Grand Rapids into Cohasset. We will ride around Lake Pokegama and back into Grand Rapids via the scenic “River Road”. (46-48 Miles)

Day 2 Saturday July 23 – Depart 9:00 AM We will head east on the Mesabi Trail from the Itasca County Fairgrounds out to Hill Annex Mine State Park and on to Nashwauk. From Nashwauk we will take some rural country roads through Balsam, Lawrence, Wabana, and Deer River Townships through the Chippewa National Forest on our way back to Grand Rapids. We will travel on the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway for a few miles. (Terrain is mainly flat with a few climbs on the trail) (2-3 day Wheel Pass required $5.00) can obtain at Glen’s Navy Store by Ogle’s or fill out envelope at trail head. (Lunch will be at DJ’s Balsam Inn or Convenient Store across the Street) (65 miles or 45 mile option to ride the trail both ways to Nashwauk back to Grand Rapids)

Mesabi Trail Information: http://www.mesabitrail.com/pass

Day 3 Sunday July 24 – Depart 9:00 AM from Hibbing Greyhound Bus Depot Mesabi Trail access point. We will ride the Mesabi Trail into Chisholm and then back roads into Virginia taking the trail back to Hibbing. (Lunch/Rest Stop in Virginia) (72 mile or 50 mile option to ride the trail both ways to Virginia and back to Hibbing)

Friday night 6:30 PM Dinner in Grand Rapids – Restaurant TBD

Saturday night 6:00 PM BBQ and Pot Luck at the Cabin – Bring something to grill and a dish to share. Don’t forget your lawn chairs.

For more information and directions to the cabin, contact Diane Ziemer at 612-247-4835 or via email at Diane.Ziemer@Comcast.net

Aug 2-3

Munger Meander I & II - Hinckley-Duluth-Hinckley - B Ride

(see schedule for more information)

Aug. 19-20-21

Ride "da range"

Ride "da range" on the Mesabi Trail. (Wheel Pass is required. Cost is $5.00 for 3 day pass.) Join this B/C weekend ride on the Mesabi Trail and experience Minnesota’s Iron Range up close and personal. We will bike on the paved surface trail joining Eveleth, Hibbing, Buhl, Chisholm, and Giants Ridge, with opti onal visit to Ironworld with exhibits telling the story of the Iron Range’s geology, mining, immigrati on, life-skills and traditi ons. There is a 1920’s Mesabi Railway trolley ride to see the spectacular views of the Glen- Godfrey Open-Pit Mine.

On Friday, we will bike 8.5 miles from Hibbing to Ironworld in Chisholm and enjoy a visit to the museum and discovery center
(admission fee is $8.00) and then bike back to Hibbing for a 17-mile round trip. Or, those wishing can conti nue to Buhl for a 30-mile round trip route. Following the ride, dinner will be in Hibbing at Grandma’s In the Park, which is located in the Hibbing Park Hotel.

On Saturday, we will bike 20 miles from Keewati n to Bovey with a lunch/rest stop in Bovey and return for 40 miles round trip. We will then regroup and go to dinner in Eveleth.

On Sunday, we will bike 12 miles from Gilbert to the Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort have brunch/rest stop and return for 24 miles round trip.

For more informati on contact co-leaders: Clareyse Nelson 612- 759-1762, Dave Murphy 612-801-3566 or Duane or Diana Kasper, (952) 412-5654 or kasperddt<at>chaska.net.

(see the schedule or the July newsletter for information)

Sept. 16–18

Root River - 3 Days in Lanesboro - C ride

Welcome C riders and friends to our three days in Lanesboro. We hope you can join us again on this beautiful trip to SE MN. 20-40 mi. rides per day for three days. Come for one or all! Some of us go to the play at the famous Commonwealth theater on Friday night. Call Clareyse Nelson to reserve your ticket. Other after ride activities may include group dining, campfires, etc. Reserve your place to stay as soon as possible, Lanesboro is having a trail anniversary celebration this weekend which will attract more people to the area. The Lanesboro Chamber number is 800- 944-2670 or 507-467-2696 for further information.

Call with questions and let us know you will be coming. Leaders are Clareyse Nelson 612-623 3009, Diana and Duane Kasper 952-448-1608, Paul Huntington 763-496-9900, John Hoffman 715-834-7897.

Sept. 19–24

Black Hills Rally, Hill City, SD.

Well folks, we plan to do the rides in the Black Hills again. We will do the same rides as last year. We will modify some of the rides for shorter options to accommodate riders who like less climbing. We will also include longer hillier options for those who like to be challenged.
We have 6 rides planned, one road bike ride each day (1 will be in the Badlands).

Many of the rides will start at the J-Bar Rafter Ranch located 3 miles south of Hill City on Rte 385. We will gather for festivities at the J-Bar after rides. Elevation at the J-Bar Rafter Ranch is 5000+ ft. So the air is cooler. Bring warm clothes. The terrain is hilly to mountainous. Mt. Harney is close by at 7,240 ft.

All of the rides will be challenging, fun, and very scenic with spectacular views.

Hill City, SD is located approx. 600 miles from the Twin Cities. Most of the route is on I90 (speed limit is 75 in SD). Hill City is in the Mountain time zone. It’s an approx. 10 hour drive.

Ride Leaders:

Don Hopkins, 651-628-9713, email: dchopkin-at-aol-dot-com
Jack Uttermark, 651-407-9040, email: jackuttermark-at-hotmail-dot-com

Sep 30 - Oct 2

 3 Days of Biking in Grand Rapids Minnesota A/B Level Ride – Self Sufficient “B” Riders Welcome

Fall Colors Ride on the Range

2011 September 30th – October 2nd

Mesabi Trail Wheel Pass Required (2-3 day Wheel Pass required $5.00) can obtain at trail heads or local merchants

Mesabi Trail Information:  http://www.mesabitrail.com/pass

Lodging is available in town and there is some room available for camping at the cabin on a first come first serve basis or the Itasca County Fairgrounds at the Mesabi Trail Head.

Lodging Info: http://www.grandmn.com/lodging/index.html

Rides on Friday and Sunday will depart from:

Ogle’s Supermarket
503 NW 4th Street (aka Hwy 2)
Grand Rapids, MN  55744

Route Info

Day 1 Friday   Sept 30 – Depart at 1:00 PM from Ogle’s Supermarket Overflow Lot - We will venture out onto some beautiful back roads taking us out of Grand Rapids into Cohasset.  We will ride around Lake Pokegama and back into Grand Rapids via the scenic “River Road”.  (46-56 Miles)

Day 2 Saturday Oct 1 – Depart 9:00 AM from Nashwauk or Hibbing (TBD) (55-65 Miles) Trail Pass Required (Firming up this route details to follow)

Day 3 Sunday Oct 2 – Depart 9:00 AM from Ogle’s Supermarket Overflow Lot - We will head east on the Mesabi Trail from the Itasca County Fairgrounds out to Hill Annex Mine State Park and on to Nashwauk.  From Nashwauk we will take some rural country roads through Balsam, Lawrence, Wabana, and Deer River Townships through the Chippewa National Forest on our way back to Grand Rapids.  We will travel on the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway for a few miles. (Lunch will be at DJ’s Balsam Inn or Convenient Store across the Street) (65 miles or 50 mile option to ride the trail both ways to Nashwauk back to Grand Rapids)

Friday night 6:30 PM Dinner in Grand Rapids – Restaurant TBD

Saturday night 7:00 PM BBQ and Pot Luck at the Cabin – Bring something to grill and a dish to share.  Don’t forget your lawn chairs.

For more information and directions to the cabin, contact Diane Ziemer at 612-247-4835 or via email at Diane.Ziemer@Comcast.net

Oct 7-9

Glubby's Fat Tire Ride. (GFTR)

Glubby's Fat Tire Ride Weekend is just outside of Cable, WI, on Fri-Sun, October 7-9th, is the best time for mountain bikers to enjoy the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) Off-Road Bike Trail System. There are 300 miles of marked and mapped routes for mountain bikers including 30+ miles of sweet single track. Check them out at CAMBA's website:www.cambatrails.org.

MOUNTAIN BIKING AND RENTALS: The CAMBA mountain bike trails are for most skill levels. Mountain bike rentals are available at the New Moon Ski and Bike Shop in Hayward, WI, at 800-754-8685 or Riverbrook Bike and Ski in Seeley, WI, at 1-800-297-7687.

LODGING: Make your own lodging reservations at Lake Owen Resort, 1-715-798-3603 . Cost for room is 65.00 per night, if two nights booked. Cost per night if one night booked is 75.00. But you will want to be there both nights :)

GATHERING AND MEALS: On Friday night at Lake Owen resort, there will be a pizza and Salad dinner for a price of 10 dollars, Please RSVP for this by Oct 1st, by e-mailing me at gglubby@comcast.net, then I will send you my address so you can send a check to me. There will be a potluck on Saturday night at the Lake Owen resort, bring something to BBQ and something to share. So we don't end up with a lot of the same food, please bring something based on the following:
If your last name starts with:
A-E: Bring a desert
F-O: Bring a side dish or salad (i.e. potato, pasta, fruit, lettuce)
P-Z: Bring an appetizer.
If you would like to bring charcoal or dinnerware instead of the above please e-mail me.

FRIDAY RIDE: Oct 7 Depart at 2 PM from the Telemark trailhead (park next to the tennis courts) to ride the Ojibwe single track trail. A/B level.

SATURDAY RIDES: Oct 8 Depart at 10 AM from the Namekagon Town Hall trailhead. There will be A/B rides from here including the Rock Lake single track. Bring lots of water and snacks for the trail as we will be out for a while here, our longest day. Bring a lawn chair and a cooler with a lunch and a beverage for after the ride here.

SUNDAY RIDES: Oct 9 Depart at 10 AM from the OO Trailhead. A/B level.

Please see the Schedule of the rides at www.biketcbc.org for more info.

E-mail update: If you are not on a e-mail list for this event from the past and would like to be added to the list, e-mail me at gglubby@comcast.net

Emergency Contact Form: (Click here). If you would, please fill this out so we have contact info for you in case something should happen. Please fill out 2 copies---carry one with you on your bike and put the other in a sealed envelope and I'll collect them on Friday and return them (unopened) on Sunday. I will also have blank copies in case you forget yours.

CAMBA: Get free maps of the 300-mile CAMBA trail system by joining this organization. At the same time, you'll be supporting the wonderful organization that maps, marks, and maintains these outstanding trails. This is money very well spent! www.cambatrails.org has complete details.

Safety: There is a youth hunt in the area this weekend, although this has gone on in the past and we never have seen any hunters or had any problems, it is best to error on the side of safety and wear a blaze orange vest or similar on Saturday and Sunday

Garry Glubka, 651-303-2207 gglubby@comcast.net

Oct 7-9

Fall Colors Ride - Eau Claire, Wi area

Leader: John Hoffman

(see schedule for more information)

Oct 15-16

Cruisin' the Coulees- Fall

Please join us for a two-day fall tour of the incredibly scenic “Coulee Region” of southwest Wisconsin. Left untouched by the glaciers, this area has unique topography that makes it very desirable for cycling. We'll ride on quiet country roads that meander through the idyllic valleys and beautiful hills that grace this “special place". A bit of climbing is in store to be sure, but the wonderful views from the top and the exhilarating plunge back down are worth the price.

Saturday: We'll meet at Durand High School, 604 7th Ave E, Durand, WI, 54736. Durand is on Hwy. 10, about 70 miles from St. Paul. Ride departs at 10 am.

Several ride options this day ranging from 28 to 74 miles. The shortest routes do not have a rest stop, so be sure to bring along adequate food and drink. The lunch stop on the longest routes will be at the Nelson Cheese Factory and Creamery in Nelson, WI. www.nelsoncheese.com

Overnight accommodations on Saturday night are at the Pepin Motel in Pepin, WI (715-442-2012). Six rooms are on hold until October 12 for our TCBC group. Please tell them you’re with TCBC when you book the room.

We’ll dine at The Homemade Café in Pepin WI Saturday evening.  www.thehomemadecafe.com  It's located across the street from the Pepin Motel. They serve very good food and truly incredible pie! 
After dinner, it's our tradition to take a short walk to beautiful downtown Pepin and the Mississippi riverfront. Gotta burn off those pie calories!

Sunday: We'll start from Alma, WI, 15 miles south of Pepin on Hwy. 35. Ride departs at 10 am. If you wish, join us around 8:30 for an excellent pre-ride breakfast at the Pier 4 Café, 600 N. Main St. in Alma. www.pier4cafe.com  It’s located on the north end of town across from the Quik Trip. After breakfast, we’ll meet for the ride at the Lock and Dam # 4 parking lot, one block south of the cafe. Please park on Main St. adjacent to the lot.

Distance options on this day are 42, 65, 70, 77 and 82. All routes share the initial 27 miles to the rest/lunch stop at the Waumandee General Store. They have sandwiches available as well as the usual small-grocery fare. The 77 and 82 mile routes include an additional rest stop in Fountain City. The 42 mile route splits off from the others at Waumandee.

If you choose the 70 or 82 mile route, you’ll plummet down the famous roller coaster descent known as the "Alligator Slide” to the floor of the serene Trempealeau River Valley two miles below. It’s simply awe-inspiring! But of course, there’s always a price to pay… just a few miles beyond looms a little obstacle called Doelle Valley Road. You might think ascending this one-mile plus, 18 to 20% “wall” a daunting task... You’d be right! It will surely test your mettle.

Our reward for all this climbing will be the breath-taking, switchback descent into Alma. It’s simply delightful! Afterward, we'll take our usual stroll over to the Fire and Ice Shop for some fineWisconsin made ice cream to celebrate our accomplishment.

 As always, this weekend is about social group riding. In other words, there’s no rush- we take time to “smell the roses”. Come along and share some fun!

Please check “Rides and Trips” on the Message Board for possible updates beforehand.

Questions? Call Bob Hoffman, 651-430-2676 or Tony Wanschura, 651-224-8360.

Trip archives

2010 Overnight Trips

2009 Overnight Trips

2008 Overnight Trips

2007 Overnight Trips

2006 Overnight Trips

2005 Overnight Trips

2004 Overnight Trips

2003 Overnight Trips

2002 Overnight Trips

2001 Overnight Trips