Minnesota Thanksgiving Weekend Bike Rides

If you want to burn off some of that Thanksgiving feast this weekend, there are several rides going on around Minnesota you can join in on.

The Turkey Trekk 2015 takes place on Thanksgiving Day at the Kiwanis Park Mountain Bike Trailhead in Mankato.  The ride is put on by the Mankato Area Mountain Bikers and will be a casual pace night ride starting at 4pm.  Bring your lights.

The Major Taylor Birthday Ride - Thanksgivings Meal Warm-up is on Thanksgiving Day starting at the Dunn Brothers Coffee shop on E. Lake Street in Minneapolis.  This group ride is to celebrate the 137th birthday of Marshall "Major Taylor".  Riders will gather there at 8:30am and roll out at 9:00am sharp.  The ride will last about 90 minutes and cover about 15-20 miles with a stop at the Dunn Brothers at 201 3rd Ave So.

The  Black Friday Ride p/b Koochella is on Friday, November 27th and will cover portions of the Minnesota River Bottoms Mountain Bike Trail.  Not much information as of yet on the Facebook Event page other than "Cross, mtb, or fat bikes! Bring snacks and your beverage of choice! Everyone is welcome!  **Meet at the light rail stop at American Blvd."

The Leftovers Ride also takes place on Friday, November 27th from the Freewheel Bike West Bank location at 3:30pm.  First stop is the Stone Arch Bridge around 3:45pm.  "We asked Mario Macaruso to lead this ride, so expect excitement."  Mountain bikes are suggested for this no-drop ride and bring lights as it will continue to roll after sunset.  "We will roll for 2 hours and end back at the Stone Arch Bridge around 6pm." 

The 3rd Annual "Pie Burner" Thanksgiving Weekend Fatbike Ride takes place on Saturday, November 28th with the start at the south parking lot of the Hibbing Community College in Hibbing.  Ride starts at 9:00am with a grace period if coming from out of town and you contact the ride organizer.  As far as what to expect on this ride, "The ride..... is around long abandoned mining area's in and around the Hibbing and Chisholm areas, in the heart of Minnesota's Iron Range... with lots of ups, and downs sure to follow.  The ride utilizes old mining roads, four wheeler trails, the Mesabi Trail and other various goat paths. Along with some frozen water to play around on.  "It's riding like you'll find in no other part of Minnesota".... "Unique in its own way"...."True FatBike country".....are just a few quotes I've heard."-Joe Sacco, Ride organizer.

This year's fee for the ride will be "in the form of a donation to The North St. Louis County Toys For Tots Foundation.....Donations can be.... a new unused/unwrapped toy, books or stocking stuffers.
Donations are for children 1-18 years of age.  Please limit the amount of whatever you donate to $10.00." 

More details and updates can be found on the Facebook Event Page.

BIKEFUN! Presents: Work off that Turkey on Sunday, November 29th starting at Smith Triangle in Minneapolis at 2:00pm.  "After a couple days of trying not to talk about politics around family while stuffing your face, you could probably use a friendly ride around town. Let's meet up and ride our bikes 9-10 miles.  Nothing fancy, no clever stops. Just riding bikes. We'll roll fast enough to stay warm but slow enough that anyone can join. Maybe we'll get some food or drinks afterwards.
9-10 miles."