Sixth Annual Minneapolis Bike Tour Scheduled for September 16

From a June 28 MPRB e-newsletter:

Mark your calendars for the sixth annual Minneapolis Bike Tour

Pre-registration now open at www.minneapolisbiketour.com

The Minneapolis Bike Tour returns for its sixth annual ride, Sunday, Sept. 16, showcasing the Minneapolis Park System. The Bike Tour offers riders a choice between two routes: a long, 36-mile route which travels along Minneapolis lakes, Minnehaha Creek and the Mississippi River, or a shorter, 14-mile route that travels around Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet.

Parkways and roadways along the routes will be closed to motorized traffic to give individuals and families the opportunity to enjoy Minneapolis’ spectacular park and Grand Rounds Scenic Byway system at their own pace, unhindered by motorized traffic.

Both routes begin and end at Parade Field, located at 400 Kenwood Parkway in Minneapolis. Routes include rest stops with refreshments and bike mechanics. Participants must begin the tour between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m.

The Minneapolis Bike Tour is also creating a new, detailed and informative route map that will be available in July at http://www.minneapolisbiketour.com/ and at MPRB Headquarters at 2117 West River Road in Minneapolis.

The official Minneapolis Bike Tour t-shirt features the work of Dan Black, a Minneapolis-based graphic designer for LandLand. Bike Tour participants can buy the t-shirt for an additional $5 upon registration. A limited amount of t-shirts will be available during the Bike Tour’s weekend registration and the day of the event. T-shirt availability is only guaranteed for pre-registered participants who have ordered them.
Participants can also become fans of the Bike Tour on Facebook and follow tour news on Twitter at @mpls_bike_tour.

Registration and Fees
Pre-registration is available online at http://www.minneapolisbiketour.com/. Weekend registration at Parade Field is available 9 a.m.–noon Saturday, Sept. 15, and 6:30–8:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, the day of the Bike Tour.

The pre-registration fee remains at $30 for adults ages 18 and older, $10 for youth ages 6–17 and free for riders ages five and younger. Route support and refreshments are included in the registration fee.
18 years and older – $30 ($40 weekend registration)
6–17 years – $10 ($15 weekend registration)
Five years and younger – Free

Back by Popular Demand
The Bike Tour goes “green” with compost, recycling and water tap structures available along each route, and provides most informational documents online.
New Belgium Brewery will once again sponsor the post-ride festivities, including a beer garden and live music.

Volunteers Needed
Hundreds of volunteers are needed to help with all aspects of the tour, from preparing registration packets and helping along the route, to post-event cleanup.

For additional information on the Bike Tour and volunteer opportunities, visit http://www.minneapolisbiketour.com/, email info@minneapolisbiketour.com or call 612-230-6400.

Bike Tour proceeds go toward supporting and enhancing the Minneapolis Park System, and to support Park Board projects.