Destination Up North UpNorth-Spring_19_NB | Page 26

“OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE
SAFE AND HEALTHY BICYCLING FOR
THE ENJOYMENT OF BICYCLISTS
OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES AND
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LOCAL
COMMUNITIES. EVERYONE IS
WELCOME TO JOIN THE CLUB,
WHICH IS A FORUM FOR CYCLISTS
TO MEET, SOCIALIZE AND RIDE
SAFELY.”
-JAN LASAR
Jan Lasar started the bike club over
seven years ago, and says after riding, the
group often meets at a local restaurant
in central Minnesota. “Our mission is to
promote safe and healthy bicycling for
the enjoyment of bicyclists of all ages
and abilities and for the benefit of the
local communities. Everyone is welcome
to join the club, which is a forum for
cyclists to meet, socialize and ride safely.”
Laser adds that the CMBC is an informal
group that includes members between
the ages of 18 and 75. “Our rides draw
from 10-to-15 people per ride. We keep it
fun and easy.”
Lasar has ridden all his life. He got into bicycling
as a form of recreation in 2007. He and his
wife go bike camping as a fun way to see the
world. He buys his maps at Adventure Cycling
(Adventurecycling.org) where you can find tour
maps for the transcontinental bicycle route that
goes from Bar Harbor, Maine to Washington
Susan and David Sperstad, owners of Touright Bicycle
Shop in Little Falls, bicycling near Blanchard Dam in
Royalton
26 destinationupnorth.com
Central Minnesota Bicycle Club riders in front of PJ’s On The Lake in Avon
State. People pass through Minnesota on these
cross-country trips. The route cuts through
Minnesota by the Central Lakes and Lake
Wobegon Trail. Cyclists load all their gear on
bikes using panniers (bike term for saddlebags)
and some haul a lightweight trailer attached to
their bike. These lightweight trailers can hold up
to 50 pounds. sentiment on the joy of biking. After a much
needed career change, Sperstad had an
opportunity to try to fulfill the dream he had
since he was a teenager - opening a full-service
bicycle shop. In 1976, Sperstad heard about
Bike Centennial (a bicycle touring event across
America) and has been hooked on bicycle
touring every since.
When Lasar goes on the road, he uses flashing
lights on the back of his bicycle and has a
mirror on his bike. “People drive distracted by
cell phones so gravel road cycling has taken off
due to less traffic on these non-paved roads.”
The other advantage he points out is that gravel
roads are not as hot in the sun as pavement is
during the summer. He and his wife, Susan, opened Touright Bicycle
Shop in 2015 and have continued to grow the
business each year. Sperstad says, “ There is
nothing that I enjoy more than sharing the love
of cycling with people of all ages.”
Lasar has been the editor and publisher of
Minnesota Trails Magazine (Mntrails.com) for
the past five years and is President of the Lake
Wobegon Trails Association. He says the CMBC
ride schedule typically gets published by April.
Rides range from 10 miles to 41.5 miles long.
If you add all the trails together, you’ll end up
with a trail network of about 350 miles. Ride
maps and ride schedules are available for
download on the Cmnbikeclub.com website.
To stay on top of events visit Facebook.com/
centralminnesotabicycleclub.
David Sperstad, owner of Touright Bicycle
Shop in Downtown Little Falls, echoes Lasar’s
The couple has helped and witnessed 14 - 18
month old children ride their first bike called a
Strider balance bike. “We have also helped 95
plus year old men and women continue to ride
by helping them with a three-wheeled bike or
an electric bike. Each one, at both ends of the
age curve, has the same exhilarating smile on
their faces. We try to bring families together and
create communities with bikes.”
The shop carries several brands of bicycles,
including Electra, Giant, and Marin, and will
service and repair all brands. They offer friendly
bike rides for individuals and families that
often include stopping for ice cream. For more
information, visit Tourightbicycleshop.com.