The Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis, Wisconsin, has never been an easy venue to bike to. There were no bike racks, no security and no official encouragement to ride to the fair. That has changed dramatically in 2008. Thanks to the efforts of Jack Hirt of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin and the enthusiasm of Kathleen O’ Leary of the State Fair, bicyclists will be welcomed with open arms this year. “Pedal to the Park,” the State Fair’s official name for the promotion, will encourage bicycling to the State Fair by offering bike parking near the north and south entrances to the park. If you are a member of the Bike Federation or on the mailing list of some bike shops in the Milwaukee area, you will soon receive an email encouraging you to “Pedal to the Park.” The email blast is expected to reach nearly 30,000 cyclists.

Bikeverywhere has helped with the promotion by producing a custom map of bike routes to the State Fair and sending out promotional materials to bike dealers in the greater Milwaukee area. This is the same assistance that we gave to Summerfest earlier this summer and similar to the custom bike route mapping Bikeverywhere did for the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts. You can download copy of the map here. Eventually the map will also be available for download on the Wisconsin State Fair website.

This year you can add a bike ride to the corn dog/Midway/animal barn experience of the Wisconsin State Fair.

This map covers the entire SE corner of Wisconsin from the state line to Port Washington and from Lake Michigan to the south Kettle Moraine State Forest. Detailed maps on the reverse side cover Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and Waukesha. All routes have been field tested and form a network of scenic, bike friendly roads. You can pick up copies at your local bike dealer or buy it right here. For more information go to the Milwaukee page.

Ride your bike anywhere in this bicycle friendly city, then leave town and explore the drop dead beauty of Dane County. It’s all here on one map. Updated in 2008, the 2nd edition is printed on tear and water resistant paper, so it will hold up to a sweaty jersey pocket or the wear and tear of a handlebar bag. Complete network of bicycle friendly roads with extra detail for the city. Buy it at your local bike shop or right here. For more information, click here.

Aaron Isaacs, author of “Twin Cities by Trolley: The Streetcar Era in Minneapolis and St. Paul” will lead a bike ride along the rail trails of the Twin Cities. The ride leaves at 1:30 on July 17th from St Paul’s Vento Trailhead east of downtown where Payne intersects with West 7th. David Gepner, ride coordinator, describes the ride as “More intellectual than aerobic, and more fulfilling than pure exercise with a stop for a treat and discussion at the nostalgic Dari-ette Drive In.” Isaacs book has received 6 reviews at Amazon.com, all of them 5 star. You can see the book and reviews here.

Bicycle Film Festival 2008 is in Minneapolis. The event runs for three days from Thursday, July 10 to Saturday, July 12. The festival features films from the 1979 classic Breaking Away to film clips as short as 1 minute in length, plus European road racing films and inspirational cross country tours. Film venues include the Riverview Theater, McPhail Center for Music and Theatre De La Jeune Lune. Each day finishes with an After Party including drinks, contests, music and socializing with fellow bicyclists. This promises to be a fun event that has something for everyone in the diverse world of Twin Cities Cycling.