Buffalo Bike Club: We Ride to Eat!

Since 2011, a group of bicyclists have been found enjoying rides on trails in and near Buffalo. Unlike those training for races or riding for fitness, the Buffalo Bike Club was formed for those simply wanting to enjoy a bike ride with others, no matter their skill level.

   Known for their motto, “We ride to eat,” the group of bicyclists always include a meal at a local restaurant afterwards. The next time you’re enjoying a Sunday outing and spot a group of bicycles parked out front of a restaurant, it probably means the Buffalo Bike Club just finished another trail ride.

The Club

   When Jack and Nancy Harrold founded the group, it didn’t take long to attract the interest of other biking enthusiasts who wanted to explore the trails in and around Buffalo.

   The rides are anywhere from 20 to 27 miles, at the longest, and club member Bryan Berg noted that everyone is welcome, no matter how experienced they are.

   “We will always accommodate,” Berg said. “We never go faster than the slowest biker wants to go; we’re more of a social group than a fitness group.”

   The commitment to making the ride enjoyable for everyone involved is what makes it appealing for those looking to get outside and spend time with others.

   The Buffalo Bike Club has previously been featured and shared in The Journal-Press, which is how Judy Loberg and Berg discovered the group and joined in on the rides.

   “I saw a picture in the paper for years,” Loberg said. “I kept looking at it, thinking, ‘that looks like a fun thing to do!’”

   Loberg shared she may not have joined the group if it weren’t for her husband, who golfs on Sundays.

   “He leaves me every Sunday, so that’s why I went!” Loberg said, laughing. “I’ve always enjoyed riding my bike.”

   Berg found himself wanting to get outside and be active in a group, which led him to this one.

   “I joined to force myself to get out, otherwise you’re always too busy,” Berg said. “I had done a lot when the kids were younger, and I’d make sure to take them out, but then they start to grow up, and you kind of lose that reason to make time for it.”

   “I always said, ‘I’m going to get out and bike more,’ but I never did,” Loberg added. “Having someone to go with, too, is more fun!”

The Rides

   The club tries to plan a ride once every two weeks, beginning in early spring until the fall, before it starts to get too cold or snowy, usually in October or November.

   Rides are planned for Sundays during the early afternoon, when most people are free.

   “We usually go at 2 or 3 p.m. on Sunday so people can do their church in the morning,” Loberg explained.

   Though rain inevitably cancels a few rides each year, the club still enjoys many nice weekends on their bikes.

   “Most rides are on bike trails along a road or on trails,” Berg shared. “There’s very few of our rides that go on roads; it makes it nicer.”

   The trails chosen for their rides are usually within an hour’s drive of Buffalo, and the ride itself is usually an hour long.

Connecting on Facebook

   For those interested in joining the group on upcoming rides, the club has a Facebook page set up: @buffalobikeclub.

   Here, bicyclists can see the details of the next ride, and even share their own posts to see if anyone wants to join them on their own rides. The group has no advisory board and no dues to join.

   There are currently eight or nine consistent bicyclists in the group, and Loberg and Berg are both eager to see more people join.

    If you’ve been wanting to get out on your bike and enjoy the local trails, check out the Buffalo Bike Club for an opportunity to be outside, engage with the community, and enjoy some tasty food!

2021 Ride Schedule

   Below is the ride schedule for 2021. All rides are on Sundays, beginning at 2 p.m.

   The possibility of rain/other changes affecting the schedule is likely, so make sure to check out their Facebook page to receive the most up-to-date information, as well as to learn about any additional rides!

• June 6: Beebe Lake to Hanover

• June 27: St. Boni to Mayor on Dakota Trail (16 miles)

• July 11: Beaver Island Trail/Munsinger Gardens

• July 25: Royalton to Holdingford (27 miles)

• Aug. 8: Elm Creek/Coon Rapids Dam (20 miles)

• Aug. 22: Watertown to Lyndale on Luce Line

• Sept. 12: Lake Wobegon - St. Joseph to Avon (18 miles)

• Sept. 26: Carver Park (10 miles)

• Oct. 10: Lake Rebecca (7 miles)

• Oct. 24: Sturges Park to Montrose