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Sightseeing on $20 a day

Join a tour and see the best of the Upper Midwest by bicycle.

As people who like to ride bikes know, an organized bicycle tour is one of the great deals of vacation travel.

Why pay big bucks to an "adventure'' outfitter when you can join a local tour for very little? You could pay Timberline Adventures of Denver $1,800 for its tour of Missouri's Katy Trail — or you could pay Missouri state parks $250 for the same thing, albeit with accommodations in tents, not hotels.

For anyone who's reasonably fit, bike tours are the best possible way to see the countryside, and sponsors do everything for participants except pedal and set up tents.

On rides that benefit good causes, you're almost guaranteed that fellow riders will be people worth knowing. One of the best is Minnesota's TRAM; you have to raise at least $300 for the MS Society, but riding will cost you about $20 a day.

To get the lowest rates, sign up early; most tours increase fees as the tour approaches. Some tours limit riders and sell out. Fees include a camping space, hot showers, snacks, gear shuttle and on-road support. Some rides offer a meal plan. Usually, children's fees are discounted.

Here are some of the best bicycle tours in 2010.

For one-day and weekend trips, see Tours on two wheels. The National Bicycle Tour Directors Association lists many other tours.

GITAP, Grand Illinois Trail and Parks ride, June 13-18. This ride, sponsored by the League of Illinois Bicyclists, is a northwest Illinois loop starting in Freeport, near the Wisconsin border, and going through three state parks and Galena. Cyclists can ride 260 or 465 miles. Reserve early.

Red River International Bike Tour, June 21-25. This tour, presented by the Grand Forks Herald, starts and ends in Grand Forks, making a loop on the North Dakota side of the Red River up to the Canadian border and through Minnesota's Lake of the Woods. 701-780-9424.

Katy Trail Ride, June. Missouri's crushed-limestone Katy Trail is the longest developed rail trail in the nation, 225 miles from Clinton to St. Charles (near St. Louis), roughly along the Missouri River. Cost is $250 for adults, $200 for children 14 and under and $700 for a family, including breakfast and dinner daily. Limited to 300 riders. 800-334-6946.

Habitat 500 in Minnesota, July 11-17. This 500-mile tour benefits Habitat for Humanity. In 2010, it makes a loop through the Mille Lacs area and the Iron Range, going from Sandstone to Isle, Hill City, Grand Rapids, Hibbing and Esko. 612-331-4439.

Michigander, July 17-23: The Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance sponsors this northern Michigan ride with two-day, six-day and seven-day options. The weeklong is a loop from Indian River to Gaylord, Bellaire, Harbor Springs and Mackinaw City. 517-485-6022.

MUP, Michigan's Upper Peninsula Tour, July 17-24. The League of Michigan Bicyclists sponsors this loop tour of the eastern U.P. From St. Ignace, cyclists head to De Tour Village, Sault Ste. Marie, Paradise and Newberry, with two rest days for sightseeing. Cost is $310-$25, $240 for youths 6-17. 888-642-4537.

RAGBRAI, The Register's Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, July 25-31. In 2010, the ride will cut across northern Iowa, starting in Sioux City on the Missouri River, with overnights in Storm Lake, Algona, Clear Lake, Charles City, Waterloo and Manchester, ending in Dubuque on the Mississippi River.

Passes for the 8,500 weeklong riders and 1,500 daily riders are chosen by lottery; deadline is Feb. 15 for paper entries and April 1 for on-line entries. Results are posted May 1. 800-474-3342.

MS TRAM, The Ride Across Minnesota, July 25-30: This tour benefits the Minnesota chapter of the MS Society. In 2010, it's traveling a loop through northern Minnesota lakes country, from Alexandria to Little Falls, Pequot Lakes, Wadena and Fergus Falls. 612-335-7950.

Tour da U.P. This ride through Michigan's Upper Peninsula benefits Teaching Family Homes of Marquette. 906-249-5437.

Bicycling Around Minnesota, Aug. 18-21: In 2010, this tour makes a loop through northeast Minnesota.

DALMAC, the Dick Allen Lansing to Mackinaw tour, Labor Day weekend: The Tri-County Bicycle Association in Lansing, Mich., sponsors this ride, which has five routes of four or five days. 517-882-3700.

Mickelson Trail Trek, Sept. 17-19: This crushed-limestone trail in South Dakota's Black Hills stretches 109 miles between Deadwood and Edgemont, over more than 100 converted railroad bridges and through four rock tunnels. 605-584-3896.

Last updated on February 2, 2010