Wisconsin Bike Fed Magazine, May 2017

M A G A Z I N E 17 M A Y 2 0 1 7

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IN THIS ISSUE 6 Fix the Potholes, Pave the Shoulders 8 Wisconsin Bike Week 10 50 years of UPAF and Milwaukee’s Biggest Ride 14 500 Miles of Freedom 16 Multimodal Circle Tour 27 How to Train for the Ride Across Wisconsin 32 Women Who Ride 42 Holy Toledo, the Bike Fed Adopts the UP! 54 May Bicycling Rides & Events 56 June Bicycling Rides & Events

On the Cover: Peter DiAntoni rolls his e-assit Bullitt cargo bike off the Lake Express Ferry in Muskegon, Michigan.

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Safe Routes to School: This is what we do best Every year our instructors teach more than 2,000 kids in our Milwaukee area Safe Routes to School classes. Safe Routes to School is the first program the Bike Fed started and after 12 years it is still going strong. It is wonderful to see kids learn something so important, with such enthusiasm. Some kids who start our class don’t even know how to ride a bike, but our instructors typically get them pedaling in less than an hour.

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Chris Aalid/Marketing Coordinator

Gravel Isn’t For Everyone

Michelle Bauchaus, Fox Cities Ambassador

Our last issue featured a story about the Tour de Chequamegon, an epic ride around Cable and Hayward, much of it on gravel roads. If things keep going as they are with the state of Wisconsin’s transportation budget you might be able to ride gravel roads in most communities in our state.

chris.aalid@wisconsinbikefed.org michelleb@wisconsinbikefed.org

Gabe Chapman/Membership Coordinator gabe@wisconsinbikefed.org

Dave Cieslewicz/Executive Director dave.cieslewicz@wisconsinbikefed.org

Carolyn Dvorak/Southwest Region Director carolyn.dvorak@wisconsinbikefed.org

Sarah Gaskell/Planning Manager sarah.gaskell@wisconsinbikefed.org

Tony Giron/Events Coordinator tony.giron@wisconsinbikefed.org

Matt Gissibl/Resident Dirt Tester matt.gissibl@wisconsinbikefed.org

Wendy Hanisch/Director of Development and Events wendy@wisconsinbikefed.org

Andrew Kaczmarek/Finance Director andrew.kaczmarek@wisconsinbikefed.org

Martha Laugen/Membership Director martha@wisconsinbikefed.org

Jake Newborn/Youth Education Program Manager jake.newborn@wisconsinbikefed.org

Dave Schlabowske/Deputy Director dave.schlabowske@wisconsinbikefed.org

Jessica Wineberg/Program Director jessica@wisconsinbikefed.org

Board of Directors Ted Galloway, Chair, Bill Koch, Chair-Elect Clay Griessmeyer, Secretary, Dave Jablonowski, Treasurer Brien Christopherson Bill Hauda Sydney Prusak Traci Elliott Tad Hylkema Melissa Putzer Daniel Goldberg Michael Johnson John Siegert Peter Gray Beth Liebhardt Melissa Vernon MarkGottlieb Janet Loewi David Waters Cassandra Habel Gary Peterson

Magazine Staff Editor: Dave Schlabowske

Art Director: Chris Aalid

Advertising: Matt Gissibl/matt.gissibl@wisconsinbikefed.org The Wisconsin Bike Fed Magazine is a complimentary addition to Bike Fed Annual Memberships. To join or renew your membership, visit WisconsinBikeFed.org/join Proudly printed on Appleton Uptopia Paper, milled in Wisconsin.

Reach us at (414) 255-0371 or online at WisconsinBikeFed.org

As the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee went around the state holding hearings on the budget this spring, they heard from local officials who said they had converted or were planning on converting some roads back to gravel because they just didn’t have the money to fix the pavement.

That’s tragic because one of the reasons for Wisconsin’s best-in-America cycling reputation is our plethora of paved rural roads. We can claim a share of credit for as the “Good Roads Movement” started with bicyclists.

At about the same time the famrers in America’s Dairyland needed a paved road system that could get milk trucks to remote farms even during muddy spring weather. In a very real sense, Wisconsin’s great paved road network is the result of bicyclists and cows.

The near term prospects for improvement are sketchy at best. The governor’s initial budget called for an 8.5% increase in funding for local road aids – the kind of money that gets used for fixing potholes, resurfacing streets and paving shoulders. But there is no assurance that his proposal will stick. And it’s not likely that even that will be enough unless those kinds of increases were sustained for many years in a row. And that, in turn, can’t happen without some kind of increase in transportation revenues – probably through the gas tax.

That’s why more funding for local road repair was our main ask in our 2017-18 Lobby Day at the state Capitol held last month and it will continue to be our focus as we represent you in the halls of state government this year and for awhile into the foreseeable future.

So as you enjoy another edition of our magazine imagine what the places we take you would be like without good paved roads. Gravel has its place and gravel riding sure has its enthusiasts. But let’s keep that a choice, not a necessity.

Enjoy the read.

Dave Cieslewicz Executive Director WISCONSINBIKEFED.ORG

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FIX THE POTHOLES, PAVE THE SHOULDERS

BY DAVE CIESLEWICZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR • WISCONSIN BIKE FED

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he 2017–2018 legislative session, which began in January and ends early next year, could be an important one for cycling because it’s a crucial period for transportation funding overall.

The following is an update on the issues the Bike Fed is working on: Local road funding. Governor Scott Walker’s budget increased funding for local road repair by about $77 million. Since these are the roads we ride on, the Bike Fed is supportive of that increase because it means more potholes can be filled, more shoulders paved 6

and more cracked concrete replaced. But the budget isn’t sitting well with legislators, who believe that it doesn’t address long-term needs, especially in major highway projects, and it doesn’t fix a growing funding gap, relying too much on borrowing. Because we have an obvious interest in the integrity of the transportation fund, we want to be positive players in finding long-term solutions that make sense. Look for the budget to pass by around July 1st.

Vulnerable users. Once again, we will be supporting a bill to stiffen penalties for ve-

hicle moving violations that cause death or serious injury to vulnerable road users, like cyclists. The latest version of this bill (Assembly Bill 201) has the support of ABATE, the motorcyclists organization that opposed our bill last time it was introduced. With their support, we believe our chances are somewhat better. We hope the bill will be debated in the fall.

Electric bikes. With e-bikes coming on strong, the need to update our laws is crucial. We are working with Trek and People For Bikes on a bill patterned after bipartisan legislation in California. Essentially, the bill would create three classes of e-bikes based on whether they are e-assist or controlled by a throttle and their maximum speed. The bill spells out where each class of bike can be operated with the motor engaged. It also authorizes local governments to make their own determinations of where and how these bikes can be used. This bill was still being drafted as of press time.

Self-driving vehicles. Another fast-moving trend is automated vehicles, which will require little if any driver supervision. Every major automaker, plus companies like Uber, Lyft and Google, are working on this technology. Fully automated vehicles are expected to be on the market within a few years. At an informational hearing on the technology before a legislative committee this winter, legislators talked about the need for legislation to govern these vehicles. While no legislation has been introduced yet, the Bike Fed will be monitoring this issue because we want to make sure that cyclists are considered and protected by any potential laws governing self-driving vehicles.

The legislative session is like a train. It starts out very slowly and gains steam as it moves forward. Right now, the train is just pulling out of the station, so little seems to be happening. But the pace will pick up very quickly with the budget passing by mid-summer, followed by a lengthy fall session and one more floor period in early 2018.

Through blogs, email updates, and action alerts, the Bike Fed will keep our members informed of issues that impact cycling.

Bike Tour

July 22-23, 2017 Donate • Ride • Volunteer

Celebrating 25 Years Riding the Shore for a Cure Ride the shores of Lake Michigan from Mequon to Manitowoc to Sturgeon Bay! The Scenic Shore 150 Bike Tour is a twoday fully-supported 150-mile ride along the coast of beautiful Lake Michigan.

Join us to celebrate the 25th annual ride to cure blood cancer.

Register Online At www.ScenicShore150.org

P: 262.785.4272 E: scenicshore150@lls.org WISCONSINBIKEFED.ORG

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WISCONSIN BIKE WEEK CELEBRATE BIKING STATEWIDE THIS JUNE Story by Tony Giron • Photos by Dave Schlabowske

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isconsin Bike Week is just around the corner, and there are tons of fun rides and workshops to take part in across the state. Cities across Wisconsin will have rides and commuter stations ready for all levels of riders.

This year Wisconsin Bike Week will run June 1st through the 10th. So, technically it’s Wisconsin Bike Week And A Half, but that doesn’t come trippingly to the tongue, so we’ll stick with Bike Week.

Some events are sponsored by the Bike Fed, but most are organic and

homegrown. They just happen and here at the Bike Fed we try to corral them so that you know what’s going on.

In 1956, the League of American Bicyclists established National Bike to Work Month as a way to showcase the many benefits of cycling and encourage more folks to give biking a try. To this day, National Bike Week is held the third week of May. But the League is headquartered in Washington, DC., where May can be lovely. Here in Wisconsin May can be snowy, so a few years ago we moved the celebration of all things bike to early June to take advantage of the better, warmer weather. We also re-branded the event simply “Bike Week” to remove the emphasis on just commuting and to include evening and weekend events for families.

We love the League, but hey, we’re Wisconsin and we do things our own way!

While Wisconsin’s re-brand to “Bike Week” is more inclusive and the weather a little nicer, the mission is the same—get butts on bikes. Bike Week is not just about growing a relationship with your bike, but also about fostering the wonderful community and subcultures that make biking such a universal pastime. Whether you are new to biking or a fearless commuter, a historian or an adventurer, or you just need to brush up on your mechanical skills, Wisconsin Bike Week has an event for you.

In the spirit of being all-inclusive, we have partnered with many bike enthusiasts to bring you a week full of friendship, food, and of course, bikes. Check out our website calendar for a full list of rides, commuter stations, and workshops.

From bakery and bacon to pickled herring and brake adjustments, be sure to stop by a Bike Week Commuter Station to see what is on offer for free.

Visit WisconsinBikeWeek.com and join us for rides, events, and free grub during Wisconsin Bike Week this June.

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50 YEARS OF UPAF AND MILWAUKEE’S BIGGEST RIDE

By Katie Joachim photos by dave schlabowske, red hammer photography

Your legs burn pleasantly as you ascend a hill. Only 23 more miles, you say to yourself. You can do it.

You look to your left.

A woman in a tutu passes you.

To your right, a superhero adorned in a cape flashes you a grin.

A parrot squawks in the distance, as a man with a cage on the front of his bike stops for a photo.

You smile to yourself. Only 23 more miles? Shoot.

This is what makes the UPAF Ride for the Arts one of Milwaukee’s most beloved cycling events. It’s FUN and everyone wins, including Milwaukee’s performing arts scene.

The United Performing Arts Fund’s Ride for the Arts, sponsored by Miller Lite, will take place on Sunday, June 4th. This year is a milestone for UPAF, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Since the ride’s inception in 1981, more than 280,000 riders, thousands of volunteers, and hundreds of sponsors have helped to raise over $9 million for UPAF and the 15 prominent performing arts organizations it supports. In 10

2016, 4,000 riders participated, helping to raise a total of $560,509 for the performing arts. Today, the Ride for the Arts is UPAF’s single largest fundraising event and Wisconsin’s largest one-day recreational bike ride— thanks to people like YOU. WHY RIDE? Get geared up for the most entertaining charity bike ride of the year! For the past 36 years, the UPAF Ride for the Arts has served as the unofficial kickoff for the summer cycling season.

The Ride for the Arts is not a race, which makes it the perfect family-friendly event!

Highlights include: • This year UPAF is bringing back the fivemile family route, so even the youngest riders can participate. The 2017 ride will offer five different routes for riders of different ages and abilities: 5, 12, 25, 45 and 70 miles.

• The ride is the perfect opportunity to get a few of your friends together and form a team. Teams of 10 or more can create a customized t-shirt, with your team name displayed proudly on the back.

• In celebration of the 50th anniversary, UPAF is rolling back the ride prices. This year features the lowest entry fees in years.

• For the 2017 Ride, UPAF is ramping up enthusiasm by introducing bike decorating contests and encouraging riders to show up in costume. UPAF member groups will perform throughout the course and at the finish line.

• There are opportunities to win pledge prizes for different levels of giving, including an exclusive 2017 Ride for the Arts jersey for participants who collect pledges of $250 or more.

WHY SUPPORT UPAF? What can cyclists do to help ensure that the Greater Milwaukee area is a wonderful place to live, work, and play? The beauty of the UPAF Ride for the Arts is that it offers cyclists of all ages a fun, accessible event and an opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause.

• By supporting the performing arts, you are helping our local economy. The per-

forming arts contribute $100 million to the local economy and create thousands of jobs in the arts and culture industry.

• UPAF provides funding for arts education programs that benefit hundreds of thousands of children. Students who have performing arts education routinely do better in reading, science, and math.

• A vibrant performing arts scene supports a creative and diverse region that makes Milwaukee a desirable tourist destination.

But wait, there’s more!

Need another reason to get pumped up about the 2017 ride? This year, UPAF has secured commitments from three honorary co-chairs for the ride: Peter Feigin, Milwaukee Bucks president, Craig Robinson, vice president of player and organizational development, and former Bucks player Desmond

What do you get when you mix parrots, tutus, unicycles, and routes for all ages and abilities? You get ear-to-ear grins and the biggest ride in Wisconsin, the UPAF Ride for the Arts!

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participate in the arts and to express themselves artistically. “By supporting the UPAF Ride for the Arts, you are supporting our children’s futures, and fostering a creative community that will benefit the region as a whole,” said Mason.

In March, WISN-12, official Ride for the Arts television partner, filmed a public service announcement featuring UPAF’s three new ride co-chairs. What a slam dunk!

Mason.

Mason, an accomplished visual artist, is featured in the Athletes for Art organization, which exhibits and works closely with inner-city youth, encouraging students to

PAYING TRIBUTE TO A LOCAL CYCLING LEGEND UPAF will honor local cycling pioneer Chris Kegel by introducing a new annual award, the Chris Kegel Award. The award will be given each year to the UPAF ride team that raises the most money in pledges. The Kegel family and their company, Wheel & Sprocket, continue to be tireless advocates for community rides, including the UPAF Ride for the Arts.

Amelia Kegel, Chris’s daughter, said, “Chris and the entire Wheel & Sprocket team have always embraced and supported the UPAF Ride for the Arts.

UPAF’s Ride for the Arts is an opportunity to introduce a wide range of people to the joys of cycling, while raising money for the performing arts. We’ve been a part of the ride

for so many years, and we’re so pleased that Chris will be honored with this award.”

REGIONAL SUPPORT In addition to our presenting sponsor, Miller Lite, UPAF benefits from a wide array of generous sponsors who are committed to the local community. This year, Johnson Financial Group will match rider pledges up to $25,000 and will serve as the “Exclusive Bank Partner for the Ride.” All pledges will help UPAF cross the finish line and achieve a record-setting 50th anniversary campaign.

Husch Blackwell will sponsor UPAF’s 25-mile “Own the Hoan” route that crosses the Hoan Bridge, and Allen Edmonds, Harley-Davidson, The Brewers Community Foundation, and Steinhafels are each sponsoring a route as well.

Many community sponsors actively participate in the ride, putting together ride teams composed of employees who enjoy the team building experience. Northwestern Mutual, Associated Bank, Manpower Group, Johnson Controls, Baird, and Actuant each put together sizable teams every year.

Want to be a part of this milestone 50th anniversary year? Help UPAF pedal toward history and make this the best ride yet. Visit www.upafride.org to register today!

The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) was founded in 1967 to support performing arts groups in the Greater Milwaukee area.

Over the past 50 years, UPAF has continued to put the pedal to the metal and has raised over $300 million to support a vibrant performing arts scene in Southeastern Wisconsin.

UPAF RIDE FOR THE ARTS WHEN: Sunday, June 4, 2017 WHERE: The ride starts and finishes at the south gate of the Summerfest grounds, at the intersection of Polk Street and Harbor Drive. After-party hosted by Miller Lite at the Summerfest grounds.

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WHAT: The UPAF Ride for the Arts, sponsored by Miller Lite, is more than just a ride. It’s an opportunity for friends, families, and co-workers to have fun outdoors while also supporting the region’s best in entertainment. The ride offers five routes that showcase Milwaukee’s

lakefront and neighborhoods, ranging from the Youth 5-Miler up to the Challenger 70-Miler. The three longest routes will cross the Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge, providing riders with a unique view of Milwaukee and Lake Michigan.

WHY: The ride supports Southeastern Wisconsin’s dynamic, diverse, and vital performing arts scene.

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500 Miles of Freedom An update on the Route of the Badger

MARQUETTE COUNTY

GREEN LAKE COUNTY

COLUMBIA COUNTY

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Story by Willie Karidis, Rails-to-Trails Conversvancy “You gotta get out, to know what it’s all about.” Captain Dave Bolton Each day brings a new opportunity to step outside and experience the great outdoors. Whether walking, running, biking, or skating, whatever your preferred choice, the opportunities are right in front of us.

I always feel better after getting out. Spending time outdoors connects me to my neighborhood, the seasons, and the weather, which challenges my ability to stay comfortable. When I return home I am always rejuvenated and feel happy to be alive. The drive to get outside is engrained in our nature.

A joint project of the Bike Fed, the Rails to Trails Conservancy and the National Park Service, the Route of the Badger is a transformative project with an ambitious goal to interconnect approximately 340 miles of currently existing trails in the seven Southeastern Wisconsin counties: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha. The end result will be the creation of a 500-mile world-class destination trail network. When complete, the trail network will reach from Chicago to Sheboygan and from Milwaukee to Madison.

Eventually the trail network will extend to Minneapolis and beyond. The opportunity to experience the great outdoors via an interconnected trail network will be a fantastic asset for Wisconsin.

On March 9, 2017, the Route of the Badger project held its second partner network meeting with the goal of setting up four working groups: Economic Development/Tourism, Public Outreach/Communication, Mapping/Trail Network and Governance. The 60 enthusiastic attendees embraced their new roles, as each of the participants were tasked with refining the vision for their respective working group and identifying internal and external target audiences in the fulfillment of the Route of the Badger. Next steps were identified and leaders for each group emerged. The journey continues.

There is no playbook, we are writing it as we go. Fortunately, the Route of the Badger is supported by extremely talented people who believe in the vision and recognize that good things take time. Thoughtful preparation and diligence is critical in making a dream such as this come true.

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Madison DANE COUNTY

JEFFERSO

GREEN COUNTY

STEPHENSON COUNTY

ROCK COUNTY

Janesville

WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Why do it? Trails can be the lifeblood of communities.

Our communities are enriched as more people use trails to get where they want to go. Trail networks provide expanded economic opportunity for trailside businesses and tourism, as well as commercial ventures for surrounding neighborhoods. They also provide an increased quality of life for those who are interested in living near, commuting on, and enjoying a trail network. Millennials today are walking, biking and using public transportation significantly more than people their age did a decade ago. An expanded trail network helps to attract and retain a younger, highly educated workforce.

Opportunities exist within the footprint of the Route

BOONE COU

Sheboygan FOND DU LAC COUNTY SHEBOYGAN COUNTY

ROUTE OF THE BADGER Open Multi-Use Trail Unused RR Corridor (FRA)

DODGE COUNTY

Active Rail Lines (FRA) WASHINGTON COUNTY

Park Preserve

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Project Footprint 0

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WAUKESHA COUNTY

Waukesha

ON COUNTY

UNTY

OZAUKEE COUNTY

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miles

Milwaukee MILWAUKEE COUNTY

RACINE COUNTY

Racine

WALWORTH COUNTY

Burlington KENOSHA COUNTY

MCHENRY COUNTY

Kenosha

LAKE COUNTY

RailstoTrails.org @RailstoTrails

of the Badger to encourage trail development in previously undeveloped areas of Milwaukee. The distribution of trails coincides with socioeconomic factors that have a negative impact on people and places and create equity disparities. The 30th Street Corridor and the KK River Trail are two examples of trail development that, if done with meaningful community engagement, can provide access to safe transportation, physical activity, and outdoor recreation. The potential to bridge communities and improve health and quality of life is an exciting prospect.

Improving public health is another positive result of trails in a community. People who have access to safe places to walk within 10 minutes of their homes get out at a rate of one and a half more times than those who do not. The Route of the Badger is reaching out and working directly with health organizations to develop baseline studies that help measure health levels of different communities within its footprint.

Trails connect us to each other through a common thread of our enjoyment of the outdoors. The Route of the Badger is an op-

portunity to build a positive legacy for the future of Wisconsin and to be an example for the rest of the country, demonstrating how communities working together can address common goals.

If you would like to get involved with the Route of the Badger, please contact willie@ railstotrails.org

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MULTIMODAL CIRCLE TOUR Story by Dave Schlabowske • Photos by Dave Schlabowske & Peter DiAntoni

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ROWING UP IN MILWAUKEE, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY THE LAKE MICHIGAN CIRCLE TOUR. THE IDEA OF CIRCUMNAVIGATING THE GREAT LAKE IS A TEMPTING ADVENTURE THAT BEGINS A FEW MILES TO THE EAST OF MY FRONT DOOR. THE UBIQUITOUS GREEN SIGNS ARE A REGULAR REMINDER THAT ENDLESS SCENIC LAKE VIEWS ARE JUST DOWN THE ROAD. Above: Prevailing winds blow sand across the road on the eastern side of Lake Michigan. Right: By taking the early Lake Express Ferry, we were able to make it to Luddington before sunset.

What has always stopped me from hopping on my bike and following one sign to the next is the time it would take to bike those 1,100 miles.

Then the Lake Express Ferry started service, and I hatched a plan to do an abbreviated multimodal Circle Tour by taking the high speed ferry to Muskegon, riding north to Ludington, taking the SS Badger ferry back to Manitowoc, and riding back down to Milwaukee.

I put the trip on my calendar for September 26–29 and planned to use a free ferry ticket that was my reward for donating a bike to the annual Lake Express bike drive. I invited Peter DiAntoni, a friend who also happens to be a great photographer, to help document the trip.

Peter is a former courier, and he had recently dialed in the electric-assist on his Harry vs Larry Bullitt cargo bike to the point that he felt it could handle the 80-plus-mile days we would be riding. I was a lit18

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tle jealous because using the cargo bike also meant that he didn’t have to be as miserly packing for the trip as I did.

I opted to ride my Fyxation carbon adventure bike and pack my stuff in my Revelate bikepacking bags. The Fyxation frame and fork do have rack/fender mounts for panniers, but I have really come to like the minimalist bikepacking set-up. The frame also has three water bottle mounts, something I demand in a touring bike.

My bike only weighed 42.5 pounds with my Revelate Tangle, Fuel Tank, Mountain Feedbag and Terrapin seat bags stuffed with my camera gear (Sony A6300, 16-50 kit lens, Sony 70-200 F4 and Sigma Art 19mm F2.8), camping gear (Zpack Soloist tent, Exped Symat Hyperlight M air mattress, Big Agnes Horse Thief 35 sleeping bag), all my clothes, two spare tubes, Topeak Road Morph pump, multi-tool, and

toiletries. Not very heavy for a loaded touring/camping rig.

Peter and I decided to do the loop counter-clockwise, leaving on the 6:00 a.m. Lake Express Ferry. The ferry has a respectable galley to grab coffee or snacks, but we were hankering to sample some local caffeine and food, so we held off until we landed in Muskegon. Perhaps Muskegon’s biggest claim to fame is that it was, “Buster Keaton’s favorite place on earth,” according to his widow. He liked it so much, he started an actor’s colony there. Today, the town’s storied past is celebrated the first weekend of October each year when the International Buster Keaton Society holds their annual convention there.

Riding right off the ferry, we took the very pretty Muskegon Lakeshore Trail northeast to get into downtown. After a quick photo op with the Buster Keaton bronze statue at 3rd and Western Avenue, we headed over to Drip, Drop, Drink Coffee Bar. Their mocha and espresso did not disappoint, but they didn’t have much in the way of food, so the barista suggested we pedal a few more blocks to Carmen’s Cafe.

Pete and I sat at a table, but many of the locals seemed to prefer the counter service. The entire menu at Carmen’s looked great, but corned beef hash is my benchmark. I managed to make the clean plate club, but only just.

After our big breakfast, we took the rest of the Lakeshore Trail around the bay to Muskegon Park, as we wanted to stay as close to the

Above: The crew strapped our bikes down on the Lake Express as the

ride can be bumpy. We untied them ourselves though. Both ferries allow you to roll you bike on and off. Opposite Top Left: Me rolling Michigan gravel on my Fyxation Crusher, a perfect pairing. Opposite Top Right: Sunrise boarding on the SS Badger in Luddington. Opposite Lower: Peter on his e-assist Bullitt rolling past wind turbines in Michigan.

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lakeshore as we could for this trip and perhaps make a stop at the dunes in Silver Lake State Park. With all our stops for photographs and a 15-mph headwind, we were making much slower time than we anticipated.

A more obvious (and shorter) bike route would be to ride to the McMillen Road Trailhead and take the Fred Meijer Berry Junction Trail north to the Hart-Montague Bicycle Trail, which gets you about 40 miles north to Hart.

We stopped to discuss options at Woodland Farm Market just east of Shelby. Pete also used the time to pick up an “opportunity charge� using an electrical outlet outside. Over a delicious slice of cherry pie that we washed down with fresh pressed apple cider, we decided to skip the dunes this trip to save some extra miles and we headed straight north to pick up the trail at the Hart-Montague Bicycle Trail Park.

The trail ends in Hart, where we stuck to low traffic roads through the apple and cherry orchards. In Wisconsin we have Door County and Bayfield, but the climate on much of the eastern shore of Lake Michigan is also ideal for growing apples and cherries. In fact, Michigan produces the most cherries of any state and is the second largest producer of apples.

From Hart we took Oceana Drive north to Brye Road and then onto the South Pere Marquette Highway into Ludington. Most of that route was very pleasant riding, 22

but the section on the highway has a narrow shoulder and was less than ideal. We couldn’t find a better bike route into Ludington, but thankfully it was only a little over three miles.

Although Peter and I wanted to camp on this trip, it was another 10 miles to the closest campground at Cartier Park, so we opted to stay at the historic Stearns Hotel. The Stearns Hotel was built in 1903 by lumber baron Justus Stearns as Ludington’s first major hotel. While updated substantially since then, the Stearns retains many historic bones. Plus they let us park our bikes inside AND they have a Tiki Bar! Dinner in Ludington was at the Jamesport Brewing Company, where Pete and I both fancied the Hefeweizen.

After dinner we stopped at Barley and Rye for a nightcap.

I thoroughly enjoyed New Holland Brewing Company’s Walleye Rye Whiskey. I have not been able to find that in Milwaukee, but I am keeping my eyes peeled because it is worth looking for.

The S.S. Badger departs Ludington at 9 a.m., and the kitschy Cops and Donuts is conveniently located very close to the ferry terminal. The donuts were excellent and the coffee was fine for a donut place, but not barista level. We ate a real breakfast on the ferry, which has a couple of dining areas. The food on board is nothing fancy, but it was fine.

Opposite: Michigan is the top tart cherry producing state and the third top apple grower, double yum when it is pie time. Above Center: Pete and I got lucky and made it to Cafe Hollander just as it started to rain.

Not a bad place to stop for food and beer! They also have an outlet by the covered bike parking for e-bikes! Top Right: While he was born in Kansas, Buster Keaton loved Muskegon, and they still have a festival in his honor. Bottom Right: Gravel roads are common in Michigan.

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The S.S. Badger takes four hours to make the crossing, but there is quite a bit on board to help you pass the time. In the summer you can catch some rays in the lounge chairs on the outside deck areas. There is even an interesting little on-board museum about the ship, a video arcade, children’s playroom, gift shop/ship’s store, a free movie theater, and a bar.

We enjoyed Michigan, but when we rolled off the big ship in Manitowoc, it felt comforting to get back to Wisconsin. Being coffee snobs, Peter and I both found our bikes pointing toward Jenn’s Java, a friendly little coffee shop with a great looking bakery on Washington Street in Manitowoc.

With our coffee needs met, we put the lake on our left and pedaled south. Rain was in the forecast for later in the day, so we decided to only ride to Harrington Beach and camp. Neither of us fancied riding the last 30 miles of a long day in the rain and in the dark.

We were really looking forward to eating lunch at Il Ritrovo, the famed Neapolitan restaurant in Sheboygan. Facing another 15-mph 24

headwind and a late start, I wasn’t sure I could make the 27 miles by 2:00 p.m., which is when they stop serving lunch. But thanks to the e-assist on Peter’s Bullitt, I was able to draft behind him at a steady 18 mph, and we got there in time to enjoy a delicious wood-fired pizza!

We had hopped on the Ozaukee Interurban Trail back in Oostburg, and despite racing the rain, we made a mandatory photo op at the Cedar Grove Windmill. Cedar Grove is another town with a Dutch heritage, as it was settled in 1847 by Reverend Pieter Zonne and a group of Netherlanders.

After the photo op, we continued south on the trail until just before Belgium, where we pedaled east to Harrington to set up camp, just before the rain started. After getting some firewood and pitching tents, we rode back to the little village of Lake Church for dinner at the Lake Church Pub and Grill. I always try to eat there when I

Left Top: Peter rolling south down the Interurban Trail. Left Lower: A replica “Blockhouse” fort north of Muskegon was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The graffiti carved in the side of the fort proves that sometimes love leaves a mark. Left lower right: We got camp set up at Harrington State Park just before it started to rain, so rather than cook, we biked back into Lake Church for taco night at the local pub. Right: not as big as the one in Little Chute, but the Cedar Grove windmill is still worth a stop.

camp at Harrington because they have great, inexpensive specials.

It was dry the next morning, but the forecast once again called for rain later in the day. We pedaled back to Belgium, home of the Luxembourg American Cultural Society and Luxembourg Fest, and planned to ride to Cafe Hollander in Mequon for our first meal of the day.

We grabbed cinnamon rolls at Hobo’s Korner Kitchen in Belgium to tide us over and then headed south on the Interurban Trail again.

Karma was with us, as it started to pour just as we locked up at the bike-themed Cafe Hollander, one of the great cafes run by the bike-crazy folks at Lowlands Restaurant Group. Not only is this place bicycle friendly, they even have an outlet in the covered bike parking area to charge your e-bike. Oh yeah, they have some delicious food and incredible beer too.

Radar showed the heavy rain was going to pass, so Peter and I sat out the downpour in warm comfort over a leisurely meal inside Hollander. When the rain slowed to a light drizzle, we settled up, saddled up, and hit the trail south for home.

Thanks to the recent extension of the Milwaukee County Oak Leaf Trail, you can now ride on trail all the way back from Oostburg to Milwaukee. Although I never minded taking the roads along the lakefront, riding the trail is a HUGE improvement. The smooth, new asphalt and freedom from worrying about cars makes for a dra-

matically improved experience.

It would be great if they could extend the trail north all the way to Manitowoc, or even Green Bay. What an amazing touring route and tourism boost that would be!

Thankfully, the rain held off for those last 18 miles from Mequon, which made the last leg of the trip a pleasure rather than a slog. The whole trip was really fun, from the ferry rides, to the apple orchards, camping and wonderful trails.

If you are interested in doing the trip yourself, I have saved our routes on RideWithGPS. You can find them by searching for my routes.

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HOW TO TRAIN FOR THE RIDE ACROSS WISCONSIN WITH BOB HANISCH OF P3 PEAK PERFORMANCE PROS PHOTOS BY DAVE SCHLABOWSKE

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DAILY TRAINING OBJECTIVES MONDAY

Recovery Day

Thanks to Bob Hanisch and the team from Peak Performance Professionals, P3, for providing this guide to help people train for the Ride Across Wisconsin (RAW), which starts August 26. P3 brings together highly experienced fitness and wellness professionals from a wide spectrum of disciplines to offer group and individual endurance and fitness training. The P3 team is led by Hanisch, former head coach for USA Triathlon and an exercise physiologist and expert level certified coach from USA Cycling and USA Triathlon. Bob was also a certified diabetes educator (CDE) and national expert on exercising with diabetes.

We are looking forward to another great Ride Across Wisconsin on August 26th! I want to keep this training plan simple, yet effective, and appropriate for many different types of cyclists.

Not everyone has access to the same technology, so when we refer to training “intensity” in terms of what you have available for measurement--watts, heart rate, or rating of perceived exertion (RPE).

When referring to zones, we will look at zones one through five, with one being the easiest. See below for more information on intensity.

Training for RAW involves utilizing varying levels of work or stress, which can be measured by duration and intensity. It is important to vary intensity levels to maximize the benefits of training.

The sample training week will involve longer rides at lower intensity (important for endurance) and varied hill rides at higher levels to improve hill technique and increase fitness. Riding the same intensity, on the same terrain, for similar duration/distances each time will not get you to the level of fitness needed to have your most successful ride at the Ride Across Wisconsin. In addition, not everyone has the same amount of time to train, so going at a higher intensity for shorter rides and lower intensity for longer rides works both aerobic and anaerobic systems to provide the greatest benefit.

While riding RAW, many people have discovered the two main priorities for a successful ride: Time in the saddle and specific hill training. The 16-week training program available on the Ride Across Wisconsin and P3 websites will provide more details, but ideally riders for the one-day should have at least two centuries (100-mile rides) or longer under their belt before RAW and two-day people should have at least one. It is also important to ride hills with more than a 7% grade. Even if there is only one such hill in your area, you can use it.

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Recover from heavy of training over the weekend WEDNESDAY

Zone 2 to 3 Flat Ride on own or group, 20 to 30 miles (1.5 hrs) FRIDAY

Recovery Day Get ready for the weekend SATURDAY

Zone 3

Group Ride on rolling hills. 30 to 50 miles (3 hrs)

TUESDAY

Zone 3 to 4 Group Ride on rolling hills, 20 to 30 miles (1.5 hrs)

THURSDAY

Zone 4 hills, Zone 1-2 Recovery, Hill repeats Warm up.

Complete hill repeats. Cool down. 20 miles: 5 warm-ups, 10 hills, including both up and down, 5 cool down (1.5 hrs) SUNDAY

Zone 2 Group Ride on relatively flat course. 60-plus miles (4 hrs)

If it is short, add more repeats. The more hills you ride and the more often you ride hills will make the Ride Across Wisconsin easier—not necessarily easy, but easier!

Recovery rides and rest days are two critical elements in the training plan. These are the most overlooked elements in many training plans. The guide will include two recovery days to prepare you for the training ahead, and one easy, long ride in zone two. Nutrition and hydration are also critical, especially since the bulk of your training

will be during the warmer weather. As a general rule, riders could take in 20 to 50 grams of carbohydrates every hour and one to two bottles of water every hour.

This could vary greatly for each person, so it is important to experiment during training to see what works best for you. Some athletes are now changing their everyday diet and becoming more “metabolically efficient” so they take in fewer carbs per hour. Additional information on this will be on the P3 website, if you’re interested in learning more. You’ve also got to consider the electrolyte intake for longer rides, especially during hotter temps. Without enough electrolytes like sodium and others, you could experience muscle cramps.

On the left is a sample week for training. Flexibility is the key. This means that if your personal or work schedule doesn’t allow a ride, try to move workouts around. Or if the weather is forecasted to make it tough to complete a long ride, see if you can get it in earlier, if the weather and your time allows. The training program will use hours of training instead of miles. However, it is important that you look at the miles completed in those hours. You might want to adjust the hours so you are getting in the miles you want. Obviously, the event comes down to completing about 175 miles over one or two days. See the example below of hours and miles. If you complete the hours but fall short of the miles, you will have to spend more time riding than the plan might suggest. It bears repeating that it would be good for one-day riders to get in at least two 100+ mile rides and two-day people to get in at least one.

HOW TO MEASURE YOUR WORK ON THE BIKE ZONE

TITLE

WATTS

HR

RPE

DESCRIPTION

1

Active Rec.

<55%

<68

<2

Very easy spinning after hard effort

2

Easy Aerobic

56-75%

69-83%

3

Classic long, slow distance; continuous conversation possible

3

Mod Aerobic

76-90%

84-94%

4

Upper level of aerobic range, some talk possible but harder to do

4

Threshold

91-105%

91-105%

5

Just below or above 60-minute time trial effort, very little talking.

5

VO2 Max

106-120%

>106%

6

Close to maximal effort for two to 10 minutes.

Intensity – Watts, Heart Rate zones or RPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion) from work by Andy Coggan Watts and HR are percent of thresholds. RPE is subjective opinion of the rider gauging overall effort

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Visit WisconsinBikeFed.org/merchandise now and get the latest premium cycling apparel shipped right to your door.

THE BEST WAY TO FIND THE BEST WAY The NEW 2015 UPDATED Wisconsin Bicycling Maps, that are now waterproof and tear proof.

Featuring State & County roads rated for rideability, Mountain Bike Trails, Bike Shops, State Bike Paths and Town Roads. This is our latest collection of Maps.

A set of four includes the North, South, East and West geographic regions of Wisconsin or you can purchase each regional map separately.

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WOMEN WHO RIDE Story & Photos by Emmy A. Yates

With the evolution of the “safety bicycle” and chain drive in the 1890s, the American bicycle craze was born. As women of the day also flocked to the “wheel,” the bicycle became as much a vehicle of emancipation as transportation, so much so that in 1896, Susan B. Anthony told the New York World’s Nellie Bly that bicycling had “done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.”

Today women are still challenging the image of such a male-dominated sport.

With the rise of all-femme bike gangs and female commuters, mechanics, couriers, and touring cyclists, we’ve entered an era of female empowerment using a simple tool that remains genderless.

The conditioned gender roles of the Victorian era slowly began to fade as women learned to ride bicycles. A woman who rode a bicycle no longer depended on a male escort, opening a new world of physical independence and self-reliance. The bicycle became a tool that represented women’s freedom.

In this new regular feature, we will endeavor to articulate the ways in which bicycling continues to provide women a path to freedom and equality. For our first column, we will introduce the reader to five inspiring women in the city of Milwaukee who are making a difference.

As today’s bicycle advocates lament transportation funding cuts and wax poetic about the days of the powerful League of American Wheelmen and their successful battles for better roads, so too are women still battling for gender equality.

While we now have bike lanes and women have the right to vote, we still have to fight for our space on the road and in the world. Through it all, the bicycle has remained an effective tool for challenging archaic notions of what women can and can’t do.

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MELINDA JOHNSON Melinda Johnson rides a blue Raleigh Technium from the 80’s. Every day she tests the image of the “serious cyclist,” because you’ll never catch her commuting in Lycra or riding clipless. Instead, she’s dressed in her signature kitten heels, tights, and a colorful skirt.

Having raced the Riverwest 24 solo four times and participated in countless group rides and bike camping trips–it’s easy to believe Melinda when she says she’s happiest when she’s on the bike.

Raised in Milwaukee, Melinda has spent her life observing and defending the idea that women can be as much of a force on two wheels as anyone else. “When I see women biking together I see a cool connection,” Johnson said. “A gang of girls are just as adventurous as guys.”

Melinda calls her daily commute therapeutic, spiritual, and a tool that combats her own anxiety and fear.

“It’s like having your own therapist, because biking takes care of your mental health,” she said.

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KALEIGH SCHMIDT While Kaleigh Schmidt only started riding her bike just this year, she’s rapidly become hooked. A quick-learning bicycle and moped enthusiast, Schmidt is a breath of fresh air because of her eagerness to conquer anything with two wheels. Covered in tattoos and piercings and sporting her signature ocean blue hair, Schmidt cuts a striking figure when spotted on her bike commuting about the city.

What draws Schmidt most to biking is being able to share a common interest with others while meeting people who are chasing the same freedom. “Sitting inside causes you to isolate yourself and be wrapped up in negative thoughts,” Schmidt surmised. “Biking has helped me grow outside the box.”

Schmidt has met plenty of friendly male cyclists, but she believes that women aren’t taken seriously on the bike. Regardless, she believes that “the limitations I have

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are within myself–they have nothing to do with me being a woman,” Schmidt says.

While Schmidt has experienced judgment from male cyclists, she’s also received it from fellow female riders. In a culture full of Lycra elitists, Schmidt has felt judged for trying, and has been given the cold shoulder when attempting to grow as a cyclist. Nonetheless, Schmidt keeps going. She wants to be a part of the conversation of all-inclusiveness, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or economic class. Most importantly, she wants to see “more babes on bikes.”

“BIKING HAS HELPED ME GROW OUTSIDE THE BOX.”

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DESIREE ROBERTS Desiree Roberts rides a vintage steel Schwinn bicycle with a rear milk carton basket that she installed herself.

Having served in the role of outreach liaison for the Connect 53212 program, Roberts is a tireless advocate for human powered transportation.

As an Afro-Latina, Roberts notes that most black cyclists are older men, and that riding bicycles isn’t always seen positively in black culture because of issues with dignity and class. “Black people have always had to present themselves by following trends such as having nice cars and clothes in order to be respected,” Roberts said.

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“There’s always been negative assumptions linked to black people who ride bikes,” as if it’s all that they can afford, rather than it simply being a lifestyle choice.

Because of this negative assumption, Roberts wants to see more black people on bikes, especially black women, because she believes they could benefit from the empowerment that bike-riding can provide. “Biking helps me get over an obstacle every day, because it’s easy for women to feel small, but my bike makes me feel powerful,” Roberts said.

Roberts admits she feels “sexy as hell” after a bike ride, calling the flush sweat she earns a “natural glow.” But to her, it really isn’t about how you look, it’s about getting there.

Bicycling “BIKING HELPS ME GET Capital OVER AN OBSTACLE of EVERY DAY, BECAUSE America IT’S EASY FOR WOMEN LYDIA KENTOWSKI Two and a half years ago, Lydia Kentowski got her first road bike—a Fyxation Eastside. Since then her mechanical knowledge of the sport has grown tremendously. Kentowski’s everyday “beater bike” is a Factory5 F550 frame with a carbon Alpina fork, Factory5 Pista wheel set, Chris King headset, Factory5 crank, Thomson cockpit, and a Brooks C17S saddle.

She has a quick tongue for bike lingo and can confidently dissect a bike down to its components. For Kentowski, there’s real satisfaction in getting covered with grease from doing a tune-up yourself.

The deeper into cycling she’s gotten, the more she’s seen women being objectified. From podium girls to race flyers. “How are women supposed to get excited about cycling and want to involve themselves in their communities if their bodies are used to market bikes or hand off trophies?” Kentowski said.

While it’s historically been a boy’s club, Kentowski sees many organizations and Women/Trans/Femme community members working to change this on a daily basis. “I think that more and more women are being taken seriously in all the different fields of cycling,” Kentowski said. “It feels like more women are claiming a space in these different communities and are being more accepted.” Kentowski wants to see more inclusive and diversified communities within cycling to better combat negative images of women. She wants to see more women riding, regardless of whether they “nerd out about shaving grams off their fork for marginal gains.”

e d i R e Com ! s U h Wit

TO FEEL SMALL, BUT MY BIKE MAKES ME FEEL POWERFUL”

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LAURA MACÍASBARRERA Laura Macías-Barrera got rid of her car during college in Mexico and has been bike commuting for 13 years. After making the decision to rely on two wheels instead of four, Macías-Barrera says she’s experienced so much more of the world around her. She believes that driving had severely limited her ability to explore.

As someone who works 70-hour weeks, commuting is something she does solely for herself. She credits the bike ride as a way for her to relax before she reaches her destination–even if that destination is 20 miles away.

While she modestly considers herself far from being a skilled cyclist, Macías-Barrera is a brave two-wheeled adventurer. Casually calling herself a “slow roller,” Macías-Barrera works hard to save up for her adventures, her most recent trip being a solo bike tour from Canada to Montana.

Macías-Barrera doesn’t pay much attention to gender differences in biking, even sharing how she usually discredits cat-calling with responses like, “Do I look like I need a ride?” She thinks women should care less about what others think and just do what feels right. “You can change people’s opinions by living the example,” she said. Her philosophy is that each person is in charge of how they live their life. “Get out more, encourage others to do the same, and go on a bike tour before you die,” because she believes that, “When you see the world, you take care of it.”

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HOLY TOLEDO,

THE BIKE FED ADOPTS THE UP! 42

If it were not for the little-known Michigan-Ohio War (1835–1836), the 200 miles of incredible mountain biking on the Nequomanon Trail Network around Marquette and Ishpeming would all be in Wisconsin. I’m not seriously proposing the federal government reopen negotiations over the Toledo Strip, but I’d bet a pasty with ketchup that Wisconsinites probably make up more of the 20,000 visitors who travel way up to the tippy top of the Keweenaw Peninsula to shred the amazing trails in little Copper Harbor (population 108) than do down-staters from Michigan.

With so many of our members already mountain biking in the UP, we thought we should devote some pages each issue to give our readers the 411 on the 906. We also plan a longer feature story with a Wisconsin perspective in a future issue of our magazine this year.

For this issue we are indebted to Hansi Johnson for sharing why he makes the trek to Copper Harbor, despite having the incredible trails around Duluth at his doorstep. Thanks also to Steve Farr for his tips on coffee and trails around Marquette and to the talented Aaron Peterson for his inspiring photography.

Of course the Bike Fed’s main mission remains promoting all the great riding we have in Wisconsin, so if you live in Wausau, La Crosse, Vilas County, or some other region in Wisconsin that you think deserves more recognition, please contact me at daves@wisconsinbikefed.org about providing a regular story and photographs for future issues.

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How a tiny village in Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Upper Peninsula became a world-class mountain biking destination

STORY AND PHOTOS BY HANSI JOHNSON

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The North Coast Lake Superior vistas are definitely worth the climb.

T

he first time I visited Copper Harbor was as a boy scout in 1985. My troop, which was headed to Isle Royale for a 10-day hike, had arrived in Copper Harbor a day early, looking for fun things to do to pass the time. When we asked some locals at the general store for suggestions, they gave us two options, either go swimming in the harbor or watch the black bears scrounge for food at the dump.

Of course, there were many other things to do in Copper Harbor in those days, but there is no doubt that the tourist model in the Harbor has been fairly simple for a long time--a jump-off spot for Isle Royale National Park and a prime snowmobile destination during the snowy winter.

I returned to the Harbor with my mountain bike in 2001. I was working for the Patagonia Clothing Company at the time, and my dealer in the Keweenaw Peninsula had a gregarious employee named Dan--later known as Downwind Dan--who had been telling me that I needed to hit the Harbor for the mountain bike trails.

I had just moved from Vermont, where I had been exposed to some truly epic mountain-biking trails, so I was intrigued. Copper Harbor did not disappoint. The terrain had some serious elevation changes, not the hills I was expecting. It was also extremely rocky and technical. The ancient Lake Superior beaches had metaWISCONSINBIKEFED.ORG

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morphosed into stone, but the round gravel-like rocks had sheared off to create loose marble sections, sprinkled with roots and drops. It was like Vermont, only with the panoramic views of Lake Superior and a small, inviting throwback of a freshwater fishing village.

From that point on, the trek to Copper Harbor and the Keweenaw Peninsula became an annual family tradition. For an avid outdoor adventure enthusiast such as myself, there is no more perfect place to visit in the Upper Midwest. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a spectacular place to hike, sea kayak, and fish, and over the years it has evolved into one of the most iconic mountain bike destinations in the world.

In 2008, nearly a decade after my first return to the Harbor with a bike, I was offered the chance to work as a mountain bike advocate for the International Mountain Bicycling Association. My role was to assist mountain bikers, led by Aaron Rogers, with their goal of turning the Harbor into a world-class mountain bike destination.

At the time, there was only one noted MTB destination in the region, the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA)

46

in Cable, Wisconsin, whose signature event was the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival. Although people were coming from all over the world for the Cheq Fat Tire Festival, there was little widespread interest in coming to the Midwest just to ride the trail systems. And while Aaronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passionate and forceful aspirations took me aback at first, eventually I realized he was on to something.

Copper Harbor itself is a unique place. It sits at the tip of a remote and undeveloped peninsula. Surrounded by Lake Superior, it has its own micro-climate and ecosystem. It feels more like British Columbia than Michigan.

The community seems to be caught in a time warp. The cottages, hotels, and businesses occupy buildings that are straight out of the 1950s. Copper Harbor is like that old comfortable sweater you pull on in early fall--a bit tattered and torn, but it feels just perfect.

However, these features alone are not enough to make

it a world-class off-road cycling destination. For that you need world-class trails. Enter Aaron Rogers and the Copper Harbor Trails Club.

To build trails in the Harbor was no easy task. As I mentioned, the terrain is more stone than soil. A world-class MTB destination needs one thing more than anything else, and that is a “progressive” trails system for all types of riders, beginner to advanced. Many riders are surprised to learn that it’s much easier to build advanced trails than trails designed for entry-level riders.

Beginning riders need consistency in grades, trail surface, tread width, sight lines, and a myriad of other things, and all trails must be sustainably built. This kind of trail-building requires a professional, someone who does not cut corners and who builds with the rider in mind. In 2008, MTB trails in the Midwest were generally built by volunteers and were overall fairly advanced trails. That was definitely the case in the Harbor, where even the easiest trail, although flat, was peppered with a newbie’s nightmare of rocks and roots.

Thanks to Aaron Rogers, Copper Harbor has some of the best, purpose-built trails anywhere, and they are a blast for riders of all ages and abilities. If you make it to Copper Harbor Trails Fest in Septembe be sure to check out the jump into Lake Superior.

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Coffee, craft beer and seemingly endless, purpose-built singletrack mountain bike trails in some of the most beautiful parts of the midwest make Marquette and Copper Harbor with the drive.

Aaron Rogers took this as a challenge , and he rapidly evolved from a skilled volunteer to a professional mechanized trail builder. Aaron began using machines to tame the terrain and bedrock. Supported by CHTC, its volunteers, and IMBA, he gradually succeeded in building out a more well-rounded trail system. Aaron also took the time to learn from trail systems outside of the Midwest region, both in the Southeast and in the West. The idea of drainage riding was perfect for the Harbor--in other words, climbing to the ridge tops and then utilizing the descent, milking the downhills as long and as far as possible to create flowing and effortless descents. Aaron has since then become one of the premier MTB trail builders in the country, and the Harbor is his home base.

There is no doubt that the riding style these days in Copper Harbor leans toward the gravity rider. Passes are sold at the Keweenaw Adventure Company for riders who wish to shuttle up the trails and ride down.

That does not mean there is no room for the cross-country rider. In fact, a major initiative is underway to create a stunning new riding experience called the Keweenaw Point Trail. This trail will generally follow the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, giving riders not only amazing terrain to ride but frequent views of remote, undeveloped Lake Superior beach48

es. This will be an XC experience like no other, and it will transform the entire peninsula into a truly unique MTB destination in its own right.

My personal favorite thing about Copper Harbor, however, is simply driving up with the family, parking the car, and forgetting about it. Our bikes become our mode of travel. With the Belle Vista as our home base, we ride together as a family in the mornings, and my wife and I take turns hitting longer or harder rides in the afternoon. Then we swim in the lake, snack at Jamesonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fish Shop, or lunch at the Mariner Bar. Later in the evening, I ride over the Brickside Brewery and have a pint with my buddies, then I ride home and sleep it off and do it all over again the next day. If it rains, we pull the kayaks out and explore the harbor, or I grab a rod and hunt down some Lake Superior splake or trout. The whole family has also been known to just lay on the beach on Hunters Point and nap in the summer sun.

The beauty of Copper Harbor is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the middle of nowhere. That is both its blessing and its curse.

Many mountain bikers I talk to are put off by the long drive to Copper Harbor, and they say that they would rather head to Colorado or Montana. I used to try and assure them that it was well worth the drive, but these days, I just smile and nod in agreement. Maybe itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better to just keep it a secret.

THE COFFEE RIDE MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN Story by Steve Farr Photos by Aaron Peterson

W

ake up, make a pot of coffee, shower (maybe), get dressed, drink coffee, eat food, and head to work. That’s my general weekday routine, tried and true, uninspired.

At least four out of five weekdays anyways.

But on the fifth day, we have The Coffee Ride. The Coffee Ride is a welcome bump in those routine, uninspired mornings. The idea is simple. Take the coffee outside, on your bike, and wake up to the landscapes of Marquette. Now at least one day a week morning coffee is enjoyed on cliff tops, Lake Superior beaches, at the foot of waterfalls, or at the end of break walls, instead of in front of a screen that can only display pictures of such things. And with over 83 miles of pristine shoreline, 47 miles of trail, and 12 wildly popular falls, we never have trouble coming to a coffee ride destination consensus.

On Thursday mornings, instead of filling up my coffee mug at the breakfast table, I top off the thermos and strap it to the frame of my fatbike. It’s a quick pedal over to the Blackrocks Pub on Third Street, our meeting spot, to see who else didn’t hit the snooze button.

Last time, our sleepy-eyed group decided to take the bike path south of town to find a spot along the lake. In Marquette, all paths eventually lead to Superior, and the sunrise rides along her shores never disappoint. With an abundance of secluded spots like Presque Isle Park and Wetmore Landing with its Little Presque view, anywhere you go, you really can’t go wrong.

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We pedaled through town before the streets got busy, made a sketchy gravel descent down a dead-end street, and found our way to the bike path. From there we wound south along the lakefront, fresh Superior air filling our morning lungs. These rides are a mix of gravel, dirt, and paved surfaces, leaving many of us to favor wide or fat tire bikes. “I don’t think we can make it,” isn’t really in the vocabulary of the ride.

South of Marquette we found a small rock outcropping, sitting unassumingly along the road. To the thousands of people driving past each day this looks like nothing more than a cluster of trees and rock. But there is always more for those who look closely. A quick detour off the path, over some rocks, through some bushes, and instantly we have the vast waters of Lake Superior lapping at our feet.

We settled into the rock, weathered over thousands of years, carved into a shape comfier than a Laz-E-Boy. The warm coffee and cool view beat the snooze button again. We lounged around for about an hour, talking about nothing too important, and competed for the best coffee long pour—an incredibly serious sport involving great heights and bravery. We stayed as long as we could, peeling ourselves away from our secret oasis only when we knew we had just enough time to make it back for work. I can’t get enough of these mornings, I find myself craving them throughout the week.

We spend weekends indulging in the cuisine of our

50

mainly locally-sourced culinary scene in downtown Marquette, and top our nights off with whatever Lake Superior brewed beverage is on tap at one of our six craft breweries.

Saturday mornings are reserved for trail running or hiking—we wake early to take in the vistas from the peaks of some of our favorite places, like Sugarloaf, Hogback, or Top of the World. And yet I can’t get enough of the coffee ride mornings. I find myself craving them throughout the week. After each ride my mood is always better and my mind clearer. Who knows? Maybe it’s just the coffee high, but I doubt it.

Marquette County was named a Top 25 Best Adventure Destination in the World; plan your adventure at TravelMarquetteMichigan.com or call 800-544-4321.

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April 30

!

COUNTS

LY DIS FOR EAR

Celebrate our 50th Anniversary by riding with us on Sunday, June 4 in one of the nation’s largest recreational bike rides.

Learn more and register:

Ride and raise pledges to benefit 15 outstanding performing arts groups in Southeastern Wisconsin.

www.UPAFRide.org

With five routes for all types of riders, including the return of the 5 mile Youth Route, it’s fun for everyone!

414-276-RIDE (7433)

© 2017 United Performing Arts Fund, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All rights reserved.

Let Your Old Bike Buy You a New One!

Have an old bike that’s collecting dust and taking up space? Let your old bike buy you a new bike that you’ll actually WANT to ride!

Bring your trade-in bike into any Wheel & Sprocket location and we’ll guide you through the valuation process using BicycleBlueBook.com. You’ll then receive a gift card that can be used towards any purchase at Wheel & Sprocket.

Life is Short, Enjoy Your Ride!

www.wheel and sprocket.com

BICYCLING RIDES & EVENTS May May 1 - Aug. 30, Weekly, Bike Lola! Summer Weeknight Rides, Vidar of Iola carving on State Street @ Chet Krause Drive, Iola, WI, Fun Ride, Summer Mon. and Wed. night rides starting at 6pm. Various distances and speeds depending on who shows up. 15-30 miles, 16 mph average, but sometimes faster/slower depending on riders. Quiet country roads, hills but nothing insurmountable. Bike clubs welcome for weekend rides!, (715) 445-2456 May 1 - Sept. 30, National Bike Challenge, United States, Anytown USA, WI, Fun Ride, Friendly competition between riders, companies, states, cities, counties, advocacy groups. Scoring is 20 pts for every day ridden, and 1 point for every mile. New for 2017, bike shops can compete with their customers, http:// nationalbikechallenge.org, (651) 428-1279 May 6, Wisconsin Spring Classic #9 Route du Sud, Otumba Park, Sturgeon Bay, WI, Fun Ride, The Door County Silent Sports Association’s tour of beautiful southern Door County. The ride starts in Sturgeon Bay at Otumba Park and takes you to Namur (home of the Belgian American Heritage Club) and Brussels, then to Vignes and Lasalle and back. 70 miles, http://wisconsinspringclassics.com May 6, Monthly, Madison Brewery Bike Tour, Machinery Row Bicycles, Madison, WI, Fun Ride, Bike 12 scenic miles, primarily on bike paths, to Ale Asylum, ALT Brew and Next Door Brewing for tours and samplings. We’ll stop at local points of interest along the trail and enlighten you with some local history as well as interesting beer history, http://www.hopheadtours.com, (608) 467-5707 May 6, Englewood Opener (WORS #1), Englewood Farm, Fall River, WI, Off-Road Race, Recreational mountain bike racing at its best, abilities categories and age classes for all. Pre-ride the course the day before. Learn to Race clinic offered.

Experience why WORS is America’s Largest State Mountain Bike Racing Series, http://wors.org/, (715) 592-5095 May 6, Fat Tire - Lake Delavan, The Waterfront Restaurant, highway 50, Delavan, WI, Fun Ride, 12-mile non-motorized bike ride that helps raise technology funds for St. Andrew’s School-Delavan, WI, so we can help our children get a top notch education. Ride stops at 5 restaurants/taverns around Lake Delavan. A fun event for all! , https://www.facebook.com/ TourDTech/?ref=bookmarks, (224) 406-1093 May 7, Tour de Francis, CDW Building on College Ave, Appleton, WI, Fun Ride, A Benefit ride for Xavier Catholic Schools with a 10-mile family fun ride and well marked 25 and 62-mile routes. All routes have support vehicles and rest stops with drinks, fresh fruit and cookies! All preregistered riders receive a goody bag & T-shirt, http://www.tourdefrancis.com, (920) 450-0801

AUTO, MOTORCYCLE, & BICYCLE INJURIES C A L L T O D AY:

1-(800)-662-5432 or visit

TlustyLaw.com

No fees unless we succeed Home and hospital visits available Free initial consultation

A LIMITED LIABILITY SERVICE CORPORATION

Attorneys at law 1155 Grand Avenue, P.O. Box 588, Schofield, WI 54476 54

May 7, Wisconsin Spring Classic #10 Fyxation to Belgium, Fyxation Bicycle Co., Milwaukee, WI, Fun Ride, Grab a Colectivo coffee at Fyxation before the ride to Belgium, WI, which was actually settled by Luxembourgers, and is home to the Luxembourg American Cultural Society and Museum. Back at the shop on Humboldt Blvd after the ride, we will have a little BBQ. 71 miles, http:// wisconsinspringclassics.com, (414) 372-7223 May 10, FItchburg Historical Agricultural Bike Tour, Fitchburg, Fitchburg, WI, Fun Ride, Do you enjoy riding your bike on the Badger State Trail? Ever wondered about Fitchburg’s history or what happens on the agricultural land surrounding the trail? Does the thought of ice cream on a warm spring day in May make your mouth water? If so, this bike tour is for you! , http://www.Visitfitchburg.com May 12, Wisconsin Spring Classic #11 Rocket Bicycle Studio Black and Blue Ride, Rocket Bicycle Studio, Verona, WI, Fun Ride, This time the crew from Rocket Bicycle Studio in Verona put together a longer, but less punchy loop through Blue Mounds State Park and Black Earth with plenty of places to refuel along the way. There are a couple options to shortcut the route. 77 miles, http:// wisconsinspringclassics.com, (608) 239-3837 May 13, Monthly, Milwaukee Historic Brewery Bike Tour, Lakefront Brewery,

Milwaukee, WI, Fun Ride, Visit the “Beer Capital of the World” by bike! Milwaukee has a deep brewing heritage & we’re going to show you Schlitz, Blatz, Pabst & Miller Breweries with history at each stop. After the history, we’ll make stops at Milwaukee Ale House & Lakefront Brewery for their famous tour. , http://www. hopheadtours.com, (608) 467-5707 May 13, 13th Annual Viroqua Community Bike Ride, Bluedog Cycles, Viroqua, WI, Fun Ride, This ride is a leisurely six-mile loop around town. The goal for the ride is to be outside and moving, to enjoy a ride around our beautiful community, and to have fun with friends and neighbors! The first 100 pre-registered riders receive a free t-shirt, http://vernontrails.com, (608) 637-6993 May 13, Neenah Duathlon, Riverside Park, Neenah, WI, Multi-Sport Event, In its13th year, this family-friendly event has a panoramic view of the river and features a playground where kids can gather. Participants receive a DRI WICK SHIRT, food and fun after the event. Duathlon: 2-mile run, 18-mile bike, 2-mile run, http://www.dutrirun.com/page/show/845794-neenah-duathlonmay-3-2015, (920) 574-2972 May 13, PedaLoops, Standing Rocks County Park, Stevens Point, WI, Fun Ride, Central Wisconsin’s Spring Cycling Tour. Three cycling three routes that loop the hilly terrain around Standing Rocks County Park, just seven miles east of Plover/Stevens Point. Dust off your bike & register by May 7th, http:// activeportagecounty.com/index.cfm?action=cycling.pedaloops, (715) 344-2556 May 14, Tour de Trilliums, Emy J’s Coffeehouse and Cafe, Stevens Point, WI, Fun Ride, We will head west in search of trilliums. Informal ride of between 25-35 miles. This is a social ride and the pace will be set by those who attend. We may split into different groups based on riding abilities, but no one will have to ride alone, http://heartlandclub.org May 14, Cindyrella Classic, Cedarburg Community Gym, Cedarburg, WI, Fun Ride, A women-only fun ride to kick-off the outdoor cycling season. This leisurely ride rolls along the paved Interurban Trail. Female cyclists of all skill levels are welcome & experienced riders are encouraged to bring others along to share their love of cycling, http://www.wiwomencycling.com/cindyrella-classic, (920) 901-1233 May 16 - Aug. 25, Weekly, Tuesday Nights at Washington Park Velodrome, Washington Park Velodrome, Kenosha, WI, Special Event, The 90th Anniversary of track racing! Come down and compete on the velodrome, or come out and watch the action. Speeds will be fast and races will be exciting!, http://www. kenoshavelodrome.com/, (262) 945-2507 May 20, Giro d’ Grazies, Grazies Restaurant, Stevens Point, WI, Fun Ride, 25-30 mile ride, about 2 hours, in a loop. We will stay together at an easy pace, socialize as we ride, and enjoy the springtime sights and smells. Those who wish to stay and enjoy fine Italian cuisine are encouraged to eat with us at Grazies, “Dutch treat,” after the ride. , http://hjeartlandclub.org May 20, Monthly, Suds and Spirits Bike Tour, Machinery Row Bicycles, Madison, WI, Fun Ride, We will bike 12 scenic miles, primarily on bike paths, to Karben4, One Barrel, and Old Sugar Distillery for tours & samplings. We’ll stop at local points of interest along the trail and enlighten you with some local history as well as interesting beer history, http://www.hopheadtours.com, (608) 467-5707 May 20, Syttende Mai Bicycle Tour, Logan Mill Lodge, Westby, WI, Fun Ride, A scenic tour of the unglaciated “driftless” area of Southwest Wisconsin with 30, 60, and 100K options. Enjoy the beauty of blooming trilliums, world-class trout streams, and Amish farmland. Rest stops with refreshments at points of interest along the way, http://vernontrails.com/, (608) 637-6993 May 20, 3rd Annual White Deer Triathlon, Boulder Junction Community Center, Boulder Junction, WI, Multi-Sport Event, Every May Boulder Junction hosts this fun event featuring a 3-kilometer canoe/kayak/stand-up paddleboard course on Boulder Lake, 22-kilometer bike ride on Boulder Junction’s rustic roads and 6-kilometer run along scenic county roads and onto a beautiful forest trail! , http://boulderjct.org/white-deer-triathlon/, (715) 385-2400 May 21, Root River Triathlon, Houston Nature Center, Houston, MI, Multi-Sport Event, A doable triathlon, canoeing, biking and running, http://rootrivertriathlon. org, (507) 429-4417 May 21, Iola Bump & Jump (WORS #2), Iola Winter Sports Area, Iola, WI, OffRoad Race, Recreational mountain bike racing at its best, abilities categories WISCONSINBIKEFED.ORG

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and age classes for all. Pre-ride the course the day before. Learn to Race clinic offered. Experience why WORS is America’s largest state mountain bike racing series, http://wors.org, (715) 592-5095 May 21, Chocolate City Bike Ride, Burlington High School, Burlington, WI, Fun Ride, Carefully marked & mapped (off road Family-10), 23, 40, & 62 mile routes on low traffic country roads. Includes refreshment & bathroom rest stops, cue sheet, small gift, sag wagon, and all the chocolate you can eat at every rest stop, http://www.signmeup.com/118381, (262) 763-7794 May 27, Vuelta a Panqueques, Parking Lot 5601 Hwy. 10 E, 5601 US Hwy. 10 E, WI, Fun Ride, Leave promptly at 9am and pedal briskly 22 miles to Riverside Bible Camp near Amherst for pancakes. Take our time coming back with bellies full. Quiet, rural roads of Portage County are always scenic and quaint, and make for a wonderful spring morning ride, http://heartlandclub.org May 28, Leinenkugel’s Chippewa Valley Century Ride, Irvine Park, Chippewa Falls, WI, Chippewa Falls, WI, Road Race, Century Ride (35, 50, 75, or 100 miles). Rest stops with food and water, SAG support, and brat feed, http://www. chippewavalleyride.us

June Jun. 1 - Sept. 2, Pearl Street Brewery’s Tour de Pearl, Pearl Street Brewery, La Crosse, WI, Fun Ride, Pearl Street Brewery’s 6th Annual Tour de Pearl.

Enjoy Pearl Street pints all summer long by riding to your favorite local bars & restaurants, and get entered for prizes along the way!, http://pearlstreetbrewery. com/?page_id=571, (608) 784-4832 Jun. 2 - Jun. 3, BIKE ME Fun Ride, Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail, Kendall, WI, Fun Ride, Celebrating the oldest rails-to-trails in the U.S.! Riders of all ages will get together and ride the Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail, enjoying the beauty and 3 railroad tunnels.

Visit the communities along the trail, ending with a BIKE ME Fun Ride Party in Kendall on Sat. evening, http://www.bikemeride.com/, (608) 769-9910 Jun. 3, BayCare Clinic Century , BayCare Clinic Corporate Headquarters, Green Bay, WI, Fun Ride, Green Bay’s newest century ride, going from along the waters of Green Bay to Lake Michigan and back. It passes through some of Wisconsin’s most impressive scenery. By BayCare Clinic®, http://www.baycarecentury.com Jun. 3 - Jun. 30, Bike Month Kick-Off Celebration, Purple Door Ice Cream, Milwaukee, WI, Fun Ride, Celebrate bike month, bike bingo and fun. Free ice cream, mini tune ups, music and bike decorating from 3-6 pm. At 6 pm. we will roll out on a bike parade. An alleycat will follow. https://www.facebook.com/ events/354091588304178, (414) 301-1661 Jun. 3 - Aug. 26, Weekly, Lake Country Pedalers 12 Rides of Summer, Burnett County Roads and Trails, Webster, WI, Fun Ride, 12 weekly rides on Saturday mornings from June through August starting at 9am. These are fun casual rides following scenic routes throughout Burnett County. The rides are open to bicyclers of all skill levels and range in length from 11 to 26-miles. Route maps on Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/lakecountrypedalers, (715) 431-0455 Jun. 3, The Birky Challenge, Grace Christian Church, Fond du Lac, WI, Special Event, There are 3 routes to choose from. All routes will be on paved roadway, there will be no off road riding. The route leaves Fond du Lac and heads toward the scenic Kettle Moraine State Forest. The route is very scenic and will have rest stops approximately every 12 miles, http://www.birkychallenge.com, (920) 322-3700 Jun. 3, Borah Epic, Downtown Cable, Cable, WI, Off-Road Race, A challenging, single track mountain bike race from Cable to Hayward, WI, that donates race profits to the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association. Since 2013, The Borah Epic has donated over $57,000, http://www.borahepic.com, (608) 3811033 Jun. 3, BayCare Clinic Century, BayCare Clinic Headquarters, Green Bay, WI, Special Event, Join us for the first BayCare Clinic Century Bayshore to Lakeshore bike ride. It features 100, 60, and 20-mile courses through scenic Brown, Kewaunee and Door counties, https://www.baycare.net/century, (920) 4909046 Jun. 4, Iron Range Roll, Cliffs Shaft Museum, Ishpeming, MI, Road Race, 16-mile point to point fun (but timed) relay/run/bicycle race from Ishpeming

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to Marquette, MI along the Iron Ore Heritage Trail. At the conclusion of “The Roll,” an awards ceremony and celebration will be held at the Ore Dock Brewing Company in Marquette, http://40belowmqt.org/ironrangeroll, (906) 226-9658 Jun. 4, Battle of CamRock, CamRock County Park, Rockdale, WI, Off-Road Race, Recreational mountain bike racing at its best, abilities categories and age classes for all.Pre-ride the course the day before.Learn to Race clinic offered.

Experience why WORS is America’s Largest State Mountain Bike Racing Series, http://wors.org/, (715) 592-5095 Jun. 4, Lake Mills Triathlon, Sandy Beach Park, Lake Mills, WI, Multi-Sport Event, This sprint distance triathlon kicks off the Wisconsin Triathlon Series. Perfect event for both beginner and advanced triathletes. All athletes receive a race t-shirt, medal and post race refreshments, http://www.lakemillstri.com, (608) 315-5755 Jun. 4, UPAF Ride for the Arts, South Gate of the Summerfest Grounds, Milwaukee, WI, Fun Ride, The UPAF Ride for the Arts, sponsored by Miller Lite, is more than just a ride, it’s an opportunity for friends, families and coworkers to have fun and support our region’s world class performing arts organizations, http://upafride.org, (414) 239-6284 Jun. 4, Aurora BayCare Triathlon, Ashwaubomay Park, Green Bay, WI, MultiSport Event, 12th Annual Triathlon is designed to kick start the triathlon season.

It features a man-made lake that is shallow, warm, and perfect for first-time triathletes. Olympic: 1/2 mile swim, 28.5 mile bike, 6.2 mile run. Sprint: 1/4 mile swim, 16.5 mile bike, 3.1 mile run, http://www.dutrirun.com/page/ show/845797-aurora-baycare-tri-and-5k-may-29-2016, (920) 574-2972 Jun. 4, Udder Century, McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL, Fun Ride, Check-in 6am-10am. 31, 50, 63, 76, and 100-mile routes http://www. mchenrybicycleclub.org, (262) 877-9132 Jun. 4 - Jun. 10, Old World Wisconsin, Clarion Suites, Madison, WI, Fun Ride, Fully supported 7-day tour includes hotels for only $765! Hosted by Pedal Across Wisconsin. Wisconsin’s original and longest running northwoods loop tour. Cycle through this magical land of birch, pine, and lakes from Rhinelander to Eagle River & return, http://www.pedalacrosswisconsin.com/index.html Jun. 7 - Jun. 8, Torch Ride for Special Olympics, Police Department, Menomonee Falls, WI, Fun Ride, Two-day ride to benefit Special Olympics of Wisconsin.

80-mile ride per day with support. Day 1, Menomonee Falls to Oshkosh. Day 2, Oshkosh to Stevens Point. $25 plus hotel overnight at AmericInn Oshkosh. , https://milwaukeeveloclub.wordpress.com/events Jun. 10, Lupine Junefest, W. S. Carow Park, Mercer, WI, Fun Ride, Several scenic routes of 10, 26, 28 and 50 miles taking you on rolling hills and past lakes, rivers, forests, wildlife and miles of blooming lupines, https://lupinejunefest.org Jun. 10, Tour de Coulee, Halfway Creek Park, Holmen, WI, Road Race, Tour de Coulee is part of the Wisconsin Gran Fondo Series. Find event or series details on our website, https://www.wisconsingranfondo.com, (608) 630-3871 Jun. 10, Movin on the Mascoutin Trail Ride, Run , Walk, Mascoutin Trail, Ripon - Berlin, WI, Multi-Sport Event, Ride, run, or walk the beautiful nature and history filled trail. 12-miles with new gravel surface. Wetlands, farms, and a winery.

Ripon and Berlin are located at each end of the trail. Proceeds help maintain the trail surface, http://www.greenlakegreenways.org/greenlakegreenways, (920) 229-0761 Jul. 11, Ramble Ride, Camp Sol R. Crown, Trevor, WI, Multi-Sport Event, Ride 30, 50, 70, 100 or 124-miles, http://bikebclc.com/ramble-ride, Jun. 11, Bluedog Butthurt Roubaix, Bluedog Cycles, Viroqua, WI, Special Event, This is a self supported adventure cycling event over singletrack, double track, gravel, and pavement throughout Vernon County. Riders are guaranteed to have an amazing ride and make at least one friend, http://www.bluedogcycles.com, (608) 637-6993 Jun. 11, Ramble Ride, Camp Sol R. Crown, Trevor, WI, Fun Ride, One of Chicago-Milwaukee area’s best recreational rides through beautiful rural roads in Northeastern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin., http://www.active.com/ trevor-wi/cycling/races/36th-annual-bclc-ramble-2017, (847) 917-5160 Jun. 11, Chase Trempealeau, Elmaro Vineyard, Trempealeau, WI, Special Event, A cycle, hike and seek event (think scavenger hunt) for all ages and abilities!It’s WISCONSINBIKEFED.ORG

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you, a teammate, a couple of bikes, one map and one mission: To seek and find as many checkpoints as possible before time expires, http://www.chasetremp.com Jul. 15, Pedal For PAWS, Village Park, New Glarus, WI, Fun Ride, 16th Annual.

25, 45, and 65-mile routes. Post ride music, food and drink featuring free beer from renowned local brewiers, http://www.greencountyhumane.org Jun. 15, Tour of America’s Dairyland , Kenosha, Kenosha, WI, Road Race, 11 days of pro/am competitive road cycling races at a new venue each day!, http:// www.tourofamericasdairyland.com, (414) 534-4501 Jun. 15, Tour of America’s Dairyland , Kenosha, Kenosha, WI, Road Race, 11 days of pro/am competitive road cycling races at a new venue each day!, http:// www.tourofamericasdairyland.com, (414) 534-4501 Jun. 16, Tour of America’s Dairyland, East Troy Classic, East Troy, WI, Road Race, 11 days of pro/am competitive road cycling races at a new venue each day!, http://www.tourofamericasdairyland.com, (414) 534-4501 Jul. 17, Dairy Air, Daniels Dairy Farm, Kansasville, WI, Fun Ride, The annual group bicycle ride with Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser is split up with a long route and a family friendly short route. Routes TBD. Free to participate in bike ride. Breakfast will have a fee., http://www.visitkenosha.com/events/ kenosha-county-dairy-breakfast Jul. 17, Annual Pie Ride, Lions Beach, Janesville, WI, Fun Ride, http://www.janesvillemorningrotary.org Jun. 17, Tour de Kolacky, All distances start at Phillips High School 900 Flambeau Ave, Phillips, WI, Fun Ride, Come out and enjoy our scenic Price County roads. 3 different route lengths, 10, 25, and 50-miles with multiple rest stops.

A great event for the entire family. Each rider is entered into a drawing with a chance to win a new Trek bike, http://www.thecrazyloon.com/tour-de-kolacky, (715) 339-6254 Jun. 17, Tour of America’s Dairyland, Giro d’ Grafton, Grafton, WI, Road Race, 11 days of pro/am competitive road cycling races at a new venue each day!, http:// www.tourofamericasdairyland.com, (414) 534-4501 Jun. 17 - Jun. 18, Solstice Festival, Koller Park, Manitowish Waters, WI, Special Event, The Festival begins with a Sunset Ride on Friday night. Saturday includes a Family Fun Paved Trail Ride as well as 3 road rides: 100, 50, and 29 miles.

Riders follow well-marked routes with rest stops and road support. The Festival finishes with a post-race party in the park, http://solsticefestival.us/, (715) 543-8400 Jun. 17, Peninsula Century Spring Classic Bicycle Ride, Door County Beer Festival Grounds, Baileys Harbor, WI, Fun Ride, Ride the scenic back roads of Door County and take in breathtaking views of Lake Michigan. Post-ride meal from local chefs, where you finish on the grounds of the Door County Beer Festival, featuring more than 140 craft beers, live music, seminars, and food vendors all afternoon, https://www.peninsulacenturyspringclassic.com, (920) 915-9880 Jun. 17, Horribly Hilly Hundreds, Blue Mound State Park, Blue Mounds, WI, Fun Ride, Once voted the “Sufferfest of the Year” by Madison weekly newspaper Isthmus, “The Toughest One-Day Challenge Ride in the Midwest” is not to be missed by serious riders anywhere, http://horriblyhilly.com/, (608) 316-5755 Jun. 17, Lad Lake Kettle Classic, Lad Lake Dousman Campus, Waterville, WI, Fun Ride, 15-mile, 30-mile, and 100K bike rides on scenic rural routes in Town of Ottawa and Jefferson County. 3-mile run through the woods. 2-mile guided nature walk on the beautiful grounds at Lad Lake right off the Glacial Drumlin Trail. A great lunch at Lad Lake. Come to support our kids, https://www.ladlake. org, (262) 965-2131 Jun. 17, Toughman Wisconsin, HIgh Cliff State Park, Sherwood, WI, Multi-Sport Event, Half: 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run. Aqua Bike: 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike. Sprint: 1/4-mile swim, 22-mile bike, 5K run. Participants receive a Dri-Wick shirt, swim cap, and food. Half Iron receive a medal and water bottles on the bike course, http://www.dutrirun.com/toughmanwi, (920) 419-8936 Jun. 17, World Naked Bike Ride, , Madison, WI, Special Event, A clothingoptional demonstration to protest world-wide dependency on petroleum products, and to support positive attitudes about the human body, http://www.

MadisonWNBR.org, (608) 616-0162

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Jun. 18, Tour of America’s Dairyland, Carl Zach Cycling Classic, Waukesha, WI, Road Race, 11 days of pro/am competitive road cycling races at a new venue each day!, http://www.tourofamericasdairyland.com, (414) 534-4501 Jun. 18, Harbor Bar Ride , Clear Water Harbor, Waupaca, WI, Fun Ride, Ride the prettiest country roads in central Wisconsin, south of Waupaca. Routes of 34 miles, 41 miles and 52 miles are planned. Maps provided. Stay after the ride for lunch (Dutch treat) and live music at the Harbor Bar. Be ready to ride by 9am, http://heartlandclub.org Jun. 18, Mt. Morris Challenge, Nordic Mountain, Mt Morris, WI, Off-Road Race, Recreational mountain bike racing at its best, abilities categories and age classes for all. Pre-ride the course the day before. Learn to Race clinic offered.

Experience why WORS is America’s largest Sstate mountain bike racing series, http://wors.org/, (715) 592-5095 Jun. 18, Giro d’Grafton, Giro d’Grafton, Grafton, WI, Road Race, A stop on the popular ‘Tour of America’s Dairyland’ race with plenty to offer all racers and spectators. Spectators can expect a full day of thrilling races, great food, live music and big fun. Downtown Grafton will be abuzz with entertainment for all ages!, http://CelebrateGrafton.org, (262) 377-1650 Jun. 19, Tour of America’s Dairyland, West Bend Concourse, West Bend, WI, Road Race, 11 days of pro/am competitive road cycling races at a new venue each day!, http://www.tourofamericasdairyland.com, (414) 534-4501 Jun. 19 - Jun. 23, Door County Holiday, Best Western, Sturgeon Bay, WI, Fun Ride, Fully supported tour includes Hotels only $665! Shoreline route through Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, and Peninsula State Park. Peaceful backroads, picturesque harbors, quaint towns, and roads seemingly created just for bikers. Hosted by Pedal Across Wisconsin, http://www.pedalacrosswisconsin.com/index.html Jun. 20, Tour of America’s Dairyland, Schlitz Park Criterium, Milwaukee, WI, Road Race, 11 days of pro/am competitive road cycling races at a new venue each day!, http://www.tourofamericasdairyland.com, (414) 534-4501 Jun. 21, Tour of America’s Dairyland, Port Washington Race the Harbor Criterium, Port Washington, WI, Road Race, 11 days of pro/am competitive road cycling races at a new venue each day!, http://www.tourofamericasdairyland. com, (414) 534-4501 Jun. 22, Tour of America’s Dairyland, Shorewood Criterium Cycling Classic, Shorewood, WI, Road Race, 11 days of pro/am competitive road cycling races at a new venue each day!, http://www.tourofamericasdairyland.com, (414) 534-4501 Jun. 23 - Jun. 25, Marquette Trails Festival, Marquette Mountain, Marquette, MI, Multi-Sport Event, Join us in celebration of Marquette’s trails! This event will be a fun weekend for all non-motorized trail users, featuring mountain bike races, trail runs, and family hikes. All proceeds from this event go to the NTN singletrack trailbuilding, http://www.noquetrails.org/events/marquette-trails-fest, (906) 235-6861 Jun. 23, Tour of America’s Dairyland, Cafe Centraal Bay View Classic, Milwaukee, WI, Road Race, 11 days of pro/am competitive road cycling races at a new venue each day!, http://www.tourofamericasdairyland.com, (414) 534-4501 Jun. 24 - Jun. 29, Swiss Cheese & Spotted Cows, Mineral Point, Mineral Point, WI, Special Event, http://www.scscbiketour.com, (651) 335-6505 Jun. 24, Ride with Leinie, Forest Lake Country Store, Land O’ Lakes, WI, Fun Ride, One day ride and fundraiser for the Wilderness Lakes Trail system. This is a 40-mile loop around the Sylvania Wilderness Area, and returns to the Country Store. A shorter 12-mile ride is led by Dick Leinenkugel, http://www. wildernesslakestrails.org/, (540) 588-3668 Jun. 24, Tour of America’s Dairyland, ISCorp Downer Classic, Milwaukee, WI, Road Race, 11 days of pro/am competitive road cycling races at a new venue each day!, http://www.tourofamericasdairyland.com, (414) 534-4501 Jun. 24, Pedal, Paddle, and Play 2017, Seven Waters Trail / Fox River, Burlington, WI, Multi-Sport Event, A community event that combines cycling the Seven Waters Trail and paddling the Fox River while listening to live music serenading cyclists and paddlers along the route. Shuttle service for boats and bikes provided. $10, kids free, http://bikeburlingtonwi.org

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Jun. 24, Tour Da Goose Bike Ride, Riverside Park, Watertown, WI, Fun Ride, The Jon Fisch Memorial bike ride for Watertown Area Cares Clinic meanders through the beautiful countryside of Jefferson County. 12, 22, 42, 62, and100mile routes. Proud to be a part of the March 2 November Race Series, http:// tourdagoose.com, (920) 988-2163 Jun. 24, Superior Vista Bike Tour, Thompson’s West End Park, Washburn, WI, Fun Ride, A fully supported ride with route maps, support vehicles, rest stops and food/beverage stops on every route. This is a ride not a race and is held rain or shine. Loop distances: 13, 19, 34, 40, 52, 70, and 100 miles. , http:// washburnchamber.com, (715) 373-5017 Jun. 24, Wisconsin Triterium Triathlon, Fireman’s Park, Verona, WI, MultiSport Event, Choose between the sprint or olympic distances in this challenging multi-loop event. Multiple loops make this a spectator friendly event. All athletes receive a T-shirt, medal and post race refreshments, http://www. wisconsintriterium.com, (608) 316-5755 Jun. 24, Steeple to Steeple Ride for Hunger 2017, All Saints Lutheran Church, Fitchburg, WI, Fun Ride, Charity ride raising money to fight hunger. Three routes through scenic Dane County. Great family option following bike path for 15 miles or longer routes (30 miles and metric century). Water and snacks every 7 to 15 miles as we ride between churches, http://www.scswride.com/ Jun. 24, Ride with Leinie, Forest Lake Country Store, Land O’ Lakes, WI, Fun Ride, 12-mile and 38-mile rides through the scenic Northwoods followed by Trig’s brat lunch and Leinenkugel beer tasting. 12-mile ride led by Dick Leinenkugel.

2 Trek bikes and a paddleboard will be raffled. Register before June 13th and receive a free event T-shirt, http://www.wildernesslakestrails.org, (715) 547-6323 Jun. 25, Tour of America’s Dairyland, East Tosa Gran Prix, Wauwatosa, WI, Road Race, 11 days of pro/am competitive road cycling races at a new venue each day!, http://www.tourofamericasdairyland.com, (414) 534-4501 Jun. 25, Riveredge 25th Anniversary River Valley Bike Ride, Fireman’s Park, Newburg, WI, Fun Ride, Oh, Wisconsin. Pedal along the shore of Lake Michigan, ride down bustling small town roads and quiet country lanes, and experience majestic forests, prairies, and pastures. With seven great routes from 8 miles to 100, there’s opportunities for any rider, http://www.riveredgenaturecenter.org, (262) 375-2715 Jun. 25, Two Wheels for Two Counties Bike Ride, Eagle Lake County Park, Kansasville, WI, Special Event, Travel light traffic and paved roads through the gently rolling countryside of Racine and Kenosha Counties. 25, 44, 62, and 100-mile routes for recreational cyclists, novice riders, and racers with looping segments at beautiful Eagle Lake, https://www.KRBikeClub.com, (262) 497-2798 Jun. 25, Red Flint Firecracker, Eau Claire County Expo Center, Eau Claire, WI, Off-Road Race, Recreational mountain bike racing at its best, abilities categories and age classes for all. Pre-ride the course the day before. Learn to Race clinic offered. Experience why WORS is America’s largest state mountain bike racing series, http://wors.org, (715) 592-5095 Jun. 25, Menominee River Century Bike Ride, Marinette High School, Marinette, WI, Fun Ride, 5 different route options ranging from 9-miles to 100-miles for all types of bikers. Bring the family out for a leisure ride or hit the road for the 75 or 100-mile ride. We offer beautiful scenic routes, plentiful rest stops and fun!, http://www.mrcride.com, (715) 735-4200 Jun. 25, Help Carol Derail Cancer, Boys and Girls Club of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac, WI, Special Event, Benefit Bicyle Ride for Carol Bartow to help her in her personal battle with cancer. Organized by friends of John and Carol Bartow, owners of Fond du Lac Cyclery. Funds raised will go directly towards Carol’s medical bills. 60, 36, and 16-miles. http://www.active.com/fond-du-lac-wi/ cycling/races/help-carol-derail-cancer-benefit-bicycle-ride-for-carol-bartow-2017, (920) 251-3240

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