Wisconsin Bike Fed Magazine July, 2015

M A G A Z I N E 10 J U LY 2 0 1 5

VENTURE

OUT. Explore the great outdoors by bike, boot or boat, and discover the natural beauty of scenic Delafield.

IT’S IN OUR NATURE (888) 294 - 1082 // VisitDelafield.org

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4 Routes fits 4 Nonpro 4 Fun!

G N I E T L T HI 4 the CYC AUGUST 8 ide efit n e B l ra Inaugu

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RIDE MADISON TO MILLER PARK OR JUST AROUND MKE

Join Brewers Community Foundation for its newest funraiser! We’ll pedal our hearts out for kids and families throughout Milwaukee and Wisconsin. And we’ll finish it all off with a celebratory tailgate party at Miller Park.

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BREWERS.COM/BIKERIDE

Sponsored by Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust • Lowlands Group WisconsinBikeFed.org

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE BIKE FED’S LARGEST FUNDRAISER.

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WisconsinBikeFed.org

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CONTENTS 8

Bike Tax Dead, Stewardship Restored, Complete Streets Pending

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Bicycle Basecamp: Boulder Junction

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Coon Valley Treasure

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Notes from the Field

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The Sag Driver Will Never Know Me: A Woman’s Path to City Cycling

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Risser Keeps Riding

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July Bicycling Events

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August Bicycling Events

On the Cover: The bridge over the Manitowish River on the Heart of Vilas County Trail. Photo by Dave Schalbowske WisconsinBikeFed.org

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The 26th Annual Trek 100 The Trek 100 is well known for great routes, amazing rest stops and raising more than $12 million for childhood cancer. This year Trek pulled out all the stops and brought in surprise special guest Jens Voigt!

Photographs by Julian Kegel

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Staff

The Sag Driver Will Never Know Us

Chris Aalid/Marketing Coordinator

chris.aalid@wisconsinbikefed.org

Zack Barnes/Central Region Director central@wisconsinbikefed.org

Jessica Binder/Program Director

jessica.binder@wisconsinbikefed.org

Dave Cieslewicz/Executive Director

dave.cieslewicz@wisconsinbikefed.org

Eric Crouthamel/Valid Bike Shop Manager

eric.crouthamel@wisconsinbikefed.org

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

Sarah Gaskell/Planning Manager

sarah.gaskell@wisconsinbikefed.org

Tony Giron/Smart Trips Coordinator

tony.giron@wisconsinbikefed.org

Matt Gissibl/Resident Dirt Tester

matt.gissibl@wisconsinbikefed.org

Keith Holt/Southeast Region Director southeast@wisconsinbikefed.org

Andrew Kaczmarek/Finance Director

andrew.kaczmarek@wisconsinbikefed.org

Bryan La Bissoniere/Membership Coordinator

Bryan.LaBissoniere@wisconsinbikefed.org

Betsy Massnick/Membership Director

betsy.massnick@wisconsinbikefed.org

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

Shea Schachameyer/Smart Trips Manager

shea.schachameyer@wisconsinbikefed.org

Mirtha Sosa/Milwaukee Bicycle Coordinator mirtha.sosa@ wisconsinbikefed.org

Dave Schlabowske/Deputy Director

dave.schlabowske@wisconsinbikefed.org

AJ Sloan/Valid Shop Assistant Manager aj.sloan@wisconsinbikefed.org

Board of Directors

Peter Gray/Chair, Clay Griessmeyer/Secretary Dan Goldberg/Assistant Secretary, Gigi Koenig/Treasurer Dave Jablonowski/Assistant Treasurer Brien Christopherson Patrick Gallagher Cassandra Habel Bill Hauda Amy Kazilsky

Julian Kegel Bill Koch Ted Galloway Beth Liebhardt Janet Loewi

Milwaukee Office 3618 W Pierce St., Suite 250 Milwaukee, WI 53215 414-431-1798

Gary Peterson John Siegert Melissa Vernon David Waters Robbie Webber

Madison Office 409 E Main St., Suite 203 Madison, WI 53703 608-251-4456

BY THE TIME you’re holding this edition of the Bike Fed magazine, the state budget should be signed into law. The challenges posed to cycling in that budget will have been resolved for good or bad. You can get the latest by logging on to our website, but as of this writing we know that the bike tax is dead and that two-thirds of trail building funds were restored. Thank you for contacting your legislators! Together, we made a huge difference.

One legislator who we know will have voted in favor of biking is Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison). At 88, the nation’s longest serving state legislator is still biking strong, logging about 2,500 miles a year. The senator sat down for an exclusive interview with the Bike Fed and talked about what he thinks about as he pedals through the Wisconsin countryside.

Speaking of the countryside, Dave Schlabowske writes about riding the Heart of Vilas County Trail and the people, sights and food he got to experience along the way. In a state with lots of trails, Dave makes a strong case that the Heart of Vilas County is among the very best.

Our woman in the southwest, Carolyn Dvorak, shares her visit to Mt. Borah, a bicycle apparel maker in rural Coon Valley. Mt. Borah is yet another part of Wisconsin’s growing bike industry, and it’s a cool company with a great story behind it.

Each spring, through our Share & Be Aware program, we hire a small army of dedicated people to do the crucial work of educating the public on how to bike safely and how to drive with bike and pedestrian safety in mind. An article by Jessica Binder allows each of them to tell their story in their own words.

And finally, we follow a woman through her journey to become a confident cyclist, which starts with one of those very Share & Be Aware classes called “Savvy City Cycling.” Anna now vows that she will never ride in the sag wagon.

And neither will we. Whether it’s fighting for better cycling in the Capitol, educating safe and confident cyclists, or exploring and reporting on the best places to ride, the Bike Fed is always trying to set the pace.

Enjoy the read.

Magazine Staff

Editor: Dave Schlabowske Art Director: Chris Aalid Design Concept: Peter DiAntoni

Dave Cieslewicz, Executive Director

Advertising: Matt Gissibl/matt.gissibl@wisconsinbikefed.org The Wisconsin Bike Fed Magazine is a complimentary addition to Bike Fed Annual Memberships. Additonal copies can be purchased for $8 which includes shipping within the USA. Printed with pride on Appleton Utopia paper

WisconsinBikeFed.org

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BIKE TAX DEAD, STEWARDSHIP RESTORED, COMPLETE STREETS PENDING

By Dave Cieslewicz

The Bike Fed has been fighting hard since February to restore cuts to bicycle programs in Governor Scott Walker’s proposed two-year budget.

By the time you read this article it is likely that the 2015-2017 budget process will be over.

As of this writing in early June, here is what we know.

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BIKE TAX. The legislature’s Joint Finance Committee is considering a tax on new bikes as a funding option. The proposal calls for a $25 “registration fee” on all new bikes with a wheel diameter of 20 inches or greater. Thanks to a mobilized Bike Fed membership and a strong reaction from the industry the bike tax appears to be off the table for now. While strongly opposed to this last minute and poorly thought-out proposal, the Bike Fed has told legislators that we are willing to serve on a study committee that would explore new revenue sources, but only if the funding goes to bicycle projects and only if advocates and the bike industry are on board.

STEWARDSHIP FUND. This program, which funds acquisition of land and improvements on trails along with other public outdoor recreation and conservation land purchases, was on the chopping block. Governor Walker initially proposed stopping virtually all projects under the fund for over a decade. Thanks to your opposition and that of a broad coalition of groups, the Joint Finance Committee restored two-thirds of the fund, bringing the total annual bonding authority down to $33 million from $50 million. But in reality, it was unlikely that $50 million could have been borrowed because of other restrictions on the program, so in practical terms the restoration probably amounts to more than two-thirds.

COMPLETE STREETS. Governor Walker also proposed the repeal of Wisconsin’s successful Complete Streets law. We have been fighting hard to save the law, again joining with a broader coalition of groups, including those concerned with public health, like the American Heart Association. The respected, nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau has estimated that the law, which requires the consideration of bike and pedestrian facilities whenever federal or state funds are used on a road project, costs about $195,000 a year. That’s six one-thousandths of one percent of the state’s $3.3 billion transportation budget. Joint Finance members have been hearing from their constituents on this issue and we’re hopeful that we might be able to turn back repeal, but it’s still an uphill battle.

We have also been working to restore a $2 million cut in the Transportation Alternatives Program, but that (along with Complete Streets) is caught up in an ongoing debate about bigger issues in the state Transportation Fund.

That fund faces an annual deficit in the neighborhood of $600 million and legislators have not been able to reach an agreement among themselves or with the governor on how to bridge that gap.

For that reason the budget process is dragging out longer than expected and final decisions on our issues were not available as of our press time.

For the latest on what’s happening in the legislature check in on our website, WisconsinBikeFed.org.

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HARD A 10

AS HELL 1 7 5 I N C R E D I B L E M I L E S AC R O S S W I S C O N S I N W I T H T R E K FAC T O R Y R AC I N G A N D J E N S VO I G T, A L L T O B E N E F I T T H E W I S C O N S I N B I K E F E D. A R E YO U R E A DY? O F C O U R S E YO U A R E .

R E G I S T E R N OW AT R I D E AC R O S S W I S C O N S I N .C O M A N D G E T R E A DY T O R I D E O N AU G U S T 2 9 T H .

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAVE SCHLABOWSKE

Proof positive the Heart of Vilas County Trail is family friendly.

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pulled over on my bike to adjust some camera settings when someone shouted, “That was the greatest trail I’ve ever ridden!” I looked up to find a man grinning at me as he loaded a bike into a pickup truck parked near the section of the Heart of Vilas County Trail that I was riding. “I was only going to ride for a few miles but I rode the whole way to Manitowish Waters and back, and I’m tempted to do it again!” he hollered, still grinning.

I smiled back and said “yeah, these rolling trails along the roads are very pretty. The trails south of here down past Trout Lake are really nice too.”

“Well I can’t believe it, that was just amazing,” he said still talking to anyone who would listen as he jumped into his truck. I watched him drive away, and it looked like he was still excitedly reliving his ride as he headed down County K towards Boulder Junction.

I’ve ridden hundreds of paved trails across the country and around the world, and I have to agree with my enthusiastic encounter. The Heart of Vilas County paved trail system is something special. It isn’t your typical flat, linear rail trail or urban trail. It is more like a paved ATV trail that parallels the scenic roads that wind through the forests from Sayner to St. Germain to Boulder Junction and Manitowish Waters. By next year, 14

the 11 mile extension to Mercer will be done making for 57 miles of smooth asphalt trails through millions of tall trees, over bridges through beautiful bogs, rushing rivers and crystal clear lake.

Of course most people know Boulder Junction as the undisputed (since 1971 at least) “Musky Capital of the World.” With almost 200 lakes within nine miles of town, fishing is still probably the biggest tourism draw, but ask anyone and they are likely to tell you the bike trails have been a huge boost to the local economy.

My mom is from Park Falls and I have been vacationing in northern Wisconsin since Sundrop came in 10 oz glass bottles. When I was little, our whole family got in the boat right after breakfast and didn’t get off the water until dinner. Today most families are looking for a little more varied vacation experience.

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IF YOUR FAMILY ENJOYS good coffee, craft beer, nice dinners out, some shopping and other active family pastimes like cycling, I can heartily recommend the Boulder Junction area.

If fishing and swimming are your primary interests, there are many resorts and cabins on lakes in the area. If you want more of a cycling vacation, I suggest you stay right in Boulder Junction.

You can’t find a more “Up North” place to stay than Big Bear Hideaway owned by Joe and Mary Hovel. The compound of timber-framed cabins really have to be seen to be believed. Every cabin was built by hand from wood harvested and milled by Joe’s sawmill. Everything from the shower rods to the door latches are handmade from local trees. Joe has been building timber-framed buildings since the 1970s, and his motto is “If I can make it, why buy it?” Beyond his DIY, sustainable approach to construction, Joe 16

is an incredible craftsman and artist, from the impressive slab-cut spiral stairways to the many humorous carvings to surprise you in nooks and crannies.

The Big Bear Hideaway is great for groups of all sizes, with a warm welcome den with a very cool handmade bar (of course), a large conference center, a sauna, an outdoor pavilion with fire pit, immaculate grounds filled with chainsaw art and comfy bear-themed “hideways” that sleep 2 to 12. Best of all you are right on the trail and can bike or walk to all the retail and restaurants in Boulder Junction.

Dangerously close to the Big Bear Hideaway is the new Aqualand Ale House Gastro Pub. After a full day cycling around the paved trails, taking photographs and talking to other trail users, Matt and I were hungry and thirsty when we walked over to Aqualand. Featuring more than a dozen

Pages 14-15: (bottom right) Athena, Tulip and the chickens behind The Outdoorsman; (upper right) You know you are Up North when you see those white picket signs and chainsaw art (bottom left); (upper right) The bridges and water really make theses trails special.

This spread: (above) DIY bike at The Outdoorsman is cute and functional; Our incredcible cabin at the Big Bear Hideaway (upper right), basketball playing bears (middle right), gorgeous interiors and chainsaw art characters around the grounds (botttom row), I have never stayed anywhere with this level of northwoods folk art and craftsmenship.

THE NORTHWOODS’ FIRST GASTROPUB, A NEW TRADITION BUILT ON A STRONG BOULDER JUNCTION HERITAGE.

OVER 20 CRAFT BEERS ON TAP 10450 MAIN STREET, BOULDER JUNCTION 715.385.0380 AQUALANDALEHOUSE.COM WisconsinBikeFed.org 17

IF YOUR FAMILY ENJOYS good coffee, coffee, craft beer, nice dinners out, some shopping, and other active family pastimes like cycling, I can heartily recommend the Boulder Junction area 18 Above: There are plenty of lakes along the trail to cool your feet or watch a bobber, and lots of great food to help you refuel after a ride.

Where we got our fix CAFFEINE Northern Lattes, 10362 Main St, Boulder Junction. With coffee sourced from Door County Coffee Co. and all their delicious bites and beverages are local.

(715) 385-9225 & northernlattes.net

BREAKFAST

delicious craft beers on tap and more by the bottle, Aqualand’s new chef is a Northwoods local who recently moved back after working in many of Milwaukee’s better restaurants, most recently at Rumpus Room, known for fine dining and charcuterie.

We sampled the Walleye sandwich and wood-fired artichoke and chicken pizza. I give both two thumbs up. I washed my dinner down with Unibroue La Fin du Monde Abby Triple from San Diego, a favorite of mine that I don’t see on tap very often. For dessert I finished my meal with a Blueberry Train Wheat from Tribute Brewing Company in nearby Eagle River. I loved the heady blueberry nose of the easy drinking brew. Matt preferred the Aqualand Musky Spit, a bourbon barrel aged imperial nut brown brewed for Aqualand by Tribute.

For those of you who are value-oriented drinkers, you can tip a pint with a clear conscience knowing that the owners of Tribute Brewing and Aqualand are both strong supporters of the trails and cycling in the area.

The next morning Matt and I stopped at The Outdoorsman, one of my favorite Up North breakfast spots. Amy Wheeler moved from Colorado to Boulder Junction to run The Outdoorsman because she had family connections here. “I thought Colorado to Northern Wisconsin? Sure I can do this,” Wheeler explained to me while I visited with her chickens and goats out behind the restaurant. Athena (black and white) and Tulip (brown) don’t yet supply milk for cheese, but they are certified to serve the eggs from the hens.

When I asked if the trails have helped bring in customers, Wheeler was enthusiastic, “Having the bike trails has been amazing for business. I see people riding by all the time and we frequently have a dozen bikes parked out front during the busy season in the summer.”

After a delicious breakfast of blueberry waffles for me and pecan french toast for Matt, we grabbed our mountain bikes and headed over to the WinMan Trails located between Windsor and Manitowish Waters. The WinMan Trails are a network of silent sport trails managed by the Discovery Center in Winchester, WI. Located on 1,300 acres of private and public land, the purpose-built trails offer mountain biking, hiking, classic and skate skiing, groomed and ungroomed snowshoeing, and groomed fat biking during the winter.

We met our local guides Robert Polic, WinMan Trails Coordinator, and Travis Bellman, of Lakeland Area Mountain Bikers Organization (LAMBO), at the trailhead and pedaled off to check out their handiwork. Let me cut to the chase and tell you these trails are sweet! The trails run through

The Outdoorsman Restaurant, 10383 Main St, Boulder Junction. If she is not in the kitchen cooking delicious food (lots local, vegi and gluten free options), you might find owner Amy Wheeler out back with her chickens and goats! (715) 385-2826

CRAFT BEER Aqualand Ale House, 10450 Main St, Boulder Junction. Owner Susie Wilsie-Govier grew up in Aqualand, a fairy tale land where baby animals all became playmates and pets.

When her husband Richard Govier retired from a career in the military, they borrowed the name for the Aqualand Ale House, where they strive to serve great food and beer in the gastro pub style.

(715) 385-0380 & aqualandalehouse.com

RELISH TRAY The Guides Inn, 421 Park St, Boulder Junction. Chef Jimmy Dean whips up an amazing paté that adds a classic french touch to the traditional relish tray at most supper clubs. Yes, you can still get a muddled Old Fashioned.

(715) 385-2233 & theguidesinn.com

TRIFLOW Coontail Sports, 5466 Park St, Boulder Junction. Forget your lube? Need a tube?

Although it is not a full service bike shop, you can get the basics and even rent a kayak or a bike at Coontail Sports, www.coontailsports.com & (888) 874-0885 For the nearest full-service bike shop you will have to go to Forever Young Bike and Ski, 107 N Railroad St., Eagle River.

(715) 479-3920 & foreveryoungbikeandski.com

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some unglaciated areas, and there is lots of elevation, which the trail builders make full use of.

“We hired Tim Wegner of Trail Source (perhaps best known for their work at Cuyuna in Minnesota) to help us design and build some of these trails,” Polic told us. “He really pushed us to take maximum advantage of the best topography. That also allowed us to keep the grades below 5% or so, which makes the trails challenging but rideable for all skill levels.”

I loved how the flow trails funneled around all the kettles with big berms that allowed me to keep my speed and feel safe. I rarely even touched my brakes on the downhills, because I could scrub a little speed naturally in the corner. Not being a big air guy, I also appreciated that all the jumps and drops were built on a “B line” with the A line providing a comfortable alternative for people like me who prefer to keep their tires on the dirt.

WinMan has about 8 miles of mountain bike trails now and more planned, but they are constructed so you can modify your loops dozens of ways. The many combinations and permutations allow you to ride there for hours without getting bored. My favorite lines were “The Stadium” on the Red Trail and “The Toilet Bowl” on the Yellow. Between the other mountain bike trails in the area, the hundreds of miles of fire roads for the gravel grinders out there and the incredibly unique network of paved trails, Boulder Junction makes an excellent base camp for a great multi-day cycling vacation. Boulder Junction also has the other amenities you will need, like great places to eat and drink, a grocery store, some nice gift shops, a sporting goods store with great fishing gear (St. Croix rods!) and you can get basic bike gear and rent bikes at Coontail Sports.

Think of Boulder Junction as an amuse bouche, a tantalizing, bite-sized vacation town with everything you really need for a great bicycle vacation.

Oh yeah, I hear they have some pretty good fishing too.

Above: Do bring your mountain bike and ride the WinMan Trails!

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WisconsinBikeFed.org

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TREASURE

BY CAROLYN DVORAK PHOTOS BY DAVE SCHLABOWSKE

The view from the top of Sveum Ridge Road is worth the climb!

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FTER JOINING AN EMPLOYEE RIDE that

included two 19 percenters in our ten-mile loop, my Milwaukee co-worker, Dave Schlabowske, joked that he was looking at the Borah Teamwear website jobs page and checking real estate prices in Coon Valley. We counted two cars on our lunch hour ride outside the quaint little town, 16 miles southeast of my hometown of La Crosse.

No cars, killer climbs, eye-tearing descents, gorgeous scenery, and the home to one of our state’s bicycle industry standouts; I can see why Dave was thinking about moving!

With a population of just 776, Coon Valley may be some of the prettiest, and toughest riding in Wisconsin. With stateof-the-art production technologies, the 35 employees at Borah Teamwear pump out about 10,000 made in Wisconsin garments a month!

Nestled in the heart of Wisconsin’s picturesque Driftless Region, Borah Teamwear was started by Chris Jack24

son, an avid bike racer and skier. Borah Teamwear’s story began in 1996 when Chris saw a growing demand for wellmade, high-functioning mountain bike shorts. He decided to make a pair: the Sawtooth ATB Short. At the time, Chris was an independent sales rep in the bike industry, selling to cycling stores in the midwest. With a great first product in hand and some hard work, Chris sold 300 pairs of shorts in year one. Not much later, Borah Teamwear was selling thousands of shorts, jerseys, and cycling gear all over the USA. Always looking to fill a niche, the folks at Mt. Borah began to think about offering custom bicycle apparel. Digital dye sublimation was just coming into the marketplace and Borah was one of the first to utilize the technology within the cycling and ski industries. By doing so, Borah was able to offer low minimum orders, fast turn around times, and unlimited color selections. This made it possible for small teams, clubs and organiza-

Upper left: You know Mt Borah is a great place to work when you walk in the door and see a great coffee maker and there are bikes leaning against the wall outside every office and cubicle.

Right page: Everything Mt Borah produces is hand made in Coon Valley, but they use the best fabrics from around the world.

tions to order in small quantities for less money and receive the product within a reasonable time frame.

While other companies moved production overseas and grew exponentially, Chris and the crew at Borah Teamwear have stuck to their Wisconsin roots. Growth has been steady and a result of offering quality products, made in the USA, quick turnaround times and small minimums. You can find slightly less expensive kits, but you won’t find better service anywhere.

Dave and I were greeted by a nice “Welcome Wisconsin Bike Fed” sign in the entryway of their recently expanded building, but what really made us feel at home was the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and a bunch of cool bikes parked outside people’s work spaces. Dave bounced from top of

the line Trek carbon rigs to custom fillet brazed made by a small Wisconsin frame builder.

With their complete line of clothing on display hanging in the lobby next to a huge table made from a local tree, I highly suggest your team make a personal pilgrimage to see where your kits are produced and take the opportunity to try on the full line of gear that Mt Borah manufactures. There is no better way to make decisions than to see and feel the choices available.

Something new that you might want to consider is their ultralight jacket. With an inside stuff pocket, the ultralight jacket packs into the palm of your hand and with street good looks, the lightest garment Team Borah makes might also be the most versatile.

The new office space is home to their emWisconsinBikeFed.org

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Above: The computer-controlled Gerber Cutter is just one of the leading edge technologies Mt. Borah uses to allow them to compete against other brands manufactured overseas.

Right: You are just as likely to find Chris Jackson out on the factroy floor as in his office. If you can’t find him either of those places, he might be out on a ride with other Mt. Borah employees, many of whom bike to the office and take lunch hour rides with the boss.

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ployees who work on design, customer service, marketing and development. The new building nearly doubled Mt Borah’s manufacturing space, adding 9,000 sq ft, giving all the seamstresses and other workers more elbow room.

The print room is climate controlled, specific to the ink, paper, and heat applied to the fabric. All steps in the process are monitored closely to ensure the images come out crisp, clean and color true. The sublimation transfer process uses large rolls of fabric, ink, paper, and heat. Everything goes in together and the heat and pressure transfer the ink onto the fabric, the paper is then peeled off (and recycled) and the printed fabric comes out on enormous rolls.

Next the rolls of sublimated fabric head over to the new Gerber cutter, a laser guided machine which cuts a jersey in about ten seconds. That all used to be done by hand, so the machine adds tremendous efficiency helping Borah compete with companies that do production overseas where labor and environmental costs are lower.

The addition of the technology has improved efficiency without replacing any employees.

The are 35 full-time employees include seamstresses, technicians, customer care, graphic artists, and Chris. Everyone is from the general area, and they can all feel proud to be part of a growing company that produces products that are 100% custom-made, hand-sewn and manufactured in the Coon Valley, WI USA.

I certainly feel that way when I put on my Mt Borah Bike Fed kit.

Many of the Borah Teamwear employees are “test pilots” who get to try out what they make while out skiing, running and riding. Ben Wizner, Marketing Director, has even organized Borah Teamwear’s own commuting challenge that began in May and will continue through October 15th. Their employees ride in to work from Wesby, Viroqua, and La Crosse and can earn prizes for a variety of categories: total miles total commutes fastest commutes longest commutes most commutes in one week The company has changing rooms and showers to make clean up convenient when arriving at work. Clinton Grabhorn, Graphic Designer, enjoys his sunrise commute recommending his early ride as a great way to get the day started.

Of course, I encouraged Ben to utilize our Wisconsin Bike Challenge to track miles as well.

As mentioned at the start of this story, we finished our facility tour with a ride. Directly out the front door of Borah Teamwear is Mill Road which becomes Sveum Ridge Road. It starts in the valley and climbs up onto a ridge with a 19% grade. On a forty-five degree rainy

day in May, the sun peaked out briefly as we hit the top of the ridge as if to reward us for the climb. Bathed in warm sunshine with the storm and a wonderful old farm on the horizon, our group was treated to a spectacular view that just screamed bicycling in Wisconsin.

As we pedaled on together, we descended onto Spring Coulee Road passing over burbling, crystal clear troutfilled stream. We stopped for a few minutes to regroup, to admire the view and to share grins after the rocket-like descent. The only thing missing were motor vehicles, which only added to the treasure of the town roads in Vernon County.

Thanks to the crew at Borah Teamwear for supporting the Bike Fed, for their support of Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Trails with the Mt Borah Epic, and for taking us on a short ride to remind us what a special place Wisconsin is to ride a bike.

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Introducing

RIDE ON ROAST, a brand-new, organic,

fair-trade blend from Just Coffee.

This roast doesn’t just fuel your ride — it fuels everyone’s ride. A portion of the proceeds from every bag sold help the Wisconsin Bike Fed to make the badger state a be­er place to ride a bike.

Look for

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RIDE ON ROAST at these retailers:

Cap Centre Foods (Madison) Fish Creek Optique (Fish Creek) Fresh Madison Market (Madison) Gold Star Coffee (Wisconsin) Goodside Grocery (Sheboygan) The House Cafe (Dekalb, IL) Hy-Vee West (Madison) Java Cat Cafe (Madison) Jenny Street Market (Madison) Lake Mills Market (Lake Mills, WI) Main Street Market (Rice Lake) Menomonie Market (Menomonie) Metcalf Hilldale (Madison) Northwind Natural Food Co-op (Ironwood, MI) Outpost Natural Foods - Capitol Drive (Milwaukee)

Outpost Natural Foods - Mequon (Mequon) Outpost Natural Foods - Bayview (Milwaukee) Outpost Natural Foods - State St (Wauwatosa) Pine River Food Co-op (Richland Center) Regent St Market (Madison) Riverwest Coop (Milwaukee) Tuvalu Coffee House (Madison) Stevens Point Food Coop (Stevens Point, WI) Willy Street Coop (Madison) Willy Street Coop (Middleton) WI Historical Museum (Madison)

NOTES FROM THE FIELD Across the State and in Your Community

By Jessica Binder Photos by Dave Schlabowske

Above: Milwaukee Ambassador Keith Holt teaches how to check for proper helmet fit.

B

Y THE END OF MAY, our team of

13 Share & Be Aware Ambassadors had already taught 62 classes and provided safety information to people at 36 events in 18 counties. By the time you read this story in the July issue of our magazine, you can safely assume those numbers have doubled!

While the numbers tell a pretty good story, it is the Ambassadors who make the real impact through the thousands of personal interactions they have with people across the state. Once again this year, the Bike Fed is proud of this crew

of passionate and outgoing people who love to travel around their region to teach all road users how to make walking, biking and driving safer.

To get one of these talented Share & Be Aware Ambassadors to your community for free safety outreach or classes or to help with your event, visit ShareAndBeAware.org and request an Ambassdor or email ShareAndBeAware@ wisconsinbikefed.org. Here to tell you about their important work in their own words are just a few of our regional staff.

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CAROLYN DVORAK, LA CROSSE FAVORITE BIKE: SURLY LONG HAUL TRUCKER

“I am excited to teach people at area businesses and schools about new connecting paths in our community that will make it easier and more comfortable to get around by bike.”

JEREMY GRAGERT, EAU CLAIRE FAVORITE BIKE: TREK PORTLAND

“The Chippewa Valley has made amazing strides to improve infrastructure and build bike culture over the last 10 years, but we have a long way to go to get more butts on bikes and people on foot and make sure all road users are respected and safe regardless of their age, income, ability or mode of transportation. A healthy, fiscally responsible and environmentally sustainable community needs to have safe streets for everyone, so that choosing to bike or walk is the easy choice.

We have challenges with streets that are difficult to cross, or places where drivers don’t

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Left: Share & Be Aware staff lead a law enforcement class on the Hank Aaron State Trail. Above: A Milwaukee Police Officer hands out a warning ticket at a pedestrian safety targeted enforcement effort coordinated with our Milwaukee Share & Be Aware staff. Below left: Milwaukee S&BA Ambassador Mirtha Sosa does a televesion news interview in Spanish for Telemundo. while they come from big cities and small towns across Wisconsin and ride for different reasons, the one thing all our S&BA staff have in commonis their love for cycling and dedication to improve safety for all road users.

have the patience for bicyclists on the road, but the more skills that drivers, bikers, and pedestrians have, the safer and more efficient our transportation system will be — and we will all have a better quality of life.”

DICK HABLEWITZ, TOMAHAWK FAVORITE BIKE: SURLY DISK TRUCKER

“Everyone can benefit from increased knowledge of the rules of the road. Most bicyclist also drive a car. The classes we teach, can help motorized and the non-motorized vehicle drivers.”

KEITH HOLT, NORTH SIDE OF MILWAUKEE FAVORITE BIKE: I LIKE ALL MY BIKES EQUALLY

“There are so many ways for this program to impact a community. The partnership with Well City Milwaukee led to numerous corporate connections and bike/ped lunch and learn presentations and an unplanned bike safety presentation to over 150 people at the Vagabond Ski & Social Club’s annual meeting got walking, biking, and driving safety information into the hands of a key demographic.”

WisconsinBikeFed.org

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Bike Door County

MIRTHA SOSA, SOUTHSIDE OF MILWAUKEE

Just for the fun of it.

Visit some of Door County’s best attractions, eat well along the way and do it all by bike.

FAVORITE BIKE: AN AWESOME CUSTOM PETITE WOMEN’S TERRY ROAD BIKE THAT MY MOM FOUND FOR ME AT A MOVING SALE LAST MONTH.

“Following a couple of truly tragic pedestrian deaths in Milwaukee’s Southside in the last couple of weeks, it is IMPERATIVE to improve DRIVER awareness and safety for people walking and biking in my region. My biggest accomplishment yet, in my opinion, is the interview I did with the local branch of the national Spanish language TV station Telemundo WI highlighting increasing pedestrian safety.”

JEFF ROSS, STEVEN’S POINT FAVORITE BIKE: FIRST TREK BIKE IN MY TEENS, IT GAVE ME FREEDOM.

Mention this ad and a portion of tour cost will be donated to the Wisconsin Bike Federation.

For tour dates, contact The Eagle Harbor Inn at (800) 324-5427. Or visit us online at www.doorcountybiketours.com 32

“I would love it if Bike Fed members would volunteer to help at events, let people know about the Share and Be Aware program, yielding to people walking and biking when driving OR biking, and just by riding a bike safely it lets others know it is possible.”

To get these talented Share & Be Aware Ambassadors to your community for free safety outreach or classes or to volunteer, visit ShareAndBeAware.org and request an Ambassdor or email ShareAndBeAware@WisconsinBikeFed.org.

WisconsinBikeFed.org

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Wherever your bike takes you this summer.

We hope you enjoy your ride.

34

Wheel & Sprocket is now taking

Trade-Ins

on quality used bicycles

Trade your old bike in for your new bike!

Stop in to any Wheel & Sprocket with your old bike and one of our professional techs will guide you through the valuation process using BicycleBlueBook.com. We will then issue you a W&S gift card which can be used towards the cost of a new bike. Feel free to

use the card for any purchase at any of our seven Wheel & Sprocket locations. You can get started on your personal estimate of your bike's value using the BicycleBlueBook.com trade-in estimator. Bike must have serial number & you must have a valid ID.

WisconsinBikeFed.org

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The Sag Driver Will Never Know Me A Woman’s Path to City Cycling

By Beth Pickhard Photos by Dave Schlabowske

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When Anna Lardinois entered a classroom for the Bike Fed’s Savvy City Cycling for Women class in May, she began to feel a mixture of emotions — nervous, scared, excited.

Anna was new to biking in traffic, using her bike mostly on the trails, but she was determined to use her bike for transportation on city streets.

It wouldn’t take long for the instructor, Jessica Binder, to make Anna feel at ease.

Savvy City Cycling instructs cyclists about rules of the road and common traffic situations in a classroom setting. The group then heads outside with their bikes to practice traffic skills like scanning, straight line riding and quick turns helpful for avoiding collisions.

Many of the women attending the class with Anna were members of the Bella Donnas, Milwaukee’s all-female road biking group. Anna says she could quickly tell that the women around her were more experienced than herself.

“I was scared, especially because everyone knew how to do everything,” she says.

Anna says the supportive environment in the classroom dissolved her fears.

“No one made me feel bad about asking

the Bella Donnas during the summer. Members of the Bella Donnas create a goal for themselves for the riding season. Anna set two goals. The first was to ride someplace on the street. She achieved the goal in one month.

The second was to “ride on the streets without terror.” Anna says this goal took a little longer, but she grew her confidence and become more relaxed riding alongside traffic.

“I like to remind people I wasn’t able to do this

“No one made me feel bad about asking questions.

Everyone was welcoming and kind,” she says. “It could have gone a completely different way.” questions. Everyone was welcoming and kind,” she says. “It could have gone a completely different way.”

Jessica encouraged Anna during the on-bike skills portion and kindly coaxed Anna to try practicing certain skills again. Anna realized she had to work on her traffic skills, and left with a determination to become better at the techniques she learned.

Soon after the class, Anna joined the Bella Donnas cycling club. Fellow Bella Donna, Jill Haas, took Anna under her wing and did a Bella Donna pre-ride along the East Side with Anna before she joined them on a group ride. The practice ride was the first time Anna had ridden on city streets.

“I was terrified...terrified to be embarrassed,” she says.

Anna says she was overjoyed that she could complete the ride and she continued to ride with

overnight, but a little bit at a time,” she says.

Anna even logged 1,000 miles during the National Bike Challenge from May to September.

“The Bike Challenge made me go out on days I wouldn’t have because I wanted those miles,” she says. “It turned out to be great and I had a wonderful summer because of it.”

Looking back on her achievements over the year, Anna says she owes a lot to biking.

“I have met so many cool people,” she says. “I feel like my whole world is rooting for me, and that’s a really good feeling.”

Anna’s goals for 2015 are to increase her speed and to be able to ride with a pace group on group rides and be a strong rider in the Scenic Shore 150, a two-day charity ride from Mequon to Sturgeon Bay. “I want to not just participate in the Scenic Shore 150, but to do it well,” she says. “The SAG car won’t even know me.”

WisconsinBikeFed.org

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RISSER KEEPS RIDING W

By Dave Cieslewicz Photo by Darryl Jordan

HEN HE GOES OUT FOR A RIDE he never

bikes for less than two hours and he never wants to bother with covering less than about 30 miles. He logs about 2,400 miles a year. On one of his recent birthdays he decided to ride from his fancy office in the center of Madison to the Illinois border, a round trip of more than 100 miles.

That list would land this guy in the category of serious Wisconsin cyclists, but otherwise what’s special about him?

Well, two things.

First, he’s a Wisconsin State Senator, and second, Fred Risser just turned 88 years old.

In fact, Risser is the nation’s longest serving legislator at sixty years in public service and still counting. His nearest 38

rival, Hugh Gillis of Georgia, had put in 56 years before he retired. Risser was re-elected to his Madison district seat without opposition, and it’s likely that if he decided to go for another four years Madisonians would return him to office by acclamation.

Of the 33 members of the Wisconsin Senate, Risser is easily the oldest and most fit. When he’s not riding his bike, he’s not riding the elevator either. “I haven’t been on an elevator in this building in 60 years,” Risser told me. He’s famous for bounding up the marble stairs of the State Capitol building often passing up people much less than half his age.

He says he has a standing bet with his colleagues that if they ever catch him on an elevator he has to pay them $10. In six decades he’s never lost a Hamilton.

Cycling isn’t just something that Risser enjoys personally.

He has made making cycling safer and creating more places to enjoy riding a bike a big part of his legislative work. Risser

is responsible for Wisconsin’s Complete Streets law, and he pushed for a study of the economic impact of cycling that is often cited persuasively to argue for pro-bike policies. Beyond cycling, he has long been a champion of environmental causes and outdoor recreation programs, like the Stewardship Fund, which has been used to improve about thirty trails around the state.

As you would expect he’s concerned about the recent moves to gut Stewardship and to eliminate Complete Streets. “There’s absolutely no reason to take Complete Streets out,” Risser said. “It doesn’t cost much and it is of great benefit to society.”

Risser is correct about that. The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau has estimated that the cost of Complete Streets represents .006% of the state transportation budget.

For a guy with so much history behind him, Risser tends to look forward. For example, he’s working on legislation to permit automated cars. As for the future of cycling, Risser makes a rye observation, “When I’m riding I don’t see a reduction in bikes, but I do see a reduction in car usage.”

He’s right about that as well. Nationally, vehicle miles traveled is down 7.5% from its peak in 2005, while cycling grows every year.

Risser is a solo biker. He is usually out there for hours, either riding through the city he loves or the rolling Dane County countryside, both of which are safer because of his Complete Streets law. You might also find him traversing a state trail he helped make happen. I asked him what he thought about with all that time to himself.

“Sometimes you’re fighting the wind and sometimes the wind is behind you.”

“I watch the change of seasons. The trees turning color, the grasses. I think about what’s going on in the legislature or sometimes I just daydream,” he said.

After a pause he smiled and said, “sometimes you’re fighting the wind and sometimes the wind is behind you.”

As a cyclist and a legislator, right now Fred Risser is riding with us into the teeth of a stiff wind. But he’s been around long enough to know that nothing lasts forever. “These things go in cycles, you know,” says Risser ignoring the double entendre.

Let’s hope Fred Risser is right again.

Full disclosure: My wife Dianne was Risser’s chief of staff for many years and helped him with the Complete Streets law and the bicycle economic impact study.

WisconsinBikeFed.org

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WISCONSIN BICYCLING EVENTS JULY Jul. 4 - Jul. 11, Bicycle Illinois 2015, Cairo to Chicago, IL, Cairo, WI, Ride, http:// www.bicycleillinois.com, bicycleillinois@bicycleillinois. com, (877) 868-7455 Jun. 7, Udder Century, Donley’s Wild West Town, Union, IL, Ride, http:// mchenrybicycleclub.org, udder@charter.net Jul. 10 - Jul. 12, Camp Bluedog, Sugar Creek, Ferryville, WI, Special Event, A weekend long adventure for young people to get involved in mountain biking. Professional instruction from experienced coaching staff., http://www.brewdogcoffee. com/#!events/c164h, bluedogcycles@gmail.com, (608) 637-6993 Jul. 11 - Jul. 12, Scarlet Knight Scramble (WORS#6), Nordic Mountain, Wild Rose, WI, Off-Road Race, WORS p/b Trek, Onsite Camping, http://wors. org/schedule/nordic-mountain, j.gretzinger@sbcglobal. net, 920-858-5419 Jul. 11, Trempealeau Catfish Days, Trempealeau, WI, Fun Ride, http://www. tourdetremp.com/?page_ id=700, trempealeautrails@ gmail.com Jul. 11, The Salvation Ride (2nd Annual), The Armory, Sheboygan, WI, Ride, http://www.thesalvationride. org, jeanne_jentsch@usc. salvation.org, (920) 458-3723 Jul. 11, Pedal for Paws, Tofflers Pub & Grill, New 40

Glarus, WI, Special Event, Green County Humane Society, 25, 45, or 65 mile supported routes with after Ride Party at Tofflers Pub & Grill, Free beer from New Glarus Brewery, Live Music, www.greencountyhumane. http://p4p.zapevent.com, kris@wi-pos.com, (608) 576-9489 Jul. 11, Pardeeville Triathlon, Chandler Park, Pardeeville, WI, Multi-Sport Event, http://www.racedayeventsllc.com/content/ pardeeville-triathlon, raceday@racedayeventsllc.com Jul. 11, Blue Mounds Classic, Blue Mounds, WI, Road Race, http://www. madcityvelo.com, tpacente@usg.com, (847) 830-5383 Jul. 11 - Jul. 17, Bike Northwoods Tour, Superior to Bayfield Loop, Deerfield, WI, Ride, A small friendly 6-day cycle tour with a personal feel through the glacial hills and forests of the Wisconsin’s Northwoods. http://www. bikewisconsin.com, info@ bikewisconsin.com, 608843-8412 Jul. 11, 2015 Tri-State Tour #1, Hammond, IN to Kenosha, WI, Hammond, IN, Ride, http://www.bicycleillinois.com/, bicycleillinois@ bicycleillinois.com, 877-868-7455 Jul. 12, Title Town Bike Tour, United HealthCare, Green Bay, WI, Ride, 15k-100k as well as a 100 mile supported routes and a spaghetti dinner, DJ, awesome raffle prizes and more!, http://bcff.org/titletown_information.php, info@bcff.org, 920-498-2285

TRAVEL BEYOND

RED EARTH CLASSIC JULY 17-19

ORE TO SHORE MOUNTAIN BIKE EPIC AUGUST 8

MARQUETTE MOUNTAIN BIKE ENDURO OCTOBER 4

TRAVELMARQUETTEMICHIGAN.COM WisconsinBikeFed.org

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Jul. 12 - Jul. 18, Habitat 500 Bike Ride, Owatonna Junior High, Owatonna, WI, Special Event, Opus Foundation, Pedal to build a cycle of hope! Raise money and awareness for Habitat for Humanity by participating in this 500-mile bicycle, http://www.habitat500.org, Habitat500@hfhmn.org, 612-331-4439 x4 Jul. 12 - Jul. 18, Flavors of Wisconsin Bicycle Tour, Quality Inn (start and end location), Madison, WI, Ride, Around Wisconsin Bicycle Tours, A week long tour through south central Wisconsin featuring microbrew and craft cheese tasting. Includes hotel lodging, meals, SAG, fun!, http:// www.aroundwisbike.com, aroundwisconsinbt@yahoo. com, 920-427-6086

Milwaukee | Madison | Appleton | Green Bay | Wausau | Illinois | Iowa

800.800.5678 | hupy.com

Jul. 13, State TT Championship, TBD, WI, Time Trial, http://wicycling.org

paradise UNSPOILED

July. 18 WEMS (#5), Thunderdown in the underdown, Underdown Rec Area, Gleason, WI, Off Road Race, http://wemseries.com, Plansky.Jason@gmail.com

Whether you loop the lake, venture on the Mascoutin Valley State Trail or explore miles of paved routes and winding country roads, memorable cycling awaits in the Green Lake area. In addition to the natural splendor, you’ll discover Vines & Rushes Winery, the historic Judson Tower and many other area treasures worth a stop.

Afterward, unwind lakeside at Heidel House Resort & Spa.

800.444.2812 | HEIDELHOUSE.COM | GREEN LAKE, WI 42

Š Peter DiAntoni

Jul. 18, Viroqua Triathalon, Bigley Pool, Viroqua, WI, Multi-Sport Event, Indoor swim, rolling to challenging bicycle route, road and trail run for both distances, http://vernontrails.com/ai1ec_event/ viroqua-triathlon-2015/?instance_id=, markoda7@ gmail.com Jul. 18 - Jul. 19, Scenic Shore 150 Bike Tour, MATC Mequon Campus, Mequon, WI, Ride, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, The Scenic Shore 150 Bike Tour is a two day, 150 mile, fully-supported cycling event

that is open to riders of all ages and abilities, http:// www.scenicshore150.org, scenicshore150@lls.org, 262-785-4272 Jul. 24 - Jul. 26, WORS Cup Pro XCT (#7), Cascade Mountain, Portage WI, Off Road Race, http://wors.org Jul. 25, Wright Stuff Century (37th Annual), Brigham County Park, Mount Horeb, WI, Fun Ride, http://wrightstuffcentury. com Jul. 25 Shell Lake Triathlon, Shell Lake Beach, Shell Lake, WI, Multi-Sport Event, Spooner-Trego Lions Club, Great lake to swim in, great roads to bike, great trails and roads to run- 1/2 mile swim, 15 mile bike, 3 mile run., http://www. frontrunnerusa.com/event/ shell-lake-triathlon Jul. 25 Pedal and Party in Pardeeville with a Purpose, Chandler Park and Caddyshack Bar, Pardeeville, WI, Ride, Caddyshack Bar, 10, 30, 49 and 60 mile routes with, Amish bakery and a free 1/3 lb hamburger, beer, soda and side dishes at the finish to help find a cure for MS!, http://www.pedalandparty.com/, Kayelum@yahoo. com, 608-225-3578 Jul. 25 Lake Ripley Ride, Ripley Park, Cambridge, WI, Ride, Cambridge Community Activities Program, 22, 40 mile route, and 62 mile routes, a sandy swimming beach, and a fantastic post ride celebration featuring live music, refreshments, and a tasty dinner to support the JDRF and CAP!, http://www.cambridgecap. net, youthcenter@cambridge.k12.wi.us, 608-423-8108

TEAM SPROCKET ROCKETS MS Gold Spokes Bike Team

Jul. 26, Tri-ing For Children’s Triathlon, Ottawa Lake State Park, Dousman, WI, Multi-Sport Event, http://www.racedayeventsllc.com/content/tri-ing-childrens-adult-race, raceday@ racedayeventsllc.com Jul. 26 - Aug. 1, Northwoods, Quality Inn, Rhinelander, WI, Ride, Pedal Across Wisconsin, 7 Day Fully Supported Hotel Trip..

Only $725! Wisconsin’s original and longest running Northwoods loop tour since 1989. http://www. pedalacrosswisconsin.com/ Northwoods-bike-trip.html, kennethjgoldman@yahoo. com, 847-309-4740 Jul. 26 - Jul. 26, 29th Annual Best Friends Gourmet Bike Tour, St. Mary Central High School, Neenah, WI, Ride, 4, 12, 25, 55, 75, or the 100 mile Century supported routes with a gourmet picnic, register on-line go to Active.com, http://www.bestfriendsnm. org/, patti@bestfriendsnm. org, 920-729-5600 Jul. 27, State Road Championship, Spring Prairie, WI, Road Race, http://wicycling. org, velotter@sbcglobal.net Jul. 30 - Aug. 2, Wisconsin AIDS Ride, AIDS Network, Madison, WI, Ride, Presented by Machinery Row Bicycles, a 300-mile, 4-day charity bike ride, http://www.actride.org, actride@aidsnetwork.org, 608-316-8621 Jul. 30, Boulder, Bike, & Brew, Boulders Climbing Gym, Madison, WI, Fun Ride, Boulders Climbing Gym, $6 Bouldering passand ride to One Barrel Brewing Company, http://facebook. com/boulderbikeandbrew, sarah@bouldersgym.com, 608-244-8100

AUGU S T Aug. 1 - Aug. 7, SAGBRAW, Oconto to Mishicot, Deerfield, WI, Ride, Join SAGBRAW, Wisconsin’s oldest cross-state bike ride 6 days of family cycling for all ages with fabulous food stunning scenery and fun stops along the route., http://www.bikewisconsin. com, info@bikewisconsin. com, 608-843-8412 Aug. 1 - Aug. 3, CowaLUNGa Bike Tour, Gurnee Mills Shopping Mall (start line), Gurnee, WI, Special Event, CowaLUNGa 2015 is a one, two or three day bike tour, with an 18 mile ride option r accommodations, and more., http://www.cowalunga.org, niki@lungchicago.org, 312-628-0212 Aug. 1 - Aug. 2, Bike MS: TOYOTA Best Dam Bike Tour, Waukesha County Technical College, Pewaukee, WI, Ride, Bike MS: TOYOTA Best Dam Bike Tour is an unforgettable supported ride with 50-, 75- and 100-mile route and an unbeatable destination, http:// www.bestdambiketour.org, info.wisMS@nmss.org, 855-372-1331 Aug. 2 - Aug. 8, Northwoods, Best Western, Rhinelander, WI, Ride, Pedal Across Wisconsin, 7 Day Fully Supported Hotel Trip..Wisconsin’s original and longest running Northwoods loop tour since 1989, http:// www.pedalacrosswisconsin. com, kennethjgoldman@ yahoo.com, 847-309-4740 Aug. 2, Escarpment Bicycle Tour, Ledge View Nature Center, Chilton, WI, Ride, Friends of Ledge View Nature Center, Full-service ride with six routes of varying length, 8 to 100 miles. Door prizes. Discount for preregistration by July 17., ledgeview@co.calumet. wi.us, 920-849-7094

Join us for the TOYOTA: BEST DAM BIKE TOUR 2015 to benefit MS August 1st and 2nd

Pewaukee (WCTC)  Whitewater  Madison 50 – 75 – 100 mile options each day $300 minimum fundraising requirement All funds go to MS research No registration fee for first time riders (ask for rookie code) INCLUDES:

• Rest stops with water, snacks and restrooms every 12-15 mi.

• All meals on Sat. & Sun. • Overnight at UW- Whitewater in the dorms • Party tent on Sat. evening at Whitewater • SAG services • All luggage transfers

• Coach transfer from Madison back to Pewaukee (Moving van for your bike) • Join Team SPROCKET ROCKETS for special Gold Spokes team treatment • Complimentary Team SPROCKET ROCKETS jersey

To learn more and join Team SPROCKET ROCKETS Go to www.sprocketrockets.org

registration includes:

commemorative long-sleeve t, 2 beer tickets, full meal, support & snacks along routes, live music & Brewery Tours

1750 rider limit 30, 50 & 70 mile options need more information? www.oktoberfestbikeride.com

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 WisconsinBikeFed.org

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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

Aug. 7 - Aug. 9, Midwest Recumbent Rally, Hostel Shoppe, Stevens Point, WI, Ride, World’s Largest Recumbent Bike Rally. Fri: Registration and check in, ice cream ride, ice cream social. Sat: morning biking tour, test rides, swap meet, lunch, self-guided tour. Sun: breakfast buffet, super tour, lunch. Events, prices, times are subject to change., http://www.hostelshoppe. com/recumbent_rally.php Aug. 8, Pursuit of the Arts Bike Race, Arcadia, WI, Road Race, http://www. tourdetremp.com/?page_ id=700, trempealeautrails@ gmail.com Aug. 8, Wheeling for Healing, Community Memorial Hospital, Menomonee Falls, WI, Fun Ride, 4-, 14-, 33- or 62-mile routes offer something for everyone. Sign up to ride individually, as a family or as a team., http://www.communitymemorialfoundation. org, kathleen.murphy-ott@ froedtert.com, 262-257-3203 Aug. 8, WEMS (#6) Southern Kettles Classic, Emma Carlin Trail head, Eagle, WI, Off Road Race, http://wemseries.com, Plansky. Jason@ gmail.com Aug. 8, Stevens Point Area Bike-a-Thon, Stevens Point, WI, Fun Ride, http:// www.bgclubpc.org Aug. 8, Ride with Leinie, Forest Lake Country Store, Land O Lakes, WI, Ride, 8.5 and 38 mile rides with Dick Leinenkugel circling the Sylvania Wilderness on paved roads and the recently completed packed gravel Agonikak Trail includes brat lunch with proceeds to benefit expansion

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of the Wilderness Lakes Trails., http://www.wildlakes. org, sara.beedie@gmail. com, 715-547-3770 Aug. 8, One Day Ride Across Michigan (ODRAM), Montague to Bay City, Michigan, Montague, MI, Ride, ODRAM is a 147 mile, single day, self supported ride across the state of Michigan with food and lunch stops along with a bbq dinner at the end. Register through www. bikereg.com. All proceed support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)., http://www.odram. com, odraminfo@gmail.com Aug. 8, Kiwanis “Ride to Read” Bike Ride, Portage, WI, Ride, Kiwanis Club of Portage, 15, 30, 45, and 62 mile rides through scenic Amish Country includes breakfast and snacks with proceeds to purchase and distribute children’s books., http://www.kiwanisridetoread.com, ridetoread@gmail. com, 608-742-8841 Aug. 8, Dairyland Dare, Dodgeville, WI, Fun Ride, Ride benefits the Wisconsin Bike Fed, http://www.dairylanddare.com Aug. 9, The Amazing Milwaukee Race on Bikes #4, AMR Central, Shorewood, WI, Road Race, A beautiful day riding around the city’s bike lanes, trails, and streets showing off Milwaukee’s landmarks and businesses., http://www. amazingmilwaukeerace. com, amazingmilwaukeerace@gmail.com, 414-698-4142 Aug. 9 - Aug. 15, Northern Woods and Waters Bicycle Tour, Oneida Village Inn (start and end location), Three Lakes, WI, Ride, Around Wisconsin

WisconsinBikeFed.org

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Bicycle Tours, A week long tour through Wisconsin’s Northwoods on shaded back roads and the newly paved Heart of Vilas County trails, Includes hotel, meals, swimming, kayaking, SAG, fun!, http://aroundwisbike. com, aroundwisconsinbt@ yahoo.com, 920-427-6086 Aug. 9, 2015 Tri-State Tour #2, Hammond, IN to Kenosha, WI, Hammond, IN, WI, Ride, http://www. bicycleillinois.com, bicycleillinois@bicycleillinois.com, 877-868-7455

WI BikeFedMagAd_2015 1/28/15 10:26 AM Page 1

Aug. 13 - Aug. 16, Ride to Cure Diabetes, The La Crosse Center, La Crosse, WI, Ride, JDRF, Destination cycling event for all skill levels to raise funds for JDRF. Enjoy a weekend-long celebration that leads up to the one-day ride., https:// ride.jdrf.org, dhanson@jdrf. org, 414-453-4673 Aug. 13 - Aug. 16, JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes La Crosse, La Crosse, WI, Ride, http://www.ride.jdrf. org, emeland@jdrf.org, 608-833-2873 Aug. 15, Top of the World Tour, Whitehall, WI, Fun Ride, http://www.tourdetremp.com/?page_id=700, trempealeautrails@gmail. com

sponsored by

A fund-raising bike ride at the Milwaukee County Zoo benefiting the Zoological Society of Milwaukee

REGISTRATION FEE INCLUDES: • Entry into the Zoo • Continental breakfast • Parking • T-shirt • Picnic lunch New routes this year! Distance rides begin and end at the Zoo.

Register online on our website: zoosociety.org/bike by September 4, 2015.

Media Sponsors:

414-258-2333 46

Helmets are required for all riders!

Event is held RAIN or SHINE A Zoological Society and Milwaukee County Zoo Partnership

and around the moraines of Minooka Park, includes face steep climbing and flat out speed on a mix of flowy single track with huge berm turns, and technical segments., http://wors.org/, dangerdouglass@gmail.com Aug. 15, Beyond Design Bike Tour 2015, Eppstein Uhen Architects Office, Southeast, WI, Special Event, http://bdbt.kintera. org/faf/home/default. asp?ievent=1106035 Aug. 16, Tour de Fort, Jones Park, Fort Atkinson, WI, Ride, http://www. active.com/event_detail. cfm?event_id=2126954, FortLionsClub@gmail.com, 920-542-4099 Aug. 16, Race the Lake, Lakeside Park, Fond du Lac, WI, Road Race, 90 mile bike race around the majestic Lake Winnebago, full of scenic diversity and is enjoyed by all abilities from professional to the beginning cyclists, http://www. dutrirun.com, ben@dutrirun. com, 920-574-2972 Aug. 16, John Hatherly Mid Century Ride Waupaca, Waupaca High School, Waupaca, WI, Ride, Flower-petal design of the course lets you can build ride 12, 20, 50, 62, 70 or 100 miles depending on how you feel that day!, http://www.321goevents. com

Aug. 15, Roun’da Manure, Historic Downtown Sharon, Sharon, WI, Ride, 17, 27, 44, and 66 mile mile supported routes from ice cream shop to ice cream shop and finish the ride with a picnic lunch to support Historic Downtown Sharon, sharonmainstreet@sharontelephone.com, 262-736-6246

Aug. 16, CF Cycle For Life, Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, WI, Fun Ride, http://cycle.cff.org, tschmitt@cff.org, 262-798-2060

Aug. 15 - Aug. 16, Colectivo Coffee Bean Clasic (WORS#8), Minooka Park, Waukesha, WI, Off-Road Race, 5 mile lap up, down,

Aug. 22, Sadistic Century, Start at Dunn County Recreation Park, Menomonie, WI, Ride, 100 miles, 100 K, and 50 K supported

rides through scenic hills of Dunn County with over 30 climbs and 8,819 feet of elevation gain with food, beer and music at the end., http://www.saddisticcentury.com, sadisticcenturyWI@ gmail.com Aug. 22, Run & Bike Unite Duathlon, Stevens Point, WI, Multi-Sport Event, http://stevenspointarea.com Aug. 22, Ride To the Barns, Camp Quad, Hartford, WI, Fun Ride, 65 & 35 mile routes in Lake Country and rolling farmland in Waukesha, Washington and Dodge counties with stops at local farms and a party offering locally grown foods, wine and beer, refreshments and music., http:// tallpinesconservancy.org, info@tallpinesconservancy. org, 262-369-0500 Aug. 22, Aloha Bike Tour, Viroqua High School/Bigley Pool, Viroqua, WI, Ride, Winding through scenic Vernon County in the Driftless Region of SW Wisconsin, the Aloha Bike Tour offers something for everyone with 3 routes: 12, 25, or 50+ miles., http://www.alohabiketour.com, jenny@leum. com, 608-632-2871 Aug. 23, Try Cambridge Tri, Ripley Park, Cambridge, WI, Multi-Sport Event, Cambridge Community Activities Program, Sprint distance triathlon along the shores of Lake Ripley on scenic country roads. Everyone will receive a medal and tech t-shirt for participation., http://www.cambridgecap. net, cap@cambridge.k1.wi. us, 608-423-8108 Aug. 23, Feforestation Ramble (WORS#9), Reforstation Camp, Suamico, WI, Off Road Race, WORS presented by Trek, http://

Discover the trails of Whitewater

wors.org/schedule/reforestation-ramble, titletownflyer@yahoo.com, (920) 362-6617 Aug. 27, Clips Beer & Film Tour, Olin Park, Madison, WI, Special Event, New Belgium Brewing, Clips Beer & Film Tour is a beer-toting, film-traveling, nonprofit-benefiting show that travels coast-to-coast. You’ll get to try New Belgium Brewing’s most esoteric beer offerings and pair them with inspiring short films created by fans.

The best part is that 100% of the proceeds from beer sales benefit the Wisconsin Bike Fed., http://www. newbelgium.com/Events/ clips-beer-and-film, membership@wisconsinbikefed.org, 608-251-4456 Aug. 27, Boulder, Bike, & Brew, Boulders Climbing Gym, Madison, WI, Fun Ride, Boulders Climbing Gym, $6 pass at Boulders Climbing Gym with ride to One Barrel Brewing Company, http:// BicycleAd.indd facebook.com/boulderbikeandbrew, sarah@bouldersgym.com, 608-244-8100

Exceptional cycling on stunning scenic routes with over 30 miles of mountain bike trails and unlimited road miles throughout Wisconsin’s beautiful Kettle Moraine

Relax after a long ride… stay with us!

Baymont Inn & Suites • 262-472-9400 Hamilton House Bed & Breakfast • 262-473-1900 Super 8 • 262-472-0400 Victoria on Main • 262-473-8400

Order your bike maps and Whitewater visitors guide today!

DiscoverWhitewater.org • 1-866-4WW-TOUR 150 W. Main St. in Downtown Whitewater facebook.com/whitewatertourism.council

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Aug. 28 - Sep. 1, LaCrosse Area Bicycle Festival, Cameron Park, LaCrosse, WI, Special Event, http://www.bicyclelacrosse. com/bikefest/, shepard@ explorelacrosse.com, 608782-2286 Following the old interurban rail line from Belgium to Mequon, and sometimes nudging Lake Michigan, 30 miles of tranquil trail weave in and out of historic downtowns and beautiful natural landscapes.

Designated as a birding and nature trail, the Ozaukee Interurban Trail is close to charming B&Bs, quaint restaurants and interesting shops. The trail is located 15 minutes north of Milwaukee.

Free visitor guide and map available online.

800-403-9898 or WisconsinBikeFed.org 47 interurbantrail.us | ozaukeetourism.com

The Wisconsin Bike Fed is a membership-based nonprofit organization that works to make your ride better, whether it’s on city streets, country roads, or single-track.

Members support our work, like lobbying at the State Capitol for better bike laws, educating children and adults about bike safety, and encouraging more people to choose bicycling as part of their daily life.

You can help build a better, more bike-friendly Wisconsin, today.

Join the movement by submitting the form below or online at WisconsinBikeFed.org/Join.

YES! I WANT TO MAKE WISCONSIN CYCLING BETTER

CONTACT INFORMATION

Join online at WISCONSINBIKEFED.ORG/JOIN or mail this completed form to the Wisconsin Bike Fed at: 3618 W. Pierce St., Suite 250, Milwaukee, WI 53215

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CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP LEVEL $35 Individual Membership Includes discount card, 1-year Bike Fed Magazine subscription, + more

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The Wisconsin Bike Fed is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your contribution is tax deductible minus the cost of your optional membership gift. MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION TERMS: I understand this charge to my credit card will remain in effect until I notify the Wisconsin Bike Fed that I wish to end this agreement. I agree to a minimum commitment of at least 12 monthly payments.

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