M A G A Z I N E 21 SEPT E MB E R 201 8
Headquartered, designed and engineered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Manitou would like to thank all the people who dedicate their time to making our home a great place to ride. www.MANITOUMTB.com www.HAYESCOMPONENTS.com
Eastside Fade Series A premium single-speed/fixed gear bike developed and tested on the busy streets of Milwaukee. Combining the comfort and quality of 4130 chromoly steel with traditional track geometry, the Eastside gives the rider an aggressive, responsive and comfortable ride. The Fade series comes in 5 unique color-ways and makes for the perfect urban explorer.
Wisconsin Bike Fed members receive 10% off Fyxation products.
F Y X AT I O N . C O M
CONTENTS Wisconsin Bicycling Hall of Fame / 8
M A G A Z I N E 21 SE P TE M B E R 201 8
Advocacy 2.0 / 16 Route of the Badger / 24 Putting a Price on Safety / 28 Washington Island Cycling Vacation / 32 Bicycling Events / 42
cover: Lucy Foss, 5-time state champion Velodrome racer, riding for the Kenosha Kutters, powering through turn four at the newly resurfaced Washington Park Velodrome. photo: Peter DiAntoni
WisconsinBikeFed.org
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Washington Park Velodrome, Kenosha Tuesday night bicycle racing has been a tradition at Kenosha’s Washington Park Velodrome for quite some time. Being the nation’s oldest operating velodrome, it has seen riders go fast and turn left for generations. The track was reborn last year with a brand new and much improved concrete surface. These photographs were taken on a recent Tuesday night, with many junior racers in attendance to compete for the annual Bill Schulte Memorial Junior Race Trophy. photographs by Peter DiAntoni
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Inside the pages of this issue, are must-read stories about
ISSUE 21 – September 2018
STAFF Baltazar De Anda Santana/Dane County Program Director baltazars@wisconsinbikefed.org
Carolyn Dvorak/Southwest Region Director carolyn.dvorak@wisconsinbikefed.org
Kristin Kanitz/Membership Services Coordinator kristin@wisconsinbikefed.org
Grace Labinski/Bookkeeper grace@wisconsinbikefed.org
Jake Newborn/Youth Education Program Manager jake.newborn@wisconsinbikefed.org
Dave Schlabowske/Executive Director dave.schlabowske@wisconsinbikefed.org
Jessica Wineberg/Deputy Director jessica@wisconsinbikefed.org Board of Directors
Bill Koch, Chair, Clay Griessmeyer, Secretary, Dave Jablonowski, Treasurer Steve Arnold Tad Hylkema Elisa Sibinski Traci Elliott Beth Liebhardt John Siegert Ted Galloway Sydney Prusak Melissa Vernon Daniel Goldberg Melissa Putzer David Waters Peter Gray Kristie Schilling Magazine Staff
Editor: Dave Schlabowske
Art Director: Peter DiAntoni
The Wisconsin Bike Fed Magazine is a complimentary addition to Bike Fed Annual Memberships. Reach us at (414) 255-0369 or WisconsinBikeFed.org
the future of bicycle advocacy in Wisconsin. In January, the state legislature returns to session with a new biennial budget at the top of their agenda. Every new budget cycle the Wisconsin Bike Fed tries to keep our members aware of what is happening regarding funding for bicycling and walking, but this budget is more important than ever for a couple reasons. First, due to recent federal rule changes, Wisconsin no longer qualifies for federal funds for bicycle or pedestrian safety programs. The new federal rule requires bicycle and pedestrian fatalities account for 15% or more of all fatal crashes for states to qualify for federal non-motorized safety funds. Because Wisconsin has been successful at reducing our crashes, we no longer qualify for those federal safety dollars. For the last 10 years, WisDOT has allocated some of those federal safety funds to the the Bike Fed’s Share and Be Aware program. Our part time Share and Be Aware Ambassadors around the state have taught thousands of people in our safety classes and talked with tens of thousands of people about sharing the road with people on bikes and on foot at businesses, hospitals, schools, county fairs and even farmers markets. We have launched a statewide appeal for donations to try to raise $100,000 to keep the program going, but we have also been talking to our legislators about creating a state safety program to replace some of the lost federal funds. With all the other transportation needs, we will need all your help to get a even a small new program in the budget. Since 1990, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program is also up for renewal this budget. The Stewardship program has been used to help pay for trails across Wisconsin, from the Big Hill Bike Trail in Beloit to the Great Headwaters Trails in Vilas County. The Stewardship program has also protected more than 500,000 acres of Wisconsin’s most beautiful lands and waters. The Bike Fed is part of a diverse coalition of partners, like the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust to Pheasants Forever, who will be advocating that this important state funding program be reauthorized. We will need your help with that issue as well. I know this needs to be a two-way street and the Bike Fed needs to build strong, mutually beneficial relationships with the local advocacy groups. With that I urge local advocates to call or email me to let me know your concerns and how the Bike Fed might be able to help.
Dave Schlabowske —Executive Director WisconsinBikeFed.org
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Please join us, November 2, 2018 Harley Davidson Museum Garage 600 E. Canal St, Milwaukee 5pm - VIP meeting 6pm - General Admission 7pm - Induction Ceremony 8pm - Live Auction
Tom "Plow" Schuler 2018 Sports Inductee, Wisconsin Bicycling Hall of Fame
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WisconsinBikeFed.org
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Join us at our gala event, November 2nd, for a chance to bid on these amazing trips and lots of other one-of-a-kind auction items.
Tour de Chequamegon Two guaranteed spots on this exclusive weekend guided bikepacking trip next October.
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Train! Train! Train! Join Tom Schuler and a few friends on this invite-only trip next May.
WisconsinBikeFed.org
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Join us as we honor Tom "Plow" Schuler as our 2018 Sports Inductee for the Wisconsin Bicycling Hall of Fame. We are excited to have Tom's friend and former 7-Eleven teammate Bob "Bobke" Roll as our special guest for the festivities. The event begins with a VIP meeting with Bobke and Plow at 5 pm, general admission at 6 pm, Induction Ceremony at 7 pm and an exciting live auction for one-of-a-kind items at 8 pm. Bobke will share stories from his days racing in Europe with Plow on the 7-Eleven Team, the first U.S. team to race in the Tour de France, in 1986. If you have read the book, Team 7-Eleven: How an Unsung Band of American Cyclists Took on the World and Won, you will remember Bob Roll was a standout character in a team of unlikely cycling stars. Bobke went on to race professionally as one of the pioneers of early mountain bike racing and continues to entertain and inform as an announcer for NBC Sports. Schuler was inducted into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame in 2007. He would have earned a spot in the Wisconsin Bicycling Hall of Fame for his role as a co-founder of the 7-Eleven Cycling team with Jim Ochowicz in 1981. But after he retired from racing, he has continued to have a positive impact on cycling, at the local, state, national, and world level. With all those accomplishments and more, we are excited to honor our friend. While Schuler is a Michigan native, he has spent the last 30 plus years in Wisconsin managing teams and athletes with his firm Team Sports Inc. He has mentored more than 40 athletes who have gone on to compete in the Olympics and won 14
national and world championships. A father of three, Schuler now lives in Milwaukee and has also helped promote the sport in the region as a partner in the Tour of America's Dairyland and Intelligentsia Cup. Although he has raced against legends like Bernard Hinault and won the 1987 US Pro Road Championship, Schuler remains one of the most humble and likable icons in the sport of cycling. A self-described "lifer," Schuler still rides his bike from his Milwaukee home to his office, organizes the infamous "Bone Ride" from Milwaukee to Madison for lunch and back, and organizes a host of top-class races and charity rides. The event's special guest is Bob "Bobke" Roll, Schuler's long-time friend, former 7-Eleven teammate. Bobke is quite a character in his own right with plenty of hilarious stories from the pro peloton to share. This year our Hall of Fame ceremony will be at The Garage in the cool Harley Davidson Museum, 600 E Canal Street, in Milwaukee. The ticket prices include heavy appetiz-
ers, beer, wine, and soft drinks. You will want to get to the event at 6 pm to have time to browse and bid on great silent auction items. Be sure to be in place by 7 pm for our in duction ceremony with Bob Roll and Tom Schuler. Immediately following the ceremony we will have a silent auction featuring one-of-akind items and trips.
ADVOCACY 2.0
One for All and All for One by Dave Schlabowske
Our
legal name is The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin Educational Foundation, Inc. That doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue or fit well on a website home page, so these days we call ourselves The Wisconsin Bike Fed or just The Bike Fed. Today our staff sometimes wish our founders gave us a shorter name, but including the word federation was key to our recent strategic plan to move bicycle advocacy forward in Wisconsin. For many years, The Bike Fed focused on growing our membership. Our board of directors, past executive directors and industry partners tried various ways to get new members because they felt a larger organization would have more legislative pull. We had about 2,500 members when I started at the Bike Fed 18 years ago. Today we count 7,500 members, including our Tandem couples level. Not bad, but the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs has around 43,000 members. To put that in perspective, there are less than 300,000 snowmobiles registered in Wisconsin and around four million people have bicycles. While most of the adults and kids who own a bicycle don’t think of themselves as cyclists, there are certainly more avid bicycle enthusiasts in Wisconsin than there are snowmobilers. So why don’t we have more members?
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One reason is Wisconsin’s 2013 Act 142 (CAP/STEP – Club Assistance Program / Snowmobile Trail Enhancement Program), which the AWSC worked to get passed. Wisconsin Act 142 provides: • A two-tiered trail pass requirement at an annual (yearly) cost of $30/non-member and $10/ current AWSC club member • Provides a free annual trail pass sticker to be displayed on sleds 30 years and older. • Increased the non-resident trail pass fee from current $35/year to $50/year. While joining one of the nearly 600 AWSC snowmobile clubs statewide remains optional, only people who are current members of AWSC snowmobile club membership receive the discounted trail pass rate. The AWSC directors I have spoken with agree the discounted trail pass is a big reason they have so many members, Furthermore, the revenue from the sale of registrations and trail passes goes into the state snowmobile program’s segregated fund, so they never get hit with the argument that they don’t contribute. While a recent survey suggested the majority of “cyclists” in Wisconsin would be willing to pay more to ride if they knew the money was going back to bicycling, a mandatory state registration fee for bicycles would be a lot more complicated than one for snowmobiles. What about kids who have a $100 bike? Should parents pay for them? What if you only ride on the local WisconsinBikeFed.org
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2.0 roads, not on state trails, and already pay local property taxes? There are lots of other issues the more you dig into it, but I do feel it is worth further discussion sometime in the future. One thing we can learn from the success of the AWSC is that the Bike Fed, as a statewide organization, would be more geographically diverse if we became a true federation of the hundreds of local clubs, teams and advocacy organizations. There are lots of local groups having great success advocating for bicycling in their communities, from relative newcomers like the Green Bay Bicycle Coalition and Bicycle Friendly West Bend to long established clubs like the KR Bike Club in Racine and Kenosha, the Janesville Velo Club to the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association. These groups and many more have great reputations with their locally elected leaders and they are making bicycling easier, safer, and more fun in their communities. We believe the Wisconsin Bike Fed would be a lot more effective and influential if we could harness the energy of local advocates and direct it to our elected representatives in Madison when important state legislative issues arise. So rather than try to get all those people to join the Bike Fed and become a giant statewide organization, we are asking one or two people from each of those local organizations to volunteer to be our designated Wisconsin Bike Fed Representative. Then, rather than only sending out action alerts to our 7,500 members, or even our 14,000 person email list and asking people to contact their elected representatives in Madison, we will also be able to contact specific Bike Fed Representatives at hundreds of clubs, teams, and local advocacy groups who effectively have a much larger and geographically diverse population across the state. Ideally, like the AWSC county directors, we would have Wisconsin Bike Fed Representatives for each of the 72 counties. Some more populated counties like those in southeastern Wisconsin might have more Bike Fed Reps than less populated counties, but at least we would someone representing every county in Wisconsin.
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2.0 To be successful, this relationship would need be reciprocal and have benefits for the local organizations. Of course we would hope that local advocates would understand the importance and impact that state budgets and state statutes have in their communities, but the Bike Fed can do more than represent their interests in Madison. We can provide safety education resources, help promote local successes and events, and help local advocates network and learn from each other. Better communication between the Wisconsin Bike Fed and local advocates would also help us create a shared vision for what a more bicycle friendly Wisconsin looks like. If we can all rally around and articulate a clear vision by January when our state legislature is back in session, the next biennial budget might include more money for bicycling. If not, we should expect further cuts. Our neighbors to our left in Minnesota and to the right in Michigan both spend millions of dollars more than we do on bicycling, and they are reaping the benefits of those investments in terms of hundreds of miles more trails than Wisconsin has, better safety education for bicycling and walking, and economic health benefits that come from bicycle tourism and more citizens riding. We can’t develop that vision or convince our state legislators of the value of bicycling unless we put the federation back in The Bike Fed. We need to become a true federation of local advocates from every county in Wisconsin. We already have a dozen or so people from local advocacy organizations, clubs, and teams who have volunteered to be Bike Fed Representatives, but we need more. Ideally we would like each of the Bike Fed Reps to be members of the Wisconsin Bike Fed, but that is not a requirement. All we ask is that you be our official point of contact. We also want to create a Bicycle Business Council, so we have a similar group of representatives who are business leaders. Wisconsin Bicycle Business Council made up mostly of business leaders from outside the bike industry but include bicycle industry and shop owners as well. Any business leader who understands how being located in a 20
WisconsinBikeFed.org
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2.0 bicycle friendly community attracts customers as well as provides employee benefits that help retain a healthy, talented workforce. Few people have as much influence with state legislators as locally elected officials like mayors, county executives, town chairs, etc. To leverage that influence, the Bike Fed is organizing a caucus of elected and municipal leaders who already support cycling in their communities. Minnesota has just such an organized group of mayors who are already embracing bicycling in The Minnesota Mayoral Active Transportation Caucus. Because Wisconsin has supportive county executives, mayors, village administrators, town chairs, and council members, we would not limit our caucus to mayors. Here again, we already have a handful of locally elected officials who have volunteered to join our Wisconsin Bicycle Caucus, but we need more! Hopefully we will be able to identify at least one Wisconsin Bike Fed Rep, one Bicycle Business Council Member and one Wisconsin Bike Caucus member for each of our 72 counties by the time our next legislative session begins in January of 2019. Wisconsin may have fallen off the front compared to other states, but we are still in the race. We can rejoin the leaders if we regroup and work together. We are excited to hear your thoughts about this approach to organizing and harnessing the energy of the thousands of bicycle loving local advocates, elected officials and business leaders across our great state.
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KEEP YOUR PANTS ON. THE MILWAUKEE BELTLINE -GATES CARBON DRIVE -INTERNALLY-GEARED HUB -OX PLATINUM STEEL
Route of the Badger
VISION 2050
The framework for the Route of the Badger Joe Delmagori
Senior Transportation Planner, Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
Willie Karidis
Route of the Badger Project Manager, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
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In December of 2013 Rails-toTrails Conservancy (RTC) performed a Metropolitan Statistical Analysis in cities across the United States to determine what percentage of people lived within 3 miles of a dedicated trail system. Interestingly the city of Racine ranked sixth and the Milwaukee/ Waukesha areas ranked seventh. This was the aha moment that prompted the idea for a Route of the Badger. What would it take to create a system of trails in the area, linking autonomous trails to each other? It was discovered that the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) was working on just such a document for the seven counties in Southeastern Wisconsin, VISION 2050. The document was not going to be completed for a while but the framework for the vision was solid and it was within this that the Route of the Badger (ROTB) was born. It was then that the initial homework was done to look at existing planning documents for future trail infrastructure. Rails to Trails held initial conversations with SEWRPC in early 2016 to present the concept of the ROTB and its potential for supporting the recommended bicycle network identified in VISION 2050. During these conversations, RTC staff explained the purpose of the ROTB and its goal of identifying key connections to address gaps in the bicycle network and their intention to develop a list of regional stakeholders that would guide the effort. RTC also worked with SEWRPC to collect GIS data on the existing and proposed trails in the Region that would serve as the basis for a ROTB web map. This web map would serve as a clearinghouse for the trail segments that could be part of the ROTB. As this pro-
cess continues, the web map is expected to be utilized by the stakeholders to analyze the accuracy of the trail segments and to advocate for the completion of the proposed trail connections. In July of 2016, SEWRPC adopted VISION 2050, which seeks to increase the quality of life for residents and businesses in the Southeastern Wisconsin while attracting new growth to the area. It is a comprehensive look into the future that incorporated input from the Region’s municipalities and residents through participation in advisory committees, task forces, workshops, travel and telephone surveys, and interactive web tools. The resulting land use and transportation plan provides recommendations for multimodal transportation investments to support the attraction, recruitment, and maintenance of the work force required to encourage economic growth and provide a fantastic place for all of us to live in the Region. As part of VISION 2050, a well-connected bicycle and pedestrian network is recommended that includes on- and off-street bicycle facilities and accessible pedestrian facilities. The ROTB will serve as a mechanism for garnering support among cities and counties to fill in the gaps of an already substantial off-street bicycle network. Through ongoing collaboration, the ROTB can provide the opportunities for cities and counties who own and maintain trails to identify key segments of their trail systems to designate as part of the ROTB network. During the past several months, representatives from these cities and counties have provided information on their suggested trail segments. These discussions are creating the initial framework for the Route.
WisconsinBikeFed.org 25
Route of the Badger
The next step will involve county-to-county discussions to better identify connections between existing and future trails that will address critical gaps between counties. The trail infrastructure in southeastern Wisconsin is a fantastic resource. There are fabulous trails that already exist here and the potential for creating a network of interconnected trails is extremely possible. In order to make this happen, all seven counties will need to work not only from their own individual plans but to work cross jurisdictionally. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy can help by bringing attention to individual projects and showing how these projects fit within the greater Route of the Badger network vision. VISION 2050 identified a network of existing and recommended trails to link many of the cities and villages in Southeastern Wisconsin that, when implemented, would cre26
ate a well-connected network that improves access to neighborhoods, activity centers, and other destinations in the Region. The ROTB network, once established, will focus priority on completing those critical connections between and within the counties. The ROTB will serve as one of the many ways in which the bicycle and pedestrian goals set forth in VISION 2050 can be achieved.
Putting a Price on Safety by Dave Schlabowske The Bike Fed is launching a major fundraising campaign to raise $100,000 to continue safety education and encouragement programs in Wisconsin as federal funds dry up. Although we get more requests than we can accomodate for Share & Be Aware Safety Ambassadors to teach classes and attend local events, without new funding, the popular safety program is at risk. Since 2011, part-time Bike Fed staff have been implementing the Share and Be Aware (S&BA) Program for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. In those eight years, S&BA Ambassadors around the state have held 982 classes and attended 1,541 community events to teach and talk about bicycle and pedestrian safety to 228,880 people, reaching every county. Through social media and traditional advertising, we have reached an additional 2,380,035 people with safety information and encouragement messages for how all road users can legally and safely share the road. We have also worked with driver’s education organizations to deliver a curriculum to help new drivers understand their responsibility to keep all people, including those walking and biking, safe. With the demise of universal driver’s education in high schools, our curriculum might also be the only formal instruction people get about the laws that relate to riding a bike or yielding to people crossing the street. Ambassadors also provide advanced classes for police officers and deputy sheriffs to help them better enforce the laws and teach bicycle and pedestrian safety in their communities. We have done all that at a cost of less than $7 for people who attend our classes and events and only $.08 per person for our marketing messages. Funded with money from the Federal Highways Safety Improvement Program, S&BA has been extremely popular. As mentioned above, every year we get hundreds more requests than we can accomodate for our S&BA Ambassadors to attend local events and teach classes across Wisconsin.
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The regional Share & Be Aware Ambassadors have worked closely with law enforcement agencies on targeted enforcement programs for bicycle and pedestrian safety. The regional Share & Be Aware Ambassadors educate and encourage all road users to obey the laws, including people who ride bikes.
Share & Be Aware Impact 2011-2018 Year
Classes
Outreach Events
People
Media Reach
Outreach Events
Cost
2011
51
181
1,152
1,339,572
10,498
$129,396
2012
153
179
3,099
1,339,572
6,608
$150,224
2013
182
222
4,729
1,339,572
13,586
$164,608
2014
98
152
1,881
2,679,145
7,758
$178,301
2015
126
175
2,108
273,290
7,002
$337,379
2016
162
316
3,550
2,009,130
89,249
$327,765
2017
172
286
3,600
10,000,000
68,096
$236,367
2018
38
28
1,200
60,000
4,764
$38,984
TOTAL
982
1,541
21,319
19,040,282
207,561
$1,563,024
AVERAGE
123
193
2,665
2,380,035
25,945
$195,378
Cost/Reach
$0.08
Cost/Person Educated
$6.83
WisconsinBikeFed.org 29
Despite the success and low cost of the program, recent federal rule changes now limit the use of Highway Safety Improvement Program funds to infrastructure projects. HSIP funds can no longer be used for safety education or encouragement programs of any kind. Because Wisconsin has been so successful at reducing our bicycle and pedestrian crash numbers, we do not qualify for federal Section 405 is the National Priority Safety Program funds for non-motorized safety education and encouragement. To qualify for 405 funds, the combination of fatal bicycle and pedestrian crashes must be 15% of all crashes. In Wisconsin, the number of people killed walking and riding a bike in Wisconsin make up 11% of all our fatal crashes. In a sense, the feds are punishing Wisconsin for doing a good job. At the Bike Fed, we don’t want to end a successful program and wait for our crash rate to go up and we qualify for federal funds. We would rather continue the good work we have been doing and make Wisconsin an even safer place to ride a bike and walk. We still hear from our members about near misses and crashes far too often. 30
The Share & Be Aware Program has allowed our instructors to teach more than 21,000 people how to ride safely and legally in classes like this one in La Crosse.
We hope to raise at least $100,000 by the end of the year so the Bike Fed can continue the important safety education and encourage all users to obey the rules of the road, whether they are walking, riding a bike or driving a motor vehicle. We could raise those funds in no time if just 1,000 people will donate $100 each, but we gratefully accept donations of any amount. We will also be tracking where the donations come from to ensure you see a return on your investment in safety. If you want the money you give make it safer where you ride, check the box to keep your donation funding local. For instance, if the folks in the Fox Cities raise $30,000, those funds will be limited for safety programs from Oshkosh to Green Bay. If you are one of many people who have been passed too closely by a car, been honked at for trying to cross the street in a crosswalk, or frustrated by scofflaws who give all bicyclists a bad reputation, here is your chance to take some action and make a difference! Please make a donation today to keep safety education programs ongoing in Wisconsin.
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Bicycling on Washington Island story and photographs by Dave Schlabowske
vacation (n.) late 14c., "freedom from obligations, leisure, release" (from some activity or occupation), from Old French vacacion "vacancy, vacant position" (14c.) and directly from Latin vacationem (nominative vacatio) "leisure, freedom, exemption, a being free from duty, immunity earned by service," noun of state from past participle stem of vacare "be empty, free, or at leisure."
Bicycling on Washington Island Work hard, play hard has been my motto for a long time. My typical bike vacations can be described as epic and involve lots of planning, ultralight camping gear, gps routes, nightly tick checks and sometimes even epirb beacons. While I do love challenging myself in the alpine high country of the San Juans or bushwacking long-abandoned logging roads in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, sometimes all you want to do is relax. For years people have been suggesting that I do a magazine story about bicycling on Washington Island. I have not been their in almost three decades, so I did some online research about bicycling on Washington Island, but didn’t come up with much beyond some small businesses to rent hybrids. No bicycle-themed coffee shops or breweries like I usually frequent. No epic routes famous for their difficulty. In fact, it is only 35 miles and 928 ft off elevation if you ride completely around the island, including trips out to every scenic point. Without something epic or bicycle themed to build a story around, I just politely thanked people for the suggestion but never went. This year though my wife Liz retired after 34 years of teaching in Milwaukee Public Schools. She loved teaching, but that was a long, challenging row to hoe. I’m slammed with work during the summer and can’t take much time away, so we were looking for a short, relaxing trip to take together. I mentioned to her that people keep telling me I need to visit Washington Island, and she thought it sounded like a perfect weekend getaway. So we made reservations for Friday and Saturday nights at two different places to try different lodging, loaded the road bikes in the bed of the truck and had Milwaukee, computer screens, and responsibility in the rear view mirror by 10am. You have to take a privately operated ferry to get to Washington Island. The ferry schedule changes with the season, but during the summer it leaves every 45 minutes or so between about 7am and 10pm depending on which direction you are going. The cost is $13.50 per adult, $4 per bicycle and $26 per car. Kids age six to 11 are only $7 for the 30 minute, six-mile crossing of the strait between the tip of the Door County Peninsula and Washington Island, Often referred to as Death’s Door, (or Porte des Morts in the days of the French explorers), it was once one of the most notorious, treacherous 34
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Bicycling on Washington Island stretches of water on the Great Lakes and home to scores of shipwrecks, perhaps the most of any freshwater in the world. The danger of the unpredictable waters and a potential shortcut were the main reasons they built the canal through Sturgeon Bay back in 1881. This is also where the Door County Peninsula got its name. Thankfully our crossing was scenic, smooth, and uneventful. Off the ferry, we drove the two and a half miles to Steffen’s Cedar Lodge Inn, dropped our bags in our cabin, and hopped on the bikes to explore. Our first stop was only 1.5 miles away to the ironically named Albatross Drive Inn, given most people had ridden their bikes there. After a delicious shake, we hit the road again, pedaling another mile down the road for a mandatory stop at Nelsen’s Hall Bitters Pub, the oldest continuously operating tavern in the country and home to the Bitters Club. The story behind the record begins when Tom Nelsen, a Danish immigrant, built the Washington Island tavern way back in 1899. In 1920, when Prohibition hit even hard to reach Washington Island the entrepreneurial Nelsen applied for and was granted a pharmacist license to dispense bitters as a “stomach tonic for medicinal purposes.” Since Angostura Bitters is 90 proof, Nelsen maintained a busy “public practice” when most people were forced to seek out an underground speakeasy or brew bathtub gin at home. Today the bar still serves shots of bitters, and they even fingerprint you with bitters to prove you are a card carrying member of the Bitters Club. Liz declined the offer to join, but I like things like Gammel Dansk, Akavit and Icelandic Schnapps, so I knocked one back and chased it with a beer. What does it taste like? Let’s say it is better than Malört, but I was not itching for a second bump. After our stop at Nelsen’s we were starting to get hungry, but wanted to experience somewhere new. As soon as we stepped out the door, we saw a sign that said “Fish Boil Tonight” at KK Fiske Restaurant right next door and knew we didn’t have to unlock our bikes. KK stands for Kenny Koyen, AKA the Fish Mortician, who also runs a commercial fishing boat. His daily catch includes Lawyers, a slang term for the eel-like Burbot and Whitefish. Kenny also runs his own fish boil, which did not disappoint in terms of flames or flavor. After the fish boil, we headed back to Steffen’s Cedar Lodge Inn to sit by the water with a bottle of locally sourced Angry Orchard Cider and watch the beautiful West Harbor sunset from the shore. Cedar Lodge is 36
IMAGE BY THE WISCONSIN BIKE FED
BIKE CAMBA’S MT. ASHWABAY CLUSTER, 2 MILES SOUTH OF BAYFIELD ON SKI HILL RD.
Plan your trip & request a FREE Visitor Guide
visit B A Y F I E L D . O R G
•
or call 7 1 5 . 7 7 9 . 3 3 3 5
Bicycling on Washington Island small pet-friendly resort owned by fourth generation Washington Islanders with two free standing cabins, a multi-unit lodge, and single rooms located on the shore of the West Harbor. Our two bedroom cabin had a full kitchen and a working fireplace. While the cabin could use a little TLC, it was very comfortable and the peaceful location right on water could not be beat. The dad in family in the cabin next to ours told us he grew up on Washington Island, moved away but has been bringing his family back Cedar Lodge for years. With the sun set, we went back to the cabin to sit by a fire, finish our cider, and go to bed. Day one of our trip was complete, less than five miles ridden. The next morning, we packed our stuff, grabbed coffee and delicious breakfast sandwiches at the nearby Red Cup, and headed over to the historic Hotel Washington Restaurant and Studio for our second night’s stay on the Island. The historic Hotel Washington was established in 1904 by Icelandic immigrants Ben and Evaline Johnson, and has eight carefully restored rooms overlooking Detroit Harbor featuring organic linens on antique, hand-carved beds. The hotel is small enough that you won’t mind the two shared bathrooms, which feature luxury steam showers and all Kohler fixtures. After we checked in with the very personable owner Jeannie Kokes and dropped off our bags in our cozy Dragonfly Room, we hopped back on our bikes and headed out for a ride around the island. Our plan was to stay as close to the coast as possible and visit every point we pass. Most of the shoreline around Washington Island is private homes, so you only catch glimpses of Lake Michigan from the forested roads. What really struck me as we soft-pedaled around the island’s low-traffic paved roads was how relaxing it was. With a population around 700, you rarely see cars, and when you do, they are not in a hurry to get anywhere. Because the island is so small, even our goal to ride all the way around it was a goal almost anyone can accomplish. The complete absence of pressure and stress frees you to be completely in the moment, enjoy the scenic ride and talk with your riding partner. My usual bike trips which involve a hard push to ride 100 or more miles, and when you add in my stops to take photographs, I’m usually a little worried about getting to my destination before the restaurant closes. By contrast, a 25 mile cruise around 38
Bicycling on Washington Island Washington Island leaves lots of time to soak up the sun at a beach or stop visit a one of the many museums on the island. Want to stop at the lavender farm, why not? See an interesting looking cafe at a marina? Let’s grab lunch, we will still have plenty of time to make it back to the hotel for an afternoon nap before dinner. I doubt a pedal has ever been turned in anger on Washington Island. Of the stops we made, our two favorite were near each other. Schoolhouse Beach, is one of a handful of beaches in the world that is made up of flat, round limestones worn smooth by thousands of years of waves. The beautiful beach seemed even more appropriate place to take a short break given Liz just retired from a career teaching. Just two miles away on the south shore of Little Lake is the Jacobson Museum, really a must-stop destination. The tiny museum is housed in a vertical log cabin, in the classic Scandinavian style. While the museum contains an eclectic outstanding collection of natural and historical artifacts of the region, what made it so special was Jeannie, our docent, who knew Jens Jacobsen and had personal stories to tell about almost anything we asked about. Outside the museum is the small log cabin, once owned by Jens Jacobsen, which has been restored with authentic furniture and a mannequin of Jens which adds realism to the cabin After the museum, we hopped on our bike for the pleasant six-mile ride back to the Hotel Washington. We took a nap and had a glass of wine and a beer on the beautiful front lawn before dinner at the hotel restaurant. The restaurant features a bistro-style menu of appetizers, salads, pizzas and dinner entrees cooked in a brick oven. Much of the restaurant's produce and proteins come from their own eight-acre farm or other Island suppliers. Our dinner of whitefish pizza, brick oven ribeye was fabulous, and paired well with a cold bottle of Door 44 Rose, from Parallel 44 Vineyard & Winery. The next morning we packed up and headed down for breakfast (included), we were surprised to see there was a Mayfly hatching during the night. The window screens and front port were covered with hundreds of Mayflies! Breakfast was a berry and honey yogurt parfait sprinkled with granola, a yummy vegetable quiche with a small side of homemade beef breakfast sausage. We were also served small glasses of refreshing grape juice, made from island-grown grapes leftover after pressings at Parallel 44 Vineyard. 40
Breakfast done, we thanked our host Jeannie for a wonderful visit and tip toed our way through the Mayflies to our car to grab the return trip on the ferry. It is worth checking the ferry schedule so you can time your arrival with loading and avoid a wait at the docks. If you packed your overnight bag in a backpack, you could easily save some money by leaving your car on the peninsula and just bring your bikes on the ferry. Everything is so close, you really never need a car on Washington Island. As our ferry took us back past Rock Island, I felt relaxed and refreshed rather than sore and exhausted as I usually feel after one of my “epic” trips. Perhaps the opposite of epic is vacation, and something just as worth striving for.
1013 W. Lincoln Ave, Milwaukee WI 53215 www.benscycle.com
WISCONSIN
BICYCLING EVENTS Nicolet Wheel-a-Way, Sept. 1, Don Burnside Park, Three Lakes, WI, Fun Ride, https://www.ThreeLakes.com, (715) 546-3344, info@ threelakes.com, The Nicolet Wheel-a-Way is a casual ride for families and individuals of all ages. Riders can choose from either a 18-mile or 36-mile route on paved, public roads with breath-taking views of the Nicolet National Forest and the Three Lakes Chain of Lakes. WEM Series: Northern Kettles Fall Epic, Sept. 8, New Fane Trails, New Fane, WI, Off-Road Race, https://wemseries.com, Plansky.Jason@gmail.com Gordon Parks Ride with Red Bike Green, Sept. 8, Gordon Park 2828 N. Humboldt Blvd, Milwaukee, WI, Fun Ride, For more details follow Red Bike & Green-Milwaukee on Facebook, (414) 731-3973, milwaukee@redbikeandgreen.org, A collective of Black urban cyclists improving the health,economy & local environment of African Americans by creating relevant & sustainable Black bike culture. Tour de Outpost Ride 48, Sept. 8, Outpost Natural Foods Cooperative, Milwaukee, WI, Fun Ride, http://www.outpost.coop, (414) 431-3377, info@outpost.coop, We’re celebrating our 48th birthday! Join us for an urban-suburban Metro MKE cycling loop that connects our four store locations. Registration includes goodie bag, local bites & beverages at each stop, lunch from the grill, beer tokens, birthday cake, prize drawing and more! SepTimber Ride, Sept. 8, Tribute Brewery, Eagle River, WI, Fun Ride, http://eagleriver.org/featured/septimber-ride/, (800) 359-6315, natalie@eagleriver.org, Two unique rides – the 50K Road Ride and 28-mile Trail ride. Beginning and ending at the Tribute Brewing Company trail riders have a choice of routes. SepTimber Ride, Sept. 8, Tribute Brewery, Eagle River, WI, Fun Ride, http://eagleriver.org/featured/septimber-ride/, (715) 479-6400, natalie@eagleriver.org, 28 mile Trail Ride on the beautiful Three Eagle Trail from from Tribute Brewing Company to the Three Lakes Winery and back. Or Choose the 50K Road Ride on beautiful county roads of Vilas County from Tribute Brewing Company to the Conover, WI area and loop back. Wheeling Wheelmen Harmon Hundred, Sept. 9, Southern Wisconsin, Wilmot, WI, Fun Ride, http://wheelmen.com/harmon_hundred. asp, (847) 420-5437, harmonhundred@gmail.com, A non-competitive, scenic ride of 25, 50, 75 and 100 miles. Well marked and quiet country roads, cue sheets, SAG support, friendly volunteers and our well-stocked rest stops that receive RAVE reviews every year. Free showers will be available after the ride. BRING YOUR OWN TOWEL.
presents:
WEM Series: Jack Lake, Sept. 15, Veterans Memorial Park, Deerbrook, WI, Off-Road Race, https://wemseries.com, Plansky.Jason@gmail.com GO Build the Trail Ride, Sept. 15, Lake Country Trail, Oconomowoc, WI, Fun Ride, http://greeneroconomowoc.wildapricot.org/, (262) 490-0715, perkbob@hotmail.com, Ride laps on a 25 mile course to raise money for the Interurban Trail. The perfect place to do your first Century! 19th Annual Maywood Earth Ride, Sept. 15, Maywood, Sheboygan, WI, Fun Ride, http://www.gomaywood.org/earthride.htm, (920) 4593906, maywood@sheboyganwi.gov, Enjoy six route options from 12 to 112-miles through scenic Sheboygan County. Ride includes breakfast and lunch, rest stops, marked route, and goodie bag. Early registration discount. Ride supports Maywood’s mission of connecting our community with nature. Peninsula Century Fall Challenge Ride, Sept. 15, Waterfront Park, Sister Bay, WI, Fun Ride, http://www.peninsulacenturyfallchallenge. com, (920) 421-4680, info@peninsulapacers.com, A ride through the beautiful fall landscape of Door County. Choose from 25, 50, 62, or 100 mile routes, and take part in the King of the Hills Challenge in three climbs. Enjoy chef specialties at six rest stops, and beer from Door County Brewing Co. at the finish. Bike the Barns, Sept. 16, Nishan Park, Reedsburg, WI, Special Event, https://www.csacoalition.org/bike-the-barns/, (608) 226-0300, carrie@csacoalition.org, This recreational ride tours CSA farms and the Wisconsin countryside. Enjoy gourmet local food, farm tours and live music at each stop. Choose between two routes (~60 m, ~20 m) and have a blast at the After Party celebration. Proceeds from the ride benefit fresh food for all.
th S h a w a n o Pa t h w a y s 6 A n n u a l
& FREE 5K walk/run
Saturday, September 29, 2018 In Shawano County - Wisconsin’s Barn Quilt Capital! Choose routes from 5-70 miles or a 20-mile guided tour. Registration includes t-shirt, continental breakfast, maps, sag wagon, food stations and lunch
NEW!! Friday Night Barn Dance Helping to support Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Club of Shawano and SAM25 For more information, visit our website:
www.shawanopathways.org matty@frontiernet.net or 715-524-2139
Singletrack Sunday, Sept. 16, Seeley, WI, Fun Ride, http://www. cambatrails.org, (715) 798-3599, camba@cheqnet.net, 10 to 15-mile guided singletrack tours on Sunday of Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival weekend. Camp 38 Rd.Trailhead, Spider Lake Firelane, Seeley. Please contact by phone or visit CAMBA online for more details! Merrill Colorama Bike Ride, Sept. 22, Kitchenette Park, Merrill, WI, Fun Ride, http://www.merrillparkandrec.com, (715) 536-7313, dan. wendorf@ci.merrill.wi.us, Join us in the “Gateway to the Northwoods” and enjoy beautiful fall colors. 10, 30, 50 mile rides to enjoy through the beautiful countryside as well as food, refreshments, long sleeve shirt, and rest stops. One of the most scenic rides you will find. Roll to Kemetic Yoga with Red Bike Green, Sept. 23, The Body & Soul Healing Arts Center 3617 N 48th St., Milwaukee, WI, Fun Ride, For more details follow Red Bike & Green-Milwaukee on Facebook, (414) 731-3973, milwaukee@redbikeandgreen.org, A collective of Black urban cyclists improving the health,economy & local environment of African Americans by creating relevant & sustainable Black bike culture. The Ride, Sept. 23, Shoppes at Prairie Lakes, Sun Prairie, WI, Special Event, https://theridewi.org, (608) 263-6359, jschmitz@ theridewi.org, Fundraiser benefiting cancer research at UW-Madison. The Ride features five routes (3, 17, 34, 62 & 100 miles) and registration includes shirt, medal, mechanical support, lunch, beverages and all rest stop food. 100% of all proceeds go back to supporting cancer research at UW. Trek CX Cup: World Cup Waterloo, Sept. 28 - Sept. 30, Trek Global Headquarters, Waterloo, WI, Off-Road Race, https://www.facebook. com/trekcxccup/, Trek Bicycle will host a UCI World Cup cyclocross race on Trek’s home course in Waterloo, WI.
S T -G ERMAIN . COM 715.477.2205
Hosted by:
Bike the Barn Quilts & free 5k Walk/Run, Sept. 28 - Sept. 29, Memorial Athletic Park, Shawano, WI, Fun Ride, http://www.shawanopathways. org, (715) 304-9796, matty@frontiernet.net, ThedaCare presents 6th annual Bike the Barn Quilts & free 5k walk/run. Barn quilts & beautiful fall color via pedal power! Friday night barn dance-final chance for discounted rate & pre-registration pick-up. Supporting Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and SAM25. WEM Series: GEARS Greenbush Grinder & WEMS Championship, Oct. 6, Greenbush Trail System, Glenbeulah, WI, Off-Road Race, https://wemseries.com, Plansky.Jason@gmail.com Autumn Black & Brown Unity Ride with Red Bike Green, Oct. 6, Mitchell Park Domes 524 S Layton Blvd, Milwaukee, WI, Fun Ride, For more details follow Red Bike & Green-Milwaukee on Facebook, (414) 731-3973, ilwaukee@redbikeandgreen.org, A collective of Black urban cyclists improving the health,economy & local environment of African Americans by creating relevant & sustainable Black bike culture. Historic Ride Sundays with Red Bike Green, Oct. 7 - Oct. 14, Weekly, Wisconsin Black Historical Society 2620 W Center St., Milwaukee, WI, Fun Ride, For more details follow Red Bike & Green-Milwaukee on Facebook, (414) 731-3973, milwaukee@redbikeandgreen.org, A collective of Black urban cyclists improving the health,economy & local environment of African Americans by creating relevant & sustainable Black bike culture. This ride will occur October 7th & 14th. Railway Roubaix, Oct. 13, Fond du Lac Movie Theater, Fond du Lac, WI, Special Event, http://www.wheelandsprocket.com, (414) 529-6600, amelia.kegel@wheelandsprocket.com, Rain or shine, the Railway Roubaix offers 60+ miles of adventure with the mixed gravel and paved terrain of the Mascoutin Trail from Fond du Lac to Ripon, WI. This is a true race, and instead of timing chips you will be judged in the order that you cross the finish line. 3rd Annual Southern WI Off Ride Bicycle Rides (Ride 2 of 3), Oct. 15, (10 Miles West of Madison), Middleton, WI, Fun Ride, https://www.facebook.com/SWORBR/, (608) 445-8228, ddkj@tds.net, Non competitive riding. 15 to 25 mile loop on private property. Can ride multiple times. Mixture of woods sections, climbs, descents and field crossings. Open To All Bicyclists. Ride start at 10 am. Stocked Rest Stops. Limited to 200. Adults $35 and Kids $20. The Juice Kitchen ROLL with Red Bike Green, Oct. 20, The Juice Kitchen 1617 W North Ave., Milwaukee, WI, Fun Ride, For more details follow Red Bike & Green-Milwaukee on Facebook, (414) 731-3973, milwaukee@redbikeandgreen.org, A collective of Black urban cyclists improving the health,economy & local environment of African Americans by creating relevant & sustainable Black bike culture. Dia De Los Muertos Milwaukee Parade Ride 2018 , Oct. 27, Walker Square Park 1031 S 9th St., Milwaukee, WI, Fun Ride, For more details follow Red Bike & Green-Milwaukee on Facebook, (414) 731-3973, milwaukee@redbikeandgreen.org, A collective of Black urban cyclists improving the health,economy & local environment of African Americans by creating relevant & sustainable Black bike culture. 3rd Annual Southern WI Off Road Bicycle Rides (Ride 3 of 3), Nov. 5, (10 miles West of Madison), Middleton, WI, Fun Ride, https://www.facebook.com/SWORBR/, (608) 445-8228, ddkj@tds.net, Non competitive riding. 15 to 25 mile loop on private property. Can ride multiple times. Mixture of woods sections, climbs, descents and field crossings. Open To All Bicyclists. Ride start at 10 am. Stocked Rest Stops. Limited to 200. Adults $35 and Kids $20.
Belgium Waubek a Fredonia Newburg Port Washin gton Saukvil le
Grafton
INTRODUCING RIDE ON ROAST ROAST, A BRAND-NEW, ORGANIC, FAIR-TRADE BLEND FROM JUST COFFEE. COFFEE
Cedarburg Mequon
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 make the Badger State a better place to ride a bike. Look for Ride On Roast everywhere Just Coffee products are sold in Wisconsin.
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Join us for the 2018
SANTA CYCLE RAMPAGE! Saturday, Dec. 1st 7am - 8:30am Day of Registration & Candy Cane pick-up at BelAir Tosa 6817 W North Ave, Wauwatosa 9am Ride Leaves from Cranky Al's, 69th and North Ave, Wauwatosa 10:30am Ride ends at Lakefront Brewery More info at wisconsinbikefed.org
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WisconsinBikeFed.org 47
AAA Bicycle Service
A new spin on roadside assistance. Introducing road service for AAA Members on their bicycles! ■
No extra cost – it’s part of your membership
■
Works just like your towing benefit
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Call the number on your card for service
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Covers all bikes, including rentals and trailers
Learn more at AAA.com/Bicycle Bicycle transportation service is counted toward your allotted roadside assistance service calls per member, per membership year. AAA will transport you and your bike to any point of safety within the limits of your coverage. Please see AAA.com/Bicycle for full terms and conditions. 17-MS-2421
Sunday, August 26th 2018
State Fair Park & Ride
Chris’ Slow Roll is a casual, no drop, 10 mile bike ride from State Fair Park to the lake and back. This is a FREE, family-friendly, slow-roll event! Party after the ride with beer, food, and entertainment at the family-owned Kegel’s Inn in West Allis. We hope to see you there!
Featured 2018 Initiative We’re working with Milwaukee County Parks & the Wisconsin Bike Fed to improve way-finding along Milwaukee's Oak Leaf Trail. By color coding the 120 mile trail system (similar to London/ NYC subway systems), the Oak Leaf Trail will be easier to navigate. Signage and map systems will allow users to keep track of their adventures and plan routes!
Helping drive targeted infrastructure improvements in our local communities. Creating community-friendly, inclusive riding events for all types of cyclists. Developing cycling advocate leadership programs in collaboration with PeopleForBikes
VIP packages available & optional donation proceeds benefit the Chris Kegel Foundation
Pre-register to guarantee a t-shirt & more info:
chriskegel.com