Touring - Who's riding BIkenorthWoods this year?

In another thread, a few folks chimed in, saying there were riding the Bikenorthwoods tour this year (from LaCrosse to Sheboygan.

Just wondering if anyone else is.
Put your name/hometown down (last name if you feel like it) and maybe we can seek each other out along the way. My fiance and I, Mindy, will be site coordinators one day (not sure which day)

hope to hear from a few of you

Mark

In another thread, a few folks chimed in, saying there were riding the Bikenorthwoods tour this year (from LaCrosse to Sheboygan.

Just wondering if anyone else is.
Put your name/hometown down (last name if you feel like it) and maybe we can seek each other out along the way. My fiance and I, Mindy, will be site coordinators one day (not sure which day)

hope to hear from a few of you

Mark

I'll be on it with a couple of others from the area. Plymouth WI.

Jeff

I'll be on the tour. My bike will be easy to spot. Its the rootbeer colored Randonee with the antenna. I'll be running ham radio mobile on the bike. I SAGged three tours, but this will be the first one I'm riding in.

Michael Martens
Wausau, WI

I'm doing the ride with my friend Jeff from Lake Zurich, IL. I'm from Des Plaines, IL. This is my first tour, ever. I look forward to meeting a lot of nice folks. I won't be too easy to spot. I look like everyone else. I hear there's hills in Wisconsin....
Flatlander,
Gary

I'm doing the ride with my friend Jeff from Lake Zurich, IL. I'm from Des Plaines, IL. This is my first tour, ever. I look forward to meeting a lot of nice folks. I won't be too easy to spot. I look like everyone else. I hear there's hills in Wisconsin....
Flatlander,
Gary

Gary have you gotten in any more rides lately? We're trying to get a 70 miler this weekend if weather permits. If not just nine holes of golf. We'll hook up in La Crosse for some beer and brats before the ride and then some beer and brats at my house after the ride for your trip back to Des Plaines.

lubers (Jeff )

Mike

did you sag last year? It's always a challenge to put faces to names.
Last year, Mindy and I rode over 700 miles before the tour. After the tour, we decided that that was a bit overkill... but we try to get im some miles every weekend -- at least one day, and then at least one or two weekend (or take a weekday off) and do back-to-back rides of 40-50 each... to simulate the daily grind. In no hurry to get anywhere... it's not a race.

I also commute so I get in over 100 miles a week. That helps.

I'll be on a silver-gray Jamis Aurora, Brooks saddle, Nitto front end, stickers all over it.

Mike

did you sag last year? It's always a challenge to put faces to names.


I did SAG last year. I live in Wausau, so I've Sagged the last three times the tour has made the Wautoma to Ashland route. Last year I was one of the roamers and sweep vehicle, so you usually didn't encounter me unless you where one of the few bikers that took their own sweet time coming in.

This year I'm really looking forward be on pedaling instead of being behind the wheel. So far between the distance rides and bike commuting I'm putting in about 75 miles a week. As the days get longer and warmer, that number will increase. I'm also looking at one or two charity rides before the tour, but I haven't made my mind up on which ones. Most of these rides happen in the southern part of the state and I don't like having to drive 2-3 hours in order to do a 50 mile ride. There are lots of fine paved roads with rolling hills around here, so I can put together a ride of any distance I choose by just pulling out of my driveway and hitting the road.

Michael

I've been down with a respitory ailment the last two weeks so I haven't been out. Feeling better now!
I signed up yesterday so I'm good-to-go. Looking forward to the brats and beer. I hear you need lots of carbs (beer carbs) to ride every day?
Gary

I hear you need lots of carbs (beer carbs) to ride every day?
Gary

you won't believe the breakfast/dinner spread. CArbs up the wa-zoo
we would just stuff ourselves and then burn it off. Coffee was the tricky part (if you like coffee) there were a couple towns (who provide the meals) that have a weak idea of what coffee means.

I think the route will be a balance of terrain with not too much in the way of killer hills. I think Kathy and Eric (the organizers) know that too many killer hills is bad for biz... some are unavoidable (around the driftless region to the west) but they try to balance.

the mid-day stops, all sponsored by local organizations/church groups in that town/township, are the best. There is a friendly competition, and at the end, riders vote for the best 'meal stop.' The town wins something like a bike rack and such. ONe, at a grotto in central Wisc, served this killer killer Rhubarb crisp... AGH! I died and went to heaven. And watch out for the Murphy sisters (entertainers)

My brother from St. Louis just contacted me. He is joining us
should be fun

My head is so already there. I'm chomping at the bit to get started; like a kid with a new bike. I'm a bit concerned, having never done this before, about some nagging physical flaws. But hey, who doesn't have those? I'm ready to ride, eat, and meet lots of nice folks. If there's a steep hill too tough to climb then walking up will have to do. It was kind_of a joke about the carbs. I have way too many stored already.
What's up with the Murphy sisters?
Gary

I started bike touring when I was 14 (a long time ago!)
even back then, I wasn't too proud to get off the bike and walk up a steep hill... heck, I enjoyed the brief slow down time (and if it was windy, getting that whistle out of my ears). We walked up lots of hills and felt no guilt.

As far as readiness... only you know, but if you put some butt time in, and a few hunnert miles, you'll be fine. 65 miles or so a day... really, if you start riding at 7.30 or so... and are out til 5 pm... do the math... you can cover 8 miles an hour easy.

There were all sorts and shapes of riders. There were two 79-year old guys who were way ahead of me. there was one guy who was pretty large, but he kept on keeping on. There were a few young kids. The average age is about... 52! We consistently came in with the last 30 or so riders... at first I felt embarrassed... but by week's end, we felt a kinship at each water and rest stop.

The Murphy sisters (if they ride this year) are two very entertaining gals who lead some goofy 'Bike Olympics' games on a couple nights (tire tossing, tire rolling, funny stuff)

I don't think the hills will be too bad. Eric and Kathy do an excellent job mapping the course and they usually put together a route that appeals to a broad variety of riders. Some people like to hammer out the ride and be done by noon and others will make a day of it and take their own sweet time. I wouldn't worry about being left behind, everyone is friendly so you should be able to link up with another rider or group of riders that match your pace.

The meals are excellent, you will get plenty to eat for breakfast and dinner. Lunch is on your own, but there are usually plenty of opportunities to eat along the route.

While I'm not a particularly slow rider, I'll probably hang near the end of the group. The early finishers get the pleasure of helping unload the luggage truck.

Michael

While I'm not a particularly slow rider, I'll probably hang near the end of the group. The early finishers get the pleasure of helping unload the luggage truck.


Hey Michael, we will probably be riding in the same groups (grins)

Hey Michael, we will probably be riding in the same groups (grins)

It sounds like we will. It always seems like the slowpokes have the most fund.

Michael