Great Lakes - Wisconsin Tour Groups

Ok, I searched GL and Touring forums, then posted this question in the Touring forum and got zero replies so I'll try a more regional approach. Is anyone familiar with the quality of the tour groups that run the Wisconsin tours such as GRABAAR and Pedal Across Wisconsin? I am looking at a couple of tours run by Pedal Across Wisconsin that are relatively inexpensive but wondered if anyone had every done the Wisconsin based tours and if they had any insights on them or any suggestions for other organized and supported tours in WI. I would be using my road bike with perhaps an additional handlebar bag for extra treats and maps. I am also looking for a group a bit on the smaller side (150 or less), as opposed to a massive group of 400+ people.

I did the Grabaawr last year, I think it was first one since the new organizers took over. I think it was a great trip for the money.

I thought they did a good job with it and I am thinking about doing it or another one they do again this year. With the Grabaawr I drove to Prairie Du Chien where they loaded you and your baggage on a bus, then went to Eagle River. More importantly they packed the bikes on a moving van using blankets and I did not hear of any complaints about damage. They had an ice cream social and new riders orientation the first night and that was helpful

They do a good job of routing back to Prarie Du Chien, good roads for biking.

Most everyone camps in a tent or puts a sleeping bag in the Gym at the schools we overnighted at. They offered showers at the schools locker rooms. It is up to you to find a hotel if that is what you want. Of course they carried the gear to the next nights stop. Each night they would do a preview of the next days ride. You get que sheets and I thought they routed well with signs, I never made a wrong turn.

They did not offer a meal package last year, so you can go out on your own, but they always had an in the school cafeteria option sponsored by a local civic group raising money. It was pretty good for cafeteria food. My only complaint about the whole trip was that some of the food offered there was not always the "healthiest". If you need to eat well to ride well they could have done a better job I think. During the day, other civic groups had lunch and break offerings along the way in churches etc. It would be something like sandwiches, pizza (the classic-- pizza and gotorade.) I should add they always had fruit you can get.

Wheel and Sprocket was there everynight and at a stop along the way for service and sales of clothes, shoes etc.

I am not the fittest rider, but I had no trouble. I did a fair amount of riding before so my rearend was broken in and I could handle the distance. The hot days were the real test, but I made it. I did live on gatorade all week.

For me it was a lot of fun, it always seemed I was riding with a new group of people, which was a great way to get to meet people. I would ride together with the same group till I needed a break-or they did then met up with another group for a while. The stories from people around the country were fascinating and inspirational. I knew a couple of people who were doing the ride, but I was at such a different level I did not ride with them much duing the week--and it was a great experience. The hills around the Mississippi were tough.

Is this what you were looking for?

Poxy,
Quite helpful. Haven't read you much around here or the other forum of late. I'm sure we'll meet at any area ride eventually.

I've done several tours with POWWOW (http://www.wisconsinbicycletours.com/foxvalley.php) Bicycle Tours, including the Fox Valley Tour 3 times and the Coulee Region Tour once. I highly recommend the group that puts it on. Wheel & Sprocket provides mechanical support for both and the tour leader (Dennis) is a class act who's been doing this for years

Fox Valley is a great experience and very inexpensive as tours go. Ride is a 6 day point to point, 350-400 miles, fully supported with great routes. It's also a college tour, with overnight stays in dorm rooms at Ripon, St. Norberts and UW-Oskosh, plus one night at the Osthoff resort in Elk Heart Lake, and breakfast and dinners are included in the price. It is a small tour, usually around 100+ riders, so you really get to know your fellow riders. There will be riders from the teens up to octegenarians, roadies, bents and tandems.

Coulee Region tour is a hub and spoke ride centered in Sparta, with different routes provided each day exploring the SW Wisconsin driftless zone. It is quite hilly, when we did this ride it was over 5,000 ft of climbing per day. It is a much smaller group, but still a great experience.