Great Lakes - Wisport Great Ride Tour Series

http://www.wisport.org/schedule.php

http://www.wisport.org/about_wisport.php

This looks like such a great series. Has anyone participated? Anyone interested?

http://www.wisport.org/schedule.php

http://www.wisport.org/about_wisport.php

This looks like such a great series. Has anyone participated? Anyone interested?

Never done one of their tours. I did, however, do the Whitewater race last year. I'd HIGHLY suggest it to anybody who wants to give racing a try. They way they run the events, it's a lot less intimidating than a USAC or ABR style race and, even when you're waaaaaaay off the back, there's always somebody to ride with.

Never done one of their tours. I did, however, do the Whitewater race last year. I'd HIGHLY suggest it to anybody who wants to give racing a try. They way they run the events, it's a lot less intimidating than a USAC or ABR style race and, even when you're waaaaaaay off the back, there's always somebody to ride with.

Thanks ...you've pretty much confirmed what appealed to me. Since I have NO racing background it looks like a nice beginners type racing. Plus there is a wide variety of locations in WI to choose from which all look inviting.

Smokin'
I'm not sure the status of the Tour Series this year (that was a new concept last year) and I haven't heard much about it so far this season.

The race series is alive and kicking with a few competition revisions for 2009 aimed at both intended to cater to the high-end end and newer riders. As one of my fellow racers said, the last finisher is as important as the first.

As MJH (you coming up to WW?) points out it's a pretty wide range of riders that show up for the race events -- from first time racers to those that have raced for years -- if not decades. With that kind of mix you can pretty much take it as seriously, or not, as you want, and you will generally have someone to ride with.

Whitewater and Ride the Rock (Ft. Atkinson) are about as close to Chicago as the series gets, but there's a good number of races up in the Madison area too (with hills, not just highway overpasses).

If gas $$ and travel time is no issue (ha, you know, little things like that), there's racing up in the northwestern part of the state too.

I will be at the Omro Classic...probably not racing, but I'll be there. It's only a few miles from my house, so I rode the course several times last year, although I hear they are changing it for '09.

As MJH (you coming up to WW?) points out it's a pretty wide range of riders that show up for the race events -- from first time racers to those that have raced for years -- if not decades. With that kind of mix you can pretty much take it as seriously, or not, as you want, and you will generally have someone to ride with.

I'm doubtful for Whitewater. I'll probably be off in northern Wisconsin that weekend. And, if not, might opt for the Leland (Illinois) race instead.

I thought that Whitewater was well organized and a good introduction to racing last year. Everybody was helpful and laid-back. Nobody cares about categories and there were more than just a few people lined up in the very back checking things out for the first time.