I'd join you robbie but I think I will be a bit too busy.

Another recommendation. For dinner on Thursday or if you are animal and didn't get enough to eat on Saturday afternoon, I highly recommend The Dining Room in Monticello, 30 minutes from Mineral Point/Hollandale.

The Dining Room at 209 Main

This looks really cool. Visited website. Be aware there is a fee for trail usage.

It's Wisconsin. There's a fee or tax for everything.

I'm almost ready. A little change in gearing, should be fine.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=391566http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=391567http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=391568

Packed up ready to go. Will post pictures at the end of the weekend.

Robbie and I are here in Mineral Point, unloaded and ready. Century #1 tomorrow!

I've been lurking on this thread and wish I could be with youse-all. I hope you have decided to drive up to the Baraboo region to ride the Elroy-Sparta. Nice trail. The fee is trivial. I was up there last summer and rode the trail and had a great time. Caution: bring good flashlights or night lights for the tunnels. I rode without a lamp ("how dark can it be???"). I got completely disoriented in the center with utterly no light around me - only the dot of light at the far end. I kept running off the trail since I had no visual references in any direction to help judge position by. I even had a bit of vertigo. It was pretty cool but a bit dangerous. I'm glad I could experience it. They never let me ride my bike in Howe's Caverns.

Have a great weekend. Remember too that Baraboo is the winter headquarters of the Ringling Bros Circus and has a circus museum, some nice resturants and some interesting walkabouts. Devils Lake State Park is cool too.

Perfect cycling weather with 60 degrees at dawn and upper 70's in the afternoon predicted for Saturday. Time to pack the car and hit the road to Mineral Point.

These are from setting up yesterday. I also scouted the new portion of the route, it is excellent. Unfortunately we will be descending Star Valley Rd when the ascent is most definitely more picturesque. Boiling brats in some of northern Wisconsin's finest as I type.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5554/...508d01ae_h.jpg004 Centenario Bartali-Thursday Setup by iabisdb, on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3855/...d03910c2_h.jpg005 Centenario Bartali-Thursday Setup by iabisdb, on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3892/...83460189_h.jpg001 Centenario Bartali-Thursday Setup by iabisdb, on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2915/...aaa57aaa_h.jpg002 Centenario Bartali-Thursday Setup by iabisdb, on Flickr

Knock on wood.

Great time tonight meeting all of the participants and eating some excellent Italian cuisine. Bike show is simply amazing, one of the best gatherings of vintage bikes I've ever seen, even at much larger events. Consistent quality.

IAB, you simply...rock. Two thumbs up and a tip O' the Doctor's Hat.

Looking forward to tomorrow's ride after today's 70 mile warmup!

Although I'm across the state, it looks like PERFECT cycling weather.

I'm simultaneously enjoying an extended-family weekend that I wouldn't have wanted to miss, and regretting missing the Centenario. Iab is a wizard of organization and I'm sure this event is the pinnacle of C&V get-togethers.

Unbeatable time, so far, without equal from any cycling event I've attended. Chrome Molly, rccardr and I will hit metric number 3 on our back-back-back rolling stones tour tomorrow, on nothing newer than '86. Almost any segment of time so far has been well worth the 3-hour drive to VA and then 13 more to WI. I'll update when I can.

I'd vote for iab for President, but that would be a heck of a place to waste his time, talent, and effort. Simply outstanding. More later, because "I'm riding in the morning!"

I'm glad you guys are having an awesome time, but what about those of us who must live vicariously through you guys? PICS! Or it didn't happen ;)

Stay safe, everyone!

DD

I have to get back before I can post video, if I shot it correctly, and a couple of pics are in my phone.
There is still blackberry pie to eat at the Pointer Café. There was cake at "the Bartali," and I want to be well-rounded.

Staying at the Walker House, which didn't have a room available until we mentioned we were "with those cycling folks from Chicago...." Neat place, with Camus available for reading in the bathroom.

That seems to have done the trick. Every time I started to get a bit hot, I rode into some shade or a light breeze came up to cool me off.

Had a great time. I too, would vote for Dave for president, or at least as SWAGger-in-chief, or White House chief of great get-togethers. And his dad, Jim, and sister, Sue (I believe - I am horribly bad with names), deserve a hearty round of applause for their help as well.

Too bad there are currently no plans to celebrate Gino Bartali's anni 101. I'm sure it would be a great time.

I took very few pictures, and what few I took tended not to focus on the bikes. Here's what I have:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1116791...tenarioBartali

Skip

spettacolari!!

Dave had put on an amazing event. What a host... does he do this professionally and where can I get one of those 'perfect weather' machines? Thanks also to Marci, Ellie, Jim and family. From the location, artwork, signage, awesome swag, food, cake, local brew and even coordinated table's and tableware.... no details missed. The bikes were truly an incredible exhibit. Even though it was in a beautiful old barn, dream on; these were not your ordinary barn finds. BTW: Everyone one was a winner but the awards were great. (iab even made those beautiful wood framed pieces!). And of course, the route was outstanding. Wicked but rewarding fun, picturesque with welcoming rest stops (the local New Glarus 'Two Woman' were especially tasty ;)

grazie! grazie! grazie!

----Will send a few pics to iab if he wants to post.
----Had a great time Friday with Robbie, Doc, Pete and Chris on the scenic Military Ridge trail. Have a safe trip back home all.

I also want to thank Dave and his family for a great gathering and event. This was the best cycling event I've experienced. The size of the event was perfect, I had the chance to speak with everyone. The bike show was superb, with a wide range of bikes from rare exotics to practical daily riders. Each bike was the product of the owners connection to art and engineering of the bicycle. The routes were perfect with plenty of climbing strength and endurance required. I'm not sure what I enjoyed more, the people, the cycling or the bike show and I'm happy I don't have to choose.

Dave, please consider doing this event again. Delegate the work and sit back and enjoy!

Here are the Garmin files for the two routes.

The short route: 55 miles and 3350 ft of climbing
Bartali event, short route by triplecrankset at Garmin Connect - Details

The long route: 62 miles, 3830 ft of climbing
Bartali preride, long route by triplecrankset at Garmin Connect - Details

I missed a couple turns. I went back today and used Map My Ride to try and compute my actual distance. I did the "red course". Coupled with my two wrong turns it looks like I went 71 miles. I'm sure @RobbieTunes went further, based on his explanation of all the course corrections he had to make after passing the park (second rest stop).

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3837/...24d029d8_h.jpgDSC_0108 by iabisdb, on Flickr

Event report:

Good people
Good bikes
Good food
Good ride
Good weather
Not enough forks

Thursday pictures - https://www.flickr.com/photos/681231...7645342910727/

Friday pictures - https://www.flickr.com/photos/681231...7645754143016/

Saturday pictures - https://www.flickr.com/photos/681231...7645805226214/

Ride pictures - https://www.flickr.com/photos/681231...7645809034925/

crank_addict's pictures - https://www.flickr.com/photos/681231...7645754284276/

Thank you David for such a great weekend. I especially enjoyed the large rollers in the last part of the ride (we don't get that terrain around here, it was fantastic). Please pass along a very sincere thanks to your parents for their hospitality also. Planning to ride the DD?

Also thanks to Robbie and Doc for letting me join them on their trail rides, it was great chatting you guys up on the trail. Also was very nice to see everyone from the DD group again.

A few pics:

My pre-pre-ride on Thursday PM. I parked outside the beltline and rode into campus at the UW
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...6&d=1405903897
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...0&d=1405903882

Photos from our Friday pre-ride on the Military Ridge trail, including bratwurst
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...9&d=1405903880
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...5&d=1405903895

Bike show and photos of the neighbors
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...3&d=1405903891
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...4&d=1405903893
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...2&d=1405903887

Today's post-ride, Robbie entering the tunnel (we got in there and realized we'd left our sunglasses on...)
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1405903885


And a good time was had by all...

Maybe he could save "Cirque" or revive VeloRenezvous? How easy to ask, how hard to accomplish.

Looks like a fantastic time - I wish I was able to make the trip out to attend. Another time, perhaps...
Best.

2000 miles, 300 kilometers, ONE AWESOME EVENT!!!
 

Finally returned to Virginia after experiencing the most amazing and wonderful bike trip EVER. Not much I can add to what's already been said, but wish to add my thanks to Dave and his family, especially Jim and Sue, for all of the work they did to make this happen.

Yep, 2000 miles round trip with Robbie doing all of the driving and much of the entertaining.
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...psa0bcdf07.jpg
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps172d5fbb.jpg
Rob, you're a great trip partner and tell an amusing an engaging story or three. Anytime, bud.

300 kilometers in bike time over three days. Such incredible weather, and we came to ride steel:
On Friday it was Mineral Point to Dodgeville, then Military Trail to Mt. Horeb and back again.
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps62a9cff7.jpg
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps33793671.jpg
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...psc2fea5d8.jpg
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...pse4f6c4be.jpg
Gorgeous day, great company (Pete, Pete's Brother Brian, Scott & Robbie) and then to the Centenari Bartoli event at Dave's family's home in Hollandale.
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps157dd53c.jpg
Excellent dinner, lots of great conversation, and a late evening gabfest in the courtyard of the Walker House.