slim_77

Hi everyone!

I am going camping at Kettle Moraine South (pine woods) this weekend and would love to get a bit of riding in (~<50 miles).

I know there are plenty of routes in the area...any suggestions? Any links to routeslip would be very helpful.

Thanks!

slim_77

just remembered the off road trails; this is for road bike only!

Thanks

CyLowe97

Check out the road routes listed at Backyard Bikes: https://backyardbikes.com/Routes.asp

The shop is on US-12 at County H in LaGrange in between Elkhorn and Whitewater.

John Wilke

Just pick a road and go ... it's hard NOT to find a good route. You'll be pretty much in the center of the good roads so just head into the wind and get lost (maybe mark your campsite with a GPS so you can find your way back home again. ) I don't think you'll have any trouble spending a few hours riding in any direction.



Don't forget the bug spray!

John Wilke

PS If you want a challenge ... you might head north to Lapham Peak State Park (Hwy C between 18 and 94) and ride to the top (second highest point in SE WI, and they won't charge you to ride your bike in). LONG stairstep climb to the top, with an observation tower at the top (quite the view). That would be probably 40 miles round trip and worth it depending on wind direction.

Again, you can't lose no matter which way you go.

slim_77

Thanks guys...

Cylowe, I found the backyard bikes site after a search and bookmarked it...great stuff.

John, I my do that I need a good climb. How long of a climb is it?

I have camped in the area a bunch before. Every time we go I see loads of roadies...but never had the means to get the machine up there. Now I have a roof rack for the ride and am kinda geeked to make real use of it.

Thanks, guys. Man, I can't wait to get the hell out of town!!!!

John Wilke

The Lapham Peak climb is about a mile long, but pretty steep and certainly the biggest climb around. Here's the Google map location. It may be about a 30 mile ride or so. I'll put together a Routeslip for 'ya tonight while at work.

Psimet2001 

Enjoy! It sure is beautiful county up there.

<insert usual dairy or cheese based joke here>

...but really it is beautiful riding country.

John Wilke

slim_77

I don't know why, but that really does make me want to move to Wisconsin.

De Fietser

Backyard Bikes is connected to the La Grange General Store (you might say it's a shack outside La Grange...), which is a sacred shrine of cycling in Wisconsin. Don't pass up the cowboy cookies and a coffee on the front porch.

John Wilke

Okay, I didn't make a specific Routeslip to get from point A to point B (Lapham Peak), but I did make a Routeslip of Lapham Peak's climb as motivation. You can look up Lapham Peak on Google maps and find it easy enough. As motivation, here's what it has to offer:

Lapham Peak Park climb:



The next road south of the park entrance (about a mile?) is Government Hill Rd. It's the old summit road before the park was built (used to be private property).

Government Hill: (it should read 0.66mi)



For comparison, the biggest climb I can find in Milwaukee County is in Grant Park, riding from the beach on Lake Mich. to the top of the bluff (there are some that are steeper, but this one has the most gain in height):

Grant Park:



Half as steep, half the height, half the fun.

Hope you can make it up to Lapham Peak !

slim_77

John, you are the man! Yeah, I found it on google and these are great...It is <14 miles from my camp site so I will be sure to get out there!

This is great! the longest of the "climbs" on my regular routes are about 25-40 feet over 100 yards! Oh, it kills me!

Thanks for the extra effort!

Psimet2001 

Cheesehead

John Wilke

Be sure to give us a report on your riding ... where ever you end up.

slim_77

sure will!

slim_77

Well, didn't get to ride. Friday afternoon I get home, begin to get my stuff ready to go. My wife gets home and has the worst cold I have seen her get (she is a new Kindergarten teacher this year).

So, we decided to see how she feels sat and then go, perhaps...(we were meeting friends).

She pulled through for sat-sun stay, and, in spite of her cold, she had a good time. That eliminated any riding I was going to do. I did get some running in and man those trails are awsome.

I can't wait to go back with the ride and get some of both!

Thanks for all the input; bummer of a "ride" report, thought. Hell, I can still hear her coughing and sniffing...

Psimet2001 

Bummer....being a teacher is even more prone to catching the bug of tha day than my wife's occupation is - nurse.

Tell her to get better.

You are a better husband than I. I definitely would have ridden. I am taking notes. Rides last a few hours - scorned wives last a lifetime.

jbmadtown

Hmm- I'm going out to Kettle Moraine South this weekend and can't decide which bike to bring- MTB or Roadie? I think I'll only have time for just one ride. Can anyone say how the MTB trails compare to Blue Mound? (Maybe I should post this in the MTB forum...) Just how nice is that Lapham Peak climb? In any case I'll bring a camera and post some fall foliage pics!

Psimet2001 

Blue Mounds is a climb to remember. It's even more fun to do it twice in one day.

John Wilke

Not that I'm a MTBer by any means, but I believe the trails out there are (no kidding) World Class. What's the biggie out there? Emma Carlin? Everytime I'm on Hwy 43 (freeway) that heads out that way, I see at least one car with a MTB on it.



slim_77: Sorry to hear that you didn't get to ride. The good thing is ... those roads will always be there when you're ready.

Mugsy Malone

My buddies and I are going camping at Pine Woods this weekend - this thread is a godsend! Thanks everyone!

slim_77

I ran some trails that were off limits to mtn bikes, some of the grades were pretty steep and the footing loose...but still real nice. I'm thinking of putting together an old mtn bike just to go up there again!

PSI, with my wife it may have been two lifetimes! I am a teacher too and I know that my immune system is pretty near indestructable (after the first few years!), but that first year...whew!

John Wilke

Great hiking/running trails in that immediate area include McMiller, Scuppernong, Lapham Peak, and the Ice Age trails. Very rugged. The first 3 are excellent XC trails to ski (groomed) as well.



It's hard NOT to get fit in that neck of the woods!

slim_77

I'm jealous...

I may try again in a few more weeks (sans wife; con cycling comrads).