Originally Posted by halfspeed
I did that route last summer without the LaCrosse turnoff. Traffic south of LaCrosse on the GRRB was pretty rough on a Saturday. They were also cutting some new scenic overlooks on the road which made for some very narrow nerve-wracking passages through construction zones. Your turnoff down towards Sparta, Elroy and Reedsburg is probably a better option than going through to Prairie du Chien.
Oh yeah, the route the state map sends you on through LaCrosse is highly amusing. It's a combination of bike trails, neighborhood roads, industrial service roads and bike lanes that can get a bit confusing.
Here are a handful of pictures from the trip:
http://stockdell.org/biking/grrb_tour/index.html
Yes La Crosse can be busy unless you know your way arround actually it isnt bad at all unless you get into traffic. That construction on 35 south of La Crosse is finished and along with it is anice wide paved shoulder. Weekends are busy on 35 it is a popular destination
catfish