Chrome Molly

Don't worry, I get my bits ground down too. I just do it the following weekend at the Sadistic Century. 101 mi with 8800+ climb in that one. Took me 6.5 hrs for that at a much more intentional pace and Star hill at mile 70 pretty much put me into a 30 mile near bonk afterwards. Great fun, anyone interested should give it a whirl next year.

RobbieTunes

I can see riding with bikemig and others on the Dare and coming back for the Bike The Barns. If I could, I'd come back for all of them, maybe not the Sadistic Century.

The prices in WI are double-triple those here, by the way. Of course, the vast majority of the rides here are sponsored to offset costs, and benefit a charity. Swag is nearly non-existent.

I'd like greatly to get the bunch of you to Thunder Ridge. Moderate price, great support, and free camping outdoors/$10 "indoors" with showers night before and day after.

bikemig 

Thunder Ridge CO? I can be talked into a camping and cycling trip out west . . .

I've been wanting to explore the George Mickelson trail for a while.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_S._Mickelson_Trail

rccardr 

No, even better: Lynchburg, VA. Great historical area, awesome breweries, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

iab

Hills? How about a Vintage Class only Saturday ride in the driftless area, Mineral Point/Blanchardville/New Glarus/Hollandale loop then a recovery ride at BtB Sunday?

I kind of like the sound of that. Saturday ride somewhat self-supported. Just need a single SAG wagon. Stop in those towns as rest stops. Then ride in luxury on Sunday.

bikemig 

In combination with the ride out of Madison? That could work (back to back rides though and some folks might need to go home). I'll do my best to hang out with whatever decision gets made but the August date just works better for me. And I hear you that the other event might work better in terms of support.

Still you'll have to change the heading of this thread because we won't be talking about a whole lot of pain in SW WI in August, : )

RobbieTunes

I'm pretty game for that. It allows us to get the guest house, still have the cookout, perhaps, maybe catch a HS football game on Friday night, ride Saturday out of Mineral Point, ride Sunday out of MadTown, partake of the best that they have to offer, enjoy excellent scenery. No down side, and if I still want to ride the Dare or the Baraboo Circus ride, it's just another trip, my choice. I get to see folks I know, ride with friends, eat curds, drink decent beer, heck, maybe even catch a good band in Madison. I see no down side.

RobbieTunes

A whole lot of "non-complacent riding" in SW WI in August?

RobbieTunes

I am so up for that.

RobbieTunes

Smithsonian magazine rated Mineral Point one of the top 20 small towns to visit in the US. Just sayin....

iab

Potential route out of MP, we'd go counterclockwise. I have ridden most of the roads, good stuff. The key would be to have a stop setup in Daleyville with water/supplies because there ain't nothin' in Daleyville. Blanchardville and Hollandale have gas stations with a quicky mart, New Glarus we would stop at the brewery. The distance from New Glarus to Hollandale is too long without a stop, especially on a hot day. But I figure between me and RT, we can find someone to park a car/truck and have stuff ready when we roll through.

I can even tighten the distance from Daleyville to MP, but we'd have to spend more time on Hwy 39. Not a terrible road, just the others are better.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/24499735

iab

Also, I'm going to send a similar email to all previous riders. My apologies for the double post.

hodgykins 

I am giving the new Gran Fondo a chance. I honestly think they did an awesome job, not perfect, but really what is. I rode all 3 rides and they got better each event. Yes, the Dare was lacking in many ways compared to the amazing event of the past, but I honestly believe the spirit is there to become an elite ride. Like all good things they take time, and those that succeed learn from the past failures.

My take for what it is worth:

1. This Dare was by far my favorite route. The ride was equally has tough as years past (10,500ft of climb over 200k), but far more scenic than past rides

2. The rest stops were filled with awesome folks, but lacking for the the loop stop (ran out of just about any fuel), but the folks there were awesome and 1 guy was handing our beef, another pretzels and peanut butter. I give them an A+ for effort, pride and dedication to helping.

3. Mile 112 rest stop abandoned at 4:30 and left many bikers without water. This is a huge F, but I am sure that will be addressed. Huge efforts were made on this ride, it showed, but one has to rely on others and these folks failed. Such is life, if we were all so perfect!

4. In person registration sucked, can we help make it better? Let's do it!

5. After ride activities...sucked, can we help to make it better? Let's do it!

I see opportunity here, and I for one am not ready to give up yet. I love this ride, and think it is the perfect showcase for Classic & Vintage, and our opportunity to cash in on much needed help.

Count me in for next year, and I think we are making a mistake if we leave now when the opportunity for us is at it height!

Thoughts?

RobbieTunes

I won't/can't abandon the Dare, but a 2nd trip, OK. SAG can be arranged. My goal is to ride 200k with Kris on the Dare and get my brother in law involved in BtB, perhaps more locals I know. The hills on the Dare deter many folks who have expressed interest in riding when I'm home.

The Sunday ride also gets some bike shop people on to the road with us.

iab

I think you should ride whatever ride you wish. I would never suggest you should not do so. And you certainly have the location advantage, is there any reason for you not to do both rides?

But I will have to respectfully disagree it is an opportunity at its height. 2016 support quite frankly was crap compared to when I started this thread in 2012, which was pretty much par to the previous years I rode the Dare. And while I was unable to ride in 2017, there is nothing in the reports that said it got better from 2016, only worse. No water at a full rest stop? I remember they would provide multiple water stops in addition to the full service stops.

Yes, the area is great. Yes, the people at the stops are great. Yes, the vintage folks are great. But the fact of the matter is we have no control over the event. If the Dare wants to serve cold tough pizza and warm beer, it really detracts from the experience. I haven't heard of any decline in the BtB. Maybe I'm wrong.

Chrome Molly

I think we should give some thought to what type and quality of ride we could have if the likely suspects from C&V pooled 100 bones each (about the same as the DD entry fee). Working with the local attractions (New Glarus brewery etc) could be special. It certainly was the last time it was tried.

RobbieTunes

Potential.

iab

Coppi's 100th birthday is Sunday, September 15, 2019. I have already started the planning process and purchased centenariocoppi.com

I'd like to kick it up a notch over the last time.

But we still have to think about 2018.

hodgykins 

I sure hope I can make it to a Iab ride. I heard the last was awesome. My September is usually over taken by my kid and soccer, but perhaps I could make it work.

RobbieTunes

His priorities are correctly aligned.
Food.
Ride.
Bikes.
No worries.
Be nice.

hodgykins 

Umm NO

Beer
Ride
Beer/Food
Bikes
Beer/No worries
Be nice drink beer and ride bikes

hodgykins 

BTW have you all visited the DD Facebook Page? Good insight into the issues and the results being taken.

IMHO...good stuff

https://www.facebook.com/dairylanddare/

hodgykins 

Hey All,

Just an FYI...signed up for the WGFS. 80.00 per ride if you sign up by 10/31.

Enjoy

https://www.wisconsingranfondo.com/r...eid=70f6179a6b

RobbieTunes

I'm hoping to do the 200K with you at the Dare.

Salubrious

I'm in.