New biker in Madison, WI
 

Hey all, I'm new to biking and Madison. I just finished up college and after 5 years of concentrating on a double major + minor all about computers I find myself a little... ahem... thick.

Picked up a Trek 1500 for fitness and recreation and now have to figure out where in Madison to bike. For the locals I live downtown near James Madison Park (Gorham and N Hamilton) and work near the airport. I plan to start biking through the University campus and on the path around Lake Manona. Any suggestions on where an out of shape newbie should ride? How about good bicycling resources online or in town? I have been to Machinery Row and the Trek Store on the West Side.

On a side note it is 70 and Sunny today. I can't wait to get home and get on my bike!

I'm also looking for a buddy. Drop me a PM if you are willing to put up with someone new and slow.

Spatula
welcome aboard
NO shortage of info here.

I live here in Madison, was an avid biker for years, took too many years off to do that mid life thing, and now me and my gal are tuning up for a supported tour (bikenorthwoods.net) in June.

Madison is the bomb when it comes to biking.

Find your way over to the SW BIke trail (right there on Monroe and Regent across from Camp Randall (kinda by the Rotisserie). It all old rail bed but nicely paved and runs out past the Beltline, then hits a t-intersection (4 miles?); go left and it joins the Capital City trail, which loops on paved path thru the Nine Springs E-way (beautiful)for about 9 miles and then rejoins the John Nolen path by Lake MOnona. Doing the loop is about 20+ miles of mellow riding.

Wednesday NIght Bike rides has regular rides, but they are challenging and group rides, but their web site has links to the Cue sheets; print them out and follow the cue sheets for their rides (right here, left here)
http://www.wnbr.org
http://danenet.wicip.org/bcp/
http://www.bombaybicycle.org/tuesday.htm
is another local group

The Arboretum is a nice biking loop

Riding south and east of town is a bit flatter
riding west, south west, west and north is hillier
bring a water bottle and sunscreen
there is a nice book which has detailed maps of the county available in places
choose some nice county roads and enjoy

This weekend We are doing a 66 mile ride and a 30 + mile ride (woof!)trying to get in shape for our tour, but if we ever decide to mellow out, we'll give you a PM

We live on the west side
hope to see you around!

Mark