October in Dairyland: Spectacular!
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October in Dairyland: Spectacular!
For some time now Michael from Chicago (aka Barretscv) and I have been trying to work out the logistics for a get together in southwest Wisconsin...the Dodgeville area, home of Land's End. We have a lot in common, having built very similar Pedal Force cross bikes, both in the 205+ weight category, interest in mechanical stuff and gearing, and indoor training etc.
Well, it finally came to pass this weekend and it was really a blast. Fantastic scenery, hills to climb and company and conversation as expected, which was good. Also really good food and nice places to eat abound there. This would be a great place for a regional 50+ gathering sometime. We only totaled just shy of 50 miles, but with 3000 feet of climbing, much of it pretty steep, that was a good ride for me. It left enough time to have a late lunch and drive six hours home to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Michael will add to this report soon, so I will leave some details for him to mop up, including our successful assault on Roberts Road. Here's a sample:
I forgot to mention... low traffic roads with generally smooth surfaces!
Strava Data Link
Well, it finally came to pass this weekend and it was really a blast. Fantastic scenery, hills to climb and company and conversation as expected, which was good. Also really good food and nice places to eat abound there. This would be a great place for a regional 50+ gathering sometime. We only totaled just shy of 50 miles, but with 3000 feet of climbing, much of it pretty steep, that was a good ride for me. It left enough time to have a late lunch and drive six hours home to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Michael will add to this report soon, so I will leave some details for him to mop up, including our successful assault on Roberts Road. Here's a sample:
I forgot to mention... low traffic roads with generally smooth surfaces!
Strava Data Link
Last edited by billydonn; 04-24-13 at 08:29 PM.
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I enjoyed dining and cycling with Don and look forward meeting up there again next year. It started with a great dinner in Mineral Point, Wi on Saturday. Sunday morning was clear and crisp, but temperatures moved from a cool 40f to 60 by noon. We started in Dodgeville and traveled the rural roads of the kettle moraine region west of Madison, WI. It's ideal cycling terrain with a combination of scenic hills and short-but-steep climbs that provide a challenge.
We stopped for a little sight-seeing and picture taking as we traveled. We both managed to climb Roberts Road with it's sustained 17 to 20% slope. We finished on the Military Ridge Trail.
We stopped for a little sight-seeing and picture taking as we traveled. We both managed to climb Roberts Road with it's sustained 17 to 20% slope. We finished on the Military Ridge Trail.
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
Last edited by Barrettscv; 10-22-12 at 05:58 PM.
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
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Drat-if I had known I would maybe have invited myself along. Probably for the best that I didn't as I've not done a lot of hill work this summer past. You guys should check out the dairyland dare.
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Looks like a terrific ride, good report and great pictures.
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That looks like a great area to ride!! I'd love to join some folks to do some riding up that way. Will have to check out the Dairyland Dare.
Don you look to be trimming up!!
Don you look to be trimming up!!
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Ride your Ride!!
Ride your Ride!!
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And thanks... yes I'm probably a little lighter than when you saw me, but the bigger change is in body composition... and fitness of course.
As long as I'm posting, here's a few more pics:
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Nice photos. It looks like a nice place to ride. However, I do have one objection. Why would you say you were in dairyland when you were in Wisconsin? California produces 65% more milk than Wisconsin and this has been the case for quite some time.
https://www.statemaster.com/graph/ind...ilk-production
https://www.statemaster.com/graph/ind...ilk-production
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Thanks for sharing about your ride. Great pictures. Looks like you had great weather.
Karen
Karen
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Nice photos. It looks like a nice place to ride. However, I do have one objection. Why would you say you were in dairyland when you were in Wisconsin? California produces 65% more milk than Wisconsin and this has been the case for quite some time.
https://www.statemaster.com/graph/ind...ilk-production
https://www.statemaster.com/graph/ind...ilk-production
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Looks like a nice trip. I used to ride in that area often when I lived in Madison. A minor correction, though: the area west of Madison isn't a kettle moraine, but rather a driftless area than was missed by the last Ice Age. There is a nice kettle moraine area northeast of Madison, though. It was formed by the terminal moraine marking the furthest advance of the last glacier about 10,000 years ago. Its characteristics include kames (debris piles that spilled off the edge of the glacier as it melted), eskers (debris left by streams flowing under thr ice), and of course kettles (abrupt depressions, some filled with water, formed by large pieces of ice broken off the retreating glacier).
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Lovely pics....do you happen to have the route on GPS or something you could share? I ride in northern WI but don't get too many hills around here....would be nice to spend a couple days south and ride your route..
Thanks
Thanks
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So that's familiar territory for our annual WI ride. In fact this year we are back in SW Wisconsin and we are reprising a day's route that most of us consider the hardest day in the 25 year history of our event. Oh goodie! We have stays in Monroe, Richland Center, Baraboo, Madison, and some others (we really like crossing back and forth over that ridge south of Baraboo, --and Devil's Lake is a huge favorite stop). Our 600+ mile route starts 7/24. Cool to see your Picts.
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Looks like a nice trip. I used to ride in that area often when I lived in Madison. A minor correction, though: the area west of Madison isn't a kettle moraine, but rather a driftless area than was missed by the last Ice Age. There is a nice kettle moraine area northeast of Madison, though. It was formed by the terminal moraine marking the furthest advance of the last glacier about 10,000 years ago. Its characteristics include kames (debris piles that spilled off the edge of the glacier as it melted), eskers (debris left by streams flowing under thr ice), and of course kettles (abrupt depressions, some filled with water, formed by large pieces of ice broken off the retreating glacier).
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On route to the start of the Trek 100 last weekend, east of Madison. It is indeed a beautiful place to ride.
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Great ride report. One of these days I need to make it up to SW WI to do some riding.
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This is one of those times when digging up an old thread is appropriate. Thanks for these memories of billydonn.
He was a great contributor here, and a great guy. He is missed.
He was a great contributor here, and a great guy. He is missed.
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It's moderately hilly but most scenic.
There are steeper routes in the area! This 90 mile route has more than a dozen climbs and an accumulative 7500 feet vertical. The steepest hills are in the last 20 miles : 150Km from Blue Mounds, WI in Blue Mounds, WI, United States | MapMyRide
__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
Last edited by Barrettscv; 06-10-15 at 11:59 AM.
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This is the route I took with Don : Dodgeville with Don in Dodgeville, WI, United States | MapMyRide
It's moderately hilly but most scenic.
There are steeper routes in the area! This 90 mile route has more than a dozen climbs and an accumulative 7500 feet vertical. The steepest hills are in the last 20 miles : 150Km from Blue Mounds, WI in Blue Mounds, WI, United States | MapMyRide
It's moderately hilly but most scenic.
There are steeper routes in the area! This 90 mile route has more than a dozen climbs and an accumulative 7500 feet vertical. The steepest hills are in the last 20 miles : 150Km from Blue Mounds, WI in Blue Mounds, WI, United States | MapMyRide
Cheers
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