Rural Wisconsin - Old Rider-Racer
#1
Rural Wisconsin - Old Rider-Racer
Soon to be 69, Surly Pacer with a bunch of nuveau vintage stuff - Nitto track bars, drilled and offset brake levers, downtube shifters, did have rat cage pedals but finally got some clip ins. Raced triathlon, biathlon, crits, road races from college in the early 80s to a 30 something miler about 10 years ago. Also did some bike touring/camping. Had some health problems so I haven't ridden much in the last bunch of years but I'm back on and find I still like to put my nose on the stem and crank, to the extent I can crank. Never thought I'd be riding like I am ever again so I'm going to enjoy it while I can. I live on a farm in rural WI and have a lot of great roads without a lot of traffic, but seemingly a disproportionate number of inattentive drivers looking at their phones or the neighbor's crops or whatever. Bicyclists are a rarity in my area and people aren't used to having us on the road, so I have the bright rear flashers and I watch my mirror a lot more than I used to. Anyway, that's me and where I'm at in a nutshell. Just here to ask a couple of questions and lurk.
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#2
Veteran, Pacifist
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Welcome.
All are welcome, but experienced cyclists often have more to contribute. And after your 10 posts - we love pics!
Did you say downtube shifters?
All are welcome, but experienced cyclists often have more to contribute. And after your 10 posts - we love pics!
Did you say downtube shifters?
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Last edited by Wildwood; 08-02-23 at 12:22 PM.
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#3
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Welcome!
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Welcome, there is some great riding in WI. If I were riding a lot of rurals roads, I'd consider getting one of the Garmin radar tail lights, https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/698001
I ride mainly bike paths so I haven't picked one up. They do look interesting.
I ride mainly bike paths so I haven't picked one up. They do look interesting.
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Welcome to the forum. Whereabouts in WI are you? Lots of us love riding in the SW driftless area and I've done a lot of riding up in the north woods. Both are some of the best riding I've done.
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Thanks again for the welcomes!
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I'm between Mauston and Elroy right on 82 which puts me on the edge of the Driftless area. I'm big on dual sport motorcycles as well and have toured all through the Driftless across into Iowa and north to MN on both tarmac and dirt - beautiful topography. I did the Trans-WI Adventure Trail up to the Flambeau parks. I drove up to Ashland with my bike. That was beautiful but the hills kicked my butt. My range by bicycle is much more modest so I mostly do the small farm roads in my area - plenty of bluffs to huff and puff up. The state just repaved 82 with wide, smooth shoulders on the outside of deep rumble strips so when I just want to spin, it's great.
Thanks again for the welcomes!
Thanks again for the welcomes!
https://www.csacoalition.org/bike-the-barns
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Soon to be 69, Surly Pacer with a bunch of nuveau vintage stuff - Nitto track bars, drilled and offset brake levers, downtube shifters, did have rat cage pedals but finally got some clip ins. Raced triathlon, biathlon, crits, road races from college in the early 80s to a 30 something miler about 10 years ago. Also did some bike touring/camping. Had some health problems so I haven't ridden much in the last bunch of years but I'm back on and find I still like to put my nose on the stem and crank, to the extent I can crank. Never thought I'd be riding like I am ever again so I'm going to enjoy it while I can. I live on a farm in rural WI and have a lot of great roads without a lot of traffic, but seemingly a disproportionate number of inattentive drivers looking at their phones or the neighbor's crops or whatever. Bicyclists are a rarity in my area and people aren't used to having us on the road, so I have the bright rear flashers and I watch my mirror a lot more than I used to. Anyway, that's me and where I'm at in a nutshell. Just here to ask a couple of questions and lurk.
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#13
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Hiya. Cheesehead expat here. Born in Eau Claire, grew up in Kenosha County before committing the mortal sin of moving to Illannoy almost 50 years ago. I'm familiar with the Elroy Mauston area. I also rode the Driftless Area part of the Trans WI Adventure Trail on my Ural last year. I opted for WI16/US12/US53/US63 to Cornucopia after wrestling the loaded rig to Sparta. Still a nicer ride than 39/90/94.
I have a similar situation here in the Corn Canyons of rural Illannoy with quiet roads, no shoulders, and inattentive drivers. Though, there are a lot more cyclists with a college town not far from here.
One more thing, GO PACK GO.
I have a similar situation here in the Corn Canyons of rural Illannoy with quiet roads, no shoulders, and inattentive drivers. Though, there are a lot more cyclists with a college town not far from here.
One more thing, GO PACK GO.
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#14
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Newish member here, reverse experience.
Expat Illinoisian, born in Chicago in 1949 & lived in NW suburbs until about this time in 2013 when wife & I decided it was time to make an exit.
We're in the Driftless Region now, live about a mile off the same Route 14 that was two blocks from where I grew up in Arlington Heights.
Lovely biking up here compared to the 'flatlander' experience below the border... though I admit I did find some elevation in McHenry County when we bought a house in 1977 (subsequently deemed unlivable during the winter so I built a new one over the old, all while we lived there and I worked in Chicago full time) and the railroad line across the street got turned into a bike path.
Expat Illinoisian, born in Chicago in 1949 & lived in NW suburbs until about this time in 2013 when wife & I decided it was time to make an exit.
We're in the Driftless Region now, live about a mile off the same Route 14 that was two blocks from where I grew up in Arlington Heights.
Lovely biking up here compared to the 'flatlander' experience below the border... though I admit I did find some elevation in McHenry County when we bought a house in 1977 (subsequently deemed unlivable during the winter so I built a new one over the old, all while we lived there and I worked in Chicago full time) and the railroad line across the street got turned into a bike path.
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