Fun at Work

Check out the new blooper reel from Bike Wisconsin®!  We love to have fun around the office and get a screen break from our computers.  So here is something to get your weekend started!

Training Tips

Are you thinking about signing up (or have already signed up) for a Bike Wisconsin® tour but you are freaking out a little about the mileage?  The good news is you still have time to train!  And if you can bike, you CAN pedal on a week-long tour!

We recommend starting your training as soon as you can.  Indoors, putting your bike on a trainer or spinning classes, can always get you off to a great start.  We understand that life happens and maybe your family obligations get in the way or you have snow on the ground (sorry), well don't worry.   You can still get the training that you need to be ready.

But what does it really take to get ready?  Well get out your calender and answer these 5 simple questions. 

1.  What is the start date of the event you are preparing for?  

2.  How much time do you have between now and the event to train?  

3.  Can you ride during the week or do you only have time on the weekends?

4. How many miles can you bike comfortably now? (Comfortably means that you can bike the mileage and feel great the next day versus feeling like you are sooooo sore).  

5. What is the average daily miles you will be doing on the event?  

So for example, if the bicycle event you have registered for is an average of 60 miles a day, and right now you can comfortably bike 40 miles a day, you know that you need to increase your training so you can comfortably ride 20 more miles in a day.  How do you do that?   

Just gradually increase your training ride by 5 miles a week.  In just 4 - 6 weeks you will be able to bike comfortably another 20 miles and woohoo you will be ready for the tour! The key to enjoying any bicycle tour is the the amount of time that you spend in the saddle (for recumbent riders in the seat) in preparation. 

Remember tours are not a race, you generally cycle 30 miles before lunch and 30 miles after. 

If you are looking for a training program:  

Try the Official Bike Wisconsin® Training Program.   It is our partnership with Specialists in Sports Performance.

There are also tons of resources on the web, apps and books galore.

- Cycling Past 50 by Joe Friel.  Don't let the title fool you, it's a great training guide for a week- long tour no matter what age you are.  It has been highly recommended by many of our customers (and we have used it too).

- Bicycling Magazine's Guide to Bike Touring: Everything You Need to Know to Travel Anywhere on a Bike by Doug Donaldson.  See sample 8 or 10 week training programs here.

- Liberty Bicycles 7 hours a week training program.

-Outside Magazine's "How Do I Prepare For a Cycling Tour?" (this is a 16 week long training program, perfect for the SAGBRAW bicycle tour).

- Sun Cycle Center has a century and a 9 week training program.

So have fun training and reach your training goal.  You can do it!!!

Come join us on a Bike Wisconsin® tour! 

You are ready to ride, and you're going to have a great time. 

Popeye and the crew put in the saddle-time and are really enjoying the ride!

GRA-BAR Crawl Host Profile: Ballyhoo's

On  the 2nd day of biking the GRABAAWR® we'll be rolling into Merrill, WI (the "City of Parks").  After a shower, maybe a 20 minute power nap, we're heading over to Ballyhoo's!  They've played host to the GRABAAWR tour since it's infancy, and this year we're thanking them by making their fine establishment the official GRA-BAR Crawl stop during our stay in Merrill.  They're going to have an all-you-can-eat-and-drink party and it would be an understatement to say they're ecstatic that we're coming.  Located a mere 7 minutes (or 3 minute bike ride) over the Prairie River bridge from the Middle School, it'll be a shin-dig to remember!

A Perfect Ending

The last night of the Bike Northwoods tour we're spending in Waupaca.  Bike Wisconsin has never been here and the community is welcoming us with open arms.  We're spending the night at the Waupaca High School and the Clear Water Harbor has graciously agreed to play host for us the last night of the tour.  They're having live music (a musician from Florida will serenade you) and drink specials.  There will also be a shuttle bus running there so you can give your legs a break after an amazing day of riding.

So come and join us on the Bike Northwoods tour for some rest and relaxation!

Celebrating Friendship in February

This February instead of getting your friend chocolate, invite them to come along on a cross-state bicycle tour!  In honor of St. Valentine, we're running a special because WE LOVE OUR BICYCLISTS!  When you invite a friend to come along with us on the Bike Northwoods Tour, you'll receive a $50 refund at the end of the trail. So grab a friend (or 5 to receive the maximum of $250 refunded for biking with a great group of people) and we'll see you this July!

Click here to learn more: http://bikewisconsin.com/BNT/index.html

We'd LOVE to have you join us, Happy Valentine's Day!

Planning the Perfect "Warm Weather" Biker Party

It's been a while since the last post, but we've been brewing up a ton of summer fun for all the Bike Wisconsin® tours.  So instead of the nightly "Rider Meeting" we're switching it up to have the nightly "Rider Party" (with the rider meeting included to keep you up to speed on the tour routes and experiences of the day).

For GRABAAWR®, we're doing the "GRA-BAR Crawl", with a kick-off party in Eagle River and now the Bucketheads Sports Bar and Grill in Rhinelander has signed up for night #2.  We're also planning overnight parties in Merrill and the Adams Chamber of Commerce is planning their usual spread  We're also bringing the fun to us at the county fairgrounds with a "House Party" at Amherst and Baraboo (but don't worry everyone will still be able to get a good night's sleep).

On the Bike Northwoods Tour we're introducing the "Tour de Taps".  At each overnight site, there are establishments that will be hosting a party to welcome the bicyclists to their town.  So you can either try many of the Wisconsin beers on tap, or tap your feet to the live music.  The "Tour de Taps" starts with the kick-off party in Park Falls at Triangle Park (the community came to our rescue in 2012 when we had to completely alter the route due to last minute road construction, so we're super excited to return).  There will be music, fun and food every night of the tour so stay tuned for more updates, including a Hawaiian Luau at the Harbor View in Phillips (so bring your swimsuits)!

And we're ending the summer with a bang on the SAGBRAW® tour in Sparta, WI.  The town of Sparta is thrilled to be the tour head for this year's SAGBRAW® so they're hosting the kick-off party at the Deke Slayton Memorial Space & Bicycle Museum.  Bike Wisconsin® is calling this series of evening entertainment the "Pedal the Hops" with more "House Parties" being hosted in Tomah and Baraboo again at the fairgrounds, a cheese tasting in Mauston with Carr Valley Cheese and ending in Sun Prairie.

We're so excited especially for this summer because we're bringing a festive spirit to the tours.  So hop on your computer and sign up... So you don't miss out on all the fun!