Ride Wisconsin - Door County

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

Ride Wisconsin - Door County 

Overview
Join us for a memorable eight days of cycling in scenic Door County Wisconsin—a picturesque peninsula featuring 300 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and hundreds of miles of gently rolling low traffic roads in the “left thumb” of Wisconsin. Although "Door County" sounds like a single place, the name refers to an area comprised of more than 3,000 square miles, 35 named islands, 19 delightful communities, thousands of diverse small businesses, and countless ways to spend a day, or a week.

Door County is home to five state parks, more than a dozen county parks, and eleven lighthouses. Famous for cherry and apple orchards and the traditional “fish boil,” you’ll find restaurants, breweries, bakeries, cideries, coffee shops, and wineries for all tastes. While you won’t be climbing any mountains here, you’ll never be far from the shoreline, and Door County’s beaches, islands, harbors, lakes, forests, woods, meadows, and nature preserves will leave your heart full.

For easy access to the beginning of the tour we start and end our ride in Green Bay, which offers a convenient regional airport. We will spend nights in each of the following cities: Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay (2), Ephriam (2), Ellison Bay (2), and enjoy a day trip to Washington Island via ferry. Our return route revisits Sturgeon Bay on our way back to Green Bay.

Known as “Titletown,” Green Bay is home to the NFL’s only publicly-owned franchise and legendary Lambeau Field. The city offers great restaurants and many other attractions including the National Railroad Museum, the Neville Public Museum and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and Museum. Our riverfront hotel is located downtown, just blocks from the Fox River Bicycle Trail for easy access to explore the area.

Sturgeon Bay is home of the Door County Maritime Museum and Door County Historical Museum. From here we'll cycle along the scenic Green Bay shoreline and then climb the bluffs for a different view. Or, you may elect to ride south across the bay to visit Potawatomi State Park, terminus of the 1,000 mile Ice Age Trail, one of only 11 designated National Scenic Trails in the country, or take the Ahnapee Bike Trail to Algoma.

From the historic harbor town of Ephraim we will cycle the paved roads of beautiful Peninsula State Park where you can visit Eagle Bluff Lighthouse and climb Eagle Tower for amazing views of Green Bay before riding across the peninsula to visit Bailey’s Harbor and the Cana Island Lighthouse on Lake Michigan.

From Elison Bay in northern Door County we’ll leave early to catch a ferry ride across “Death’s Door” (for which the county is named) to visit Washington Island for a day of cycling on some of the island’s 100 miles of paved roads. Take time to visit lavender farms, a Norwegian Stavkirke, Schoolhouse Beach, Sievers School of Fiber Arts, or climb the lookout tower at Mountain Park. 

We’ll begin our return trip away from the shorelines, riding through cherry orchards on the peninsula’s central highlands. On our way we’ll pass Kangaroo Lake and Cave Point County Park, known for its wave-worn limestone ledges and underwater caves. Take a break here to walk the trail or climb down to the water and dip your toes in Lake Michigan before continuing down the shoreline.  Finally, we’ll retrace our route back to Green Bay filled with memories of wonderful sights and adventures from our tour.
Visit Destination Door County for more information.

COVID Requirements
All participants must be fully vaccinated and boosted and be prepared to present vaccination documentation for viewing by the Ride Leader if requested. If covid risk levels warrant, we will have a zoom meeting for all participants prior to the tour to outline required Covid protocols and policies. Throughout the ride we will follow all necessary rules and change activities as needed to remain Covid compliant and keep our tour as safe as possible. 

Ride Rating
This tour is rated 1B, with six required riding days and two days where participants can choose their rides, destinations or activities. All rides are on rural roads popular with cyclists, and the ride leader has ridden or driven all of the routes. Average daily distance is 42 miles and elevation gain averages just over 1,000 feet per day. There are no extended climbs, but you will encounter a few short, steep hills when riding away from the shorelines. No hills exceed a 9% grade. If you elect to ride every day, total mileage for the tour will be about 350 miles. Our first ride includes a 6 mile section of crushed limestone bike trail rideable by road bikes with 25cm or larger tires. An on-road alternative is possible for those not wanting to ride on the trail. For the layover days a recommended route and an optional route will be provided. Participants are free to choose either, or to take a day off from riding to enjoy other activities

Cue sheets, maps, GPS files
All ride participants will be provided with a link to RidewithGPS (RWGPS) files for all routes six weeks prior to the tour so that you may download GPS files to your phone or navigation devices. Both cue sheets and maps for all rides can be generated on RWGPS. Riders who wish to use paper cue sheets and/or maps should print them at home prior to the tour and bring them along.

Weather
September is the ideal time to visit Door County. Temperatures are typically in the mid to low 70s during the day and in the 50s at night, though variations occur and rain is always possible. Participants should be prepared to ride in inclement weather if necessary. If there is rain it will feel cold. Plan to have protective rain gear. Evenings can be cool and a warm jacket is recommended.

Lodging & Meals 
We will stay in a variety of lodgings during the week—a riverfront hotel in downtown Green Bay, a modern waterfront resort in Sturgeon Bay, and modest family-owned inns in the villages of Ephraim and Elison Bay. Breakfasts are provided at some, but not all, lodgings, but restaurants are available nearby. We are planning three group dinners. Note also that it will not always be possible to have your bike in your room due to lodging restrictions.

Logistics
Arrive in Green Bay on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Last ride day is Thursday, September 14 and departure day is Friday, September 15 (early departure on Thursday afternoon is possible). Arrival/departure hotel in Green Bay is Hampton Inn Green Bay Downtown. We recommend flying into Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) which is a short taxi or uber ride to the hotel. Those driving to Green Bay will be able to park at the hotel for free. A van will be available to transport luggage and supplies. Participants are expected to complete the required rides as the luggage van will not serve as a sag vehicle. Tandems and e-bikes may be accepted on a case-by-case basis, however bike storage or access to electricity for charging may provide complications due to lodging restrictions. Talk with the leader about this before signing up. Rental Bikes: Ride leaders are not coordinating bike rentals. Participants are responsible for their own arrangements. There is one bike shop in Green Bay that offers a limited number of rental bikes. If interested, contact Pete's Garage (phone 920-857-1690) for details. Though less convenient to our starting point, there is also a bike shop in Sturgeon Bay (a 50 minute drive from Green Bay) that rents road, hybrid, and e-bikes. Contact Nor Door Sport & Cyclery (phone 920 818-0803) for information. N.B.: rental bikes are limited so it is important to place an order early. You will be responsible for pick up and drop off of all rentals.

Cost & Administration
The estimated cost of the tour is $1,450 per person double occupancy for 9 nights lodging, 8 happy hours, 3 group dinners, ferry passage to Washington Island, and all administrative costs including scouting of routes, preparation of GPS files, maps and cue sheets, luggage van, and driver. After the tour we will provide a report of all expenses and return any money that remains after expenses have been paid. There is an initial deposit of $800, with an additional final payment of $650 due on May 1st, 2023.

Singles and Solos Policy
We encourage single riders who are willing to share a room, and recommend that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. The Ride Leader can assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride, but singles must make their own rooming decision. There will be a limited time-frame to do so if there are more BAC members registered on the wait list. Singles will be asked to stay on the pending list until they secure a room mate. We have not reserved solo rooms and will only offer a solo option if the tour does not fill within a few months. 

Cancellation Policy
The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance. 

Ride Participant Responsibility 
Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions. 

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents. This coverage applies when touring inside the US, regardless of your nationality. It’s assumed that members’ personal insurance will cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, so these have not been included in the BAC policy. You may want to consider personal coverage for emergency evacuation, as this is not included. The costs of treatment or quarantine for Covid and other unexpected illnesses are not covered. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date. 

Sign-up
To submit a request to join this ride use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to login to the BAC website to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee and Tour Deposit by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. To contact the ride leader with any questions click the name at the top of this Ride Description.