Ride Director Comments

Ride leaders are traveling until October 9th and will begin reviewing participantion requests after that date.

Ride Description

Heart of the Driftless Region

OVERVIEW
Join us on a cycling tour in three midwestern states—Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa—along beautiful rivers and over rolling hills in the rugged, beautifully-sculpted Driftless Region. You’ll cross the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers several times and experience the unique topography of the area from low-traffic rural roads and dedicated bike trails. You’ll climb challenging hills and bluffs and enjoy exhilarating descents. This tour is a revision and expansion of Bicycle Adventure Club’s “Find the Spotted Cow” ride, last offered in 2019.

What is the Driftless Region? The name refers to the hilly landscape topography of a 24,000 square mile area along the Mississippi River where Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois meet. This area was left untouched by the last glacier that covered most of Wisconsin.

Named by geologists for its unique topography, the Driftless Region is free from the characteristic glacial deposits know as “drift”—deposits of rock, gravel, sand, and silt that retreating glaciers leave behind. The landscape is characterized by tall bluffs, forested ridges, narrow ravines, and deeply carved valleys cut into limestone bedrock by the world’s largest concentration of cold-water streams. There are no mountains to climb here, but you will enjoy ample hills as you cycle through the singular landscape of the Driftless Region.

Ready to ride? Our 470-mile tour begins and ends in Madison, Wisconsin, one of the county’s top cycling cities. Built on a narrow isthmus between two lakes, Madison is one of the midwest’s true destination cities and the state’s capital. Come early to explore the city on its extensive network of bike paths, or simply enjoy the restaurant scene and take time for a tour of the beautiful State Capital building or the Chazen Museum of Art.

Leaving Madison we’ll ride through the University of Wisconsin campus before heading north. We cross the Wisconsin River for the first time on our way to Baraboo, home of the Circus World Museum and the International Crane Foundation. On day two we cycle through hills and farms to Richland Center, birthplace of famed prairie-style architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Next we’ll follow the Wisconsin River as it winds its way westward toward the Mississippi and the river town of Prairie du Chien. A layover day in Prairie du Chien will give you the opportunity to relax or to visit historic Villa Louis. Those wishing to do some layover-day cycling can enjoy an optional loop ride, cycle to Effigy Mounds National Monument, or climb the bluffs in Wayalusing State Park for unmatched views of the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers.

Leaving Prairie du Chien we cross the Mississippi River into Iowa, climbing the bluffs and cycling through rolling farmland on our way to the college town of Decorah, Iowa on the banks of the Upper Iowa River.  Then, its onward through Amish country and into Minnesota for a night in the quaint, quiet town of Lanesboro on the beautiful (paved) Root River Cycle Trail. From Lanesboro we return to the Mississippi River and cross into Wisconsin for a two-night stay in La Crosse where you can relax or enjoy an optional loop ride on the layover day.

From La Crosse we say our final goodbye to the Mississippi River and pedal to the small town of Viroqua in the heart of Wisconsin’s organic farming region. We recommend a locally-sourced dinner here at the popular Driftless Cafe. Our final days of cycling take us to Spring Green, site of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Taliesin, and to the Swiss-influenced town of New Glarus, home of the New Glarus Brewery and Spotted Cow beer. Our last day is a short ride as we return to Madison on the paved Badger State Trail where we’ll say our goodbyes.

You'll never know how much you missed the Driftless Region until you experience it for yourself for the first time. Join us and discover what may be your new favorite place to cycle!

RIDE RATING - 2B!
The ride is rated 2B! This 470 mile roaming tour averages 47 miles and 2,010 feet of climbing per day. There are 10 required point-to-point cycling days and 2 layover days with optional loop rides provided. This ride falls at the higher or more difficult end of a 2B rating.

Note that several required riding days exceed the ride’s rating for distance or climbing level. There are required rides of 53 miles, 56 miles, 54 miles and 58 miles. Participants need to be able to manage these distances. There are also required rides that exceed a 2B rating for elevation gained (2,500 ft). On day one we climb 2,699 feet, and day two is 2,739 feet.

Cycling in the Driftless Region can be challenging. Although there are no sustained multi-mile climbs, there are many hills and shorter steep climbs and descents—some exceeding 12%. While many paved roads have good shoulders, there are also paved roads with no shoulders and sections of routes with no services for up to 25 miles. These are generally lower-traffic rural roads, but participants should be confident in their ability to ride in the lane with traffic when necessary.

Madison to Baraboo   53.7 miles, 2,699 ft  (rating 3C)
Baraboo to Richland Center   46 miles, 2,739 ft  (rating 3B)
Richland Center to Prairie du Chien   56.2 miles, 2,010 ft  (rating 2C)
Layover Day

Prairie du Chien to Decorah   47.3 miles, 2,481 ft
Decorah to Lanesboro   49.2 miles, 2,034 ft
Lanesboro to La Crosse   53.4 miles, 1,262 ft
Layover Day

La Crosse to Viroqua   32.2 miles, 2,176 ft
Viroqua to Spring Green   58.2 miles, 1,765 ft  (rating 2C)
Spring Green to New Glarus   47.4 miles, 2,279 ft
New Glarus to Madison   27.5 miles, 775 ft

There will not be sag service except for emergencies. We will be renting a cargo van to transport luggage which has a single passenger seat. Participants should be prepared to complete the required rides, rain or shine.

ROUTES
GPS files for all routes will be available on Ride with GPS (RWGPS) a month before the tour. A link to the RWGPS route collection will be provided so that participants can view and download the files to computer, bicycle GPS device, or smartphone. You can also print maps and cue sheets if desired. Riders who wish to use paper cue sheets and/or maps should print them at home prior to the tour and bring them along. A RWGPS subscription may be required. Note that it is the participant’s responsibility to know how to navigate using their GPS device and/or the RWGPS smartphone app before the trip begins.

WEATHER
Summer in the Midwest is pleasant and July is typically the warmest month in the Driftless Region. Expect daytime highs in the 80s and nighttime lows in the 60s, though variations do occur. Rain is always a possibility and participants should be prepared to ride in inclement weather if necessary, and to have appropriate gear and clothing to ride in the rain.

LODGING & MEALS
We will be visiting both larger cities and very small towns. Lodging will feature a variety of accommodations including historic inns, hotels, small local lodges, bed & breakfasts, and AirBnBs. In some locations we will use more than one lodging to accommodate everyone.

At several locations rooms with two beds are not available. Therefore this tour is best suited for couples—or people willing to share a bed. All participants (couples or others who are roommates) must be willing to share a bed on those occasions.

Some accommodations do not have elevators, so participants must be able to negotiate stairs with their luggage and/or bike to access guest rooms. Where lodgings do not allow bikes to be taken to guest rooms a bike storage room will be provided.

Four group dinners, six breakfasts, and daily happy hours are planned. At happy hours we’ll provide beer, wine, soft drinks and light snacks. Where breakfast is not provided by the hotel, restaurants are close by.

LOGISTICS
The tour starts and ends in Madison, Wisconsin at the Sheraton Madison Hotel (706 John Nolan Drive, Madison, WI 53713. Tel: 608-251-2300). We will meet on Monday, July 7 at the hotel for an introductory and welcome meeting at 5:00 pm. We recommend flying into Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) which is a short taxi or Uber ride from the hotel. Those driving to Madison will be able to park at the hotel for free.  Bike boxes can be stored in vehicles at the starting hotel.

Our last riding day is Saturday, July 19, and departure day is Sunday morning, July 20. The final riding day is just 28 miles.  There is no group dinner on Saturday so early departure on Saturday is possible.

A rental van will be available to transport luggage and happy hour supplies. Participants are expected to complete the required rides as the luggage van will not serve as a sag vehicle. However, the van will be available to assist with emergencies or to accommodate a rider who is sick or injured.

Ride leaders are not coordinating bike rentals. There are a number of bike shops in Madison and bike rentals may be available. Two shops that list rental options on their website and are located close to the ride start are:  Budget Bicycles (www.budgetbicyclecenter.com) and Machinery Row Bicycles (machineryrowbicycles.com)

Participants planning to ride a tandem or heavy e-bike should contact the Ride Leader. These are acceptable but may provide complications at some accommodations due to accessibility and other restrictions. Participants with e-bikes should be aware that there are days when recharging on the road will not be feasible. Be sure your e-bike is capable of completing the distances and elevation gains, and prepare to bring extra batteries. Please speak with the leader before signing up.

COST & ADMINISTRATION
Estimated tour cost is $2,400 per person which includes 13 nights lodging, four group dinners, six breakfasts, evening happy hours, tips for housekeeping and group meal servers, RWGPS files for all routes, and the cargo/luggage van. A deposit of $1,200 is required upon ride acceptance. A second and final payment of $1,200 is due by February 3, 2025. The second payment may be adjusted slightly up or down, depending on (1) the final number of ride participants, and (2) hotel costs, a number of which are currently estimated rather than firm contract rates.

HEALTH & SAFETY
Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, protocols will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all participants. This may involve required masking, social distancing, or isolation from the group. Participants who test positive for Covid and are unable to ride must isolate in place. That may mean departing the tour or arranging one’s own transport to subsequent hotels on the tour. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned. Vaccinations for Covid are strongly recommended, but not required.

SINGLES AND SOLOS
A “single” is a member who signs up and wishes to share a room with another participant. On this tour rooms with two beds are not available at all locations and therefore we can only accept participants willing to share a bed. Couples or singles with a roommate will share both a room and a bed. We recommend that singles find their own roommate prior to signing up for the ride. Singles without roommates will remain on the waitlist until a roommate is secured. If requested, Ride Leaders can introduce and assist singles to find roommates, but singles must make their own rooming decision. Singles unable to secure a roommate will have the option to participate as a solo only if the tour does not fill.

A “solo” is a member who wishes to participate but does not want to share a room. Because of limited accommodations at several destinations solo participants will only be accepted if the tour does not fill, in which case the solo supplement fee will be $1,000.  The solo supplement fee of $1,000. is due upon acceptence to the tour.

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.

INSURANCE
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. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible. 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 register for 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 go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.