Riding across Wisconsin

On Feb 16, 9:50 am, Bill Taylor wrote:
This is great stuff. I am looking at my maps and making plans. To
re-cap my general intention: Some how get to within a days ride of
Ludington (notice I dropped the extraneous "d"). Hopefully via Amtrak,
bike shipped to convenient LBS for assembly and checkout (I'm very
capable of assembling, but I've never been able to resist clack-clacking
into a bike shop while touring). Thence by SS Badger to Manitowoc, then
ride across to LaCrosse (pun intended) where I will spend a few days
then ship bike home and follow by rail. I will be cheapy motelling or
B&B if one looks interesting. Sleeping on the ground is no longer any
fun- takes me an hour to straighten up.

Here you go.
http://www.bicyclerack.net/contactus/

Tom is one of the big wheels on the West Michigan Trails & Greenways
Alliance. If memory serves, his store is adjacent to one of the
trails.

HTH

--Karen D.

On Feb 9, 10:12 am, Bill Taylor wrote:
I have an old friend in LaCrosse whom I would like to visit maybe this
summer. I know I have asked this before, but, refresh my memory......I
want to start in Manitowoc,

After you find a way to Manitowoc, which several posters have already
suggested routes, then I would:

From Manitowoc to Sheboygan, south along Hwy LS, which runs right
along the lake.

From Sheboygan, go west on Hwy 23. There a bike trail paved part of
the way, along 23. After that, it isn't a bad ride though it might
get a little hilly in places.

Near I39, go from Rt 23 to Rt. 82 and take that all the way to Elroy.

Now the good part starts - the rest of the ride is off-rode.

Take the Sparta-Elroy trail to Sparta, from Sparta take the LaCrosse
River Trail to Lacrosse. Onolaska, actually but it's right along the
river next to LaCrosse.

That's kindofa coarse description, but a reasonable map should make it
clearer.

Sweet Old Bob wrote:...
Now the good part starts - the rest of the ride is off-rode.
(sic)
Take the Sparta-Elroy trail to Sparta, from Sparta take the LaCrosse
River Trail to Lacrosse. Onolaska, actually but it's right along the
river next to LaCrosse.

That's kindofa coarse description, but a reasonable map should make it
clearer.

Sparta-Elroy trail is a must-do. It's not an ATB surface. I first
enjoyed it on a touring bike (27" wheels) in 1979, and also on an
antique (1897) safety bike with wooden rims and replica tubular tires.

For the flip-flop, there's a nice network of country roads with great
scenery and rolling hills. The last time I did this trail, I found it
tedious (nothing but a tunnel of trees) and returned on the road
system.

The White Pine is our (Michigan) longest rail trail and it would be
worth riding at least part-way.

HTH

--Karen D.
this is a lot easier with teh internets

On Feb 16, 12:20*pm, Sweet Old Bob wrote:
On Feb 9, 10:12 am, Bill Taylor wrote:

I have an old friend in LaCrosse whom I would like to visit maybe this
summer. *I know I have asked this before, but, refresh my memory......I
want to start in Manitowoc,

After you find a way to Manitowoc, which several posters have already
suggested routes, then I would:

From Manitowoc to Sheboygan, south along Hwy LS, which runs right
along the lake.

From Sheboygan, go west on Hwy 23. *There a bike trail paved part of
the way, along 23. *After that, it isn't a bad ride though it might
get a little hilly in places.

Near I39, go from Rt 23 to Rt. 82 and take that all the way to Elroy.

Now the good part starts - the rest of the ride is off-rode.

Take the Sparta-Elroy trail to Sparta, from Sparta take the LaCrosse
River Trail to Lacrosse. *Onolaska, actually but it's right along the
river next to LaCrosse.

That's kindofa coarse description, but a reasonable map should make it
clearer.

I have no problem with Bob Kastigar's route recommendation. His post
implies its main downside, which is more climbing than the route I
suggested. I think it may also be a bit longer in miles. Betweeen
Sheboygan and Fond du Lac, it crosses the north reaches of the Kettle
Moraine. But none of the individual hills are more than a couple
hundred feet or so of climbing.