Madison IM ride
3354
Member
1412 days
RV posted 1 year ago.
Hi - the TriWisconsin Tri-Club will do another full course ride on Saturday August 4th - Anyone is welcome to join in, member or not. Typically will break into 3 groups based upon speed. No one gets dropped.
You can check it out at http://www.triwisconsin.org/
Typically leave at 8:00 in the morning from the park near the start of the bike course. Details and directions will be on the website soon.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
2
Member
518 days
cubfn13 posted 1 year ago.
Unfortunately I will be coming back from my honeymoon that day. Do you know of any others or possible during the week rides?
3354
Member
1412 days
RV posted 1 year ago.
cubfn13;72196 wrote:
Unfortunately I will be coming back from my honeymoon that day. Do you know of any others or possible during the week rides?
Congrats on the wedding.
There are usually people riding every weekend, can sometimes just hook up or take it on your own. The Ironman Wis site has a good bike course map - only deviation is that you can't go through the Alliant center parking lot except on race day.
You could also check the HeadHunters site - they are another Tri club out of Madison. There is a link from the TriWi site or could google it. I think they do rides more often.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
134
Member
1049 days
Homebrewermike posted 1 year ago.
Like RV says there are usually people riding the course all day long on the weekends. Because of all the bicycle traffic and spent gu wrappers the locals don't like us much though. So be aware of the hostility that you may get when riding the course. Last year I got buzzed all the time and a friend got a beer can thrown at him. Riding in a group is safer if you don't take up too much of the roadway. Carry a cell phone, preferable one with a camera, and don't be afraid to call 911 of you get harassed. Stop at all the stop signs, especially in Verona. They ticket cyclists on the weekends.
If you aren't planning on riding the entire course many people will park at Fireman's park in Verona and just do the loop once or twice. The section going into Madison is pretty boring anyway.
Be careful, have fun, and don't litter.
3354
Member
1412 days
RV posted 1 year ago.
Homebrewermike;72934 wrote:
...Stop at all the stop signs, especially in Verona. They ticket cyclists on the weekends...Be careful, have fun, and don't litter.
Just a note on the stop signs ... they want to see cyclist actually clip out and make contact with the ground with a shoe. Else could get a ticket.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
1012
Member
1203 days
PJT posted 1 year ago.
Homebrewermike;72934 wrote:
Riding in a group is safer if you don't take up too much of the roadway.
To the original poster:
By "too much of the roadway" I would say ride no more than 2 abreast, and then only when you are certain there is no traffic. Single file all other times. Some of those farm roads are quite narrow, and 2 riders can effectively block a car from passing. Not good for public relations.
Also, I'd think about doing the ride back into Madison at least once. You don't have to go all the way to Monona Terrace (transition), but some of those hills on Whalen from Verona to Madison are surprisingly tough around mile 100 or so. Maybe just ride to Rimrock Rd., since everything after that is flat and has lots of stoplights. Then head back to Fireman's park.
Finally, there are 3-4 gas stations on the loop in Verona (on Whalen), Mt. Horeb (on 8th Street), and Cross Plains (on Hwy P 1 block off the course). They are cool with you stopping to use the bathrooms, but I always tried to buy gatorade/water refills there. If you need to make an unofficial pit stop, PLEASE make sure you get into the woods and don't use someone's front lawn or crop fields.
I am really new to the sport and I am training for the Madison IM this September. I know, it's crazy but I just want to finish. Does anyone know of any organized training rides on the course this summer?
Steve