Sunday Rides

Several years ago, I started a Sunday ride program out of River Falls, WI.  There were several reasons for doing this, oddly enough they all revolve around cows.  Dairy cows to be specific.  Dairy cows are sort of a sacred animal in Wisconsin.  They produce lots of milk, which dairy farmers use to produce lots of cheese (or supply their cheesemakers to produce lots of cheese).  In either case, the base requirements for successful dairy farm are:
really good graze
a fair amount of land
well maintained roads so milk trucks can get to the farms easily

And those things all add together to make for a good place to ride.  I've not seen too many successful dairy farms on dead flat terrain except for river valleys.  Don't know why, I'm not a farmer/agronomist, but there it is.  And big farms not intensively cultivated means land prices need to be reasonable, which means people aren't clamoring to live there en masse, which means not too many cars, and good roads, well...

So we ride out of River Falls on pretty good paved roads, with average car encounters at about 1/mile, with lots of rolling hills, some pretty good climbs, and great scenery.  In general, people wave with more than one finger, and it's pretty rare to find a dog that feels a need to chase. Except for that one pug. And the basset hound...

The group I lead is mostly fit people of a certain age, mostly masters skiers, who ride reasonably well but aren't real interested in racing, 5 hour centuries, or riding in ultra tight double pacelines.  Average pace is around 12-13 mph most of the time, and distances range from 35-65 miles.  We tend to smell the roses, and have been known to stop for a photo op.  Women are more than welcome (my wife really likes to have fit women to ride with).  Helmets are sorta required.  I really don't get not wearing one, and prefer not to ride with people who don't.

If you are interested in joining us, drop me a note or add a comment.  I'll add you to the mailing list or you can check back here for rides.
(hint - the first one is this coming Saturday - to be posted later tonight, because Sunday is the Miesville Grinder).