Bike Northwoods: Day Three

Good biking day today, Only 51.6 miles, not the 60 as promised. 12 mph average speed. 4 hours 16 minutes riding time.  Maximum speed 174 mph (I think there may have been a computer glitch.)

Great temps and clear skies. Lots of hills. Gotta love'm. My only problem was a flat tire about half way through the morning. I called the support truck since I am pretty inept at most things mechanical, although I had a spare tube and tools. No sooner had I called, when two women pulled up and flatly stated: We can change that tire before the truck gets here. And I happily watched while these two went to work and had me back on the road in about 10 minutes.

I've always said that if you want something done right, ask a woman to do it.

Some killer hills with signs at the bottom like this:

A church was selling pie. They just so happend to have rubarb custard just like my grandmother used to make.

The little town of Port Wing went all out - community band, spaghetti supper, folk music. Nice little historical museum here.

I found the boat I want at the Port Wing harbor.

We finally started biking along the south shore of Lake Superior.

Oh, Port Wing happens to be an absolute dead zone for cell service. No wonder everyone looks so content.

Tomorrow Bayfield -  a short, but rolling 46 miles.

Bike Northwoods: End of Day two

It's a layover day in Superior, Wisconsin, and while the "expert" bikers did a 75 miler on the North Shore of Minnesota, I relaxed.  Toured a big ship, the SS. Meteor, built in 1896 and was used through the 1940s. I was the only one on the tour.

Then rode down a bike path for about 5 miles that sort of hugs the shoreline, but it was rough and not very pretty - lot of grain elevators and ore docks. Came back and toured the Fairlawn Mansion. Build in the 1890s for $150,000 ($3 million today) the home had a swimming pool, bowling alley, ball room and billiard parlor. About 70% restored after being used as an orphanage for 40 years, it a grand old thing again. It's always been good to rich, I think.

But the highlight of the day was a tour of the world's largest accordion museum. You want to know anything about accordions and concertinas, you just ask me. An 84 year-old  old lady gave the tour and kept repeating her stories. When talking to the LWW this afternoon who is Paris with her kids, I could just hear the disappointment that she chose the City of Lights and a week with her grandson instead of the world's largest accordian museum with me. Life is filled with regrets.

I have to say this is not a pretty town. Very few trees, tons of rough streets and railroad tracks, and just all industry. Never seen so many drunks out an about. There was a policeman in the lobby of this pretty nice hotel I'm staying in this afternoon evicting two very drunk men who weren't staying here. Sorry, Wisconsin, you have a beautiful state, but Superior needs work.

Tomorrow is a full 60 miles and the last section is labeled "hills." Tomorrow night I am a place called the Anchor Campgrounds and Cabins in Port Wing. Why do I think high speed internet will not be an option?

Bike Northwoods: End of Day One

I'm on the Bike Wisconsin Bike Northwoods week-long cycling tour. It's the end of day one of actually pedalling. Here are my stats:

Left Iron River at 6:15AM. Arrived hotel in Superior at 12:30PM. Actual time on bike: 4:58. 58.2 miles - mostly hills. Average speed 11.8 mph. Bike 1998 Cannondale crossbike with a few miles on it. Hot and humid. Light breeze. Number of other cyclists passing me: about 20. Number of cyclists I passed: 0.

This is a ride for people with, ahem:

Intermediate Cycling Ability Level
Tours suited for those in good cycling condition, who exercise on a regular basis, are able to ride 4 to 6 hours at a comfortable pace and are familiar with hill climbing.  Overall knowledge of your bicycle and the rules of the road is a MUST.  The terrain is flat to rolling, with some short, steep climbs; the routes average about 45 - 60 miles per day. Many days will have various mileage options.

OK, on my good days I am intermediate.

The average age of the 370 riders is 55 with the youngest 10 (on a tandem with her grandfather, I believe) and the oldest is 77. 58% are male; 42% female.

I just finished Albert Brooks' 2030 dystopian novel that pits the younger generations against the 70+ "olds" - a demographic group that has exploded in size due to a cure for cancer. Something to think about as I watch these grannies on $2500 road bikes go cruising past me. Uphill.