PERFECT DAY
CULTURE
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MADISON,
WISCONSIN
When you tire of
Madison’s
pastoral calm
and majestic
scenery, join a
local ride for
some fast action.
THERE’S MORE TO SOUTHERN WISCONSIN
THAN COWS AND CORN. RURAL SCENERY AND
DIVERSE TOPOGRAPHY DRAW BOTH ROADIES
AND MOUNTAIN BIKERS. BY BRIAN BEER
MIDWESTERN JEWEL Wisconsin’s funky capital city is home to one
of the nation’s most active cycling communities (see page 54), and no
wonder: The surrounding area offers a huge network of lightly traveled dairy roads through diverse rural terrain. Here are three rides
the locals recommend.
Ferry. The ride’s second half meanders through wooded dales and
sweeping meadows. End the ride with a tasty burger at the Roxbury
Tavern (8901 Hwy. Y; roxburytavern.com).
LODI TO DEVIL’S LAKE LOOP In contrast to the area’s many gently rolling hills and open fields, Devil’s Lake State Park offers up
magnificent quartzite bluffs and lush woodlands. The loop starts
in Lodi and tackles two challenging climbs through the park’s
dense forests before crossing the Wisconsin River on the Merrimac
F
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KET TLE MORAINE S TATE FORES T The trail system in glacier-pocked
Kettle Moraine is renowned for its fast, swoopy riding and multitudinous loops. “It’s huge; you can probably ride for 35 miles without
repeating anything,” says Andrew Rosch, manager of Madison’s East
Trek Store. Savvy locals use the 5-mile Connector
Trail to link John Muir’s Blue Loop with Emma
Carlin’s Green Loop. The result is an extended high-speed excursion that showcases the area’s undulating
doubletrack and perfectly sculpted singletrack.
DOWNLOAD GPS maps and cue sheets for these rides at more at BICYCLING.com/madison.
Best of Madison
Register for the Wright Stuff Century to tour
the countryside west of town
YOU WANT
STRONGER
BONES
HOME-GROWN
NIBBLES
FINE
DINING
A HAPPY
BUZZ
TO FILL
YOUR TANK
BURGERS
AND BRE WS
A REASON
TO RE TURN
Order some Babcock ice cream, from the
heart of dairy country, at the Daily Scoop
Browse the Dane County Farmers’ Market,
the nation’s largest producer-only market
Treat yourself to the Dining Room, owned by
local Ironman competitor Jane Sybers
Ask for crepes and espresso
at Bradbury’s
Have the Scrambler—eggs, sausage,
potatoes and veggies—at Mickies Dairy Bar
Go people watching at University of
Wisconsin student stronghold Blue Moon
DO THIS
800 Langdon St.;
union.wisc.edu/food
Wed. and Sat., Capital
Square; dcfm.org
GET THERE
209 N. Main St., Monticello,
209main.com
127 N. Hamilton St.;
bradburyscoffee.com
1511 Monroe St.;
608/256-9476
2535 University Ave.;
bluemoonbar.com
Sept. 5, Bombay Bicycle
Club; bombaybicycle.org
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BLUE MOUND TO NEW GLARUS LOOP Starting in
the Driftless Area, a region of steep valleys and ridges
left untouched by glaciers during the Ice Age, this
91-mile loop leads off with a 3.4-mile climb through
Blue Mound State Park (home of the highest point
in southern Wisconsin at 1,713 feet). “This is the
signature climb in the area,” says Brian Stoveken, of
the University of Wisconsin Cycling Club. “It’s steep
and continuous—a true gem for die-hards.” Afterward, cyclists are rewarded with idyllic country
side southwest of Madison and a visit to the Swiss-themed town of New Glarus.
