What we’re about
Welcome to Wisconsin Bicycling Meetup!
Wisconsin Bicycling Meetup is a statewide Meetup offering bicycle rides throughout Wisconsin. Our calendar includes numerous single-day rides and several extended weekend rides. There are a variety of rides, designed to appeal to riders of different abilities. We ride on both paved roads and state trails. The routes for the road rides have been carefully chosen to follow low-traffic, country roads, where you can enjoy the ride and the rural scenery.
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Madison-Area Dinner Rally: BYO Picnic @ McKee Farms ParkMcKee Farms Park, Fitchburg , WI
Join us for a bike rally for BYO Picnic Dinner at McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg!
- Date: Sunday, August 17
- Logistics: There is no set route. Everyone chooses their own route and should plan to arrive, via bicycle, at McKee Farms Park by 5:00 PM. This is a BYO Picnic, so stop at a nearby restaurant for carryout or bring something from home. We will dine at the picnic tables by the outdoor pavilion.
- Gathering spots for riding: If you wish to ride with others to and from the dinner, feel free to post your proposed option for a gathering spot and time.
- Trail Pass: Depending on your route, a Wisconsin State Trail Pass may be required, so plan accordingly.
- Root River WeekendLanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center, Lanesboro, MN
Join us for a fun Labor Day weekend outing, Friday, August 29th through Monday, September 1st, Lanesboro, MN, along the Root River Trail.
The Root River State Trail system offers 60 miles of paved bicycle trails. The trail winds through the valley of the Root River, past towering 300-foot limestone bluffs, forests and rolling fields. Along the way, you may also see wildlife including wild turkeys, deer, hawks and turkey vultures. Rattlesnakes can occasionally be found on rock outcrops, along the river bottoms, or sunning themselves on the trail.
Lanesboro is at the heart of the Root River State Trail, which branches out in three directions. Each day, there will be an option for a bike ride on one of the three branches of the trail. All of the rides are out-and-back on the trail, so you get to choose your desired mileage each day.
Suggested rides (round-trip mileage) are:
- Saturday: 21 miles (short, to Preston); 46 miles (medium, to Harmony); 58 miles (long, to Niagara Cave)
- Sunday: 27 miles (short, to Peterson); 37 miles (medium, to Rushford); 62 miles (long, to Houston)
- Monday: 24 miles (to Fountain)
We will gather each evening, for a group dinner and to discuss plans for the following day. Some people may choose to join the bicycle ride, while other may choose canoeing, kayaking or tubing on the river (Root River Outfitters, Little River General Store), going for a tour of the Amish community (Amish Backroads Tour, Bluffscape Amish Tour) or visiting the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. There is a theater (Commonweal Theatre) within walking distance if staying in Lanesboro, so that is an option for evening entertainment.
Click on the year for photos of past events: 2023, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013
Lanesboro Accommodations and Reservations
Suggested accommodations, all located in Lanesboro, include:- Green Gables Inn (Reserve Online. $127-$256/night + tax)
- A Guest Hus Motel (Reserve Online. $85-$105/night + tax)
- City of Lanesboro Riverview Campground (No reservations. First-come/first-served)
- Eagle Cliff Campground & Lodging (Reserve Online or call 507-467-2598)
There are many other motels, inns, B&Bs and campgrounds listed on the Lanesboro Chamber of Commerce website.
Please make your own motel, B&B or campground reservation to suit your needs. If you are staying for the weekend, check-in is on Friday, August 29th, so that you can join the Friday dinner gathering.
- Green Circle Trail Ride - Steven's Point, WISchmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center, Stevens Point, WI
The Green Circle Trail of Stevens Point "is a 27-mile scenic hiking and biking trail that loops through the Stevens Point area and connects with over 45 miles of additional trails. It winds through forests and parks, over wetlands, and along rivers, recalling the days of huge pineries, pioneer settlements, and the lore of the Wisconsin and Plover Rivers".
It is one of my favorite trails in Wisconsin, and it is less than 2 hours drive from Madison.
Plan to arrive at the Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center by 11:30am, and we will roll out at noon. The full trail takes about 2 hours to ride, but we will plan to stop here and there for photos or to appreciate the sculpture park or other sights.
If you find you have extra time, please check out this list of other things you can do at the Schmeeckle Reserve.
After the ride, we will plan to stop somewhere (TBD) for food, drink, and socializing. Please feel free to suggest favorite restaurants in the comments.
