DRAFT Magazine

Last summer I took a two-week, 1,300-mile bike trip to clear my head after I lost my job. It was more or less life changing.

Now I’m spoiled. I’m planning a million imaginary bike rides for this summer. But unless I lose my job again — for the record I’m not hoping for that — I’ll have to be choosy with my vacation time.

As if the decision wasn’t hard enough, I just found out about the Shuttleguy tours.

Incidentally, I randomly met the Shuttleguy owner during last summer’s trip. We were riding on the same trail in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, and he noticed we had the same style Trek Cyclocross bike. I got his business card, later signed up for his mailing list, and this week got a postcard annoucing their 2009 tours.

Some of these tours even include beer as an integral part of the experience. I believe my exact word were, “HOLY CRAP I WANT TO GO TO THERE!”

Take, for instance, the BREW (Bike Ride Exploring Wisconsin). The official description:

Experience challenging bicycling, craft beer, artisan cheeses, and local wines. A great blend of structured tours, select group meals, personal free time, amazing scenery, quirky attractions and personal attention by dedicated staff who know the area well make this a great bicycle vacation. This is a camping tour with hotel options. Register now. This tour will fill up quickly.

And the Harvest Ride:

This grand tour, presented in cooperation with Capital Brewery in Middleton, Wis., celebrates Island Wheat Ale. Connect the brewery to the wheat fields of Washington Island on this six day ride. Discover the heart of Wisconsin’s fertile farmland, Lake Michigan’s majestic shore line, and the back roads of enchanting Door County.

…And many more, including RAGBRAI. Can I do them all?