DRAFT Magazine

Mark Sirek, bike and Blatz

Beer Runer spotlight on Mark Sirek, 37, Service Manager at Wheel and Sprocket, Fox Point, WI; metalhead; dedicated winter cyclist

Beer of choice: Edmund Fitzgerald from Great Lakes, 1554 from New Belgium, and The Reverend from Avery “get a lot of face time”

The Beer Runner: What are your beer runner credentials?

Mark Sirek: I get into new beer like I get into new music - even if it sucks I can say I tasted or heard it. There is something about experiencing a complete package for the first time - how it came into your possession, the artwork, the first sip. Just like a new record. The right combination can make you feel like you know the craftsman. I also ride a bike close to every day of my waking life. Sometimes in my dreams, too. I’ve ridden pert near everyday now for eight years. I didn’t start commuting all 4 seasons until my late twenties, unfortunately. The best day has a curtain call with a good beer.

BR: How did you get you get started biking through winter?

MS: I was going back to school and working at a bike shop and the first 3 years revolved around 30-minute back-and-forth commutes. The fourth year put me to the test as I rode from MPLS to St. Paul everyday as a high school teacher. I had to leave at 5 am every morning, it took and hour each way, and I frequently rode in 10 below temps before wind chill. That’s not tooting my own horn - it was actually kind of dumb - but at least I have benchmarks of pain now and I feel prepared.

BR: What did you learn during that time?

MS: No matter how many times a motorist sees a cyclist in winter, they still react like they are seeing a moon-man invasion. If you get in the mindset that every person who sees you is going to be stunned to the point of immobility, then you can begin to assume that their actions may put you in danger. Whether it’s fair or not, plan for the oddest reactions to your presence possible and you should be okay.

BR: As a metal fan, what is your favorite music to bike to and favorite music to drink beer to?

MS: The BEST metal album to ride to is PENTAGRAM’S 1985 album RELENTLESS. I could ride 300 miles without food or stopping hope to say with that in the background. One of the most perfect metal albums ever, and don’t suggest differently unless you’re really serious. In the winter I can’t do without Polish, Hungarian, Baltic, Russian, or Ukranian black metal. The music deals with strength and perseverance through submittal to cold and dark power greater than the sum of your parts. Perfect! My metal head friends and I get together almost weekly to share our latest finds, and huddling around the hi-fi always includes beer. Any new metal goes well with beer. Well, almost any.

BR: Do you also have an opinion for best post winter-biking beer?

MS: Anything made by Milwaukee’s own Jacob Sutrick down at Stonefly Brewery on Center St. in Riverwest. Preferably SIMON BAGLEY Stout. Again, Edmund Fitzgerald is hard to beat. Arrogant Bastard, Dragon’s Milk, Old Engine Oil, and New Glarus Black Wheat are ridiculously good too.

Mark, John & Brad; winter '09 under the 6th Street Viaduct, Milwaukee

BR: What biking accomplishments are you most proud of?

MS: About 5 years ago, my dear friend Craiggles McShithead and I rode 200 miles from Minneapolis to Duluth, met our wives at FITGER’S BREWERY, had a grip of potato stouts and fresh Lake Superior fish, and rode home - another 200 miles - the next day. Duluth rules. I’m also proud of participating in the Triple D in Northeastern Iowa every January. Last year not one of the 38 entrants finished the 56 mile course due to 9 inches of snow and ice. I’d bet that most of the 38 entrants drank more than double our weight in beer at the finish line bar. 8+ hours of falling off your bike into snow in 15 degree weather earned us the right.

BR: What beer accomplishments are you most proud of?

MS: When I go to The Fifth Dimension aka DISCOUNT LIQUOR here in Milwaukee I can point to a lot of beers and give ‘em a wink remembering our special times. Making beer has been the pride and joy of millions for a mighty chunk of recorded time and I’m happy to be on the receiving end. It’s like being a family member of The Enlightened.

BR: Of all the places you’ve lived, what has the best place for biking and/or biking culture?

MS: I’ve lived in Eau Claire, WI, Olympia, WA, Bellingham, WA, Charlottesville, VA, Madison, WI, Minneapolis, MN, and now Mil-Rock-Me. Bellingham, Wa was pretty incredible. I lived there in the mid-nineties. There was a lot going on with the infectious growth of microbrew culture. Mountain biking was young and off like a megaton bomb. Those cultures called the shots in many lives. What could you do? Say no? NONSENSE! Madison has a great cycling culture, and the beer and food that goes with it is pretty grand too. But I have to say that Milwaukee’s enthusiasm in its cycling community to invent itself as its own glorious entity is so amazing to be a part of that it’s overshadowing past experiences. We are on the cusp of something huge here - something that won’t be seen as a copy. There is fire here - mark my words. And there’s some beer here too.

BR: What’s the best place for beer?

MS: Milwaukee.

BR: Any other words of wisdom?

MS: Use all five of your senses, keep things simple and manageable, and move around under your own power. And whenever possible, have a beer for no reason other than it’s one of mankind’s greatest inventions.

Al Thom photo by Jason Henry

The Beer Runner: What are your beer runner credentials?

Al Thom: Well, Tim, my mother is British, my father is German, and I grew up just outside Milwaukee - so that explains the beer. I was always into dirt and bicycles, so I blended the two. Like so many others, we learn over time that there is craft involved in any true endeavor - be it bikes or beer - and one typically transcends Huffy’s and PBR’s to IF’s (Independent Fabrication) and IPA’s. As a mountain biker, you appreciate total freedom off road, and you throw friends into the equation and it leads to capping-off the ride with a well deserved refreshment - which often leads to discussions about both crafts.

BR: How did you start racing for Chicago’s Half Acre Beer?

AT: I did my first Cyclocross race last year and happened to park next to the Cuttin’ Cruiser - a “race prepped” bus under the command of the Chicago Cuttin’ Crew - a group of Chicago racers with roots in the bike messenger community. Hanging with these guys are a few of the Half Acre Cycling team. Julie from Half Acre is jonesing on my Indy-Fab and before you know it, a dozen or so of Chicago’s hardcore bicycle community are admiring my bike’s hand-craftiness, and most of them have a hand crafted Half Acre Beer! All these guys were super-cool to me for my first race, and offered me post-race refreshment and encouragement. I became hooked on ‘cross and I made the determination that I probably had to be on this Half Acre Team because everybody was so cool (and they had good beer).

BR: What’s your favorite Half Acre beer?

AT: The Lager is still my favorite at the moment, but I am really excited about the Big Hugs Imperial Stout coming out soon.

BR: What’s the best part of being a bike team sponsored by a beer company?

AT: Um…Duh! Seriously - although I had been racing mountain bike for a few years, I was never on a team. I often raced with a number of other guys on teams, but none of them ever said - dude, wanna join our team? I made up my mind that I would get serious for ‘09 and find a team and there were three criteria in my quest: 1) beer sponsor 2) nice looking kit 3) awesome people. Having met the fine folks from HAC I was able to tick all three boxes immediately. I’ve been part of the team for a year and I can tell you they are much more than a bike team with beer!

Half Acre Cycling team photo by Mike Campbell

BR: Which bike season has the most beer? Mountain? Cyclocross? Road?

AT: Although our team is made up of riders that compete in all four disciplines, and we sponsor (BEER) at least one race in each category, as a dirtbag, I can only speak for myself. I wish I could say that mountain season gets the nod, but we lack a MTB race series in the Chicago area, so we often travel to Wisconsin (WORS or WEMS), Indiana (DINO) or southern Illinois (PAMBA) for MTB events and often, the travel exceeds 3 hours, so hangin’ and kickin’ back a couple usually isn’t in the cards. However, the Chicago Cyclocross scene rivals any in the nation! The Chicago Cyclocross Cup is a sea of humanity that flows from community to community for 10 love-filled-family-friendly-incredibly-intense weeks of mud and cowbells - and yes - beer. It brings a tear to my eye that the season just ended.

BR: What kind of reputation do you have among your teammates? What kind of reputation does your team have among other racers?

AT: I am the FASTEST (old dude), or I’m just a bike-loving, beer-drinking dirtbag - not sure which. Team-wise, I think we are well respected as a fast growing team comprised of some real hardcore racers and people that give back to the bicycling community, and most importantly, we all recognize that riding bikes is supposed to be fun!

BR: What’s your most memorable race with your team?

AT: The Chequamegon Fat Tire 40 mile race in northern Wisconsin. Ten of us from the team entered, and eight of us rented a cabin. It was a good opportunity to get to know/party/hang with my teammates at one of the biggest Mountain Bike races in the country. Chris and Zach are two of my mates that race road and dirt, and our pre-ride warmup the day before was on the highway where they showed me proper paceline techniques. On race day, we figured we should attempt to stay together in a paceline. It worked surprisingly well - until my legs blew up on the firetower climb. We had a really good time racing, then heckling the finishers whilst enjoying our namesake brew. Also memorable was our teammate Jeremiah crashing at mile 15 and separating his shoulder. He made a sling out of a spare tube - and finished the freakin’ race in under 4 hours one-handed - in PAIN. That was memorable!

Al's son Jacob carries on the HAC tradition (photo by Luke Seeman)

BR: Anything else to add?

AT: Craft brewing and hand built bicycles have a LOT in common. Both crafts have necessary guidelines to follow that have been handed down for generations - certain standards that must be followed, yet both crafts encourage experimentation and individuality. I think that this shared commonality should be brought together. Wouldn’t it be heaven if the Hand Built Bicycle Show and the Craft Brewers Show were held together in the same city - same convention center at the same time!?!

Thanks to Jonathan for tipping me off to the HAC team

Ken Hunnemeder

Beer Runner: What are your beer runner credentials?

Ken Hunnemeder: I’ve become a beer collector, traveling outside of my distribution ring in order to try beer I can’t get in Chicago. I take a photo each time I add to my collection, and right now I have over 1,000 beers. Around a year ago I also began to practice home brewing. It’s been wonderfully educational, because it allows me to become familiar with the ingredients that go into making a specific style. It has expanded my palate and develop an even greater appreciation for those who make exceptional beer on a larger scale. To balance the drinking, I make running and biking regular activities. I used to be one of those people who hated running, until I tried building up to a good routine. My initial tactic was a combination of running and walking. But eventually, the walking intervals got shorter until I was running at a steady pace.

BR: How did you get involved with the Hop-Cast podcast?

KH: My co-host, Brad Chmielewski, has been a good friend for years. He used to host a Chicago food and drink podcast called ChiHookah. When that ended, he came to me with the idea of a show dedicated to sharing our love for craft beer and discussing it at length. We have a great time on the show, and it’s our goal to not only keep in informative, but entertaining as well. If we do a few shows in one night, by the end, we are definitely more than entertained.

BR: What can we look forward to coming up on Hop Cast?

KH: We’re expanding from a basic review show and starting to do more interviews with home brewers, professional brewers, and authors in the brewing business. In the near future, we’ll be covering the Three Floyds beer pairing dinner at Small Bar on Division Street in Chicago. We’ve also teamed up with Man B Que, a group of guys that specialize in all things grilled. We’re now their in-house beer pairing experts for all the barbeque aficionados. Because great beer paired with great food equals one hell of a time.

BR: What type of beer guy are you? What are your favorites?

KH: I like to think I have an appreciation for all styles. Good beer is good beer, no matter what the variation. That said, I do have some favorites. I’m a big fan of IPAs (Founders Double Trouble, Piece Camel Toe). I also love sour/wild ales, (Cantillon Classic Gueze, Russian River Consecration) and I’m currently on a big Pilsner kick. There’s something to be said for taking a big gulp of a sessionable Pilsner. Especially after a run.

BR: Who are the #gents behind your hashtag on Twitter?

KH: The Fellowship of Gentlemanly Gentlemen, a.k.a #gents (Twitter shout-out!) are a group in Chicago that gets together to experience the finer things in life– craft beer and delicious cigars. What started as a get-together between co-workers slowly turned into a group of people who love sharing craft beer. Each meeting has a beer-theme, and everyone brings something from that category pot-luck style. A common misconception is that it’s for guys only — women are absolutely allowed (and encouraged!) and we’re always open to new members, whether a beer expert or someone who just wants to learn more about craft beer. Those interested can follow #gents on Twitter.

BR: How would you describe yourself as a runner and biker?

KH: I really enjoy getting out and being active. Of course there are days when I’d much rather be lazy and have a beer sitting on my couch watching the Real Housewives of Orange County. Or football. But there’s no better reward after a sweat-worthy workout than a nice craft beer. One notable example of how I brought the best of both worlds together is I took a bike trip with some Gents from Chicago to Flossmor Station Brewing Company in Illinois and onto Three Floyds in Indiana. It’s roughly a 70 mile trip. It definitely kicked my ass, but it was one of the highlights of my year. Highly recommended.

BR: How would you describe Chicago as a beer and fitness city?

KH: Chicago is lucky enough to house some prominent breweries including Goose Island, Metropolitan, Rock Bottom and Piece. Then there are the beer bars that not only have an impressive beer selection, but have a solid menu of quality food as well, such as Hopleaf, Map Room, and Small Bar. To work off the extra calories from all that eating and drinking, Chicago offers accessibility to get exercise while taking in great scenery. The path on the lake front is always a great option to run, bike or skate. I also like to run though the neighborhoods and take in my surroundings. Much more exciting to me than running on a treadmill.

BR: You just attended the Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer. Any highlights to share?

KH: It was by far the best beer festival I’ve ever been to. What I loved about it was the experimentation level that each brewer brought to the table. There was an incredible amount of creativity involved and it certainly didn’t go unnoticed. Some of the beers that really rose to the top were Rock Bottom Chicago’s Clares Thirsty Ale, Firestone Walker’s Black Xantus, Three Floyds’ Barrel Aged Moloko Milk Stout aged with chiles, and the Duck Duck Gooze from Lost Abbey.

BR: Anything else to add?

KH: Can you help me get a solid beer to drink at a professional sporting event? Come on Draft, little help here?

via Beer N Bikes

I once ran a race that offered communist-themed athletic socks as awards for their finishers in place of lame, boring race medals.

This was a revelation for me. Socks — the most taken-for-granted item in anyone’s wardrobe — could potentially be awesome.

And so it is with Sock Guy’s Cycling Beer Socks. They are made with ultra-wicking micro denier acrylic, nylon, spandex and (one would imagine) maybe some hops threaded in there.

Side note: I discovered these socks on a cool new(ish) blog called Bikes N Beer, written by cyclist and craft beer fan Jeff Hammett of Durango, Colorado. You should definitely check it out here.

Exotic biking

Andrew Katzander has an interesting job.

OK, I have to just come out and say it: He rides around with exotic dancers on the back of his bike.

Seriously.

“I get kicked in the head a lot,” says Andrew Katzander. “But it’s worth it.”

Introducing the new sport of PoleRiding: “Athletes, acrobats, aerialist and dancers who perform with strength, flexibility and showmanship. They are also bicycle racers, bike commuters and regular bike riders themselves.”

Their mission is to promote cycling and pole dancing, especially in its new incarnation as fitness and mainstream dancing. And it is a workout. Don’t I know.

So far it’s only in New York, but watch for it to spread in the future. So says Andrew…

How did you come up with the idea?

I was riding along the bike path along the river past the Hustler Club. The idea hit me. It was a 1+1=10/ Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup moment that I didn’t have to write down to remember. I told a couple of friends who also love bikes (and women) and we knew it had to be done.

So, how does this work exactly?

Polerider is  the name given to the vehicle which consists of a pedal powered rickshaw with a platform, dance pole lighting and sound. Poleriders perform in moving traffic. The first ride was with a dancer named Playjoy for the Halloween Parade. We stopped by the club where she was dancing, she changed into an outfit, and things got crazy. A pack of drooling boys on BMX bikes followed us around and people ran out of bars to watch. After dropping her off, I rode around the rest of the night picking up dancers. At one point two drunk girls fought for a turn. It was surreal. The most amazing bike ride of my life. Then I met Marlo and she brought friends and students from her pole class to join. That was a crazy night.

How do you find PoleRiders?

I first posted an ad on Craigs. Then word of mouth. I have a PoleRiders Facebook group and a lot of dancers all over the world are now fans and are waiting for Poleriders to expand to their country. I am still looking to add to the NYC team since this is still a part time gig and plans sometimes happen last minute. I like to go on a test ride out of traffic so the dancers can get used to the trike. So far everyone loves the feeling.

What events have you done?

We rolled out for the Halloween Parade with five or six dancers taking turns. There were a couple of film and photo shoots and we converted the PoleRider to Santa’s sled for SantaCon. We did the Dance Parade recently and a shoot for German/Euro TV. It’s been mostly going out for fun with Marlo and some practice runs and auditions with new dancers. There is no typical night, but lots of cheering and camera flashes have become a regular thing. A lot of women ask to jump on for a quick spin or photo.

Is there typically beer?

Most of our appearances are outdoors and on the street, but we ride through a lot of areas that have bars. People come running out of them when we roll by. We would be very interested in performing at outdoor concerts music and art festivals and other venues where people can gather and party.

What’s a Pole Rider’s favorite beer?

After a long ride on a hot day there is nothing better. I drink Stella Artois. Dancers drink light beer generally since weight is a huge factor in performance. Amstel Light seems to be the fave.

Who gets the better workout: The dancer or the biker?

The workouts are very different. Riding is more aerobic and I can go for hours as long as I get food and water, but it is way harder than riding a regular bike since it weighs so much. Dancers need breaks because they lift and support their own weight. I’m amazed at what they do. I would say pole dancing is a more intense and focused workout on the muscles but it doesn’t get your heart rate and breathing up the way cycling does.

What’s next for the PoleRiders?

I met a new dancer recently on Facebook who is a pole dance instructor in London as well as a competitive cyclist. She gets the best of both and I think she is our biggest fan. She will join PoleRiders this summer.

The WereBikes

Beware the WereBikes!

Actually, no need to really beware. It’s just a bike that’s tricked out like a werewolf.

Kurt and Teresa Mitchell wrapped fake fur over their bikes for a Full Moon ride in Austin. January’s full moon was known as a “wolf moon,” hence the decorations.

“We like to call them furbys,” Kurt explained. “And strangely take offense when called fuzzy.”

I met Kurt and Teresa at the BikeHugger tent at South By Southwest. I later tracked Kurt down and made him talk about the Full Moon Ride, being a personal trainer and what Austin would be if it was beer.

And remember, tonight’s a full moon, so watch out… for the WereBike!

Tell me about the Full Moon Ride. Does it involve drinking and/or howling at the moon?

It’s every full moon, starting at midnight. Drinking is the very cornerstone of the full moon ride. We try and blend in with the young hipster/doofus kids swilling Lone Star and riding fixies. My wife thinks I use think type of language to mask my longing to be hip. Damn, I hate when she’s right! The day you saw the bikes festooned as they were was for the “wolf moon” ride. That night, someone had a papier-mâché moon fixed above their bike on a wire. We were all to follow and some if not all 300 plus riders let out a howl or two.

What’s your favorite beer to have after a workout?

It all depends on who I ride with. If I’m over my head and just trying to hang on to a wheel (like riding with my wife), it’s Recoverite or Endurox R4, a nap and then a nice Wit beer. A more social ride sometimes ends with something meatier, New Belgium 1554 or Left Hand Milk Stout.

What do you specialize in as a personal trainer?

I coach a run group and a Tri group that I dearly love. Turning people on to endurance sports is fantastic. However, I think the most rewarding hours are spent helping folks change their lifestyle, their bodies, and minds.

Since I met you at the Bike Hugger tent, how did you find out about them? Do you do many things with them?

Received an email from Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop about the whole affair. At that point we knew nothing about Bike Hugger. Since then we have been on their site many times and linked to lots of bike culture crap. We don’t have a TV so websites are the primary form of entertainment.

If Austin was a beer, what would it be?

Shiner Bock. Just like Austin, it used to be dirt cheap and natural. Now, overpriced and full of crap (corn syrup). Again, why do I have to be so crass? “You kids get out of my yard!”

Kayzar (right): "Make it better."

Jason Kayzar has devised one of the more brilliant multitasking business ideas I’ve heard in awhile:

Cycle networking.

“Cycling comes first, and we rarely talk business,” he says. “But by eliminating the bogus social niceties, we get to know each other pretty quickly.”

Jason launched MC² in 2000, and after eight years building his business and family he found he was “sort of neglecting myself.”

So he started more training, running, and combining business time with riding in once-a-month Midwest Cycling Network rides — which always end with a pint or two.

What are you goals for this summer?

1. I’ll be racing my single speed mountain bike for Team Wheaton Franciscan. My goal is to race and have a great time. I don’t have the time or drive to try to win right now.

2. I’m more Beer than Runner, but I have been running quite a bit in the last year. I’d like to get a ½ marathon in the books and then (maybe next year) a marathon. Depends on how the racing goes. If I bomb, I guess I’ll have more time to run.

3. Trying to find out if I actually have abs. I’d like to see them once before I die.

What’s the last great beer that you drank?

Golden Monkey

My current favorites are Shiner Bock and Guinness Draught. If I’m going to drink a Golden Monkey beer, I like it to taste like beer, so I’m not big on Miller Lite-type beers. I also like a beer called Kalik, which I’ve only had in the Bahamas - haven’t found it in the U.S. yet. I was also turned on to Golden Monkey at Roots in Milwaukee. It’s like poor man’s Chimay (although it’s not cheap).

How about the last hard workout that you did?

In winter I’ve been doing 3 days of cardio and 2 strength training during the week, and either taking the weekend off or doing something fun w/the whole family. I teach SPIN on Wednesday mornings, but I’d have to say the hardest in recent memory was a quick ½ hour going up and down a steep hill as fast as I could on my single speed mountain bike. I just finished a fixed gear single speed road bike that I KNOW will kick my butt all summer.

So why did you decide to start the Midwest Cycling Network?

Selfish reasons, really. I wanted to meet more people like me, who would keep me motivated. And I really like the business networking angle. Everyone in the group is a professional, so it’s a huge resource for referrals and connections.

How have you seen the rides and/or riders evolve since you started?

I never wanted it to be a balls-out training ride, and we’ve stayed true to that. It is however serious enthusiasts, so the people who show up are generally good riders.  This year, I expect the group to grow quite a bit. The inaugural ride last year had three people - the email list now has over 230 people on it. The times and routes will stay similar, but we’ll split into a faster and a slower group this year to accommodate everyone.

What are some of the favorite places you’ve stopped for a pint or two after your networking rides?

We ended the first batch of rides at the Red Rooster last year, then we moved the start/finish location so now we end at Seester’s on Pewaukee Lake.  Anywhere that has a good selection of beers is OK by me.

Any other words of wisdom to give to the Beer Runner audience?

“They may take our lives, but they will never take our freedom.” Oh wait, that was Mel Gibson’s quote.  “Make it better,” that’s mine.  Don’t take what you have for granted.  Don’t wish for what you’ll never have.  I spent the first half of my life wanting to be someone else, and the second half embracing who I am.  I turn 40 this year and I’m in a really good place, plus I have the best wife and kids a person could wish for. Now I just want to make it even better.

Rehydrating.

One of my favorite things about the cycling community is the easy, instant camaraderie. You meet a new rider, you bike together, you have a few beers, and BAM! you have a new best friend.

Now throw in a higher purpose than just logging a few hours in the trainer, and you have some real potential for bonding.

It was under these conditions that I recently met some stellar cyclists: Tom Schuler, Scott Galaska and Brent Emery. And it just so happened that one was a former Olympian.

The four of us biked for most of the Admirals game to get people to sign up for the Greater Milwaukee Tour de Cure, a fund-raising ride for the American Diabetes Association.

Tom Schuler

Tom, it turns out, is the man behind the legendary Bone Ride, an annual day-long bike trip from Milwaukee to Madison and back again — a distance of about 180 miles. I’ve only heard of this ride mentioned in hushed tones. It’s for serious riders who can maintain 20+ miles per hour the entire way.

Tom, I found out later, is a retired pro racer and is prominent enough in the cycling community to have his own Wikipedia page. And he let me borrow his trainer.

Brent Emery

On the other side of me was former Olympian, record holder, and developer of one of the first aero bars in the world. Meet Brent Emery. He had just finished closing up his shop for the night, and was returning in the morning to lead a 5:30 a.m. training session.

Even though both man’s reputations preceded them, they were quite content to pedal, chat and have a beer on the bike with any random cyclist, like me. It doesn’t take much to make friends in the Beer Cyclist community.

And now here’s a photo of me biking with a sign that says beer cheese! Rock!

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?

Officially, RAGBRAI stands for the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.

Others say it stands for the …Great BEER RUN Across Iowa.

It’s hard to truly capture the pandemonium that is some 15,000 cyclists pedaling through cornfields all day, bedding down in people’s front yards at night and drinking the whole time. Think Mardi Gras, a rural county fair and a marathon all rolled into one.

One guy our group rode with called it “an utter divorce from reality.” He also happened to be a television meteorologist. His group included an orthopedic surgeon, a financial consultant and a structural engineer. Together their collective altar ego was known as Team Trouser Mouse.

We witnessed in awe as the Trouser Mice biked 40 miles through cornfields, stopped for an hour to down a dozen Coors Lights each, and then hammered it 20 more miles into a headwind at speeds in excess of 20 miles per hour.

I want to go to there.

Every year the RAGBRAI powers that be change the route. Presumably this is to spread the cyclist’s tourist dollars around, but also presumably so the riders don’t wear out their generous welcome in the blink-and-you-miss-it farming towns.

The 2009 route was recently announced at RAGBRA.org. There’s also a countdown to the July 19 start now 157 days, 21 hours and some odd minutes and seconds.

A few years ago I did a few days and wrote about it here. The best description that comes to my mind? Life changing.