So, Then the Weather Got Involved...

Seems like the weather over the last couple of days is working on teaching me a lesson. Snow, rain and ice. I really don't know what we're (I'm?) getting into tomorrow, but I'd guess that it will have a lot to do with snow-covered trails that have not yet been packed down by snowmobiles and finding out how much energy is required to traverse those conditions.

Just gonna have to play it by ear, and next year try this maybe around Pearl Harbor day…

Recon and Updated Forecast

I did a recon ride on Saturday, and the report is somewhat mixed. In Madison, the trails are in fine shape. The paved section of the Badger had been plowed and had just a light dusting of snow on its surface. As expected, the paved section of the Military Ridge between PD and Verona has seen zero maintenance, but has a pretty decent fat bike track between PD and Quarry Ridge. The rest (just under 2 miles) might be hike-a-bike on Saturday. My guess would be that the ATV sections of the route—the Badger between Monticello and Monroe and the entire Cheese Trail—have been seeing ATV traffic and will be pretty passable.

The real wildcards are the limestone sections of the Badger and Military Ridge that have not been open to snowmobile traffic yet this season. Rutted with footprints? Nicely groomed by bandit snowmobilers? Deep, mushy powder? Thawed and refrozen?

No. Idea.

So, the current strategy will be to ride south and see what happens. If we don't make it to Monroe by, say, 10 a.m., we can always bag and call good what we did manage to ride. Even that may be optimistic…who knows?

At least it looks like the forecast has done a complete about-face, and we might be looking at almost ideal conditions. We'll see whether this holds.

The Good News and the Not Quite As Good News

The current 10-day forecast does not include much in the way of snow, so that means we will probably not have to deal with snowmobile traffic or knee-deep snow. We would still face the prospect of ATV traffic on the Badger between Monticello and Monroe and for the entire length of the Cheese trail.

The less-good news is that the same forecast also predicts single-digit lows for the night of Friday, December 20, a high of 10 for the 21st and a low of -2 for that night. There's no wind prediction at this point, but that's something we'll have to factor into the decision of whether to ride as the day draws nearer. Note that the prevailing winds during our recent cold snap have been from the west and northwest, which mean a headwind for most of the Cheese Trail.

Should conditions be borderline, we could always shorten the ride at any time before leaving downtown Monroe—up to about 31 miles each direction. Once we embark on the Cheese trail, there isn't really a good way to shorten the route back.

I'd also suggest an ice date (like a rain date, only colder) of December 28.

[source: Weather Underground]

Long Ride, Short Day

Wondering how far is too far to ride a bike in the winter? Here's your chance to test that out. Hey, while we're at it, why not do it on the shortest day of the year? Start in the dark, watch the sun traverse the sky and finish after it's gone to bed.

What: Very long winter bicycle ride
When: 6am Saturday December 21
Where: Marketplace and Badger Trail, Fitchburg WI
How: 129 miles, 2 control points. Estimated 12-15 hours.  Fat bike suggested with capacity to carry water, food and spare clothing.

This will be an unsupported ride. There will be no entry fee, no prizes and no support. You are responsible for you—if you get into a jam, you'll need to be able to get yourself out. Don't attempt if you don't have a solid contingency plan.

You are required by law to carry a state trail pass to ride the trails on this route.


There will be no attempt if:

• There is a blizzard
• more than 5" of snow within 24 hours of the start
• -25 or colder wind chill 
• -10 or colder ambient temperature