I know lots of you are at the Downers Grove Crit championships, but I have a question for when you get back.

I am going to UW-Madison campus this Thursday through Saturday, with up to 8hrs of riding each day (9am-5pm). Does anyone have any recommendations where I can ride? I won't have any transportation other than my bike, so try to keep the route somewhat safe-ish.

What are some good hills to climb? Any recommended routes that are between 40-80mi long?

I know lots of you are at the Downers Grove Crit championships, but I have a question for when you get back.

I am going to UW-Madison campus this Thursday through Saturday, with up to 8hrs of riding each day (9am-5pm). Does anyone have any recommendations where I can ride? I won't have any transportation other than my bike, so try to keep the route somewhat safe-ish.

What are some good hills to climb? Any recommended routes that are between 40-80mi long?

I'm not from Madison, but I have had my bike in the town. I was able to safley circle the lake with no advance route planning.

a few more thoughts.
1) PM Asiago
2) There's a couple of Madison routes over on Bikely
http://www.bikely.com/?srchkey=&country=254&region=170&run=listpaths

Scot

What are some good hills to climb? Any recommended routes that are between 40-80mi long?
If you ask at a local shop you may be able to get a course map for the Madison Ironman bike course. I know many who have ridden it, and they all love/hate it. Many hills, one dubbed "Spectator Hill" because during the race viewers will line both sides to see the riders struggle up. Some competitors even walk part of the hill the second time around, and these are some very fit people. The route consists if a 18 mile out, a 38 mile loop (that is done twice on race day) and returns on the 18 mile back.

Let us know what you think of the route, I'll be riding in the area next month and may try it.

Links:

http://www.ironmanwisconsin.com/course.php

http://www.ironmanwisconsin.com/bike.html

Here's a link for a bike map for the county:
http://www.madisonareampo.org/bikes.htm

From campus / downtown the most popular way out of town is Seminole Hwy. Get on Monroe to Nakoma (these rodes will be a bit heavy on traffic) then left on Seminole. You'll be on Seminole for about 5 miles. Then it hits Whalen Road. From Whalen you are pretty much free... left or right, up or down, you'll have good riding. Whalen is part of the Ironman route and may be easier to get to it this way than starting from the Monona Terrace. Or another idea. Get on Seminole, find somebody riding along that looks like they know what they're doing and where they're going and ask if you can tag along. Seminole is busy with bikes and you'll see somebody along there.

Pop into Budget Bicycles on Regent Street or Yellow Jersey on State and pick up the Dane county bike map (free, also online). It's a great way to start. I like heading West out of town on Old Sauk Road, go 10-15 miles until you hit a T intersection, turn right and enjoy a nice long ride down into a valley. Tool around there as long as you like (you can actually end up in the town of Cross Plains)- turn around and come home when you feel like it. Some good hills and views.

Other good loops involve the bike paths around Lake Monona and the capital city trail. Also google search the UW cycling club, there's a cue sheet on there for a UW to Paoli loop that's about 35 miles (with an extra option). A nice ride.

If you ask at a local shop you may be able to get a course map for the Madison Ironman bike course. I know many who have ridden it, and they all love/hate it. Many hills, one dubbed "Spectator Hill" because during the race viewers will line both sides to see the riders struggle up. Some competitors even walk part of the hill the second time around, and these are some very fit people. The route consists if a 18 mile out, a 38 mile loop (that is done twice on race day) and returns on the 18 mile back.

Let us know what you think of the route, I'll be riding in the area next month and may try it.

I just did it today with only one lap and HOLY **** it was hard. I think I'm going to do it again tomorrow :) On the way back to the start finish line there is a hill that threw me off guard - 3-4% false flat for ~1km and then it hits 8% for ~300m. Bring an energy bar and eat it right before going through the loop - trust me, it helped a lot.

I just did it today with only one lap and HOLY **** it was hard. I think I'm going to do it again tomorrow :) On the way back to the start finish line there is a hill that threw me off guard - 3-4% false flat for ~1km and then it hits 8% for ~300m. Bring an energy bar and eat it right before going through the loop - trust me, it helped a lot.
Sounds challenging, and fun. A couple buddies did the route three weeks ago, one of them on his fixie, with a 44-13 gear. Big mistake apparently!