Woodstock Weekend: Psychedelic Eagle 200k and Puff the Magic 600k
Hard to believe that the summer is winding down, but there is still a chance to get some long rides in this weekend.
For both rides
Please be at the start at LEAST 45 minutes before the start time, particularly for the 600k. There is a mandatory meeting outside the hotel 15 minutes before the ride. If you arrive after 5:45 (or 6:45) you will have a late start because Michele will be running said meeting and will not give you a brevet card until after the start! BE EARLY! For the 600k, you will also need a reflective gear and light check. We won't have one for the 200k.
We realize that some of the 600k riders are not staying at the Best Western. If you are not staying at the hotel, please do not eat breakfast at the hotel and try not to use their facilities without asking nicely. We try to be very good to our host hotel but if you have not paid for their services, please don't use them without permission.
GLR uses receipts for all controls, get a receipt at any timed control. Try to keep your receipts in decent shape and turn them in in order. Don't bother filling out your card, Michele does that for you. Just be sure to sign it.
At the finish back at the Best Western, either Michele or the hotel clerk will sign your card. For the 200k, you will leave your card at the front desk. For the 600k, we will hand out an addressed, stamped envelope for you to mail in your receipts and card. Take photos of all before you put them in the mail. Michele has to get back home early on Sunday morning.
The Psychedelic Eagle redux
We had a big turnout for our new Woodstock 200k back in August. It's a great route and we are glad to share it.
It's a challenging route with some nice hills in Kettle country and takes a nifty route to Eagle that GLR has not done in the past. Hazel's Bakery lost their baker and had no pastries the last time we ran these rides so probably plan on hitting the Quick Stop at the corner. However, on the way back we HIGHLY recommend hitting the awesome restored Ice Cream shop Main Street Ice Cream Station for your return control. Main Street Ice Cream Station (right next door to the Quick Stop on Main Street). It's got a restored interior from the 50s complete with tables made of antique ferris wheel seats. A real don't miss.
Psychedelic Eagle 200k RWGPS
Psychedelic Eagle Cue Sheet - Google Doc
Last shot at a 600k!
This is a super route. Challenging, but also not a killer. It has about 8,500 ft of climbing focused in the middle 200k.
This route is approved to have the Sugar River Trail as an option. However, word to the wise. The trail will not necessarily save you time as it is not paved or limestone, but has been ridden by many with 28mm tires just fine - it's 2 track dirt. There are some killer pot holes- most have large sticks poking out as a warning, but not all of them. Top speed is probably 12-14 miles per hour. If it is at all wet, DO NOT RIDE THIS TRAIL - take the roads.
That said, if you have larger tires - preferrably over 28mm and are absolutely confident that fenders are not an issue, the trail is very pretty. The cue sheet distributed will be for the road route, which is also very pretty and a new way to New Glarus that we have not done before. If you want to take the trail, you will either need a Wisconson Trail Pass or to pay a $5 fee at either end of the trail (the entrance is directly in front of you when you reach the Decateur road turn in Brodhead and has no real turns until New Glarus). If that is still the case, you have to either pick up a pass at the station in town or pay on the other end. Please be a good rider and pay if you use the trail, it isn't like Wisconsin has a lot of money these days.
You will have about 100k of relatively flat roads to Oregon. The control is the BP station just BEFORE the river. The hills start here as you have 11 miles to Byron, which is an open control. You may stop anywhere in Byron - it is an open control. As usual, you will collect receipts from all controls except the two info controls.
From Byron, it is about 40 miles to Brodhead on rolling terrain. There are several convenience stores along the way (Pecatonica and Lake Sommerset) so no need to tank up. This is a really nice part of the ride through Pecatonica Wetlands, forests, and farmland. There are some nice rolling hills. The control in Brodhead is the BP station.
From Brodhead, you head a bit north and west to New Glarus. This is about 25 miles and again rolliing. At New Glarus, you may get a receipt from anywhere you like, the official control is the BP station, but there is a Culvers, a Caseys, and several other places of note depending on how much time you have and how many extra miles you want to ride. New Glarus to Evansville is again hilly. The Evansville Casey's closes at 11 which is about 48 minutes before the control close. If you are on the wire for time, take a picture of your bike in front of Casey's in an VERY obvious spot and send a text to the organizer (number is on your card). The rest of the controls are 24 hour (Milton and Darien).
There are two information controls, the first is about 10 miles after Milton. It's a simple question about a sign. The second is at Hebron where everything is closed early. It's also an easy question, but do STOP and write it down. It's about numbers that will probably not be easy to remember.
The final 200k follows the same route as Psychdelic Eagle (above).
Puff the Magic 600k Road Route RWGPS
Puff the Magic 600k Trail Route RWGPS
DO NOT PRINT CUE SHEETS FROM DIRECTLY IN RWGPS!!! These are not maintained to ensure that they include all the cues - RWGPS is a great GPS tool, as a cue sheet tool it is not so hot and we do not use it. The link above is a Google Spreadsheet. You can format it all you want. It is the official cue sheet.