joeR6
Well-known member
Did a spirited day ride yesterday from Chicago to some of the best roads of the midwest in SW Wisconsin. Awoke at 6am, was back at 9pm 880 miles. Unfortuantely living in pancake land (Northern Illinois and Chicagoland area) 400 miles of my 880 were on the superslab. Solo ride, woke up and it was dark cold and wet - made some coffee, rain stopped, I then hit the road. Bill Mayer saddle, Zumo 550 w/ XM, heated Aerostich Kanetsu vest (was turned on 90% of this ride) were all worth every penny on this ride. Coldest temp was around 34 degrees according to the FJR :cold: ; warmest was around 55. Feet and hands got a little cold in the morning but was fine otherwise. Only saw a few other bikes out there today. Fall colors were varied and very nice. Yellow, orange, red leaf foilage along the way.
Once off the superslab I started near Reedsburg on CR-K, nice sweepers- then to hwy 33 going west, Wildcast state park aka mini deals gap was lots of fun. Then right before Lacrosse I shot up north onto Hwy 108 which is a blast with some twisty bits; continued east onto hwy 54; then north on the Great River Road along the Mississippi to Fountain City. Hit up hwy 95 which has some great sweepers and a tight section with grippy asphalt that gives you the feeling your tires are well planted, so much so I leaned the feejr over till the right footpeg made contact with the road
mg: (which scared the crap out of me). Then went onto CR-C which is in the middle of nowhere and was able to do a high speed run :evil: . Continued North along hwy 88 which has some nice sweepers as well. Then doubled back on the same route alllllll the home to chicago.
Pics are along CR-C near Arcadia, WI. Not the most scenic foilage pics but you get the idea. Had to get home to see the Mrs!
I've done this ride quite a few times as its the only worthwhile day ride from chicago IMO. After riding in Socal, the real deals gap, BRP and Cherohala I am left yearning for some twisty roads. Generally I like riding with at least another biker (usually my old man) in case **** happens, but going solo does allow me to go at my own pace. I must say there was a lot of illeal passing on my part.
Along Hwy 33 right before the tight section of Wildcat State Park a shiny Escalade cuts in front of me (I'm sure this has happened to you before- don't you hate that?) It wasn't too drastic but I did have to hit the brakes to avoid becoming HIS backseat passenger. Anyways he doesn't like me trailing right behind him, I put my blinkers on, try to pass and he swerves to the middle of the road to cut me off! This dude has his whole family in the car, little kids and all. I'm thinking to myself "WTF!" Normally if I want to enjoy a nice strech of road I would have just stopped and let the guy go to put some distance b/w us but there was a long line of cars behind me including some tractor-trailers I'd have to contend with later on as this hwy covers half the state of Wisconsin. Whenever I do complete an illegal pass (cross the double yellow line - don't be too quick to judge as you've all done it too) I always give a friendly wave - I try not to seem like an obnoxious rider. Tired of watching cartoons on the escalade's dvd backrests that I can see through his back window I decide to make my move. Hwy 33 has a few 15mph hairpins (trust me, only a few exist in the midwest) so I at this point about 50 yards before the sharp turn I drop a gear, gun it, lean to left - pass a-hole in escalade, lean the right, straighten her out, apply the brakes right before I enter the hairpin and smooth sailing from there.
Aside from the escalade and a minivan that almost took me out on I-90 the ride was very pleasent. Once spring arrives I'll be sure to hit my best of the midwest route again.
Once off the superslab I started near Reedsburg on CR-K, nice sweepers- then to hwy 33 going west, Wildcast state park aka mini deals gap was lots of fun. Then right before Lacrosse I shot up north onto Hwy 108 which is a blast with some twisty bits; continued east onto hwy 54; then north on the Great River Road along the Mississippi to Fountain City. Hit up hwy 95 which has some great sweepers and a tight section with grippy asphalt that gives you the feeling your tires are well planted, so much so I leaned the feejr over till the right footpeg made contact with the road
mg: (which scared the crap out of me). Then went onto CR-C which is in the middle of nowhere and was able to do a high speed run :evil: . Continued North along hwy 88 which has some nice sweepers as well. Then doubled back on the same route alllllll the home to chicago.Pics are along CR-C near Arcadia, WI. Not the most scenic foilage pics but you get the idea. Had to get home to see the Mrs!
I've done this ride quite a few times as its the only worthwhile day ride from chicago IMO. After riding in Socal, the real deals gap, BRP and Cherohala I am left yearning for some twisty roads. Generally I like riding with at least another biker (usually my old man) in case **** happens, but going solo does allow me to go at my own pace. I must say there was a lot of illeal passing on my part.
Along Hwy 33 right before the tight section of Wildcat State Park a shiny Escalade cuts in front of me (I'm sure this has happened to you before- don't you hate that?) It wasn't too drastic but I did have to hit the brakes to avoid becoming HIS backseat passenger. Anyways he doesn't like me trailing right behind him, I put my blinkers on, try to pass and he swerves to the middle of the road to cut me off! This dude has his whole family in the car, little kids and all. I'm thinking to myself "WTF!" Normally if I want to enjoy a nice strech of road I would have just stopped and let the guy go to put some distance b/w us but there was a long line of cars behind me including some tractor-trailers I'd have to contend with later on as this hwy covers half the state of Wisconsin. Whenever I do complete an illegal pass (cross the double yellow line - don't be too quick to judge as you've all done it too) I always give a friendly wave - I try not to seem like an obnoxious rider. Tired of watching cartoons on the escalade's dvd backrests that I can see through his back window I decide to make my move. Hwy 33 has a few 15mph hairpins (trust me, only a few exist in the midwest) so I at this point about 50 yards before the sharp turn I drop a gear, gun it, lean to left - pass a-hole in escalade, lean the right, straighten her out, apply the brakes right before I enter the hairpin and smooth sailing from there.
Aside from the escalade and a minivan that almost took me out on I-90 the ride was very pleasent. Once spring arrives I'll be sure to hit my best of the midwest route again.
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