Bike Iola!

29/08/2024

It's a wrap! Last night was the last 2024 weeknight ride for Bike Iola! Came down to Vidar with an injured foot, so didn't bike. So glad he's back up -- and standing on my shoulder!

There were 32 Monday & Wednesday nights May thru August. We rode on only 14 of those, mainly due to weather -- hot, humid, rain, wind or a combination of two or more. Pretty dismal!

If we ride for 20 miles average on each of these nights , that's more than 600 miles just with Mon & Wed rides.

On the positive side, four new bikers showed up this summer! Two from Clintonville and two from Scandy. So there's that!

Happy Fall riding. Stay tuned for some daytime rides.

Stay well and ride on!

28/08/2024

Yikes!

This biker lived to ride another day. A doorbell camera captured the dramatic moment a tree nearly crushed a man on a bicycle during a thunderstorm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. According to neighbor Lorenzo Parker, the lucky bicyclist appears to be "okay afterwards,” despite the tree hitting a power line on the way down.

This biker lived to ride another day. A doorbell camera captured the dramatic moment a tree nearly crushed a man on a bicycle during a thunderstorm in Milwau...

28/08/2024

Last weeknight ride for Bike Iola! this evening. Looks good weatherwise. Have an injured foot so will be slow, slower than usual.

26/08/2024

Tonight's Bike Iola! ride has melted away.... hoping Wednesday night will be a bit cooler. That will be our last official Bike Iola! evening ride for the season. A lot of weathered-out rides this summer. Oh, well!

23/08/2024

One of our Secret Gems, not too far from here. Have taken a few bikers to see it.

22/08/2024

Took Nichole Good on a meandering route to see the westernmost edge of Stonehenge this evening. Perfect temps, no wind, little traffic -- plus Stonehenge! Only two more evening rides left next week. Stay tuned for some breakfast/coffee ride announcements!

21/08/2024

Looks like another great biking night! Last Wednesday's ride took us to the Top Of The County, with Robert and Nichole Good. Monday night we had two bikers from Clintonville, Brian and Craig.

Who will be there tonight?

Promise it will be a great route! (Mostly flat except for the hills.)

Only three more Bike Iola! night rides left for the summer, so come on out and ride.

19/08/2024

Looks like a great night for a Bike Iola! ride!
See you at 6 pm at Vidar of Iola. Bring plenty of water.

17/08/2024

What it's been like biking this summer.... stay hydrated!

14/08/2024

Looks like a nice evening for a Bike Iola! ride. Hopefully no pop-up storms like we had Monday night.
See you at 6 pm at Vidar!

13/08/2024

Well, this evening's weather forecast changed quickly, as did the weather itself. Did just under 4 miles before getting off the bike and inside when the clouds opened up with a fierce wind and thunder. Dodged a wet bullet! Still raining. Check out windsock in middle right of pic.

12/08/2024

Vidar wants us all to go biking this evening! Looks perfect, so hope to see you there at 6 p.m.

05/08/2024

It's Monday so rain must be coming! Will wait and see how this plays out later this afternoon. Meanwhile, on Saturday Sharon & Jim Menzel heard the pie calling and came over from Point for a ride (about as flat as a route as I could fine!) then breakfast and pie and Crystal Cafe. Haven't biked with them for a long time.

02/08/2024

Truth...

31/07/2024

A bit too hot for me to go biking this evening.
Going to jump in the lake instead.

30/07/2024

How cool is this! I would definitely go, but it's Door County Century weekend.

Letting everyone know we have an upcoming event on September 8, 2024.
“Roll Back Time”
Sunday, September 8
1pm to 4:30pm
Antique Bicycles
Pie and Ice Cream Social
Beverage Booth
Live music

Sponsored by Shawano Pathways & Shawano County Historical Society

Wisconsin Wheelmen, a national club dedicated to keeping alive the heritage of American cycling, will be presenting Roll Back Time at Heritage Park, Shawano on September 8 this year, sponsored by Shawano Pathways and Shawano County Historical Society.
The Wheelmen’s presentation will bring to life the Golden Age of Bicycling, as they display and ride a rare collection of two-wheelers dating from the late 1800s through the balloon tire bikes of the 1930s to 60s. The men and women of Wheelmen will be in period costume with presentations on collecting and restoration as well as exhibits and demonstrations.

The back-in-time theme of the day will include an old-fashioned pie and ice cream social tent and old style beverage stand. Admission is free for the event as well as access to all Historical Society buildings from 1:00 – 4:30 p.m.

The mission of Wisconsin Wheelmen is to encourage old-fashioned cycling as part of modern living while following the historic development of the Draissine, Velocipede, Boneshaker, High Wheeler (Penny Farthing), Tricycle and High Wheel Safety and more.

Many examples of these antiques will be on display.

29/07/2024

85% chance of rain at -- you guessed it! -- 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. Can't buy a break.

29/07/2024

Another strange weather day... will post yes-or-no Bike Iola! ride about 4:30 this afternoon. Meanwhile here's a pic to look at!

24/07/2024

Looks like a great night for biking! Unfortunately, I can't make it. You can still meet at Vidar at 6 pm!
Who's in?

22/07/2024

Said our goodbyes yesterday to Mark Koepke, a great friend and pretty darn good bike -- and elite racer, this afternoon with his family and many friends in Wausau at Red Eye Brewing Company.. Some of Mark's many vintage racing bikes are hanging from the ceiling there.
While we both grew up in Appleton, I didn't get to know Mark well until the past 16 years, starting with my first trip to bike on the island of Mallorca in 2007. In 2008, a return trip to Mallorca was cancelled. Ended up going to Italy with Mark for biking. Definitely one of the highlights of my world travels, which could never equal the travels he took over his lifetime.
Since COVID, we spent some great times talking over coffee, pie, crepes, breakfast, etc., at favorite haunts in Amherst, Scandinavia and Iola WI -- also his favorite biking area.
Mark was definitely a renaissance man, very artistic, intelligent and articulate. He will be missed. Rest in peace and condolences to his family and friends.

22/07/2024

You can tell it's a Bike Iola! Monday... T-storms in forecast for 6:00 p.m.
Hope they're wrong.
We'll see...

17/07/2024

A BIT TOO BREEZY OUT THERE FOR ME..... next week. "Looks like a beautiful evening for a Bike Iola! ride! Hope to see you at Vidar at 6:00 p.m. for a "new pavement" ride."

15/07/2024

Cancelling tonight's ride. Tuesday night actually looks great! If you want to ride, let me know. Could go out earlier, 4 or 5 pm.

15/07/2024

Another iffy night for biking... T-storms forecast for afternoon and evening. Will wait until 5 pm to announce a go or not.

14/07/2024

Nice job on paddling options by Iola's Jack Vater! The upper Little Wolf is indeed a cool waterway.

12/07/2024

Point has/had four bike shops.... that's a lot! Still, always sad to see a shop closing.

As we close the doors of the Trek Store of St. Point, we do so with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude. We have been honored to serve this wonderful community and build lasting relationships. We hope to continue to serve you at our Wausau location for any outstanding service or orders.

Thank you St. Point!

11/07/2024

Glad we got our Bike Iola! Wednesday night ride in! Weekend weather looks rather brutal. Nice 20-miler north of Iola with Scandinavia's Janice Moe and Nichole Good.

Pic (which I thought I had lost forever! Just found it...) is of Buzzsaw Bob starting on Vidar during 2010 Iola Car Show week. Not sure how he did it, as he didn't even have a sketch of what he was going to do. Just all in his head!

So great to have Vidar back.

10/07/2024

Forecast says a tad warm this evening and no rain. Hope it's all true! Don't worry about Car Show traffic -- we'll be out of town in no time. Vidar sez see you at 6 pm!

08/07/2024

Looks like another potential no-ride night. If the pavement is wet at 5, we won't ride. In the meantime, here's a nice pic to look at.

04/07/2024

Happy 4th of July! Looks a bit rainy around here, so will have to wait until the 5th to get on the bike in celebration!