The Rider's Choice 200k is a special 200k ride that happens every weekend from April thru most of October that does NOT already have classic brevets running. Unlike most club rides, the route is not set ahead of time, rather the first rider to sign up will pick from the list of 200k routes in our route library. Routes follow quiet roads or use bicycling infrastructure where safe and possible.
The start of a Rider's Choice is electronic or via a start volunteer. If there is no start volunteer, participants must upload a photo of themselves wearing their helmet and reflective gear to the Ride Day Slack Channel (contest at the end of the year for most photogenic!). A brevet card is attached to every registration that includes stops along the way and key phone numbers. Rider’s should print this card and bring it along.
Routes for the Rider’s Choice start in Delavan (WI), Oregon (IL), Whitewater, Woodstock (IL), Evanston (IL), Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Rapids, Green Bay, Hampshire and others. All club members are free to contact the club about submitting new rides!
Park on the east side of the lot just south of the taproom against the chain link fence OR in the shopping center next door.
RUSA #2394 This is a loop route from Evanston to Bull Valley on rolling roads. We are taking advantage of many paved bike trails for safety and because they are nice! Parking can be difficult in this area but there are a large number of businesses from Starbucks to Pizza plus the finish at Temperence Beer. This was a traditional opener/closer for several years.
This is an urban ride. Though you may be able to finish the route before sundown, our advice is to bring lights and reflective gear just in case you find yourself out after dark.
Lollipop route up to Eagle and back to Woodstock. About 4,700 ft of climbing so challenging without being obnoxious. Start at 7:00 am means reflective gear is needed!
Riders choose their own distance at or over 360k to complete in 24 hours. A fleche team requires at least 3-5 bicycles (a tandem counts as one) - more is unruly and fewer is not really a team. The team must ride together and finish together. Each team has it's own route that it designs and submits to the Club. That route may be a circle or a one way (true arrow!) with the finish being in St Charles at the Quality Inn. Submit your routes to info@greatlakesultracycling.org.
The only real control must be 25k from the finish and is at 2 hours from the finish. This ensures a leisurely ride to the finish with a lot of camaraderie. No two teams can overlap or ride with each other. Teams then celebrate together at the finish which will be on Sunday between 9 am and 6 pm. Teams must be registered for this event and have their routes submitted 2 weeks before the event itself. The GLR board will validate the routes and approve them/suggest changes so figure out your teams early to claim your preferred route.
Note the start time here is left at midnight but teams can start any time between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm on Saturday to finish on Sunday. There will be a get-together/party at the finish to celebrate.
Please note, this fleche does not satisfy criteria for anything outside of Great Lakes Randonneurs as we maintain no affilation with RUSA.
Relatively flat route from Woodstock west to Kingston (no relation to current treasurer). We then duck south a bit and curve around to South Elgin. The next 40 odd miles are on the Fox River and Prairie Path Trails to Richmond. Then back to the roads to Woodstock. A very pleasent and social route.
This is a version of Jim Krep's Original Baraboo ride adapted to start in Whitewater. It's a hilly ride ascending the Baraboo Bluff and with a chunk of the driftless in the middle. It then flattens out to Columbus before returning to rolling back to the finish at Whitewater.
There are several places to stay in Whitewater with the most inexpensive being the TriCounty Motel and the Super 8 (more expensive). A room is highly recommended for a 400k before and after the ride.
RUSA #2182: Fun ride from Whitewater to New Glarus and back. Low Key with some hills to challenge
This is a super scenic 600k route out of Wausau, Wisconsin. The biggest climbs are in the first 40 miles with the rest being gradual to rolling. Day 1 features the entire St Germain Bike Path which is paved and about 40 miles long. The stretch from Presque Isle to Iron River is another beauty with lakes and stunning scenery to Land O Lakes. We are taking some of the most beautiful roads the Northwoods has to offer. The stars in this area are amazing along with pristine lakes and low traffic.
The first real overnight option is at Iron River - 220 miles, though Eagle River at 260 is also an option. This area gets really busy in the summer so if you want a hotel overnight, best make reservations early. The Kwik Trip in Eagle River is 24 hour but the Iron River Circle K closes at midnight so the early start figures that in. Boulder Junction to Eagle River has NOTHING 24 hour.
Good plan is to have capacity to carry plenty of food and water for that section. There are lots of options early to tank up.