Road Biking Wisconsin: A Guide to Wisconsin's Greatest Bicycle Rides (Road Biking Series) [Paperback]

Russ M. Lowthian (Author)

Book Description

Series: Road Biking Series | Publication Date: May 1, 2008

Details 41 routes from short easy rambles for beginners to multi-day classics for the touring cyclists.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Road Biking™ Wisconsin features forty-one carefully designed rides throughout the state, from the picturesque shores of Lake Superior in the north to the
renowned and challenging kettle country in the south and everywhere in between.

 

Local cyclist Russ Lowthian provides a sampling of the state’s diverse offerings, including rides along the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers, amid rolling farmlands and lush forests, around crystal-clear lakes, and along scenic bluffs above Lake Michigan.

 

For more than twenty-five years, FalconGuides® have set the standard for outdoor guidebooks. Written by top experts, each guide invites you to experience the adventure and beauty of the outdoors.

 

Look inside to find:

• Easy-to-follow maps
• Rides for every fitness level and ability—from an easy 28-mile ramble to a

   challenging 104-mile classic
• Detailed information about each ride, including directions, length, terrain, traffic

   conditions, and road hazards
• Vivid descriptions of points of interest
• Options that allow riders to create longer or shorter ride

About the Author

An avid bicyclist in the summer, Russ Lowthian has carved his way throughout most of the Midwest and chronicled his adventures for numerous outlets. Starting his writing career with Minnesota Meetings and Events Magazine in the early 90's he had ample opportunity to explore many of the areas for this book. As the past president of the Midwest Sport/Ski Council and an editor of the Minnesota Skier he has followed the year-round activities of many who enjoy outdoor sports activities. His articles have also appeared in Minnesota Cyclist, Slide and Glide Magazine and the e-zine of TravelWisconsin.com. Russ is currently working on books focused on biking, birding and paddling in Wisconsin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Falcon; 1st edition (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762738006
• ISBN-13: 978-0762738007
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,043,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wisconsin Bicycling Reference with Maps, June 12, 2008

By 

D. Maggio "bicycle rider" (St. Charles, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Road Biking Wisconsin: A Guide to Wisconsin's Greatest Bicycle Rides (Road Biking Series) (Paperback)

Road biking Wisconsin: A Guide to Wisconsin's Greatest Bicycle Rides by M. Russ Lawthian seems to be a good reference to use for selecting recreational bicycle rides on roads in Wisconsin. It includes a state map with numbers of the rides to indicate their relative location in the state. Then, each ride has an overview, narrative, turn-by-turn directions, a readable map, and a fact sheet. It lacks an elevation profile, and I'm not sure how busy the highways might be that link the quieter blacktop roads on the routes. I plan to use it for on-road trips soon, but I haven't put it to a practical test yet.

4.0 out of 5 stars Road Biking Wisconsin, September 18, 2011

By 

Shancy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Road Biking Wisconsin: A Guide to Wisconsin's Greatest Bicycle Rides (Road Biking Series) (Paperback)

We purchased this book early in the summer and have had the opportunity to do part or all of 6 of the rides. We have been very pleased with the routes and the optional lengths that are offered. The history and settings described in each section make the journey more memorable. The maps and routes can be easily copied and cut out to fit a bar map pouch. They have been accurate for the most part with only a few misspellings or wrong road names. We would recommend looking at a google map to confirm the route before going. "Rolling with a few moderate climbs" can sometimes be translated "a lot of hills". This book has allowed us to grab our bikes and head out to explore some beautiful bike routes with very little time invested in mapping.Road Biking Wisconsin: A Guide to Wisconsin's Greatest Bicycle Rides (Road Biking Series)

1.0 out of 5 stars This book is horribly inaccurate. Don't buy it!, September 9, 2009

By 

Joseph E. Palm "joseph_ed" (Oshkosh, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Road Biking Wisconsin: A Guide to Wisconsin's Greatest Bicycle Rides (Road Biking Series) (Paperback)

I am an avid cyclist, and do many long rides and particularly enjoy challenging hills. My bike's computer has been verified to be accurate from a local bike shop.

Recently I attempted to use this book and follow the 104-mile "Trempeleau County Classic" ride on page 93.
The mile markers were incorrect, the directions were incorrect (e.g., "turn right" when in fact it should have directed to "turn left"), and brevity was chosen over clarity. In fact, 30 miles into the route I was so off-course that I decided to scrap it and design my own for the rest of the way.
It all makes me wonder how accurate the rest of the book is, or if the author or publisher even rode or validated the routes as accurate.
I pursued and obtained a refund from the retailer where I had purchased it. I have also notified the publisher of at least 10 specific corrections for the ride I attempted.

I cannot and will not use this book further. It cannot be trusted, and in my opinion is worthless.