GRABAAWR: 30 years of a cross-state tour
Before the tour filled to capacity, months ago I managed to secure a spot in the 30th annual GReat Annual Bicycle Adventure Along the Wisconsin River (GRABAAWR). The cross-state tour starts June 20,and ends June 27.
This nearly 500-mile fully supported tour has drawn me to Wisconsin six times already. I look forward to this ride well in advance because of fond memories of my fellow cyclists, the beautiful scenery and the accomplishment that I’ve felt each time I’ve finished the ride.
GRABAAWR has a long history bringing thousands riders to the small towns and local attractions along its route every summer. Typically riders have enjoyed warm weather and gentle breezes while pedaling the rolling hills through a pastoral landscape. We’ve taken in the best the state has to offer from the seats of our bicycles, riding at our own pace, unburdened by all our gear as its transported ahead for us.
The 2015 GRABAAWR route starts near the headwaters of the Wisconsin River in Eagle River and generally follows the course of that stream. Daily rides range from 55 to 80 miles. This year’s route will pass through many interesting small towns, including Rhinelander, Wausau, Wisconsin Rapids, Mauston and Spring Green before finishing in Prairie du Chien.
Along the way, riders can take in a variety of geographical points of interest and attractions including Rib Mountain State Park, Stevens Point Brewery, Wisconsin Dells, the International Crane Foundation and Circus World Museum to name a few.
The years I completed the tour, riders were often greeted by friendly locals in small towns and at local churches with a wide variety of food at a nominal cost. Of particular note were the church stops in Tomahawk, Mosinee (named the best food stop numerous years) and Wisconsin Rapids for their food, quality accomodations and friendly hosts.
Overnight stays are often at local high schools, which provides ample space for riders to spread out and reminisce with one another about their own high school years in such facilities.Some riders opt to stay in local hotels and motels. Shuttle buses often take rider riders from their overnight locations in to the heart of the communities for dining and sightseeing.
History of GRABAAWR
To learn more about how the tour started and its history, I talked to its founder and early ride leader Bill Hauda. He explained that GRABAAWR began as a fund-raiser for Common Cause Wisconsin, a nonpartisan government watchdog group, for which he served as director at the time. The only existing event that was similar was SAGBRAW, a week-long bike tour held in August, sponsored by the then Milwaukee Sentinel newspaper. SAGBRAW itself was inspired by Sentinel employees who had participated in RAGBRAI, the Des Moines Register-sponsored ride across Iowa. Because of strict ridership limits, almost no one outside of Milwaukee could get into SAGBRAW. Hence, GRABAAWR was created to meet demand for a state-wide ride.
“I sat down with a University of Wisconsin marketing student serving as an intern (at Common Cause) and our discussion led us to the Wisconsin River,” Hauda said. “We decided this type of ride would cut through a cross-section of Wisconsin while exploring the majesty of the Wisconsin River and be a magnet for bicyclists. At its high point, GRABAAWR attracted 1,200 riders.”
Hauda said most of the ridership hailed from the Midwest but consitently attracted riders from all 50 states and some other countries. “A delegation of about 40 from Thunder Bay, Ontario, did it every year,” he said.
When asked what kind of riders the tour initially attracted, he said, “Mostly hardcore men, although there were a few women who stayed right up there with them.”
As the percentage of female ridership in GRABAAWR has steadily increased, so too has the average age of the riders crept up, he said.
“There was a mix of people, ranging from serious to casual, although the difficulty of doing 400-plus miles in a week dictated you had to have some level of experience and training,” Hauda said. “We did day-of registrations to allow casual cyclists the opportunity to join in the experience, perhaps motivating them to train for the entire event in the future.”
Hauda said many life-long relationships were forged by the ride, between the riders and the region as well as between riders themselves.
Marriages resulting from GRABAAWR “was not something we envisioned when the ride was created, but something that makes me feel this was more than a bike ride,” Hauda said. “It became a way of life for many people and, for some, changed their lives for the better.”
Level of difficulty
I also contacted current tour leader Eric Schramm at Bike Wisconsin, a company he co-owns that will offer three cycling tours in Wisconsin this year and one in Provence, France.
Schramm said GRABAAWR is a tour “suited for avid cyclists in excellent condition, able to ride five to seven hours comfortably and enjoy challenging climbs.”
To handle the terrain, which includes major hills on every 60- to 80-mile day of the tour, you also have to have the right attitude. “It’s for folks that love cycling and seeing the wonderful state of Wisconsin,” Schramm said.
And many do. He said one rider has completed 25 of the 30 GRABAAWRS held. Riders as old as 80 and as young as eight have completed the ride.52. The average age of the riders is
“The number one reason folks come back is for the camaraderie. Also we give group discounts,” Schramm said. He provides other reasons the tour is a good choice here.
The website also has some helpful advice for riders considering GRABAAWR and tips on bike maintenance and gear selection.
If not for multi-day tours like GRABAAWR, many serious cyclists would have difficulty logging so many miles in a week. On this year’s ride, I hope to fine tune my riding skills, improve my overall physical fitness, reunite with old friends with the same goals, and make a few new friends.
For more information about GRABAAWR, go to http://www.bikewisconsin.com/grabaawrreg.html.
Richard Mueller is a six-time finisher of GRABAAWR and one-time finisher of SAGBRAW.