The Midwest Bikepacking Summit is coming up Sept 7-9 in northern Wisconsin. The event is full of community rides, lakeside camping, and bikepacking in the beautiful Nicolet National Forest. Learn more about the event here and get registered to join. Words by Shane Hitz Photos by Dave Schlabowske To learn more, visit the Midwest Bikepacking Summit . Registration is $35 and includes the summit event and camping at Jake Lake on 9/7 and 9/8. In the Heart of the Nicolet National Forest The Nicolet National Forest is full of history. Everyone likes to ride in a place that has a rich history and a story. In the Nicolet riders will find abundant logging history. Wabeno in particular will be a spot of interest with its logging museum, an old 1800's train pulling a sleigh of logs and the giant Paul Bunyan statue. What I am really excited about is the location of the Summit portion of the event. Thursday and Friday's events all take place at Jack Lake Campground. On Thursday evening we will have a group ride through the Bogus Swamp area. Friday we will be having an expo featuring local organizations and vendors followed by the summit, an educational portion of the event with speakers on topics such as leave no trace, wilderness first aid, and the area that the route is on, plus group rides on the Jack Lake singletrack trail system in between the expo and summit. We will also have camping available for all that register for the event. Route & Region Highlights I designed this route around a few of my favorite restaurants. Those being White Lake Market, Weatherwood Supper Club, Waubee Lodge, Roadhouse 139, and Johnnie's Resort. Those are places that I would hope that everybody tries to make a stop at. I then went out and found the best dispersed sites and have an extensive list of POI's on the map for those. There are too many to list my favorites but check out the descriptions on the POI's to get an idea of what would fit for your needs and likes. The route also has great sections of singletrack which are nicely dispersed. Nicolet Roche, Strong Falls, and Otter Springs are the trails you will find. And there's Jack Lake at the start of the route, which isn't on the route but can be ridden from the parking lot before or after your ride. Lastly, are the high vistas on the route. Riders will find five vistas; Mountain fire tower (Wisconsin's only fire tower that the public can climb and on a clear day you can see Wausau 60 miles away from the top), Butler Rock, Big Rock, Thunder Mountain (can see the UP of Michigan from here), and Wisconsin's highest cul-de-sac. Riding Options We will have three route option. The first is a overnight option that is 75 miles long. Second is the SoNic loop which is 225 miles. Last we offer the full Tour de Nicolet route which is 365 miles. The SoNic i would recommend giving yourself 3-4 day and the Tour de Nicolet 5-7 days. When signing up we offer a clockwise and counter-clockwise option to better disperse people throughout the course. Social Time Bikepacking The social aspect is huge for this event. I wanted to bring people together who are like-minded. There are two group rides, the Thursday ride through Bogus Swamp and the group ride on the Jack Lake singletrack. There are also opportunities to sit around the campfire and chat with fellow bikepackers on Thursday and Friday nights. When we roll out onto the courses on Saturday you are likely to find yourself riding with folks who ride at the same pace as yourself and come away with some new friends. Rides for All Experience Levels You're encouraged to join whether it is your first time or a seasoned bikepacker. First timers will learn a lot about bikepacking from the summit portion as well as campfire talk with those that have done this stuff before. Seasoned folks will have the opportunity to meet new people and come away with new friends. If you are new to this you also may be excited and learn some stuff from Noelle Battle, the Executive Director from Bikepacking Roots, who will be here not only for the Thursday and Friday events but will also be riding the overnight loop and camping with that group. Those that want to take part in the camping on Thursday and/or Friday nights and want to ride the route go on over to the Midwest Bikepacking Summit to register. To reduce any barriers people may have we are only charging $35 which includes the Thursday and Friday nights camping at Jack Lake. We are also donating $5 from each entry as a carbon offset to Langlade County to plant trees in the county forest.

In episode 5 of the Northwoods Ramble podcast, Seeley Dave interviews Ben Welnak, who started the popular Mountain Bike Radio podcast. They ramble about the early days of podcasting, the movement to video and somehow get on the subject of saddles and suspension dropper posts. Ben talks about how he landed in Hayward after living in Colorado, the guys also ramble about the similarities between Durango and Hayward. They discuss Ben's very cool vacation rental properties and his sauna rental business. Ben's sauna rentals: ⁠Northwoods Sauna⁠ https://northwoodssaunas.com Ben's vacation rental properties: ⁠Up North Stays⁠ https://upnorthstays.com/ Turtle Flambeau Flowage Camping Sites: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29314161 Marinette Waterfall Loop route collection: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37377804 Dave also welcomes back TJ, who gives and update on the new green trail up to the top of Telemark and the new downhill runs that are part of the Trek Trails Powered by OTM at Telemark Village. They share a video of them riding, the new green trail up and back down, and discuss the next green and blue downhill trails that Rock Solid will soon have two crews building at Telemark. TJ also talks about a new Enduro series he is planning at the downhill parks around Lake Superior. TJ asks viewers to give suggestions on which trails to include in the Enduro Series via comments below on YouTube or by sending emails to upnorthforgood@gmail.com.

Today we're sharing a brand new Gravel Guide for the Eau Claire, Wisconsin area. This guide includes top-to-bottom tools for planning an incredible gravel weekend and downtown escape in Eau Claire. It will be available publicly later this year or join the Adventure Team tier of our Patreon to get early access NOW. Eau Claire, Wisconsin is located at the confluence of two beautiful rivers and is a launchpad for three distinct gravel biking adventure clusters. Discover new gravel roads, happen upon unexpected rural gathering spots, then make it a full experience with downtown Eau Claire's vibrant city adventures. Inside the Eau Claire Gravel Guide 6 routes in 3 distinct gravel areas 260 miles to explore 4 top lodging picks Breakdown of 7 best restaurants 5 spots for evening drinks 3 spots for coffee 5 non-bike activities that locals love to make it a full weekend adventure Brick oven pizza camping destination Join the Adventure Team tier on Patreon to get early access to the Eau Claire Gravel Guide Now

In this shorter solo episode of the Northwoods Ramble, Seeley Dave goes through all the things in the bikepacking gear lending library that he has put together. Seeley area community members and visitors can borrow or rent this gear to try bikepacking without having to invest in all the expensive camping equipment and bikepacking-specific bags for something they may not like or have time to do often enough to justify the expense of owning everything. In this episode Dave describes the tents, quilts, air mattresses, bags and other gear, explains how they work, and their benefits and features. Items in the Bikepacking Gear Lending Library Below is a list of the Bikepacking Gear Lending Library Equipment available to loan as of this podcast. Email seeleydave2021@gmail.com if you are interested in borrowing any of it. 5 Salsa EXP Anything Cradle 5 Salsa EXP Dry Bag for Anything Cradle 5 Relevate Designs Terrapin 14L Seatpack 5 Big Agness Copper Spur HV UL2 Bikepacking Shelter 5 Exped Synmat Ultra 1R Mummy air mattress 5 Enlightened Equipment Apex 50° Quilt 5 Trekology pillows 5 BRS 3000T Stoves 1 (so far) Alpacka Raft Caribou RTS 1 (so far) Aqua Bound Whiskey 4 Piece Paddle Visit ⁠the episode webpage on www.lifeaboveeight.com for more info⁠.

Katrina and Tony Hase recently rode an extended version of the Mammoth Gravel Loop for a 213-mile trip right from their home near Hugo, Minnesota. Take a look at Katrina's recap video and photos here. Day 1 [45 Miles] We rode from Hugo to St. Croix Falls, camping at the Big Rock Creek campground. Day 2 [77 Miles] We headed northwest along the St. Croix River, through Governor Knowles State Forest, which had some sections of tricky sand. From there we headed east to Grantsburg, WI and entered the gorgeous Crex Meadows State Wildlife area, where we saw swans, Sandhill Cranes, Blue-winged Teal and other waterfowl, deer, turtles and more. We ended the day at Banach Lake Campsite, a single site that requires you to book in advance (we booked it through AirBnB). The site has a picnic table and open pit toilet, but no water, garbage or other amenities. Day 3 [91 Miles] After breakfast in Webster at the Chuckwagon Diner (highly recommend!!), we started out on a long slog down the Gandy Dancer trail, a rails-to-trail project that preserves a nice portion of land on either side, but gets a bit repetitive for riding. After lunch at 3 Arrows Coffee Company in St. Croix Falls, we headed back to Hugo on a variety of surfaces.

The Coon Fork 40 is a new beach-to-beach gravel ride adventure that was recently announced and will take place on August 26 in Augusta, Wisconsin. The Nxrth is collaborating on this event and we want to give it a warm introduction and invite you to ride with us. Race options include 28, 44, and 88 miles. Learn more about the race and register at the Coon Fork 40 . The inaugural Coon Fork 40 gravel ride is coming up in August where you can traverse deep swaths of pine forests, classic Amish farm country, and picturesque Wisconsin waterways on beautiful gravel roads through Eau Claire and Clark County lands. It's the backyard gravel roads I (Josh from The Nxrth) love escaping to for weekend gravel rides and also happens to be on the same roads we ride for Gravel Pizza in September. Not sure what bike to ride? Anything is fair game — a gravel bike, mountain bike, fat bike, or a road bike with beefier tires would all do the trick. Three Routes to Choose From The Coon Fork 40 features a deeply wooded signature route of 44 miles with 1,600 feet of elevation. You’ll see classic Amish farms, waterways both big and small, and plenty of towering Wisconsin pines. Want something longer or shorter? They’ve got it. How about 28 miles and 1,000 of elevation? Or maybe go all the way to 88 miles with 3,000 feet. There’s something for everyone, and all rides feature 85% or more gravel riding with a few paved connectors. All rides feature the Halfway Hang stop at roughly the mid-way point at Rock Dam with snacks, music, the beach, and more. 4 Things You'll Love About the Coon Fork 40 1. Group Rollout at the Hidden Waterfall Bridge I've ridden these roads a whole bunch of times and actually did't know this bridge over Coon Fork Creek existed. Get off grid with us and explore new bridges, towering pine forests, janky double track, rolling gravel, and of course the lakes. 2. The Halfway Hang at the Beach in Rock Dam Plan a midway stop in the lakeside town of Rock Dam at the wooded lake beach pavilion for the Halfway Hang. Whether you stay for five minutes or forty, with tunes and good vibes all around, here you can refuel with free snacks and beverages, or cool off with a dip in the lake thanks to changing rooms right on site. 3. Finish Line After Party at Coon Fork Beach After crossing the finish line at the hidden waterfall bridge, make your way back to Coon Fork Beach for the after party. Invite the whole family or friend gang to join you for music, food, fun, beer, and swimming. Plus awards for top finishers in their categories. After riders enjoy their free beer and brat, support CORBA through additional food and beverage purchases. 4. Friends, Family, and Camping Camping is available at the Coon Fork starting point as well as the Rock Dam halfway hang. You can bring your family and friends for the whole weekend or just the after party at Coon Fork beach with playground, restrooms, food, and drinks. Learn more about the race and register at the Coon Fork 40 .

Driftless Provisions makes award-winning salami with humanely-raised heritage pork right in Viroqua, Wisconsin. We've been throwing it frame bags to bring on gravel charcuterie rides and share some initial thoughts here. Driftless Provisions produces Pork, Venison, and Bison salami in Viroqua, Wisconsin. To learn more visit Driftless Provisions or follow them in Instagram . From the Root Cellar to Your Charcuterie Board HQ'd in Viroqua, Wisconsin, Driftless Provisions is all about the art of local, thoughtful, and definitely awesome salami. They're deeply rooted in the connection between the land, animals, farmers, and people. Founded by Ryan and Kristen Wagner, their journey began where all good journeys begin, in a root cellar. It was there that Ryan learned the art of salami and developed unique profiles that pay tribute to European traditions while embodying an American spirit. Inspired by the area's rolling landscape, trout streams, and small family farms, Ryan's vision was to share the heart of the Driftless area by bringing it right to tables near and far. Gathering around the table, enjoying good food and drink, and sharing stories of the field has always been at the heart of their mission. Driftless Provisions' dedicated team works together to create premium products that not only celebrate the land, animals, and farmers, but also invite people to experience a taste of the Driftless themselves. Sourcing & Ingredients Their products are all created around the idea of thoughtful sourcing and the use of pure, simple ingredients. Pork is exclusively sourced from Berkshire hogs, a heritage breed raised without the use of antibiotics, hormones, or animal byproducts. Locally sourced grass-fed beef, honey, and maple syrup are common ingredients throughout their salami line. In 2022, Driftless Provisions completely eliminated synthetic nitrates from its entire product line and maintain a commitment to never use artificial additives and fillers. Does it Pass the Gravel Charcuterie Test? We've recently been enjoying the beautiful art of gravel charcuterie and took Driftless Provisions out on several rides. It has been lovingly Voile-strapped to fork blades and slipped in a couple frame bags for mid ride snacks with friends and lakeside destination rides with family. Salamis come in 4.5oz packages with a 1oz serving size. That's pretty much the perfect size for shoving in a half frame bag. It's plenty of meat for a few people but it's not too big to fit around your pump, spare tube, and multitool. Bring a knife or you're going to have to eat it like a barbarian and charcuterie should clearly be kept fancy. Even if you ride like a houligan, you should eat like royalty. All this needs for pairing is a nice hard cheese. You can build your spread out however you like, but even keeping it simple with just salami and cheese makes for a memorable mini-dining experience. Sure, there are plenty of salami options in the grocery store, but I love the simple high quality ingredients from Driftless Provisions. It's a premium taste with a whole bunch of flavor and meat options. And I love that it connects me right to some of our region's best land for bike adventures, the Driftless region with it's beautiful hills, rivers, trees, and community. To learn more visit Driftless Provisions or follow them in Instagram .

Paul Reardon owns Blue Steel Bikes which specializes in custom steel and titanium frame building in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Working in the bike industry for over 30 years, he talks about getting into frame building, being a race mechanic, and helping put on the Winson County Gravel Cup. Learn more at Blue Steel Bikes or keep up on new builds on Instagram . One bike at a time?! How did you decide to commit to the custom model rather than build production bikes? There are a number of reasons we only do custom. I think the first reason is fit. If the bike does not fit, you won't enjoy riding it. There are so many factors involved in getting a bike to fit your needs. We are fortunate enough to work with Dr. Deb Slota of Bike and Body in Milwaukee. Every client gets a clinical fit from Deb. This is beneficial for everyone involved. Desired ride quality and handling characteristics are all discussed at length in the initial consultation. We aim to build you the bike that will ride, and perform just like you dreamed of. From components to tubing selection, we discuss every aspect of your new bike. Thirdly, I think every bike should be special. I have worked in factories welding and I don't ever want BSB to be that soulless. We do not do any production frames. One at a time. If you want a small, medium, or large bike, there are plenty of companies that do that really well. It doesn't take much to come up with frame geometry and email it to someone to build 1000 frames in Asia for you. Where is the fun in that? Built for you, not ordered for you. After all, picking the color doesn't make it custom. I also really enjoy working with the clients. Seeing what they want to build, and why. Every aspect of the bike goes through my hands, and that is what brings me joy. Watching a bike come to life, and then seeing that bike 10 years down the road, still going strong is what it is all about. What are your favorite builds or projects that you work on? Favorite projects? I think they are all favorites in a way. Each one is a project, and presents new challenges. We are always trying new things, sometimes they work out great, and sometimes they do not. I think that keeps things fresh and exciting and makes each frame something to remember. What is the etching/anodizing you do on those frames? That stuff looks sick. We offer a number of finishing options. All but paint are done in house. My lovely wife Liz is the art department, she works with the client to design any graphics on the bike. We started anodizing a few years ago, a lot of trial and error to get to where we are today. It has been a fun and sometimes frustrating learning experience. When we add the anodizing with the etching, it can produce some pretty cool effects. It is really enjoyable to watch the finish work liven up a frame. We also have been working with Adam from NYF Paint , he does some amazing work. How on earth did you get into frame building? It seems like a wildly technical process that takes a steep learning curve just to make your first frame, no? Oh boy. I have been working on bikes over 30 years at this point in my life. When I moved to Wisconsin in 2005, I went to welding school, and was working on and off in that field when I got a phone call from Darrel Anders, the owner of Blue Dog Customs in Viroqua. He was selling all his framebuilding supplies. I figured this was the next logical step in life. I worked on and off with Darrel for about a year, and he shared his knowledge on frame building. Everything was built with files and a torch for the first 5 or 6 years. In 2016 I went to the United Bicycle Institute and did their titanium frame building program. This gave me the confidence to start to machine and tig weld frames, as well as build with titanium. Ti gravel bikes are the majority of our business these days although we build a few steel frames here and there. Variety is the spice of life. What about your riding? What do you like to ride and where do you like to go? Well I am making an effort to ride much more this year as I didn't ride much the past few years. Being the location of La Cross and its proximity to Iowa and Minnesota, I have amazing gravel just a few miles away. Insert shameless plug for the Winston County Gravel Cup here. I prefer gravel over all other riding, beautiful scenery and usually no traffic. It is my mental house cleaning time to relax a bit. I work as a race mechanic all summer and travel a lot, but I am taking my bike on the road this year. Exploring new places, and finding fun people to ride with is not a bad way to be. What kind of impact did the pandemic have on BSB and were you ever worried you'd make it through? The pandemic just was a tough few years for a lot of small business owners. I am thankful for the other shop owners in the La Crosse area who worked together to get through the rough patches. We have a great community here. The parts shortage put a strain on things, but generally people were understanding and we made it through. We pivoted away from our mobile bike shop as repair parts were very difficult to obtain, focusing a bit more on the race mechanic aspect of our lives. Traveling all summer and spending time in the shop building in the winter has been a pretty good balance the past few years. We always encourage people who are interested in having a frame built, or just interested in the process to give us a shout when in the La Crosse area. We would be more than happy to show you around the shop, and let you see how we do things. As always, frame inquiries are always welcome. We have a few more slots for this winters build season. Learn more at Blue Steel Bikes or keep up on new builds on Instagram .

Epic Bike Fest recently took place in Cable, WI on June 10 and 11. Maria Osowski took second place overall in the women's division and just shared a personal recap of her experience. Epic Bike Fest features a combination of single track and gravel over two days, challenging riders on hilly terrain and ski trail sections. Words by Maria Osowski Photos by American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Looking ahead at races for 2023 with the goal of riding the stages race in Leadville, the SRAM Epic Bike Fest was an obvious choice for me. Having ridden and raced bikes for nearly 16 years, the Birkie and CAMBA trails have a special place in my heart. Two big events back-to-back is fun and a new endurance challenge to tackle. I love to ride single track but have never been excellent at it. I love to ride the old-style trails and enjoy the new flow trails as well. Epic Bike Fest offered a great serving of both. The terrain and flow of the trails keep you on your toes and always looking out for the next corner. The ski trail sections were a nice place to hydrate and eat, but did not offer a flat course to cruise. It's amazing how they can find so many hills. The American Birkebeiner has put a massive amount of time and effort into the Trek Trails at Mt. Telemark Village in the last half a year. This was a very fun addition after a grueling 30+ miles. I was feeling fatigued in the last 10 miles and enjoyed the smooth flowy surface. I was a bit disappointed in my time, but sometimes we have to enjoy the ride and do what we are able. Sunday’s gravel race was another day to ride trails and roads I know and enjoy. Gravel and cross country races like this, and the Chequamegon 40, are my favorite. Not exactly road races, but a bit more relaxed than single track. I had a goal in mind and was going to work to complete it. After the roll-out and left onto Randysek Road the race was off with a healthy amount of climbing. The roads were in good shape and true to Cable area style there were several rough ATV trails, some single track, and bits of sand. I was able to stick with a gal I have ridden with before and soon picked up another gal and a few men. We kept this group for nearly the entire race. It was a blast to go back and forth with these women, each of us taking a turn and jumping back in, not willing to let too many bikes between us and end up behind a big gap. Back and forth, each pushing the other to keep our riding strong. After the water station, with 22 miles left, the group began to break up. The stop took a fair amount of time and then a crash slowed us down. After a small can of coke, I was feeling ready to keep going. I was able to ride ahead and put a really nice gap in at Camp 38 road. Sometimes you just have to relax and let the bike fly over the loose and soft stuff. In the end, I did not make my desired time, but no women did. It was a wonderful and adventurous course. Thank you to the Birkie for continuing to host this event. The changes and additions of trails are a blast to ride. To be able to ride enough in a busy life of work and kids, events and schedules, and do well at this event is a good feeling. Always moving forward and setting new goals for the summer and winter. Looking forward to my next adventures on these trails and may have to come again just to play. Epic Gravel Recap Video

The 10th anniversary of the Filthy 50 is taking place on Saturday, October 14 in Lanesboro, Minnesota with registration for 1,000 riders opening on June 21. To celebrate the 10th year, we're taking a trip through the past 9 years of Filthy races with 1 photo from every year. To learn more or register for this year's event, head to The Filthy 50 . Photos and captions contributed by Trenton Raygor. Year 1: 2013 209 riders started out the inaugural year. Year 2: 2014 The Filthy has always been about family. Eric Roedel has lined up every year. After his first year, he started bringing his kids along for the ride. Year 3: 2015 Those fall colors just hit different when you're riding a bicycle. Year 4: 2016 The Dusty 50 just doesn't have the same ring to it. Year 5 :2017 Every year there are miles of smiles out there. Filthy fun is infectious. Year 6: 2018 The name was earned. This was the first tough weather year. This was also the first year that "The Crapper" appeared on course. Year 7: 2019 It started to snow mid ride, yet spirits remained high. Year 8: 2021 1000 Filthy riders returned to downtown Lanesboro after a year off for the pandemic. We needed this more than we could have imagined. Year 9: 2022 Grub Hill is a truly magical place. You don't want to miss it. Year 10: 2023 The 10th anniversary of the Filthy 50 is taking place on Saturday, October 14, 2023. Head over to The Filthy 50 to get registered or to learn more.

ROAM Adventure Basecamp is a tiny gem tucked on the CAMBA trails in the woods near Seeley, Wisconsin. The Scandinavian inspired adventure cabins and camp sites are located right in the heart of mountain bike trails, endless gravel roads, and cross country ski trails. We recently caught up with Suzann Mouw to hear the ROAM story; enjoy! To learn more about ROAM Adventure Basecamp, visit their website or follow them on Instagram and Facebook . Moving up to Seeley and Building ROAM Suzann and Mo Mouw originally built a second home and moved to Seeley, WI to split their time 20 years ago, wanting to live trailside and enjoy the many adventures that would be right out their front door. They wanted to invite more outdoor enthusiasts to experience trailside living and broke ground on ROAM Adventure Basecamp in 2016 and opened in 2017. Today, ROAM is just a 10-minute bike ride through the CAMBA trails away from their house and continue to be a rewarding (and growing) project that brings more and more people in the Seeley area outdoor adventure community. Heck, they were even featured in Outside Magazine as one of Ten Perfect Fall Adventures. ROAM as an Outdoor Adventure Hub The awesome thing about ROAM is that it's an adventurous intersection of outdoor activities. It's not a sport specific venue; it's just in the middle of the woods where you can go do tons of different things without even needing to drive anywhere. You can ride right out of your cabin and link up with a whole bunch of CAMBA mountain bike trails or get onto an endless network of gravel roads and double track. Paddlers also enjoy ROAM as its located near the Namekagon river. And that's just in the summer months. In the winter, the cabins are nicely heated (and frankly look beautiful against the fluffy white landscape). Groomed fat bike trails connect right up to ROAM as do cross country ski trails. The sauna is incredible; honestly winter might be my favorite time to be up there, personally. Getting Through the Pandemic I asked Suzann about the pandemic. The pandemic was a weird thing (duh, right?) because of the hit-or-miss way that it helped or hurt different businesses and industries. Early in the pandemic it was unclear what was considered an "essential service" and whether or not ROAM was allowed to open back up for guest reservations. After making a call to their local representative in Madison, they got the 'all clear' as an 'essential service' and ended up re-opening even before the Forest Service opened their campground. The nice thing about ROAM is that there is no place to congregate publicly. No visitors' center to check in, no on-site venue for food and drink, just isolated cabins with robust air exchange built in which made it a perfect place for people to escape during the pandemic and launch into outdoor adventures and connect with the trails. Even the sauna worked out great during the pandemic. They switched from an open-use policy to a sign-up sheet so guests could stay separate from other parties and the sign up slots were so popular, they've just continue to use that system even after the pandemic. Building Gordy's View Winter Bike Trail In 2022 ROAM was instrumental in creating a new connector trail that opened up for winter fat biking and cross country skiing called Gordy's View trail. It connects the Seeley Pass trails near ROAM to the Seeley Hills trails closer to Seeley. It is named after the late Gary "Gordy" Penman who owned the Sawmill Saloon, helped create the silent sports community around Seeley, and dreamed of adding this kind of connector trail to the trail network. Gordy's View is a 6-foot wide trail that's maintained by ROAM and is rideable all winter. A little different than the groomed single track trails in the area, the width of Gordy's View trail makes it easier to enjoy the woods and and look around without being as tight to the trees. New Gravel Route Library from ROAM As interest in gravel biking continues to grow, ROAM has been busy creating a new collection of great gravel routes right around their basecamp. The routes sample all the great gravel roads around Seeley, Cable, the Namekagon River, and Lake Helane, among other spots. Stay tuned to their Facebook and Instagram pages for more routes. They have several distances and are all ready to ride or can be used to build longer or shorter versions.

For the second Northwoods Ramble, Seeley Dave and TJ are joined by Joe Vadeboncoeur, who after 30 years with Trek is now working with TJ at the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation to build a mountain bike park at the site of the former Telemark Lodge. In this show, TJ first gives an update on the Ride The Keweenaw Family enduro he and his daughter races in Copper Harbor, then they all talk about the new Trek Trails powered by OTM (One Track Mind Foundation) at Telemark Village. Joe also gives a solid overview of the Epic Bike Fest coming this weekend on the first episode of the new Northwoods Ramble video podcast. Seeley Dave heads to Marinette County for the ribbon cutting at their new Strong Falls Trails. He gets lost for a while but finally makes it to the great new trails for a ride and snaps some photos. Listen in and hear what he thinks of the wicked trails built wicked fast. Finally, Seeley Dave gives his Woods and Weather report in which he describes the latest wildflowers and the guys wonder what is the difference between a weed and a wild flower. Watch on YouTube Listen on Spotify