Original News: Please don’t ride at Badger Prairie County Park at this time. As you all know the race at Badger Prairie was extremely wet and muddy. The organizing team, 5Nines, is working with Dane County Parks to make repairs the park. They are working currently determining the best course of action in terms of rolling some of the rutted areas. In addition the team has purchased grass seed and are prepared to spread it after the rough areas have been rolled smooth. The team will be organizing a work day to get this done and will be inviting local riders to join them.

Due to upcoming weather and possible damage to the grounds at Lime Kiln Park, the Grafton Park & Rec. dept. will not let the event take place as scheduled for Saturday October 13th. – Please share with anyone you may know who that this may concern.

Any and all pre-registered riders will be refunded the full amount paid via BikeReg. (19)

Sorry for any inconveniences this may have caused.

Regards,

Grafton PumpkinCross – BVC cycling .

__._,_.___
Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic
Messages in this topic (1)
RECENT ACTIVITY: New Members 3
Visit Your Group
Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use
.

__,_._,___

Number pick up will start at 6pm and go until 8pm upstairs in the main speedway building. You can get some beer and snacks and meet all the top pros including Katie Compton and the rest of the Trek Cyclocross Collective. Other riders there will be Ryan Trebon, Tim Johnson, Jamey Driscoll, Meredith Miller, Troy Wells, Mo Bruno Roy and more. You can get autographs from 6-7pm as well.

However we need your help spreading the word to your friends and teammates that we still have volunteer needs.

Know someone in the medical profession or with first aid training? We still need staff for our First Aid tent on Sat at 8am, 1pm, and 3:30pm. On Sun we need someone at 8am, 10:30am and 3:30pm.

We need course crossing staff all day but especially in the morning shifts and desperately for the 3:30pm shift.

We need results/start list runners Sat at 8am, 1pm and 3:30pm. We need runners on Sun at 8am, 10:30am and 3:30pm.

For registration we need people at 6:30am, 9am and 11:30am. And then on Sun at 6:30am and 10:30am.

Then there are also course clean up and course set up shifts available.

You can sign up by going online to https://www.bikereg.com/NET/17351/USGP-Planet-Bike-Cup-Volunteer-Registration.

Please send this info to any teammates, friends, family, co-workers who might like to volunteer as we need to fill at least 65 more volunteer shifts!

More about Rebecca:  Rebecca told MadCross that she loves cyclocross because she loves the the energy, people, and the sport and she might also have a fondness for mud. Rebecca has also raced on the road as a pro for Kenda and recently has done some pro mountain bike racing as well.   Rebecca lives in Lakewood, CO but grew up in the Midatlantic/New England area. Amazingly Rebecca also is a doctor and practices part time while riding full time and is also pursuing a master’s degree in nutrition. Clearly she is a professional juggler to do all that!  Rebecca told MadCross, “I love to teach and hope I can show you a couple of things I have learned about cross and why I love it so much.”

The clinic will be held at the main shelter at Badger Prairie County Park which is located just up the hill from the Verona library.
Share
Tweet

Watch for more USGP news in the coming days!

• Sept. 11th - Dismounts, Remounts & Barriers
• Sept. 18th - Bike Handling & Cornering
• Sept. 25th - Starts & Strategy
• Oct. 2nd - Race Prep & Putting it all Together

Sept. 8 Sheboygan Bicycle Company Classic
Sept. 16 Lake Geneva Cross
Sept. 29 E.T. Twilight Cross, East Troy
Oct. 6 Cross the Domes, Milwaukee
Oct. 7 River Hill Park CX, Kewaskum
Oct. 13 Grafton Pumpkin Cross
Oct. 14 FurtherCross, Badger Prairie
Oct. 20 mwi Classic, Milwaukee
Oct. 21 Sun Prairie Cup
Oct. 27 Halloween Cross, Washington Park, Milwaukee
Nov. 3 Estabrook Park, Milwaukee
Nov. 10 UW Cam-Rock
Nov. 18 Hales Corners Cross, Milwaukee
Dec. 2 Booty Cross, Madison
Dec. 8 Wisconsin State CX Championships, Verona (final WCA event)

Non Series Races
Sept. 22 and 23 USGP Planet Bike Cup
Dec. 9 Midwest Regional CX Championships, Verona (no WCA points)\

WCA Cyclocross Facebook Page

MadCross.org publisher and USGP Planet Bike Cup Regional Director Renee Callaway has lived in Madison for over 20 years and has these suggestions to share for people looking to see some of the city or get something good to eat/drink. Because why travel all the way to Madison in January and not get out and about a little bit. Sure, you’ve come for the racing so mostly you’ll be at Badger Prairie County Park but it would be a travesty not to at least eat some good food and enjoy a local beer!

Where to Eat, Drink and Shop:

We’ll start with Verona since the racing is based there and because they stepped up to support the event.

A Local’s Perspective
Since I don’t actually live in Verona I thought I would turn to someone with more knowledge of this Madison suburb. Team MadCross rider and Verona business owner Lee Unwin had this to share: Bikes, Brew, and Beer are staples of any good event, so since you got your bike here are a just a couple places where you can find the other two. The Sow’s Ear 125 S Main St and Tuvalu Coffee 300 S Main St, Verona, WI are both great places to find excellent coffee and homemade sandwiches. Gray’s Tied House located on 950 Kimball Lane in Verona, will take care of all your micro-beer needs before or after your race.

Verona Breakfast
Technically located in Fitchburg but less than 3 miles to Badger Prairie County Park is the Pancake Café. Obviously you can get yourself all kinds of pancakes here but they also have all the traditional breakfast items and they open at 7am so if you don’t race first thing this is a good close location..

Verona Lunch/Dinner
One of the closest places to grab some food is the Draft House Bar and Restaurant. I think of this place as a sport’s bar with a lunch and dinner menu. They don’t have a lot for vegetarians besides one veggie burger option but if you want to grab a burger or hit up a fish fry then this would be a good choice. They open at 11am so if you want to get out of the cold this place is easily walkable from the Nationals parking area and the course.

Another popular Verona spot is Gray’s Tied House as mentioned by Lee. It’s probably best known for its beer so if you’d like to try out some local Wisconsin beer or soda this is your place. They have plenty of food options as well although once again limited vegetarian options. They do have a true Wisco burger combing the burger and brat.

I also asked USGP Planet Bike Cup Regional Director and Verona local, John Ericsson, for a few suggestions as well. He mentioned Cuco’s Mexican which is only about 2 blocks from the park. Another option would be The Klassic which is a standard Wisconsin style supper club and is located across from the host hotel. John says there are hearty food options but isn’t for the “vegan or organic foodie.” Another option John mentioned which is also just steps from the host hotel is Monte’s Pub & Grill which he says has pretty good food for a bar and grill as well as a hearty breakfast.

John had one final recommendation which is that everyone needs to know the location of Farm & Fleet. Yes, it’s technically got the word Farm in its name but it will have all kinds of things you might need – hand warmers, tarps, and other gear to keep you warm and dry. Plus it backs up to the park so it is easy to get to in a hurry.

Now on to exploring Madison which is well known for its foodie culture and for enjoying some beer drinking.

Madison Area Breakfast/Coffee
By far my favorite breakfast spot is on the near east side of Madison and is called Lazy Janes. Located at 1358 Williamson Street this is an amazing breakfast spot with the best scones in town. It is a funky old house turned diner with something for everyone. It can get busy though so give yourself a little extra time but don’t worry the line goes fast.

If you’re looking for a great breakfast in downtown Madison near the Capitol then check out Marigold’s. This place just does breakfast and lunch and they do it right. Or maybe you just want to grab a bagel – then check out Gotham Bagels for hand-rolled bagels, amazing bagel sandwiches, regular or tofu cream cheese and don’t be afraid to try the spicy pineapple juice. Located downtown at 112 E. Mifflin St or in my ‘hood just west of the Capitol at 702 Park Street.

Like many college towns you can find coffee shops everywhere – both local and national chains. If you’d like to check out local coffee shops then nothing is more Madison than Mother Fool’s coffee house located on the near eastside of Madison at 1101 Williamson Street. You’ll find local and fair trade coffee, locally made vegan pastries, great vegetarian/vegan soups, art displays, and a sweet graffiti art wall on the outside of the building.

How can you not like a coffee shop that offers a breakfast wrap called the Biker’s Dream Wrap? Barriques offers just such an item and they have a number of locations throughout the Madison area. The closest one to Verona is 5957 McKee Road in Fitchburg which is about 4.5 miles from Badger Prairie and they open at 6:30am. They also have locations throughout Madison so there is likely one near wherever you are staying. You will find coffee, light breakfast items, light lunch items and a great selection of wines.

Madison Area Lunch/Dinner
Madison has lots to offer when it comes to food. Madison was even recently featured by the New York Times Frugal Traveler when he came to town to enjoy some food, drink and biking.

First off are a couple of really good places that also just happen to be owned by a local cyclocross racer – Natt Spil and Weary Traveler. Close to the Capitol is Natt Spil at 211 King Steet. Natt Spil doesn’t have a sign so you have to pay attention to find it but it’s worth it. Every time I go I have the apple and brie pizza as it is an amazing combination. It is a smaller spot and it can get noisy as the night gets late but if you want to check out the downtown scene then stop here. The Weary Traveler is located on Madison’s popular near east side at 1201Williamson Street. There is something for everyone here – vegans and meat lovers alike. I like the West of the Andes sandwich with roasted vegetables but you really can’t go wrong here.

If you’re looking for lunch or dinner (brunch on Sunday) and you’re vegan or vegetarian then don’t miss the Green Owl Café located at 1970 Atwood Avenue (also on the near east side of Madison). If you’re looking for somewhere with gluten free options then check out Bunky’s Café which is probably the place in town best known for making gluten free eating easy. They also have vegan/vegetarian options. They also are on the near east side of Madison. Another near east side is my favorite Laotian restaurant – Lao-Laan Xang. This place has amazing mango curry and I can’t imagine you’ll be disappointed. Right across from Lao-Lann Xang at 2089 Atwood Ave is another place where meat eaters, vegetarians, vegans and gluten free eaters can be happy and that is Monty’s Blue Plate Diner which has brunch, lunch, dinner and a huge desert case.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the restaurant in town that I probably go to the most. It’s called Pasquals and it is located on 2534 Monroe Street. Pasquals is a southwestern style restaurant with burritos, enchiladas, and the like. However, the real reason to go is that they have the best margaritas in town but be forewarned that having two might not be the best thing for your racing but perfect for celebrating (or drowning your sorrows) afterwards.

If it’s upscale Wisconsin traditional food you’re looking for then you should go to The Old Fashioned which is located downtown by the Capitol. If you saw the Behind the Barriers episode from the USGP Planet Bike Cup then this is one of the locations that Jeremy hit up while in town. The Old Fashioned tries to capture the traditional spirit of Wisconsin supper club food but with a focus on making the best food possible. Yes, you will find cheeses of all kinds, sausages and bratwarts and without a doubt you will find the quintessential Wisconsin drink, an Old Fashioned.

Now what about some pizza – being a college town Madison has no lack of pizza places. Probably our most famous pizza place is Ian’s Pizza which gained international fame during the Wisconsin political protests this year as people from all over the world ordered pizzas for the protestors. Open until 2:30am Ian’s Pizza is also great for you late nighters and they also will make vegan pizzas on request.

Located just 6 miles from Badger Prairie in Fitchburg is Roman Candle Pizza which is always one of Madison’s favorites (with locations also in Middleton and the near east side of Madison). I’m a big fan of the Animal Lovers but others might enjoy the Vegan Destroyer or the Dead Man Walking (with every possible kind of meat).

If you’re looking for a more Belgian feel then check out Brasserie V on Madison’s near west side at 1923 Monroe St. They have over 150 beers available including 60 Belgian beers. They also serve lunch and dinner with options for frites, cheese plates, sandwiches and dinner entrees. Now if Brasserie V is busy then just down the street at 2611 Monroe Street is Jac’s which also has a good selection of Belgian and craft beers. They also serve frites, sandwiches and a small number of entrees.

Perhaps some of you are traveling with a reluctant significant other who doesn’t think a cyclocross race in Madison in January is their dream vacation. Maybe they would be happier if you splurged on a really nice dinner. In that case if money is no object then by all means go to L’Etoile. It’s not in my budget but everyone I know who has gone there raves about it and it is always receiving national accolades. Now if you want something upscale but maybe a little less pricey I would say that Osteria Papevero offers great Italian dining as does Lombardinos. Another great Capitol square establishment is Harvest which specializes in local, organic food. Or maybe you want great cuisine while also seeing some of the UW Madison campus. Then you can hit up Steenbocks on Orchard which is located in a UW-Madison building but offers local, organic and upscale. Or if you are looking for something a little bit different then check out the Peruvian food at Inka Heritage at 602 South Park Street (my ‘hood). This is a very popular local place that has brought Peruvian food to Madison in a good way.

Desserts
I know that everyone just wants to know where to get the best cupcakes in Madison (for those who aren’t lucky enough to get a MWI Cross cupcake). There are lots of places to get cupcakes in the Madison area but if you want to really get the best then go to Bloom Bake Shop. These are the best in town and feature regular cupcakes, cookies and whoopee pies along with vegan and gluten free. All of them are amazingly good and made with locally sourced ingredients. They are located at 1834 Parmenter Street in downtown Middleton (another suburb on the edge of Madison but well worth the drive if you want the best). You can get dessert many places in Madison but the best are Bloom Bake Shop, the Green Owl Café (referenced above as a great vegetarian/vegan place) and Monty’s Blue Plate Diner (listed above in the lunch/dinner section). I’ll leave it at that as those are the places I will go to with the idea of eating dessert.

Grocery Shopping
Some of you may be staying somewhere you can cook your own meals or maybe you just need to pick up some snack food to get you through the weekend. You’ll find plenty of grocery stores throughout Madison and in Verona. Millers and Sons grocery store is located on Main Street in Verona if you want a basic store that is super close to the venue. Locals tell me there is a good selection of both organic and gluten free items. However, if you need a bit more then you’ll want to go to the Willy Street Coop which is where I do pretty much all my grocery shopping. The coop has been offering natural and organic food sales since 1974. Located at 1221 Williamson Street or 6825 University Ave, Middleton you can find everything you need to fuel your race weekend – fruit, vegetables, deli counter and everything to cook up a huge meal. Sure we have Whole Foods and Trader Joes but check out the coop and experience Madison instead of stopping in a store that could be in anywhere USA.

Beer
Wisconsin loves its beer and Madison is no exception. Some places in particular were mentioned in the dining section but if you want to try a few local craft brewers then check out the local brew pubs – Ale Asylum, the Great Dane Brew Pub (site of Sunday night’s party) or Capital Brewery. You can also buy Ale Asylum and Capital Brewery beer at local liquor stores. Other popular Wisconsin beers you can pick up at a local liquor store include New Glarus Brewing, Potosi Brewing Company, Furthermore Beer and Sand Creek Brewing. All of these have had a connection to cycling in one way or another as an added bonus.

What if beer isn’t your thing? Don’t worry Wisconsinites like their hard alcohol too. Check out this article on Madison mixed drinks. Or check out Madison’s favorite distillery open Thursday through Saturday evenings.

America’s Dairyland – Cheese, Ice Cream and Frozen Custard
You’ve come to Wisconsin’s Dairyland so I would be amiss not to mention some great Wisconsin dairy products (especially since I grew up on a dairy farm and had an uncle who was a cheesemaker). One of Wisconsin’s great local cheese companies is Carr Valley Cheese. They have won many cheese awards and can be found in many top restaurants. You might enjoy the award winning Cave Aged Mellage which is made from a mix of sheep, goat and cow milk or perhaps just pick out an aged cheddar. Carr Valley Cheese is available at many local grocery stores or at their local store in Middleton. Another great Wisconsin cheese comes from Upland Cheese and is the Pleasant Ridge Reserve. Named Best Cheese by the American Cheese Society it is made in southwestern Wisconsin and it is an Alpine style cheese (like Gruyere). You can pick up either brand at the Willy Street Coop or at downtown Madison’s cheese store, Fromogination. While you’re in town pick up some cheese curds an item Wisconsin enjoys in great quantities – both squeaky fresh just out of the cheese vat or breaded then deep fried. You should find the squeaky ones at any grocery store and the deep fried at any local pub. Okay so maybe you want some great local ice cream – then you’re going to want some from Sassy Cow Creamery and you can get it at most grocery stores including Miller and Sons in Verona and the Willy Street Coop. However, perhaps you’ve heard that Wisconsin is crazy for frozen custard – then check out Michael’s Frozen Custard in Verona at 407 W. Verona Ave. Wisconsin isn’t called America’s Dairyland for nothing.

Bike Shops
Sometimes you arrive at a big event like Cyclocross Nationals and find that you forgot something or you’ve broken something. I know I appreciated some help I got from a great little bike shop in Providence when Nationals were there. Madison and surrounding areas are well stocked in bike shops. Verona has long been home to Atkins Bicycle Shop and also is now home to Rocket Bike Studio. Atkins is a traditional bike shop with a little of everything while Rocket Bike Studio is tailored to the serious cyclist. Rocket Bike Studio will be having some events during Nationals as well so you can go check it out.

In Madison there are so many bike shops it could take forever to mention them all so I will just highlight a few that should get you what you need. First off I will mention Williamson Bicycle Works since that is the shop that sponsors me (as well as Isaac who is a super-fast Madison cross guy). They have locations on West Washington Ave and East Washington Ave and should have anything you need/ Next up is Machinery Row Bicycles who are also home to about a zillion cross racing bike shop employees so will also be able to set you up with anything you need. Machinery Row will also be hosting Cyclocross Night where you meet the pros, eat frites and mussels and drink beer. The Women and Cyclocross event will also be taking place at Machinery Row. Madison is also home to small shops like Revolution Cycles and bigger places like Trek Bicycle Store and plenty of others in between.

Lodging
Obviously there is the host hotel and other partner hotels but if you’re looking for something a little bit different then The Arbor House is maybe the place. Located on Madison’s charming near westside has a sauna, a hot tub and is a Travel Green Wisconsin certified place. Maybe you’d like more of an apartment – then how about short term rentals such as Countryside Corporate Apartments. If you’re feeling desperate I have lined up host housing for some people as well but be forewarned most people have regulars they host because of the USGP. However, email me and I will see what I can do.

Other Stuff
If you want to check out town or if you’ve brought along some non-racers here’s some things to check out in Madison besides the Official and Unofficial Nationals events:

Check out some of Madison’s neighborhoods. Williamson Street (affectionately called Willy Street and considered Madison’s near east side) is home to great restaurants, coffee shops, the coop, and is one of Madison’s vibrant (although some would say “off beat”) neighborhoods. Here you will find the organic, the fair trade, the hemp, and all local. No big box allowed although somehow an Apple store has found a spot.

Madison’s competing neighborhood is the near west side’s Monroe St. Monroe Street also has tons of local shops (but is home to Trader Joes) and is a bit less bohemian. While you’re checking out Monroe Street make a stop into a little store at 1925 Monroe Street called A Stone’s Throw. A Stone’s Throw is a women’s outdoor clothing boutique that sponsors local cycling events and teams. There are plenty of opportunities to shop for kitchen wares, home goods and more.

Madison’s best known part of town is probably State Street which starts at the Capitol and runs all the way to the start of the UW Madison campus. State Street is a bike, pedestrian and transit mall filled with shops, restaurants, bars and more. Here you’ll find lots of interesting happenings with street musicians, an art museum, restaurants, and shops catering both to college students and to downtown condo dwellers.

If you have young kids you could go to the Madison Children’s Museum which is an amazing spot or you could hit up the Orpheum on Sat, Jan 7 for my favorite (no really) yo yo trickster, Mark Hayward.

In reality there is no lack of music, talks and other events happening in Madison. You can see a calendar online at The Daily Page. That should be enough to help you enjoy in Madison. If it isn’t go to the Greater Madison Visitor Bureau website. There is also some info on CX Magazine from recent Madison transplant Ted Burns - restaurants and beer.