¡Pick Me Up at the Border!
Pedal from Fitchburg to the Illinois border and back
Challenge yourself to an epic overnight gravel ride on the Badger State Trail! Once a protest of regulations that closed state trails overnight, the annual ride continues to support advocacy for biking and walking.
Bike Fitchburg’s annual fundraiser is not an ordinary ride! Departing at 7pm Friday evening, the strongest riders will visit the Jane Addams Trail trailhead at the Illinois state line and return a little after midnight. But the challenge is personal—participants choose their own speed and distance, from a family-friendly 10-mile ride to the edge of Fitchburg and back at dusk to the full, 80-mile border run. Strong lights and spare batteries are a must. In keeping with the challenge theme, the ride goes off whatever the weather. The title references the origin of the ride, protesting state Natural Resource regulation 45, which originally closed state parks and trails overnight. The first editions started at the State Capitol at midnight, and riders raced to the border for the honor of towing a bike trailer of food and drinks back to Madison—a mobile party! The Wisconsin Bike Fed and others lobbied for change, and in 2014 a bill became law to exempt state trail users from the state park curfew.
With the onerous regulation changed, the event evolved. It is now a fully permitted event organized by Bike Fitchburg, Inc., the local advocacy organization for biking and walking in the city. After a safety briefing by a League Cycling Instructor at sponsor Seminole Tap in Fitchburg, participants roll out at 7pm. They ride together south on the Badger State Trail where Fitchburg Police officers assist in the crossing of County Highway M. Riders then continue at their own pace for their own chosen distance.
The ride is generally self-supported, but sponsor Fitchburg Family Pharmacy provides snacks, cold drinks, and water at rest stops in Belleville, in Monticello, and at the state line. There is a 24-hour convenience store trailside in Monroe. Traditional SAG support is not provided, but a Bike Fitchburg volunteer stands ready to transport riders who can’t continue for medical or mechanical reasons. Helmets and state trail passes are required. One-day trail passes can be purchased online from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at the start.
To participate, riders sign a waiver and donate $20 or more online to Bike Fitchburg to support their programs throughout the year. These include youth education, recruiting Bicycle Friendly Businesses, a city-wide bike parking census and map, advocacy for biking and walking at city hall, and review of public and private projects, ordinances, and city budgets. Bike Fitchburg sponsors bike encouragement events and leads the city’s efforts to be a Bicycle Friendly Community with its partners, the city government and chamber of commerce.
Add this epic ride to your bucket list, find more information and the registration link here, and ride with us September 18!
Feature photo: Riders roll out from Seminole Tap in 2024 led by Thad Schumacher, the Cycling Pharmacist and owner of sponsor Fitchburg Family Pharmacy. (Photo by Bike Fitchburg)
Bike Fed Supporters Receive a Special Registration Discount!
Bike Fitchburg is offering a $10 registration discount to current Wisconsin Bike Fed supporters. That’s half off! (Additional donations of any amount are welcome.)
- Supporters who are eligible for the discount last received an email on June 24, 2026 with the exclusive code to enter during registration.
- Supporters who have not received an email communication with discount information, as well as new supporters who donate $50 or more, may contact the Donor Relations Team at donorservices@wisconsinbikefed.org or 414-626-1540 for questions and the codes.
Please note: discount codes may not be shared, transferred, or used to register others.