Announcing RAW 2025
In 2015, 460 people took part in the inaugural Ride Across Wisconsin (RAW) – riding 175 miles from the Mississippi River in Dubuque to the shore of Lake Michigan in Kenosha. There were hills (6,886 feet of climbing), unique rest stops, low stress country roads, and a wonderful support team. Most importantly, RAW became Wisconsin’s annual ride that actually benefits cycling by raising money for the Bike Fed.
A lot about RAW has remained the same — including the RAW team. Tom Schuler, Bicycle Hall of Famer and former 7-Eleven Team Pro, is still course director, my predecessor (Seeley) Dave Schlabowske is still dreaming up ways to make it better and taking the amazing photos, Wheel & Sprocket is providing expert ride support, and Borah and Trek are providing gear and hospitality. But while RAW has been much the same, the only thing constant over RAW’s history is change – new routes, rest stops and mileage options have been introduced to keep it fresh for participants and organizers.
2025 is our 10th RAW and we are taking a victory lap. And by lap, we mean a loop…around the confluence of the crystal clear Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers in beautiful Eau Claire! What’s more, it will be a one-day event on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
There are many reasons for these changes: we want to show off more of the amazing cycling in our state, we want to give communities that are not on the border the opportunity to “host”, we want more daylight, and – yes- we just want to try something new.
Now, before you hop on social media to tell us that we’ve ruined RAW, your summer, or maybe even your life…we are just going to have to ask you to trust us. The scenery will be stunning. The course will be challenging. It is going to be fun, and dare we say it…the experience is going to be epic.
As Executive Director Kirsten Finn’s hero Todd Poquette, of the Marji Gesick Customer Disservice Team, would say: “Get Ready, Or Don’t. It’s up to you.” But we hope you will…because RAW would really not be the same without YOU.
RAW 2024 Could Not Have Been Better!
“This was the best ride I have ever done” was the initial feedback heard time and time again at this year’s Ride Across Wisconsin. Perhaps it was the tailwind, the overcast skies, the yummy food and nutrition at each stop, or the wonderful support from our RAW crew? Whatever it was, it had 750 participants with smiles on their faces as big as Wisconsin corn on an August day.
This year’s event offered riders the opportunity to finish in Wisconsin Dells, Trek headquarters in Waterloo or at a new iconic finish line at City Lights Brewing Company in Milwaukee. Each leg of the ride provided its own challenges but also provided some of the most breathtaking views Wisconsin has to offer. Did you get the ice cream at the Merrimac Ferry or pet the baby cows at Sassy Cow Creamery? We would love to see your pictures and hear your stories from the road as we value your enthusiasm and feedback!
RAW takes months of training for participants. But it also takes a year of planning and hard work on the part of the RAW committee to make it come together. The Bike Fed is incredibly grateful to Amelia Kegel, and the whole Wheel & Sprocket crew for being the masters of logistics – loading and unloading bikes, making repairs, and getting people, luggage and supplies where they needed to go. Course masters Tom Schuler and Bob Anderson surveyed conditions and marked routes and Todd Clark made last minute route adjustments. Randi Pueschner and the Smith’s Bike Shop team were wonderful hosts at the starting line in La Crosse. Thank you also to the rest stop hosts Bike Sparta, Elroy Chamber of Commerce, Bicycle Doctor in Dousman, and the unparalleled hospitality of Trek Bicycle Company. We also want to give a special thank you to Aaron Kirby from Poppy Waterman Ice Arena in Wisconsin Dells and his daughters volleyball team for helping with our halfway point cookout.
This year’s sponsors and donors also included Kwik Trip, Gillette Pepsi, Flyway Trail, Capital Brewery, Chamois Butt’r, Explore LaCrosse, Visit Milwaukee, GoMacro bars, Bobo’s, Thule, and Kewaskum Foods. We also want to thank our colleagues at Wisconsin DNR for putting up signs and keeping our trails so beautiful!
Most importantly, RAW is a fundraiser for the Wisconsin Bike Fed. Thank you to everyone who rode, volunteered, donated or raised money to make Wisconsin an even better place to ride a bike. A huge shout out to the six fundraising VIPs: Bridget Geboy-Helfenstein, Gordon Faulkner, Tom Haunty, Timothy Lensmire, Joe Mamayek and Alicia Bosscher.
If you have not yet made a donation but would like to support the Bike Fed, please visit the Ride Across Wisconsin website. If you missed out on getting some sweet RAW merch you can check out the Borah Store for custom jerseys and bibs or the Bike Fed website for mugs, t-shirts, water bottles and stickers.
What an incredible weekend – and the perfect “last hurrah” (or maybe just “goodbye for now”) to our La Crosse to Milwaukee route.
Fun, epic, hard – worth it!
Why Ride Across Wisconsin with the Bike Fed in 2025?
- The Bike Fed loves showing off some of Wisconsin’s best trails and beautiful low-traffic dairy roads and this was our last year featuring the La Crosse to Milwaukee route. The new route for 2025 is a loop around Eau Claire, offering a 180 mile, 100 mile or 13 mile ride.
- We were so proud to welcome riders from all over the country – plus international riders – and help them experience amazing Wisconsin bicycling and hospitality.
- RAW contributes to Wisconsin’s economy through hotel rooms, restaurant meals, attractions visited, gas purchased, and local bike shops supported by RAW participants and their families and friends.
- The camaraderie of 750 cyclists rolling out from La Crosse on August 17th, 2024 – plus the energy of the RAW organizing team, sponsors and volunteers – is nothing short of electric.
Family Fun! We had several families ride 13 beautiful miles from Sparta to Norwalk and they loved every minute of it.
