Northern Route

The ride has many rolling hills along shouldered state roads and quiet county highways. Riders vary between the ages of young teens to eighty years old!  Daily miles are 66 on Friday, 64 on Saturday and 35 on Sunday. There is an enclosed trailer for clothes and sleeping gear that our SAG persons haul from Hayward to The Highground. Typical rest stops are scheduled between 10 and 15 miles with plenty of water and snack items.

The Northern Route begins in Hayward on Friday morning around 8:30am from the Veterans Center, which is downtown right off Highway 27. Most riders come up on Thursday and sleep overnight at the center using sleeping bags, cots or air mattresses. Some people choose to stay overnight at the motels in the Hayward community. The Hayward Legion serves breakfast Friday morning around 7am.  Riders are checked in and SAG persons start on Thursday from 7-9pm and again on Friday morning from 7-8am. Friday’s ride takes the Northern Route through Exeland for lunch and then to Ladysmith. The group then stays overnight at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School where showers are available. Two different ladies auxiliaries feed us supper and breakfast.

Saturday: On Saturday morning at 8am, the group heads out for Thorp via Cornell (the American Legion Auxiliary in Cornell provides an amazing lunch). Riders are encouraged to bring their swimsuits as the Legion pays for everyone on the route to use the city pool, shower and swim. After that, bring your appetite as the Legion provides a wonderful supper! At Thorp, the group also holds an in-group raffle. The cost is $1 per ticket and whoever would like to bring an item is encouraged to do so. The route then stays overnight at the Thorp Legion. Tent spaces are also available onsite and is encouraged as the site can be a little crowded.

Sunday: On Sunday morning, we leave for The Highground at 8am and get there around 11:30am. Because the ride travels through small towns with few meal opportunities, the ride typically collects donations for the groups that feed them. The suggested donation is $2 per meal. Riders are responsible for getting themselves to Hayward and home from The Highground. Our riders come from all over, however, so the route leaders can typically help set up a ride for you if needed.

If anyone is interested, there is also an additional mileage that can add to their weekend as a small group rides from Chili to Hayward before the official ride. For details, contact Mike at 715-937-6786.

Things to Bring

• Bike, helmet, extra inner tubes, etc.
• Sleeping bag, air mattress or cot
• Towels for showers
• Chairs if you like to join the group outside in the evening
• Meals and drinks are provided. Please feel free to bring snacks to share
• We have several SAG drivers to help haul gear to The Highground
• Please make your own arrangement for the ride home