Silent Sports Sounds Off

A New York Times reporter rode the Arcadia Memorial Tour, event No. 2 in the Tour de Trempeleau and wrote a lovely account published in today’s “Escapes” section of the nation’s leading newspaper.

Stephen Regenold writes, “Trempealeau has 382 miles of paved roads, according to the Trempealeau Chamber of Commerce, ribbons of dark asphalt and concrete laced over a wedge of bluffs, farm fields and tributary ravines in a county less than 20 miles wide. Go to Iowa or Indiana and you’ll find similar countryside, though the gravel roads in much of rural America are unaccommodating to the thin tires of a road bike.”

The Times paraphrases Loren Mooney, editor in chief of Bicycling Magazine in New York, acknowledging that “Wisconsin is known as a bike-friendly state, with good roads and trails, though Trempealeau is not on the national radar.”

Well, until now.

That’s fine, though, given the story’s wonderful description of Trempeleau’s terrain and information such as this:

“In 1999, in an effort to attract visitors, the Trempealeau County Tourism Council hired a consultant to promote road biking, which had been popular among local residents since the 1980s. The result was a booklet guide to riding that described 14 popular road loop routes. A stewardship program prompted 200 households to display blue signs on driveway posts, denoting volunteer assistance for bikers in need of mechanical repair, water or a bathroom break. ‘You just knock on the front door and ask,’ Mr. McKernan said.”

– Joel Patenaude

If you are too, check us out here or by searching for “Silent Sports Magazine.”

Join the Facebook group and post comments, photos, videos and network with other silent sportsters.

This is just another means to set the “silent” aside long enough to share your enjoyment for aerobic and nonmotorized outdoor recreation in the upper Midwest.

– Joel Patenaude

The 2nd annual Fallen Heroes 5K Run/Walk scheduled for Sept. 13 in Merrill, Wis., has been cancelled, according to an email received today by Silent Sports from race organizer Bill Baker.

“Fallen Heroes has been unfortunately cancelled. I have been called to active duty and can find nobody else to run the event. I apologize for the inconvenience,” Baker wrote.

The event was to be put on by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1638 and Ladies Auxiliary with the proceeds donated to Merrill Cross Country and American Gold Star Mothers.

It is unfotunate the Fallen Heroes race will not take place. But on behalf of the magazine and the silent ports community, I wish Bill safe passage and thank him for his military service.

– Joel Patenaude