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LANCE ARMSTRONG DISPLAYS PRO-BEER STICKER FROM MILWAUKEE FAT TIRE TOUR ON NATIONAL TV
FORMER SILENT SPORTS WRITER TRADES FOR THE CHAMPION'S AUTOGRAPH
Thanks to a former Silent Sports scribe, the world now knows Lance Armstrong's secret to success. On the
road to his unprecedented sixth Tour de France victory, Armstrong confounded his critics by crediting "the amazing healing power of beer."
This bold claim was emblazoned on a small sticker Armstrong held up to an Outdoor Life Network camera
operator on the last episode of "The Lance Chronicles." Armstrong, in good humor, implied that this was the
information sought but not obtained by a French TV crew that had tried to infiltrate his room a week earlier.
Until then, the stickers praising beer had circulated only among participants in the long-running annual Fat Tire Tour of Milwaukee. That was until tour founder and organizer Phil Van Valkenberg, a former columnist
and associate editor of Silent Sports, gave a few of the stickers to Armstrong.
Van Valkenberg attended this year's Tour de France, his fourth. "My goal at this year's tour was to slip him
some stickers knowing how he likes to hoist a few in Paris," he said. "I gave them to him when I got his autograph before the start at Bourg d' Oisans the morning after the Alpe d' Huez time trial."
Van Valkenberg made the stickers available as the cycling champion and other members of the U.S. Postal Team signed the Wisconsinite's souvenir Tour de France book. Van Valkenberg said he didn't actually see
Armstrong pocket the stickers. But on camera soon after, Armstrong held up the sticker as an apparent
joke aimed at those who have accused him of "doping" despite the lack of evidence or the fact that he has never failed a drug test.
"It was funny," the sticker distributor said. "It couldn't have been scripted better had he put the stickers on the forehead of (Armstrong's rock star girlfriend) Sheryl Crow."
Armstrong, Van Valkenberg surmised, must have slipped the stickers in his jersey pocket and had them on him when he won at Le Grand Bornand "his third mountain stage win in as many days; a feat I consider as
big as winning six overall titles in row."
Not a bad ride for stickers the Fat Tour founder himself used to make at Kinko's.
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FIREHOUSE 50 RACER DIES IN CRASH
Grand View, Wisconsin A 34-year-old male cyclist was killed in a crash during the final sprint of the Firehouse 50 race on July 31.
In the race to the finish line in Grand View, Wisconsin, Steve Hoff of Barron, Wisconsin, had reached an estimated speed of 40 mph on State Highway 63 when he collided with another rider. Hoff, who was
wearing a helmet, was thrown from his bike.
Hoff was airlifted to a Duluth hospital where he later died of head and body injuries, according to the
Bayfield County Sheriff's Department. The other rider was not seriously injured.
Another accident occurred on the last turn of the race, according to The Daily Press of Ashland, Wisconsin,
but both riders got back on their bikes and crossed the finish line. Bales of hay lined the side of the course where riders often collide as they round the bend.
The Daily Press reported that an announcement before the race reminded riders to stay on the right side of
Highway 63. "Your behavior on Highway 63 will be the determining factor in whether this race continues," the announcer said through loudspeakers.
This was the first fatality in the 25-year history of the 50-mile race through Grand View, Cable and Drummond, Wisconsin.
A day later, race coordinator Chris Iverson said, "We're not sure what it will do to next year's event. Other participants assure us that these kind of things happen, but it shouldn't happen here."
Iverson said organizers were devastated by the tragedy. He said volunteers sweep debris from the course and ambulances staffed with EMTs follow the riders in case of accidents.
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ATV USE OF NORTH SHORE STATE TRAIL NOT TIMELY, MINNESOTA DNR SAYS
PUBLIC INPUT NEEDED FIRST; REROUTING MAY BE NECESSARY
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources commissioner Gene Merriam, recently announced that it is premature to act on requests to allow all-terrain vehicles use of a 48-mile stretch of the North Shore State Trail between Normanna Road in Duluth and Silver Bay.
The North Shore ATV Club, Cook County ATV Club and others have asked the DNR to open the trail to ATV use. Meanwhile, the Responsible Recreation Coalition and others have urged the DNR not to allow the use.
The 146-mile North Shore State Trail is separate from the Superior Hiking Trail and is open to snowmobiles during the winter but limited to hiking and other nonmotorized uses the rest of the year.
"Based on a recent field visit, it is apparent that we could not allow ATV use on the entire trail as it is now,"
Merriam said. "However, we believe that with certain reroutes and physical improvements, the trail could sustain ATV use."
Merriam said an evaluation and public process would need to be conducted to determine whether ATVs should be allowed on the trail. Such a process would require an evaluation of environmental concerns, user
conflicts, landowner concerns and costs associated with trail development, operation, maintenance and enforcement.
If a decision is made to allow ATV use on the trail, the DNR would need to obtain approval from the U.S. Forest Service and all other landowners before any change in use designation could be allowed.
"We do not allow ATVs to use the trail at this time," Merriam said. "And if we were to consider a change in the future, that decision would be made only after a very public process."
Merriam added the agency's immediate priority is to complete its state forest inventory and trail designation processes. He said this is necessary so the DNR can do a better job of managing ATV use in state forests.
"We intend to provide riding opportunities for ATV users," Merriam said, "but this must be done in a way
that is transparent to the public, consistent with our mission, and in line with our priorities."
For information about off-highway vehicle laws, see the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us.
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WISCONSIN CHEESE PERFECT FUEL FOR BIKE TOUR
Wisconsin Bicyclists will pedal their way through southwest Wisconsin this fall as part of the recreational "Europe in Your Backyard" bike tour, and along the way, they'll be feted with some of the best Wisconsin specialty cheeses.
The six-day tour will wind its way through several Wisconsin communities, showcasing unique shops, historical sites, ethnic cuisine, locally made cheeses and picturesque landscapes found only in America's
Dairyland. The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) is a sponsor of the event.
"The tour is less about cycling and more about a culture and cuisine experience," said Karl Gutknecht, the
event organizer and president of Cycle Ventures International, a Wisconsin firm that offers European cycling tours.
Tour participants will experience Wisconsin cheeses on several occasions, including an opening wine and cheese reception in Fitchburg, a "Meet the Cheesemakers" event at Maple Leaf Cheese Haus in New
Glarus and a wine and cheese brunch at Little Norway in Blue Mounds. They'll taste everything from aged cheddar to smoked gouda to an exceptional Swiss cheese fondue. In addition, participants can also enjoy
other local products that perfectly complement Wisconsin cheeses, including fresh-pressed apple cider, honey crisp apples, Old World Bavarian style beers and wines.
"There isn't a tour like this anywhere else in Wisconsin," Peter Leuer, local markets marketing manager for
WMMB, asserted. "This is an excellent opportunity to sample the very best cheeses offered anywhere in the world and to meet the cheesemakers who represent the generations of family-owned cheese plants. The
heritage has its roots in the late 1840s when European immigrants began making cheese in this area."
The tour will start Sunday, October 3, in Fitchburg. Monday, October 4, the bike riders will proceed to
Paoli and New Glarus. Tuesday, October 5, will be spent between New Glarus and Monroe, with a return trip to New Glarus. Participants will make their way to Yellowstone Lake State Park and Mineral Point on
Wednesday, October 6, and onto Dodgeville and Spring Green the following day. Friday, October 8, will be spent visiting Dodgeville, Little Norway and Mount Horeb before returning to Fitchburg.
Tour stops include Voegeli's Brown Swiss dairy farm, the Eplegaarden Orchard and several cheese stores. There will be time to visit local attractions such as artist studios, antique shops, state parks and museums.
To learn more about the "Europe in Your Backyard" bike tour or to register, visit www.bikewi.com or call 888/804-0688.
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CHICAGO HALF MARATHON ANNOUNCES HUMAN SPIRIT AWARD
Chicago, Illinois Nine thousand runners from throughout Chicago's diverse ethnic neighborhoods and suburbs are gearing up to run in the eighth annual Chicago Half Marathon on Sunday, September 19, along scenic South Lake Shore Drive with a start/finish line at the Museum of Science and Industry.
Ranked as one of the Top 10 half marathons in the country, and this year exceeding all records for entries, the Chicago Half Marathon will award Devine Racing's newly created Human Spirit Award.
Devine Racing's unique Human Spirit Award recognizes individual triumphs over adversity, illustrates each runner's passion for the sport and highlights personal stories that inspire others.
"The Human Spirit Award will be given to the athlete who best conveys the spirit of the Chicago Half
Marathon," said race director Susan Nicholl. "Our race is unique in that it truly reflects the diversity and
variety that is Chicago. We put a human face on each runner all of whom run for a different reason and with a different passion."
Potential recipients will be judged based on the following criteria:
How the person exemplifies outstanding character, can-do spirit and perseverance
Overcomes significant obstacles, setbacks (personal and/or physical) to complete the half marathon
Is elected for consideration by at least two people outside of immediate family
Exhibits traits that inspire, motivate and captivate
Everyone registered to run is eligible, and candidates will be judged by a panel from the Chicago Half Marathon as well as Devine Racing. Three people will be selected as finalists; one will be selected as the
Human Spirit Recipient for 2004.
Deadline for entries is September 10. To submit stories via e-mail, please address to thehalfmarathon@aol.com.
Devine race chairman Chris Devine said, "We are involved with numerous marathons throughout the United States, and launched the Human Spirit Award in our recent inaugural marathon in Salt Lake City. We
continue the tradition here with the Chicago Half, and will expand to include all our other marathon involvement around the country."
For more information about the Chicago Half Marathon, visit www.chicagohalfmarathon.com or call
312/347-0233.
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CHICAGOLAND BICYCLE FEDERATION SEEKS TRAIL UPGRADE INPUT
The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation is hosting meetings throughout Cook County to solicit input from trail users and other stakeholders and formalize recommendations to make the most of the Cook County Forest Preserve District's trail system.
Earlier this year the Cook County Forest Preserve District's board of commissioners resolved to establish a
working partnership with the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation to improve bicycle safety and trails. The two entities are to collaborate on the development of recommendations to make the most of Cook County's
resources and attract state, federal and private funds to make bicycling on county trails and roads safer, more enjoyable and more attractive to use.
The first three meetings were to take place in Chicago (August 17), Oak Park (August 24) and Morton Grove (August 25). The final two meetings will take place in northwest and southern Cook County in mid-
to late September. The meetings are open to the public.
For more information, contact the federation at 312/427-3325 or check out www.biketraffic.org.
The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation was founded in 1985 to improve the bicycling environment in the seven-county Chicago region. The federation promotes bicycle safety, education and facilities and
encourages the use of the bicycle as an energy efficient, economical and nonpolluting form of transportation and as a healthy and enjoyable form of recreation.
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NEW SCENIC CENTURY RIDE IN HAYWARD, SEPTEMBER 26
Hayward, Wisconsin For the past few decades, Main Street Hayward has been best known for the finish of the American Birkebeiner cross-country skiing marathon and the start of the Chequamegon 40 mountain
bike race. It's been a silent sports venue for much longer though.
An aged Sawyer County Historical Society photo shows a cadre of stylin' cyclists men in suits and women
in skirts and puff-sleeved blouses lined up on Main Street for an early 20th century ride. It was right about then, 1904 to be exact, when the Hayward Carnegie Library opened its doors in the lumber mill town
bringing the gift of knowledge to the double-bladed ax crowd.
Now, a century later, the library will celebrate with the Hayward Library Fall Century Tour on Sunday,
September 26. Part of the Hayward Fall Festival celebration, the ride will top off the season with super scenic 100-mile, 100-kilometer, 44-, 29- and 15-mile loops. There will be 20 lake views on the 100-mile route.
The ride is a tour, not a race, but people are encouraged to choose a loop as a fitness goal. Certificates of completion will be given to all those who finish the 100-mile tour in under eight hours, the first 62
participants under six hours, 44 under five hours, 29 under four hours and 15 under three hours.
Entry fees include a special family price for up to four people.
Live music by the popular Buddy Scott Band, pumpkin pie and beverages will be included at the finish as part of the festivities. Two fall festivals in the area Cable's on Friday and Saturday and Hayward's on
Saturday will make for a great Northwoods weekend with lots to do.
The ride is a benefit event for the Hayward Library Building Fund. It will start at the site where the new
library will be built, one mile west of U.S. Highway 63 on State Highway 77, where riders will have immediate access to scenic Northwoods roads.
Start times for 100-mile and kilometer riders will be 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 10 a.m. to noon for the other distance riders. For more information, visit www.haywardlakes.com or contact hlibrary@hayward.nwls.lib.wi.us, or call 715/634-2161.
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FIRST HILL COUNTRY TRAIL AND RIVER CHALLENGE, SEPTEMBER 25
West-central Wisconsin the New England of the Midwest will play host to the first ever Hill Country Trail and River Challenge on Saturday, September 25.
The challenge, sponsored by the Hill Country Chamber of Commerce, will start in Hillsboro with a 5-mile run to the next town of Union Center. There competitors will board canoes and enjoy a rapid 6-mile canoe
trip on the Baraboo River to the next town of Wonewoc. In Wonewoc, competitors will grab their bikes and pedal 8 miles to the city of Elroy on the State 400 Trail. The race will end in Elroy's Commons.
The course is a great way to see the rugged landscape, clear-running streams and mighty rivers of Wisconsin.
The communities on the route offer almost all the conveniences of the large cities, with a hospital,
convenience stores, parks, hotels, motels, B&Bs, swimming pools, campgrounds, state parks, unique shops, restaurants, museums, entertainment and dining and, above all, friendly and helpful people that will
welcome you to the area.
Race check-in time for the Hill Country Trail and River Challenge will be 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. at the Field's
Veteran's Memorial Park boat launch in Hillsboro located on State Highway 80, rain or shine. The race will start at 9 a.m. at the same location.
There will be a $20 preregistration fee per person that can be sent in before September 15. Registrants will
receive a bike trail pass for the day of the event and a T-shirt. Canoes can be rented. Registration will be $30 after September 15.
You must be 14 years of age or older to enter. If you are under 18, you must have a parent or guardian's signature. You can register as an individual or as a team of two to four people. There will be three award
categories: individual female, individual male and team.
For more information contact race director Mark Sullivan, a physical therapist at St. Joseph's Memorial
Hospital in Hillsboro, at 608/489-8260 or write to him at P.O. Box 527, Hillsboro, WI 54634.
Online registration forms and rules can be found at www.hillcountrywi.com. Registration forms can also be
obtained by writing the Hill Country Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 83, Union Center, WI 53962 or by calling 608/462-2245.
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REI & LEAVE NO TRACE LAUNCH KIDS' ETHICS EDUCATION PROGRAM
A new program designed to educate children about the outdoors and the responsible use of public lands was recently announced by outdoor retailer Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) and the Leave No Trace
Center for Outdoor Ethics.
The Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids (PEAK) program, based on the seven Leave No Trace
principles of environmental ethics, aims to teach minimum impact outdoor skills to children between the ages of 6 and 12. Incorporating elements of experiential and environmental education, the program includes four
lessons, each with activities designed for different age groups.
Components of the PEAK program feature a variety of fun and colorful illustrated characters. Coupled with
hands-on activities and interactive games, the program engages children with important environmental messages in an entertaining manner.
"We're thrilled about the new PEAK program because it's easy, fun and engages youth in an interactive,
experiential setting," said Dana Watts, executive director of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.
"Since each of the four activities can be delivered in 30 to 60 minutes, PEAK will meet the various needs of educators and organizations with an interest in responsible use of the outdoors."
The free program, packaged in REI backpacks, is offered in two user-friendly versions. One is designed for use by REI employees for in-store and community presentations, and the other is available for use by
educators, camp directors, youth group leaders, outdoor guides and individuals interested in teaching about the maintenance and preservation of shared public lands for future generations.
For details, contact the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics at 800/332-4100 or visit www.LNT.org. Youth groups interested in scheduling a free in-store or community presentation by an REI
employee can contact their local REI store for details.
Leave No Trace is a nonprofit education program with a mission to promote and inspire responsible
outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. Leave No Trace partners with land managers, outdoor retailers, manufacturers, educators, user groups, youth organizations, guides and
individuals interested in maintaining and preserving shared public lands for future generations.
REI is an outdoor retail co-op that operates retail stores nationwide, two online stores and an adventure
travel company.
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LATEST WISCONSIN BIKING GUIDE FEATURES NEW TRAILS AND TOURS
The latest edition of the free Wisconsin Biking Guide includes 15 new trails and tours. Bicycling enthusiasts will find five new road tours, five new mountain bike trails and five new linear trails. The free guide, one of
the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's most popular publications, provides information about 30 rides statewide.
The compact format means the guide is small enough to throw in a backpack, yet it's packed with helpful information such as detailed maps, trail facts, route descriptions and photographs. The guide also includes
listings of Wisconsin's top biking events.
Phil Van Valkenberg, a former Silent Sports columnist and associate editor, served as editor of the fifth
edition of the Wisconsin Biking Guide. He served as editor of the four previous guides and has written many silent sport titles.
The guide can be ordered by calling the Wisconsin DOT's live-operated info line at 800/432-TRIP(8747) or by visiting www.travelwisconsin.com. Travelers can also obtain guides and information at Wisconsin
Travel Information Centers located in select state border cities.
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IOWANS SEEK RESOURCES FUNDING IMPROVEMENT
Iowa Citing the need for more local authority and full funding for the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program, 75 elected delegates on July 17 voted in favor of major changes to the 15-year-old,
multi-million dollar program that supports clean water, parks, habitat and historical resources in Iowa.
Enacted in 1989, the REAP program is steered by delegates elected from across Iowa who gather every
two years to tell the legislature, governor and natural resources commission what the program needs to support those resources. The REAP Congress focused on two primary issues: funding REAP at the $20
million per year that is authorized in the REAP Act, and strengthening the grassroots structure of REAP.
DNR director Jeff Vonk said the Congress provided the components of a "full funding action plan" in which
the delegates and other REAP stakeholders will participate. Delegates heard findings from an Iowa State University study that prove state investments in outdoor recreation are effective in growing local economies.
" The REAP Alliance is composed of more than 30 conservation and cultural organizations in Iowa.
Vonk said votes also favored making counties have a REAP plan before any REAP funds can be expended
in a county.
"The delegates wanted strong county REAP committees and asked that the income from the sale of the
natural resource license plates (the goldfinch/wild rose specialty plate) come back to the county where the plate was sold, instead of going to the statewide REAP fund," Vonk explained. Those funds would target
local resource priorities.
The four state departments involved in REAP (DNR, Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Cultural Affairs
and the Department of Transportation) will work with the REAP Alliance to further develop the REAP Congress' proposals over the next month. Vonk said several state laws, administrative rules and polices
would have to change to meet the objectives of the Congress.
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