City of Ironwood's Daily News Source

Hurley Rolls Out Red Carpet For Bike Tour

GRABAAWR® is a guided and supported bicycle tour which starts at the head-waters of the Wisconsin River in Hurley. The tour follows the 427-mile length of the river as it winds through the northwoods, to the central sands area and Wisconsin's Dairyland. The overnight stops this year started in Hurley then on the Lac du Flambeau, Tomahawk, Wausau, WI Rapids, Mauston, Baraboo and finish in Muscoda. The tour normally begins in Eagle River, however, schedule conflicts moved the starting point to Hurley.

The entire tour covers seven days of cycling - an average of 70 miles per day. Daily distances range from 55 miles to 85 miles. There is also is an optional century.

The tour consists of varying terrain a combination of rolling hills, flats and a few challenging hills along the way. The tour is expected to consists of 600 riders.

The tour is fully supported. Saturday most of the tour riders arrived at the Hurley School where the would sleep overnight, either outdoors in a 5-star tent or in the gymnasium. The city of Hurley provided a shuttle bus from the school to downtown where a full day and night of entertainment was on hand.

Tour riders arrived from all over the U.S. Saturday to the Hurley School which served as the staging area for their near 500 mile bike tour. Riders arrived by buses and by private transportation. The tour usually begins in Eagle River, however, this year due to a scheduling conflict the tour was moved to Hurley.

pictured above - (L) Mary and (R) Barb are Representatives of the Hurley Chamber of Commerce. They were on the scene as communications advisors to the tour group. Riders interviewed by IronwoodInfo were very pleased with the reception and facilities afforded the group by the city. Most were looking forward to an evening on Silver Street even though they had a big day ahead the following morning!

pictured above - Bob who arrived from Texas with two friends. They arrived by private transportation. Bob, went to school at the U of Wisconsin and enjoys coming back to the Northwoods whenever possible. Bob's bike came disassembled in that little box on right. Who would have THUNK!