Top of the World Tour

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You will feel like you're on top of the world when you pedal this high-flyin' route in one of the most bicycling-friendly parts of the state. The route is part of the course for an annual event of the same name held each August and part of the welcome mat Trempealeau County rolls out for bicyclists. Trempealeau County is rural and folksy. Its largest town barely tops 2,000. So, when someone says "Hi, we're glad you came" they really mean it. The county's unique Trail Steward Program links hundreds of places you're welcome to stop for water, fix a mechanical problem, use a phone, or just take a break. Marked by a blue circle/bike silhouette Trail Steward sign, these sites are a nice touch that says "welcome". In another nice touch, the Bicycle Club of Trempealeau County has produced a system of 383 on-road miles in 14 loop tours that showcase the best the county has to offer. Appealing routes like "Ride with the Eagles," "The Peaceful Kingdom," "Big Sky Country," and "The Daydream Trail" put plenty of bikes on car racks headed back to Trempealeau County. The route names only hint at how good your experience will be. To help you choose a route, handy color-coded bar graphs show the amount of easy, moderate and difficult riding as well as mileage. In a rural county like Trempealeau the attractions are mainly pastoral. Pleasant small towns augment the superb scenery. In Whitehall the old train depot is being restored as the cornerstone of its Main Street revival that now features a cafe/deli in the old bank building. At the south end of town the Oak Park Inn, an incredible garden spot and Classic Revival mansion, is now a B&B. While a quick glance at this course's profile makes it clear that it's not an easy ride, you can lower the bar a bit by riding out-and-back between Whitehall and Independence. That 14-mile round trip is a pleasant roll through the flat bottomland of the Trempealeau River valley. As in Whitehall, architectural gems are a highlight of your ride through Independence. St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, noted for its glorious stained glass windows, has been a linchpin of the community's Polish population for more than 100 years. The spectacular City Hall and Opera House has been refurbished as a community center. Following the loop south of Independence, it's up, up and away as you climb nearly 400 feet to Cty. N & D. The four miles you ride atop Square Bluff bring some of the best views anywhere; literally a new vista around every bend. Of course, the descents are plenty of fun too. At the intersection of Cty. N & D, Fagerness Church stands out as a picturesque ridge-top beacon. Back in Whitehall, you're only 38 miles from Trempealeau and the Mississippi River. There, Perrot State Park offers riverside camping, fishing, boating and mountain biking among the park's scenic 500-foot bluffs. In town, you can watch river traffic lock-through Lock & Dam No. 6. The observation platform is a perfect vantage to see river tugs push rafts of 110-foot barges through the lock. This "Top of the World" tour is typical of the quality of the bicycling opportunities in Trempealeau County. If it's your first ride here, it won't be your last. You'll return again and again to this quintessentially bicycle-friendly part of the state.

18137 Anderson St
Whitehall, WI 54773

Sunday, August 17, 2008, 8am Registration. 9am Ride Begins.

23-60 Mile Tour