Elroy - Sparta Trail Ride

It's been at least ten years since I last rode the famous (among dedicated bikers) Elroy - Sparta Bike Trail.

My last ride was in 2004.  Before that it was 1981 and a year earlier in 1980 was my first time along the famous former rail corrider.

Just two years ago I ran a half-marathon along part of the 400 State Trail, which runs through Elroy, Wisconsin.  But returning for this ride remained on my to-do list.

It is 100 miles to the rail head in Elroy from home.  The trail is 32 miles long.  I was hoping to start early enough to make it the other end of the trail in time for lunch.
Elroy has a restored depot and auxiliary building to greet and offer amenities for riders, some of whom travel long distances to ride.

Leaving some of the extra clothes in the car didn't prove to be an option as a 10 mile an hour breeze created a chill while I was unloading.  The ear covers, gloves, and long-sleeve t-shirt were making the trip.

Yellow leaves were just one color that started my ride northwest toward Sparta with the first stop six miles up the trail in the small community of Kendall.  The breeze was a headwind - not bad when trees or hills created a windbreak, but a challenge at other times.

From Kendall, the next stop was 9 miles away.  But in this section was the first of the landmarks that gives the Elroy-Sparta trail its personality.  The no-frills named, Tunnel #1.

It's close to 1,700 feet long, fairly dry, and dark.  Light is provided from the openings at either end.

One thing about State bike trails is they really don't have many hills, so many riders can take advantage.  But, where there are train tunnels - that usually means hills created the situation to build the holes in the hills.  Those tunnels are usually a little lower than the natural peak.

Wilton is the second stop - greeting riders with a friendly caboose along the trail.  The town sends you on and up to Tunnel #2.

Those elevated tunnels meant trains had to climb the distance gradually.  As a biker, that's a benefit with a real mild grade as far as hill-climbing is concerned.  However, the hills just keep going and going and going.

Once through the tunnel, it means a long downhill, and soon I was in the next small community of Norwalk.

A creamery stands next to the old railroad bed that now hosts riders and walkers.  It's a popular spot for riders who don't want the full Elroy - Sparta experience to ride one direction or the other to see and experience a tunnel before back-tracking to their car.

My drive up took me through scattered showers that made way for sunshine when it was time for me to ride.  But after Tunnel #1, clouds covered the sun and seemed to kick up the breeze just a touch.  No more solar heating!


West of Norwalk is Tunnel #3.  It's three quarters of a mile.  It's dark.  It's wet; during construction a spring was sprung and it contributes to a regular light shower down the tunnel walls.

All the tunnels recommend walking the bike from end to end.  On #3, that's even more important as the slippery surface requires careful stepping.  A light proved very helpful in here.  The other tunnels I relied on natural light.

Down the hill from Norwalk and ten miles later I reached the end of the trail in Sparta.

Sparta is home to astronaut Deke Slayton and the self-proclaimed Bicycle Capital of America.

The Elroy - Sparta Trail is one of the earliest rails to trails conversions that took unused railroad lines to create public park spaces for recreation and transportation.

Fifty years later, old rail lines and public rights of way are being transformed into beautiful slices of nature and up close looks at farm fields and pastures.

There is a lot to share about my ride and I'll do it with you over the next several days.   The 72 mile trip took 5 hours and 45 minutes in my recumbent seat and kindled up some great memories.

Tomorrow - 1980 and 2014 converge and one of my best biking memories ever comes full circle.