Ride 32 - Big Buck

Just before sunrise on the Military Ridge Trail. 10/24/26 dwm

One reason I enjoy riding in the hour after sunrise is that when I'm most likely to see wildlife.

 

I frequently see deer along the trail grazing but Saturday was the first time in years that I saw a white-tailed buck.

 

I came around a curve when I saw the buck standing on asphalt path looking to a nearby field when I caught his attention. He didn't take off right away, instead he turned back from where he came and slowly disappeared into the brush.

 

Saturday was warmer than normal but I regretted not bringing the pair of garden gloves I keep above my bike in the garage because my hands were the only parts of my body that were cold.

 

A recently painted tunnel. 10/24/26 dwm

 An hour into the ride my hands started warming up. An hour later I took off the long-sleeve t-shirt I used to keep my arms warm and reduce exposure to the sun.

 

 There were more runners and walkers on the trails early in the day than bikes, but that's likely because the personally generated wind-chill can be an issue until things warm up.

 

 The Military Ridge is my usual route into Madison, so it's a routine for the first seven miles of each ride is on the state trail. It was the ride a week earlier that I noticed one of the tunnels under a street had been painted.

 

 I wasn't sure when, but I'm on it so often, I'm convinced it was within the last month or so. A number of local groups were involved according to a sign painted on the mural, including Verona's Exploration Academy. 

 

 I like the work with dozens of birds in flight high on the walls and ceiling, it's an excellent addition to the trail. (See more photos below.)

 

 The last couple of weeks I've stuck with a couple of paths that offer nice trails to get a lot of miles. This was my final time riding across Madison into Sun Prairie and back. 

 

On the Sun Prairie Loop. 10/24/26 dm

Originally I was going to split the last 120 miles into two rides but since October 24, 2026 was so nice I thought it would be helpful to do some extra miles so the last ride is shorter than my usual routes. That way, if it is cold next week, I won't be in it as long.

 

Ride 32 was a great day to ride one of my favorite routes; I'm planning to wrap up my bike season next week, if the Lord and weather allow. 

Tale of the Bike Computer:

Distance: 70 miles 

Ave. Speed: 15 mph

Time in the Saddle:  4 hours, 39 minutes

 

The tunnel is under Sprocket Drive in an industrial park. 10/24/26 dwm

All photos by David Mossner 10/24/2026