Bike riding captured my interest in a serious way in the early 1980s. I was surprised when I found myself hooked after completing in a weeklong Milwaukee Sentinel (now Schramm’s) Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Wisconsin (SAGBRAW) bicycle tour. I discovered that the simplicity of pedaling outdoors with like-minded people was not only healthy but very enjoyable. At home in Milwaukee, I earnestly investigated ways to continue this activity.

I regularly participated in bike rides organized by Milwaukee’s Cream City Cycle Club, including purpose-oriented invitational rides, as well as ones I’d map myself. Although I appreciated most of the amenities of living in a large metropolitan area, early on I developed an aversion for riding on narrow city streets dominated by fast-moving, smelly vehicles under the command of inattentive drivers. Unquestionably, I favored the quiet, rural roads that were plentiful in Wisconsin’s scenic, farm-dotted countryside.

I maintained a “library” of bicycle rides that suited my style. I came across another in the August 1987 issue of Silent Sports. The headline “Cycling in Cedarburg: Quiet, rural roads await cyclists just minutes from Milwaukee” grabbed my attention. The article by Greg Stadler relayed the routes favored by Dave Eitel, an avid bicyclist and Cedar Creek potter, through the Cedarburg area. The engaging narrative was dripping with appealing descriptions of an area that was previously unfamiliar to me. Jumping out at me were words and phrases such as “perfect escape,” “peaceful,” “pastoral,” “babbling creek,” “tree-lined roads” and “pristine.” Adding to my interest was the assessment of the pleasant riding conditions: “varied terrain,” “gentle,” “pleasantly rolling tour and leisurely downgrade cruises.”

The story also listed attractive sights, including fieldstone barns, Cream City brick homes, a restaurant called “The Jailhouse,” a covered bridge and an octagon-shaped schoolhouse. All this was a mere 20 minutes away from me by car. I immediately wanted to pedal the longest of three recommended routes, a 32-miler. When I did it the next day, I was not disappointed.

Over the years, I’ve contentedly cranked out miles through the Cedarburg area dozens of times. That first ride I did continues to be one of my favorite routes. Periodically, I’ve strayed onto adjoining country roads, which has only added to the greatness of the riding there. I’ve come to prefer starting at Covered Bridge County Park and continuing on through the small hamlet of Newburg and, sometimes, northwest toward West Bend. I have explored a variety of other options in all directions but have consistently returned to the original route on those splendid roads. I’m happy to say the countryside has not changed significantly since 1987 to adversely affect those wonderful biking roads named Cedar Creek, Paradise, School, Church, Wausaukee, Washington, Hilly Lane, Hickory, Newark and Indian Lore.

In early spring, one of my first ventures of the biking season is the ride I call “The Cedarburg Spin.” My arrival roughly coincides with the return of migratory birds and other forms of life absent during the winter. Out on my bike, it isn’t long before I encounter feisty, territorial red-winged blackbirds fussing over my head, the distinct sound of returning sandhill cranes with their signature calls, cardinals darting across the road, and an abundance of spring peepers and chorus frogs calling intensely for mates.

Often on warm, sunny days, painted turtles bask on rocks and a single blue heron fishes along a short stretch of the route that parallels the gently flowing Cedar Creek. In the fall there are more deer and an occasional pheasant. Sometimes, my only companions are cows grazing in fields and hobby farm goats perched on their small houses. All add their unique, special ways to the pleasantness of each day.

This past winter, I had the good fortune of meeting the Silent Sports scribe who first introduced us to all this. Stadler and I happened to be cross-country skiing on a quiet weekend at McMiller Sports Center when a mutual friend, Jill Klysen, introduced us. I thanked him for the story. He said his writing these days has been pretty much restricted to comments he makes on papers turned in by the students he teaches at a Milwaukee middle school. He has kept up his association with a group of friends who at one time included Greg Marr, the founding editor of this magazine. Many of them were skiing with Stadler on the day we talked.

The encounter prompted me to try to look up Eitel in Cedarburg. Although he no longer owns the pottery shop, his work can be found at the still flourishing business. The current proprietor did not know whether Eitel still bikes.

Understandably, other bicycle riders have discovered the delightful Cedarburg vicinity. For example, the Missoula, Montana-based Adventure Cycling Association has utilized Wellspring, a bed and breakfast and conference center outside of Newburg, for a class on self-contained bike touring.

The Riveredge Nature Center in Newburg has sponsored a bike tour the last Sunday in June. The 18th annual Riveredge River Valley Ride will be held June 27 with an assortment of distances from seven to 100 miles. Many of the “Cedarburg Spin” roads are featured at that event.

With friends, I plan to tackle one of the longer routes so as to linger as long as possible in this delightful part of Wisconsin.

Jane Stoltz of St. Francis, Wisconsin, is a bicycle tour leader for Adventure Cycling Association. She completed the National Scenic Ice Age Trail as a segment hiker in April 2009. In addition to enjoying the outdoors in a variety of ways, she teaches English as a second language to adults in Milwaukee.

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