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Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News June 29, 2005 - Rudolph, Rapids welcomes bikers By Angelica Herrera, Daily Tribune Staff More bicycles than cars whizzed through Rudolph's Main Street on Tuesday. About 900 bicycles weaved through Rudolph, then continued their journey to Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids for the 20th annual "GReat Annual Bicycle Adventure Along the Wisconsin River." The ride, which began Saturday in Eagle River at the headwaters of the Wisconsin River near the Michigan border, is scheduled to end Saturday at the junction of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers in Prairie du Chien, according to the GRABAAWR Web site. By the time the bicyclists finish their trip, they will have traveled 490 miles - an average of about 70 miles a day. Local residents and businesses were more than happy to host the bicyclists. The Rudolph Community Progress Initiative team encouraged businesses such as Pete's Market, Dairy State Cheese and Oasis Restaurant to prepare for the bicyclists' arrival. "We invited them to come out and participate, because bicyclists would be expecting them," said Kathy Hartjef, the Rudolph Community Progress Initiative co-chairwoman. Other organizations that worked to accommodate the bicyclists in Rudolph included the Parent Teacher Service and Girl Scout Brownies, whose cookie profits were donated to the Community Progress Initiative. Since the Country Christmas Group participated in last year's rest stop, Hartjef said group members happily donated their time and advertising space to inform the community about the bike ride. "People enjoy it and are very welcoming to the bikers," Hartjef said. "Lots of youngsters like to come to town to watch them because it's quite an event to see that many bikers at one time." Today, riders will stop in Nekoosa's United Church of Christ, 205 Market St. between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. before they continue on their journey. Nekoosa residents Cindy Dorr and her sister, Lynette Hilgers, have collaborated with the church during the event for 10 years. Tasty breakfast items and good conversation lures bikers to the sisters' concession stand, Dorr said. "I like to chat with them while they rest," she said. "It's a lot of work organizing it, but we've had so much fun that we keep doing it." Bike riders said the friendly reception they receive at the stops is one of the main reasons they participate each year. When Beth McClure of Decatur, Ill., and her husband, Mark, arrived in Rudolph, people were waiting to serve them. "Everyone was really friendly and polite, and it looked like everyone was eating ice cream," Beth said. "You keep going back because people are so nice. We haven't been attacked by dogs or been honked at. And thankfully, nobody has tried running us off the road."
		Copyright © 2005, Community Progress Initiative, South Wood County & Town of Rome