2024 RAW Mixed Surfaces
Paved Roads & Crushed Limestone Trails
Bikes welcome on RAW: road, gravel, triathlon, mountain, hybrid, electric, recumbent, handcycle, fat, tandem… if we didn’t list your bike, drop us a line and we’ll let you know if it’s welcome… chances are, it is!
This year, the route can be done on a mix of low-traffic paved roads, crushed limestone non-motorized trails, and paved bike trails OR an all paved route (road & paved trails). So, which bike should you ride? The choice is yours, as pretty much any bike will work for this route. To help you decide, consider the following information below.
Our mixed-surface route uses the La Crosse River Trail, the Elroy-Sparta Trail, the 400 Trail, and the Glacial Drumlin Trail which all have crushed limestone surfaces. When they are dry, the surface is very firm and a road bike with 25mm tires would be a good, fast option. Of course, wider tires offer more comfort on crushed limestone, but that comfort comes with a little more rolling resistance, just as it does on a paved road.
After it rains, the limestone trails can become soft and a 28mm tire is the narrowest recommended width. Many modern road bikes will fit 28mm tires and drop-bar gravel/all-road bikes now have room for up to two-inch-wide tires.
Riders have opted to travel by fat bike and even tandems to make RAW even more challenging. While that might only be for a very few riders, it does prove that you can finish RAW on pretty much any bike if you have the fitness, mental strength, and will.
E-Bike Across Wisconsin
235 miles is no joke, but it can be so much more fun on an electric bike. Anyone is welcome to ride an ebike on RAW, self-supported. There will be power strips for rider use at all rest stops except Merrimac Ferry. Be sure to bring your charger with you!
Generally, most high-quality brand batteries last 40-60 miles when used on elevation and course conditions similar to the RAW route. Having an extra battery and a personal SAG is the way that seems to provide e-bike riders with the best experience.
