For those of you lamenting the retirement of the BALLS ride there is a replacement ride in the works. We're calling it "Unsupported BALLS", it's not quite the same thing but it offers new challenges on the familiar route. Here's the overview:





The key change this year is the ride is completely unsupported, what you need you carry. This will a great chance to do a gear shakedown if you have a bikepacking trip planned this year, use that gear that is sitting around from a past adventure, or burn up that REI dividend you just got in the mail.





- Meet at Revolution Cycles on April 25 at 6am, the group departs at 7am.

- We'll follow the South West Commuter trail on to the Badger Trail and do essentially the old familiar route backwards with the exception that we will not do the Sugar River spur to Broadhead

- Ride to Monroe, hop on the good ol Cheese Country trail and head to Darlington which will be the stopping point for day 1. The first person to arrive at Darlington will be the first person to arrive at Darlington!

- There is a campground there which we'll the official home base for the night*. Again, this is self supported, you'll be carrying all our own stuff. There is also a hotel in Darlington so you can reduce your camping gear to a credit card if you like.

- After building up a good solid hangover in Darlington we'll take off the next morning to finish the loop on the Cheese Country, to Military ridge, a lap at Blue Mounds if the trails are open, a lap of Quarry Ridge if it's open, and back to Madison and to end up at Revolution Cycles.





That's it. Simple, challenging, fun. We have 6 people signed up so far and the gear discussions are already ramping up.





* The campground at Darlington does not take reservations, I'm working on that, so be prepared for some adventure when it comes time to setup camp if the ATVers are out in force. We have some alternate spots in mind.