Spring Break, Sheboygan Style

My friend Anthony was nice enough to invite me to stay at his place in Sheboygan, Wisconsin over spring break. It was a much-needed change of pace after a couple of months of engineering classes and exams and the harsh winter in Houghton. The weather was incredible during my stay, with temperatures getting above 60F on Monday and getting close to that again on Friday.

Frozen edge of Lake Michigan from Sheboygan, WI

Sheboygan is a surprisingly nice town to spend time in (I don’t know why I’m surprised, I just didn’t expect a whole lot), with a nice waterfront and a decent downtown area. We kept pretty busy, biking as much as possible as well as cooking whatever we felt like and meeting up with Anthony’s friends in town.

I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with his dogs as well. It seemed to help a little with how much I miss mine at home.

###Bike Shenanigans

My dirtjumping bike leaning against a planter with snow all around

I bought a dirtjumper from a guy on craigslist on the Monday of break (because I sure needed another mountain bike!). We took advantage of the weather and were able to get out riding every day from then on. We spend a lot of time just messing around in the streets by Anthony’s house, but also made a few trips for more excitement and variety.

Anthony riding his bike in a wet metal half-pipe

We spent a day acting like punks finding fun things to ride downtown, including stairs, barriers, walls, curbs, and parking lot islands. We even got kicked out of a motel parking lot, which was a first for me. It a remarkably pleasant experience.

The sport-level technical lines at Ray's MTB

During two of the colder days, we made the drive to Ray’s Indoor MTB park in Milwaukee. It’s a very unique bike park that is entirely contained within an old Menard’s building. The amount of terrain and riding features crammed inside is incredible. It takes a bit of getting used to, but I was pretty comfortable after visiting twice previously this year with the MTU cycling club.

Anthony riding one of the technical lines Anthony riding one of the technical lines Anthony riding the pumptrack

Ray’s has a fast and fun pumptrack and a foam pit along with all of their standard technical and jump trails. It’s a really good place to practice technique try out tricks that you wouldn’t be comfortable with otherwise, or just mess around.

Anthony at the top of the roll in to the foam pit jump Anthony practicing a 360 into the foam pit

###Paradigm Coffee & Music

Sheboygan is home to a Paradigm Coffee & Music, a really awesome coffee shop that is one of Anthony’s favorite hangouts. It has a vibrant but laid-back atmosphere, with high vaulted ceilings and bikes hanging from pillars everywhere. The furniture mostly consists of comfy old couches and low tables, and local artist’s displays decorate most of the walls.

There’s a stage and sound system set up for live music performances. They offer a good variety of food and drinks including reportedly excellent coffee from the Milwaukee roaster Collectivo. I highly recommend Paradigm’s Tangerine Ginger Tea and Zeus Sandwich.

###ReBike

The ReBike logo on a flyer

The basement of Paradigm is home to ReBike, Sheboygan’s bicycle rehabilitation program. Bikes are donated by community members, and then parted out or restored by volunteers during weekly Wednesday night sessions.

Everyone I met who was involved was very passionate about bikes and loved working there. There are similar programs in cities all around the world that have sprung up to help ensure that bikes don’t go to waste and the people have access to affordable, healthy, and environmentally friendly transportation.

The entrance to ReBike A kid's bike on one of the workstands The shelf of lubricants and other chemicals An antique firs aid kid box

Thanks to Anthony’s parents for being such gracious hosts over the break, and for putting up with all of our bikes scattered around their house.

§

comments powered by Disqus