I’m hoping to get out and ride the loop this Sunday and was wondering if anyone has rode it recently and can provide info on the course? Is there any rode constrution? I know they lay down pea gravel and let the traffic pack it down. Any info would help Thanks.
From my understanding, there is a section in the hills with the gravel. Other than that - the loop is clear. Rode it last weekend.
Someone did post here within the past few days about the unpaved gravel section. Keep an eye out for that.
If you think of it, give us a report when you get back. A number of people are headed over there to ride the loop this weekend. Have a good ride!
I made my annual trek over on Tues and rode 2 loops to remind myself of the terrain. Tar and pea gravel had just been laid Mon or Tues. It begins just after the quarry area outside of Cross plains (when you turn onto Birch I believe) and continues up the long twisting climb and the 2nd steep climb. It ends where the newly paved section was done last year (West Old Sauk I believe). On Tuesday it was still loose but not terrible. Good news/bad news: if you ride the loop as you will on race day this section is all up hill sections so you don’t have to descend on this. If you go the other way (reverse loop) be careful.
Rest of loop is open and fine as of Tues
Thanks for the heads up. Is the course marked yet?
not except for the old/traditional lines and arrows and mdot things painted on the road from previous years. Then again I rode it enough times in 05-06 to do it in my sleep so I don’t pay that much attention 
Its been three years since the last time I rode it so the blue Mdots will help but I will have to bring along a cheat sheet. THanks
I was out there Wednesday and Thursday. I did the entire loop on Wednesday but was worried about getting a flat or falling because I was fish tailing on the pea size gravel which is on North Birch Trail and on my second attempt I wimped out and turned around . On Thursday it rained in the morning so I wasn’t taking my chances with the gravel. I started at Fireman’s Park and turned around where the Cross Plains aid station is. This makes for about a 50 mile out and back trip so a few more miles than the loop and I actually think climbing back up Garfoot and climbing up some of the hills on Sugar Valley made for a much harder trip than the loop.