Madison, Wisconsin, embraces pedal-powered touring

[steven johnson]

Madison, Wisconsin, would be a bibycling 'heaven-on-earth' if the bitterly cold winters didn't intervene.

The City of Madison is so proactive that, after a big snowfall, plows begin clearing the main bike routes at 4 a.m. The aim, according to the city's Web site, is to have the routes "traversable by the morning commute." And if Chicago lands its 2016 Olympic bid, cyclists from the world over will be descending on Madison to compete on its streets.

" is part of the culture," explained Mark Clear, an alderman and the CEO of a small software company. He makes the 14-mile round trip to work atop his studded-tire-equipped 10-speed, except in the worst conditions.

Despite the sometimes-bone-chilling climate, Madison continually ranks among America's most bicycle-friendly cities. Three years ago, Outside magazine described the cycling scene here as "inclusive, enlightened accessible." It could easily have added "inviting," because the city boasts more than 100 miles of bike routes, many of which offer an ideal way to see the city's sights -- from its Frank Lloyd Wright-designed civic center to the state Capitol to the two beautiful lakes that are just a stone's skip away.

If tossing your bike in the trunk or strapping it to a carrier for the 21/2-hour drive from Chicago to Madison sounds too much like work, several downtown bicycle shops rent bikes, beginning at about $10 a day. Outside one of them, Machinery Row Bicycles on Williamson Street, there's even a vending machine that dispenses everything from air pumps to inner tubes. The kiosk has a TV screen with on-demand videos demonstrating how to make simple repairs.

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