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HISTORY of GRABAAWR®
Started in 1986, GRABAAWR® (Great Annual Bike Adventure Across the Wisconsin River) was first started by Bill Hauda. Bill invented GRABAAWR® after seeing the rising success of other bike tours, such as RAGBRAI™ in Iowa, and Wisconsin’s very own SAGBRAW™. However, GRABAAWR® was not the first bike tour to follow the Wisconsin River. In the 1970’s, there had been a precursor to GRABAAWR®. Two Wisconsin Valley Bicycle Tours were held, both following the course of the river. However, these tours were much smaller and attracted only about 20 participants.
In its first year, GRABAAWR® had 295 riders and traveled 457.4 miles. This first year, the tour traveled along the Wisconsin River from Land O’ Lakes to Prairie du Chien. Overnight stops included Rhinelander, Wausau, Wisconsin Rapids, Mauston, Portage and Spring Green. Riders were routed through Wisconsin Dells on their way to Portage which was popular with the riders. Temperatures that day soared into the 90’s and the Family Land water park in the Dells was a welcome relief. Other popular destinations on this first ride included the Consolidated Paper Company's mill, the Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese Factory in Rudolf, Point Brewing Co. in Stevens Point, Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac, Circus World Museum in Baraboo, American Players Theater and Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesen in Spring Green.
Over the years, the ride has grown in popularity as riders spread the word about the beautiful scenery. The 500 mile trek along the Wisconsin River is popular for a variety of reasons. The challenge alone of cycling along a natural feature like a river causes bikers to flock to the GRABAAWR® tour. Also, the Wisconsin River has many parks and swimming beaches along it, creating opportunities for the cyclists to swim and cool off along the way.
By 1995, the tour was at its largest. To ensure facilities are able to handle the crowd, the number of riders is limited. Today, the ride has approximately 1,200 cyclists coming from all over the country, and even some from outside the United States. In 1996, the tour even saw a famous face. Tommy Thompson, the Governor of Wisconsin, rode the 450 mile route.
After 20 years, 2006 was Bill’s final year as tour director. He looked for someone who would keep the integrity of GRABAAWR®, something that he had so diligently built up over two decades. In October of 2006, the tour changed hands. Kathy and Eric Schramm, owners of Two Bicycles and a Map, Ltd., took over GRABAAWR®.
Kathy and Eric had experience running bike tours as they had successfully run the Bike Northwoods Tour for 8 years and numerous tours in France. They jumped at the opportunity to expand their company and had numerous ideas on what they wanted to do to improve the tour and make it better for everyone. They are happy to be able to keep the GRABAAWR® legend going and hope that they can continue its legacy on for many years to come.
Hope you can join us!
"Fun filled days with friends. Have been on the tour for 14 years so it is always great to meet up with those people we only see on this ride. Always have a blast filling our days with laughs and a little exercise. It's always entertaining",
Mary Van Der Maaten Cedar Rapids IA
