http://beerrunner.draftmag.com/2009/10/13/who-needs-a-car-when-you-beer-and-biking/

3,000th mile at Romans' Pub
http://beerrunner.draftmag.com/2009/10/13/who-needs-a-car-when-you-beer-and-biking/

3,000th mile at Romans' Pub
Counties by state I’ve biked in:
INDIANA
Franklin
Decatur
Marion
Hamilton
Boone
Shelby
Johnson
Hancock
Brown
Madison
Delaware
Rush*
Ripley*
WISCONSIN
Milwaukee
Ozaukee
Waukesha
Racine
Kenosha
Washington
Sheboygan*
Marinette*
Dodge*
Walworth*
La Crosse*
Crawford*
Vernon*
Jefferson*
ILLINOIS
Lake
MICHIGAN
Menominee*
MINNESOTA
Houston*
Winona* (disputable)
IOWA
Allamakee*
*-2009
2009 running total – 3,938 (as of 11/29)
Best one day total – 104.6 (6/20/09)
Past annual totals
2008 – 1,080
2007 – 1,418
2006 – 2,520
2005 – 1,876
2004 – ~1,000
Hello tweeple!
For nearly 4 months I’ve experienced and become a full blown member of the Twittersphere. I first heard about Twitter a couple of years ago and personally I thought it sounded like a disease. Well, if addiction is a disease then I was kinda right. The power of Twitter amazes me and at one point in time I seen my followers double in one weekend. Took me roughly 2 months to get 70,and went to 150 with basically one “tweetup”.
Funny you can learn and follow a person at a whopping 140 characters a post, but we still need a place behind the screen (in between tweets) to really share and/or dwell more about who we are, what we feel, and explore what life has to offer for us.
Welcome to my blog Twitter friends. I’ll try once again (at least during coffeehouse months) to keep it fresh.
@jeffmke
Happy 2009! What a year. After holding our collected breath for 8 years and ever so tighter awaiting the results of the 2008 election we only have a few more days of Dub in the White House with Barack Obama bringing us the change and hope we so desperately desire. Let’s hope for the best.
My first day of the year for once wasn’t a hangover from hard partying but more of a psychological hangover. I did some sleeping, a little shopping, watched some bad football, and well, slept some more. I woke up in the wee hours of the morning recharged though, so much that I began putting together the most aggressive and exciting plan for the new year than in probably 5 years.
I hit my wall this past week. My December was very active socially, costly financially, and detrimental physically. My weight is probably at its worst point in 5 years and it has suddenly left me lethargic and vulnerable. It’s times like these though that set a fire under my ass and start making bold decisions.
In review last year was overall a poor year in the health department. My job is mostly sedentary, only a mile away from work as opposed to two when I was in tip top shape, and it was my lowest seasonal bike total since I started 5 years ago, 1080 miles. I did have a knockout finish though biking all the way from Milwaukee to the Illinois border and back in 8.5 hours. 90 miles eclipsed my old one day record of 70 miles from 2 years ago. I got my wings late in the season unfortunately and now we are in the midst of an ol’ fashioned Wisconsin winter.
I did buy a trainer but I’ve only gotten on it occasionally so that will have to be an important part of my day, everyday, and endurance testing perhaps on a weekend day will be ever so important as last night I decided traveling was another part of the picture to be more successful at battling the bulge.
As adventurous as I am I haven’t been to a new state in over 2 years. The last one was my first time in Wisconsin for Summerfest. Heh, liked it so much I moved here. I was hoping to make it out to DC and the east coast this month for the inauguration but Jeff got a little too fiscally liberal with the moolah and now will have to stay in the MKE. That’s OK, there are still some fun plans for that day.
So this year I’m going to branch out a bit and take advantage of the Zipcar that’s available at UWM and put myself one day of allotted miles out (180) and spend a weekend somewhere biking. Three places on my short list are to Tomah, WI which is near the Minnesota/Iowa border, Door County (on my own terms), and Northern Wisconsin to see the “North Woods”. Also a bit more aggressive trips, one of those to Iowa wine country, another to the upper peninsula of Michigan in hopes of biking to Canada (my first time out of the country), and driving to my parents in SE Indiana then embarking on a trip to Cincinnati and into Newport, KY and back. Finally a trip I wanted to take last year was a ride on the Lake Express from Milwaukee to Muskegon, MI where I will then take my trusty bike to Kalamazoo and visit Bell’s Brewery. Sweet rewards.
With being destination oriented and my need to see new places this should keep me peddling and in shape.
So this year I’m not setting a mileage goal but instead just to see more which should help me naturally inflate those numbers. I just hope my tires stay inflated.
Milwaukee is the brewing Capitol of the world supposedly but unfortunately the only beer most identify the city with is Miller. There are though several quality microbreweries and brew pubs here which keeps me more than happy here.
Another thing of note about Milwaukee is being the home of the corner bar. Most usually carry a good selection of beers even if it’s the old standby, New Glarus’ Spotted Cow. I have run across a few select bars that have a passion for serving hard to find and delicious beers. One is the Sugar Maple which hosts my favorite event, Drinking Liberally, and my newest find Romans’ Pub.
Down on KK bordering St Francis (3475 S KK) in Bay View is a small easy to miss pub that the only thing the owner, Mike Romans, is more passionate about than beer is his loyal customers.
I first learned about the Pub a few months ago and it was on my to do list for way too long. My reward though was just so happened to drop in on the 30th anniversary/Christmas party a few weeks ago. Not only did I get to indulge in a Bell’s Christmas Ale from the beer engine among others but a full blown spread of food that included brats, BBQ chicken, pulled pork, and the Jambalya which was made by my new friend, Melva. Santa (AKA Mike) made an appearance just as I was leaving. I heard he was a hit (the floor).
I did make it back for another round and expect to make it a frequent stop especially to warm my bones on these cold Wisconsin winters.
The list almost changes daily and you can even see it change before your eyes at romanspub.com/beersel.htm
See you there!
One word to describe my Christmas Eve.
Megabust.
Forget what you want unless it’s just being with those who matter. Merry Christmas.
Upon leaving Indianapolis, one thing I was really sad to leave behind was my bike mechanic. Our relationship had been short but the care and expertise to his customers was more about being a friend and a integral part of the community first.
Soon after moving to Milwaukee I had some time for a much needed consultation into purchasing a new bike. Cory’s has been the first and only place I’ve been since for all of my cycling needs. The selection and knowledge of the sales team made it easy and the 2 year service plan makes it a no excuse way to keep your bike in top shape. The service team keeps the lingo simple and doesn’t make you feel like a dummy if you’re not a seasoned veteran like me.
My last visit was to buy a trainer so I could keep on spinning through the harsh Wisconsin winter. They gave me a great deal and I even settled in to eat my lunch with one of the techs.
Cory’s is located on the east side at 2410 N Murray and have huge deals during the winter months.