Here You Are

The signs with Joe's map on them are up so you won't get lost.  Trails have never been better.

Rhinelander Holds the Cup

Rhinelander 371
Wausau 163
Green Bay 30
Iowa City 30

We Will Race

We will sweat.  We will have water at 6 locations on course. We will be flexible.  We will watch radar.  We won't make you do anything stupid to win a race.  We'll watch it blow over.  We're gonna have fun.

MAN PANTS

 That's what we'll be drinking after the Thunderdown, and it's not made from any man's sweaty bike pants.  It's the Kölsch beer from RedEye made from German malt and German hops.

 Bring your own man pants or big girl panties because this is the Underdown and you will need them.  However, if you do go down to the Prairie River for a swim please don't leave your butt sweat on the bridge railing, and don't jump off the bridge because the big rocks are shallow a long way out.

Thanks to the best shop in Wausau.

Thanks to the best shop north of Wausau.

This is Underdown

And this is not some hyperbolic ploy to get you fired up to race just so you can own bragging rights with your friends.  There are some things you need to know if you're not familiar.  Some call this the toughest trail in Wisconsin.  That may be true, but it's not a contest.  Underdown is what it is.
This is not where you go for an easy ride.  This is where you ride something you can't get at the other places you've been to. This is where you find one-of-a-kind boardwalks and beautiful views of lakes from above.  Expect to top out on all the hills and have a screaming descent to follow, but don't expect a gentle ramp to get you up there.  These are old-school hand-built trails that will bring you close to trees and make you use your gears.
Trails may never be built this way again.  I'm getting old, and so is the Thunderdown.  2015 will be the 15th time you kids came to my country with your fancy pants and your bouncy bikes. I hope you get the butt kicking you came for.  I'll leave a jug at the top of Heartbreak Ridge for you.

Everyone get's to ride this one!

Who will fill the Thunderdown Cup?

2014 Wausau 402, Rhinelander 348, Green Bay 272, Madison 120
2013 Rhinelander 351, Wausau 348, Duluth 105, Green Bay 81, Ohio 75
2012 Wausau 315, Rhinelander 301, Madison 186
2011 Rhinelander 295, Wausau 116
2010 Wausau 411, Rhinelander 352

A RASTA Event

This year's Thunderdown will be affiliated with the Rhinelander Silent Trails Association.  This means that more funds will be available for trail improvements and expansions after the race!

Fast Trails

Underdown trails are dried out and really fast right now.  A pre-ride of the long race course confirmed it at 15 miles.  4 or 5 laps would be possible in the 10-hour race depending on temperatures.  The winning 6-hour racer will do 3 laps if it's cool or 2 laps if it's over 80 like today.

Estimates of the short course at 5 miles look accurate, but the loop is all big hills do don't expect to get dizzy from going around and around.