wisconsinbikefed.org

You can support Wisconsin Bike Fed (Bike Fed) through three channels listed on its homepage: an online auction ("Packages, Gear, Getaways & More!") open for bids through October 31, a fundraiser night called "Indeed We Can" in November, and membership through the "Join us!" entry point. The homepage does not list prices, ticket costs, or whether any of these require an account, so confirm those details on each linked page before you plan to participate. Below is what the site states and how to act on it.

Online Auction: Packages, Gear, Getaways & More!

The homepage promotes an online auction under the heading "Packages, Gear, Getaways & More!" with the line "Online Auction – Bid Thru October 31st!" This is the most time-bound way to give: you bid on donated packages, gear, and travel getaways, and the winning bids support Bike Fed.

What to do:

1. Go to wisconsinbikefed.org and find the auction block on the homepage.
2. Follow the auction link to see the actual lots, current bids, and closing times.
3. Register or log in if the auction platform requires it (the homepage does not say either way).
4. Place bids before October 31; check the lot page for exact closing times, since auctions often stagger them.

What to verify before bidding: shipping or pickup arrangements for gear and getaways, whether bids include fees, and payment methods accepted. None of these are stated on the homepage.

Indeed We Can Fundraiser (November)

The homepage lists "Indeed We Can Fundraiser for Bike Fed – Nov 2026" under a section headed "Indeed We Can." The event calendar also shows "Nov 03 Indeed We Can – Election Watch Party" in Milwaukee, WI. The pairing suggests a Milwaukee event tied to a giving night, but the homepage does not spell out how the donation mechanism works (for example, whether a venue donates a share of sales).

What to do:

1. Open the "Indeed We Can" item on the homepage or the event calendar entry for November 3.
2. Check the event page for location, time, and how proceeds reach Bike Fed.
3. If you cannot attend, look for a donation link on the same page; the homepage does not confirm one exists.

Membership: The "Join us!" Entry Point

The homepage's "Join us!" block links to membership information and registration ("Info/Register"). Membership is the ongoing support option rather than a one-time event, and it is the entry point the site foregrounds alongside the auction.

What to do: use the "Join us!" link to reach the membership page, then review tiers, benefits, and renewal terms there. The homepage does not list dues or benefits, so treat the membership page as the source of truth.

Other Ways the Site Points to Giving

• Ride Across Wisconsin (RAW): described as Bike Fed's "signature fundraising event," listed under Bike Fed Events. If you want a ride-based fundraiser rather than an auction, start here.
• Event calendar: lists dated rides and gatherings (for example, the October 31 Annual Fete Ghede Ride in Milwaukee and the December 5 Santa Cycle Rampage in Milwaukee). Participating in listed events is another route the site surfaces, though the homepage does not state that every event raises funds.
• Sponsors: a sponsor section at the bottom indicates organizational support; the homepage does not describe a sponsor sign-up process.

Quick Comparison

Common Pitfalls

• Assuming the auction runs past October 31. The homepage states bidding closes October 31; late interest means watching for the next cycle instead.
• Treating the November calendar entry as the whole fundraiser. The homepage names "Nov 2026" for Indeed We Can while the calendar shows a November 3 watch party; check the event page to see whether these are the same event or related ones.
• Expecting prices on the homepage. No costs, fees, or login requirements appear there, so do not plan a budget from the homepage alone.

The reliable next step is simple: open wisconsinbikefed.org, pick the channel that fits your timing (auction before October 31, the November fundraiser, or membership), and read that page's details before committing money.

Wisconsin Bike Fed's advocacy and safety work centers on two connected goals: making streets safer for everyone and giving residents a way to influence the decisions that shape those streets. On its homepage, the organization groups this work under Advocacy and Safety, with a mix of legislative and local advocacy, road-user safety guidance, and public events such as Ride For Your Life 2026, described as "a bike ride, walk, and rally to prevent tragedy." If you want to follow or take part in this work, the practical entry points are the advocacy pages, the safety posts, and the event calendar.

What the advocacy work covers

The homepage tags its advocacy content with three labels: Make Your Voice Heard, Legislative, and Local Advocacy. Together these signal the organization's approach:

• Make Your Voice Heard is the participation angle — content aimed at helping riders and residents speak up on bicycling-related issues.
• Legislative points to work at the state level, where laws and funding decisions affecting bicycling are made.
• Local Advocacy covers community-level efforts, where street design, local policy, and neighborhood conditions are decided.

The site does not publish a detailed policy platform on the homepage, so treat these as categories to explore rather than a complete list of positions. If you need specifics — a bill number, a public comment period, a city meeting — the linked advocacy pages are where that detail would live.

Ride For Your Life 2026

The clearest example of advocacy in action on the homepage is Ride For Your Life 2026, a combined bike ride, walk, and rally framed as an effort "to prevent tragedy." This is the pattern to expect: an in-person gathering that pairs visibility for bicycling with a safety message. The homepage does not list a date, route, or registration requirement for this event, so check the event page or calendar before planning to attend.

What the safety work covers

Safety content on the homepage is framed for all road users, not just people on bikes. The featured example is Halloween Safety Tips for All Road Users, which the site calls out as timely guidance for one of the year's busiest nights for pedestrians and cyclists. The framing matters: the advice is written to be useful to drivers, walkers, and riders alike, which fits the organization's broader "bikes build community" positioning.

Beyond seasonal tips, safety shows up in the organization's programs. How to Host a Bike Rodeo is described as train-the-trainer classes that teach people how to organize a successful rodeo — a hands-on youth bike-skills and safety format. Mobile Bike Repair is described as creating "an oasis" in Madison and Milwaukee neighborhoods that are bike-friendly or bike-dependent, which addresses the practical side of safe riding: a working bike.

How to participate or follow along

There is no single sign-up form for advocacy work described on the homepage. Instead, participation happens through several channels:

The homepage also lists a community event calendar with dated entries — for example, an October 31 Annual Fete Ghede Ride & Ancestor Celebration in Milwaukee, a November 3 "Indeed We Can – Election Watch Party" in Milwaukee, a November 7 Kern Park Kross 2026 in Milwaukee, a November 8 Annual Veteran's Day Ride, and a December 5 Santa Cycle Rampage in Milwaukee. The election watch party is a reminder that civic engagement is part of the advocacy calendar, not separate from it.

Practical notes before you act

• Verify dates and details. The homepage shows event listings but not full logistics; confirm time, location, and any registration or fee on the individual event page.
• Check what "join" means. The "Join us!" link leads to info/registration, but the homepage does not state membership terms or costs — read the linked page rather than assuming.
• Expect seasonal safety content. Tips like the Halloween guidance appear around relevant dates, so check back rather than expecting a permanent safety library.
• Use the E-Bike Resource Guide if your safety question is e-bike specific. The homepage describes it as "an evolving hub" of e-bike information, which is the place to look for rules and riding guidance for e-bikes.

If your interest is specifically legislative action, start with the Legislative-tagged items and the "Make Your Voice Heard" content; if your interest is hands-on safety, the Bike Rodeo training and Mobile Bike Repair program pages are the most direct routes.

Wisconsin Bike Fed offers a mix of hands-on community programs, advocacy resources, and organized rides. Its programs fall into four areas: training (such as how to host a bike rodeo), direct community service (Mobile Bike Repair in Madison and Milwaukee, and MilWALKee Walks), reference resources (an E-Bike Resource Guide, a Ride Guide, and safety tips), and events (Wisconsin Bike Week, Ride Across Wisconsin, and Santa Cycle Rampage). If you want to know whether the organization is relevant to you, the quick test is: are you a rider, a local organizer, a business that wants visibility, or someone who cares about bicycle advocacy in Wisconsin? Each group has a matching entry point below.

Training and Community Programs

Host a Bike Rodeo

Bike Fed runs train-the-trainer classes that teach you how to organize a successful bike rodeo — a youth bike skills and safety event. This is aimed at schools, clubs, and local volunteers who want to run their own event rather than rely on Bike Fed staff. The practical value is that you leave with a repeatable format you can stage in your own community.

Mobile Bike Repair

This program creates what Bike Fed describes as an oasis in Madison and Milwaukee neighborhoods that are bike-focused. It brings repair services directly into communities rather than asking residents to travel to a shop. If you live in or organize around those two cities, this is the most direct service offering on the site.

MilWALKee Walks

A separate program with its own website, focused on walking in Milwaukee. It sits alongside the biking programs for people whose interest is pedestrian safety and walkability rather than cycling alone.

Reference Resources

The E-Bike Resource Guide is explicitly described as evolving, so treat it as a starting hub rather than a fixed manual. The Ride Guide doubles as a resource and an opportunity: the site explains how your business, community, organization, or event can be featured in its pages.

Events and Rides

• Wisconsin Bike Week — framed around the idea that bikes build community.
• Ride Across Wisconsin (RAW) — Bike Fed's signature fundraising event and a way to see the state by bike.
• Santa Cycle Rampage — a holiday-season slow roll; a Milwaukee edition appears on the event calendar.
• Ride For Your Life 2026 — a bike ride, walk, and rally aimed at preventing tragedy, tied to advocacy.
• Community events — the calendar lists items such as the Annual Fete Ghede Ride & Ancestor Celebration and Kern Park Kross in Milwaukee, plus a Veteran's Day Ride.

Check the event calendar before planning, since listings carry specific dates and locations.

Advocacy and Support

Advocacy is a core pillar: the site highlights "Make Your Voice Heard" under safety and legislative/local advocacy categories, and Ride For Your Life connects riding with a policy message. There are also fundraising channels, including an online auction and an "Indeed We Can" fundraiser, which indicate the organization relies on member and community support. The homepage invites visitors to join, but the site does not state membership pricing, so confirm costs directly if that matters to your decision.

How to Choose Your Entry Point

• Want to run a youth bike event? Start with the bike rodeo training.
• Need repairs and live in Madison or Milwaukee? Look at Mobile Bike Repair.
• Researching e-bikes? Use the E-Bike Resource Guide.
• Want your business or event listed? Read the Ride Guide inclusion information.
• Looking for a ride or a cause? Browse the event calendar and the RAW and Bike Week pages.

The site also publishes bike stories and gear reviews, such as a piece on the Red Granite Grinder gravel event and a bike shop favorites roundup, which are useful if you want a sense of Wisconsin's riding culture before committing to a program.

Wisconsin Bike Fed lists its rides, rallies, and community events on the Event Calendar at wisconsinbikefed.org, and each event page carries the details you need to take part. To join, open the calendar or the specific event page, check the date and location, and use the "Info/Register" link where one is shown. The homepage also surfaces featured events directly, so you can often spot the next ride without digging through the calendar.

Where to Find Events

The site organizes participation in two main ways:

• Event Calendar — the full listing of upcoming dates, including community events with city labels such as Milwaukee, WI.
• Bike Fed Events section — dedicated pages for the organization's signature and recurring rides, each with its own description and registration path.

The homepage excerpt shows both working together: upcoming community events appear with dates and locations (for example, "Oct 31 Annual Fete Ghede Ride & Ancestor Celebration — Milwaukee, WI" and "Nov 08 Annual Veteran's Day Ride"), while the Bike Fed Events block links to the flagship rides.

Signature Rides and Events

These are the events named on the site, with what the listing says about each:

How to Join

1. Open the Event Calendar on wisconsinbikefed.org to see what's coming up, or go straight to the page for a specific event such as Santa Cycle Rampage or RAW.
2. Check the date and location on the listing. Community events show a city (most listed examples are in Milwaukee, WI); signature rides have their own event pages with fuller details.
3. Follow the registration link. The homepage uses an "Info/Register" link for joining; where an event page provides registration or sign-up information, use that path.
4. Confirm before traveling. The site does not publish a single universal registration process for every event, so treat each event page as the authority for that ride.

Beyond Riding: Other Ways the Calendar Connects You

The same events and programs area covers participation that isn't a ride:

• Advocacy events — for example, "Make Your Voice Heard" legislative and local advocacy items, and an election watch party listed as a fundraiser.
• Fundraisers — such as the "Indeed We Can" fundraiser for Bike Fed.
• Training and programs — "How to Host a Bike Rodeo" train-the-trainer classes and Mobile Bike Repair in Madison and Milwaukee neighborhoods.

If your goal is to ride, start with the calendar and the signature event pages. If your goal is to get involved in advocacy or volunteering, the same listings point to those opportunities.

Common Snags

• Event pages vs. calendar: the calendar gives you dates and cities; the individual event page gives you the registration path. Check both.
• Seasonal timing: some events are tied to a season or holiday (Santa Cycle Rampage in December, Halloween safety content in October), so listings change through the year.
• Location spread: listed community events cluster in Milwaukee, while RAW is statewide in scope — confirm the start point on the event page before planning travel.

Wisconsin Bike Fed is a statewide bicycling advocacy and community organization. Its stated mission is to "cultivate, motivate and unite a strong community to move bicycling forward in Wisconsin." It serves riders and communities through advocacy, hands-on programs, events, and rider resources, and it invites people to get involved by joining or taking part in its events.

Mission and Role

The organization positions itself as a community-building nonprofit focused on advancing bicycling across Wisconsin. Rather than operating as a bike shop or retailer, it works on the broader conditions that make riding safer and more accessible: policy advocacy, education, local programs, and community events.

Main Areas of Work

Advocacy

Bike Fed runs advocacy campaigns and encourages riders to make their voices heard on legislative and local issues. Its homepage highlights advocacy as a core pillar, including a "Ride For Your Life 2026" bike ride, walk, and rally aimed at preventing tragedy, and safety content such as Halloween safety tips for all road users.

Programs

The organization operates several community-facing programs:

• How to Host a Bike Rodeo — train-the-trainer classes that teach people how to organize a successful bike rodeo.
• Mobile Bike Repair — bringing repair services into Madison and Milwaukee neighborhoods that are bike-focused.
• MilWALKee Walks — a walking-focused program with its own program website.

Events

Bike Fed hosts and organizes rides and gatherings, including:

• Santa Cycle Rampage — a holiday-season slow roll.
• Ride Across Wisconsin (RAW) — described as its signature fundraising event and a way to see the state.
• Wisconsin Bike Week — framed around the theme "Bikes Build Community."
• A community event calendar listing rides and gatherings across the state.

Rider Resources

The site offers a Ride Guide (with options for businesses, communities, organizations, and events to be featured), an E-Bike Resource Guide described as an evolving hub of e-bike information, bike stories, and gear reviews.

Who It Serves

Bike Fed's work targets everyday riders, local communities, and partner organizations across Wisconsin. Its programs reach specific neighborhoods (Madison and Milwaukee for mobile repair), while its advocacy and events operate statewide.

How to Get Involved

• Join — the site includes a "Join us!" call to action with info and registration.
• Attend an event — check the event calendar for rides, rallies, and fundraisers.
• Use the resources — browse the Ride Guide and E-Bike Resource Guide.
• Support the work — the organization notes sponsor support and fundraisers such as "Indeed We Can."

For anyone in Wisconsin looking to ride more, advocate for safer streets, or connect with the cycling community, Wisconsin Bike Fed is a central starting point.