Bike to work week 2019

Bike to Work Week this year runs from May 13-May 19th. If you’re going to bike everyday for a week straight, this is your week to do it! Make it a goal. Give yourself a little more time to and from work and make it happen! Many bike enthusiasts will say there shouldn’t be a designated week for biking, people should just enjoy it any week of the year. For some it’s not that easy, and Bike to Work week is the perfect time to give it a try.

Biking has so many healthy benefits both Physically and Mentally (not to mention more money in your wallet.)

Here are just a few positive things biking can do for you.

  • Great way to start/end your day
  • Clears your mind, Stress reliever
  • Great Cardio workout without hard impact on your joints
  • calorie burn/weight loss
  • You will save money
  • Opens your eyes to things you may not see otherwise

The list goes on and on…

Some of us at Shep’s will be biking to work all week, heck some of us bike to work all year-round. So do yourself a favor and hop on your ride and GET TO WORK!

Why Paddle? Because it’s easy and fun, for a start.

“Why paddle?” The paddle sport experts at Shep’s have the answers for you. And to top it off, you get 20% off paddles, vests and waterproof accessories when you buy a kayak or paddle board at Shepherd & Schaller.

Looking for a break from our hyper plugged-in world? Getting outdoors is an easy fix. There are numerous benefits to paddlesports. Do you have a goal in mind? Consider these basic perks:

Photo credit: @cedar.stream, Perception.com
  • Many kayaks are work great for fishing and there are boats built specifically for anglers.
  • You can maneuver the waters with stealth in a kayak, great for photography and relaxation.
  • Paddling can be an excellent workout, building the upper body and burning 400 to 500 calories in a single hour when just paddling at a steady rate.
  • Kayaks are fairly light weight, easy to transport and can be carried by one person.
  • A silent sport, paddling is just the antidote to the noise of life. Here in Wisconsin it’s not uncommon to see eagles soaring the open sky, cranes and herons marching the shoreline, or frogs and turtles sunning themselves as you paddle by. Sounds awesome doesn’t it?
  • There’s no feeling like gliding across the water.
Shorter fit, larger arm/shoulder openings and pockets make paddling vests different than water sports vests.

The first step is finding a boat that fits your needs along with the lakes and rivers you plan to enjoy – that’s where the team at Shepherd & Schaller comes in. Consider that a longer boat will track better with a smooth ride while a shorter boat will handle better in narrow streams but need a little more correction (effort.) Will you park permanently at the cabin or travel with your boat? A life vest is critical (and the law in Wisconsin.) Paddling vests are created differently, and you’ll notice the comfort and convenience. The other decision you’ll make is the paddle, which can make more or less work for you based on fit, material and blade shape. Other considerations include a dry box for your phone and keys, a hat and sunblock to protect against the sun, shoes or sandals built for portaging, and maybe even some dry bags for camping outings or day-trips. We’ll even tell you how to take care of your paddling gear.

It’s important to note that all of these thoughts are specific to recreational paddling, not whitewater. For that we direct you to local experts, Wausau Whitewater Corporation, and we invite you to see what it’s all about at the internationally respected Whitewater Park, just a five minute walk from our front door! Check out this awesome video to see what’s in our neighborhood.

We love to share our passion and hints about local paddling opportunities like, for example, PaddleQuest, a two-day river competition in Stevens Point, WI where teams of two or three compete to find treasure and become “Protectors of Backwaters.” To participate, one only needs to register and beware of river monsters and the occasional pirate band.

Review the basics of paddling safety, then grab a kayak, a paddle, and paddle jacket to enjoy the many rivers and lakes that Central Wisconsin has to offer.

May is National Bike Month

May in Wisconsin. The snow is finally gone (most years), the roads have been swept and the air is warm enough for a bike ride. Finally.

Photo credit: HaveFunBiking.com

Did you know May is National Bike month? What’s better than saving a little gas money as well as being active? Maybe these:

Shepherd & Schaller is home to Wausau’s friendly bike experts, with plenty of Bikes and Bike accessories in stock at the best prices in town. Also, any new Bike purchase gets you a FREE 30-day check up as well as a FREE 1 year tune-up. BUT WAIT THERES MORE!! You will also get 2 % off any Bike accessories and…A FREE GIFT! SKULLCANDY EARBUDS!! Whether its commuting to work or just getting a ride in for the health benefits, a day spent on a bicycle is never a bad day!

Visit Shepherd & Schaller in downtown Wausau to talk to riders who commute to work year-round, in all kinds of weather. We’ll help you find safe, fast routes and recommend accessories to make your commute functional. We’re also here to guide you on your mountain, road, trail and fat tire bike adventure. We love to tell our stories and hear yours. Come chat!

What does a bike nut look like? Meet Brad.

Bet you were thinking about nuts and bolts.  Sorry, we’re thinking about one of our resident cyclists.

Brad

Meet Brad. Brad would live on a bike if he could.

(His wife and new sweet baby girl would probably have an issue with that, so he doesn’t!).

He loves to mountain bike. It’s his favorite hobby. He loves the freedom. He loves the challenge. He loves the dirt!

And in the winter, he loves fat tire biking.

When temperatures drop and snow falls, a lot of people give up on doing the things they love to do outdoors. Not Brad. He puts the mountain bike away and gets out the fat tire bike instead. The thrill of riding a bike on snow is unlike anything else. The silence. The whiteness. The feeling of taking on nature in her winter cloak.

Fat tire bikes, with an off-road frame and oversized tires and rims, are designed for low ground pressure to allow riding on soft, unstable terrain, like snow, sand, bogs and mud.  His fat bike gives Brad the opportunity to continue his favorite hobby in Central Wisconsin’s winter wonderland at Nine Mile Forest or the Underdown in Gleason (to name a few.)  No amount of snow is going to stop him! He says it also teaches him better handling skills for summer mountain biking.

Within the Wausau area, his other favorite places to ride are the Big Eau Pleine in Mosinee, the Ringle Trails (obviously in Ringle) and the Prairie Dells, also in Gleason. All of these locations are groomed and are within a 30-mile radius of Wausau.

Fat tire biking is extremely popular for a lot of reasons, including that you can continue to enjoy the simplicity of just you and your bike through the winter season.  Need another?  You can burn up to 1,500 calories an hour in soft snow (what a great workout, and because it’s not weight-bearing you can recover a lot faster than some other traditional workouts.)   

Brad may not be a bike nut after all.

So come into Shepherd & Schaller and talk to Brad and to our other bike nuts.  Ask questions.  Tell us your biking stories, the nuttier the better.  And while you’re here check out our Scott and Raleigh bikes.

TREES IN WINTER

One of the most beautiful sights in winter is trees with freshly fallen snow. The Pine. The Spruce. The Maple. The Birch. All decorated with the intricacies of the snowflake. The silence echoes the beauty of nature’s call to us.

Our forests have been an integral part of Wisconsin history reminding us that time passes around us as quickly as the winter wind. Sometimes we forget how lucky we are in Central Wisconsin to enjoy the many types of trees that we have. We take for granted what trees have done for our lives – from logging to conservancy, from building to planting. Trees continue to reign over our lives.

When we travel through the winter forests, we are passing not just through the trees but through a wonderland of beauty and communities – from the trees themselves to the animals they shelter. Skiing or snowboarding through the trees provides an opportunity to enjoy their majesty. Snowshoeing on a winter’s eve with a full moon is breath taking. Having the opportunity to enjoy such a playground is a blessing, one to enjoy and one to protect.

We here at Shepherd & Schaller salute the trees. We embrace the winter wonderland they provide. We encourage everyone to go out and smell the crisp air, listen to the song playing in their wind-blown branches, whisper back to them all of your secrets and wishes. They will guard your secrets well.

The forests beckon to us. They call our names. They are part of us. They are one of the many reasons we do what we do. We are here to encourage everyone to enjoy the outdoors and the trees as we do. We are here to assist in your journeys. We are here at Sheps to gear you up and send you on your journey. We are here because of the trees.

Here’s to the trees…