Bike the Barns Part I: Bikers tour area farms, feast on local provisions

As the clock stuck noon on Sunday, Sept. 16, Underground Food Collective dished out their five hundredth  plate at the sixth annual Bike the Barns event.

The event brought together Madison’s experienced and amateur bikers to cycle through farmland surrounding the capital to enjoy local producers.

Stop number one offered a high-powered energy bar along with Sassy Cow Creamery’s chocolate milk to kick it in gear. After breakfast many of the experienced bikers skipped the second stop to be first in line at the third: Vermont Valley Community Farm.

Barb and David Perkins of Vermont Valley Community Farm met with volunteers early in the morning while setting up for the day’s events and enjoying the calm before the rush of bikers. Volunteers stationed themselves early as greeters on the road or bread slicers in the back of the barn.

Underground Food Collective staff prepared the farm’s meal,  featuring grilled Madison Sourdough rustic miche bread topped with ricotta cheese. The bread and cheese were paired with a string bean and white bean salad and vibrant panzanella salad with a non-vegetarian option including Nami Moon Farms chicken.

Through some bikers hit the road soon after eating, others stayed and enjoyed the ambiance. They watched children play with the baby goats or hung out with the Williamson Bicycle Works crew as they did on-the-spot tune-ups.

Victoria Law, first-time Bike the Barns participate and Madison resident, commented on the route’s beautiful scenery. Law and her biking partner, Madison resident Shelbi Jentz, started the ride at 9:00 a.m. and arrived at Vermont Valley Community Farm, just over half way, around 1:00 p.m. They estimated the 65-mile ride would get them back to Madison in early evening.