Riding Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park
Jim has been riding bicycles since long before he began touring with PAC Tour in 2002. He took his friends on his first long-distance ride to the Milwaukee airport and back from his home in Racine when he was only 12 years old, when a trip of 30 miles was an enormous undertaking. He spent many years commuting by bicycle to his job at the Case IH factory near his home. In 24 years of participating in the National 24-hour Challenge in Michigan, Jim has ridden 9,272.7 miles, the most logged miles in the event’s history.
Jim has ridden full time on many PAC Tour events, as well as working as a crew member to help us all move down the road.
Jim Hlavka, age 71, currently living in Racine, WI
- Number of years riding: Throughout his entire life, Jim can’t remember a time not riding a bicycle.
- First Bicycle: Generic 3-speed cruiser, black. His first good bicycle was a Raleigh, dark green
- Favorite Bicycle: Custom Waterford, red
- Favorite snack while riding: When prodded, Black Licorice. Otherwise, anything.
- Favorite post-ride recovery food: Beef jerky; juicy fruits like oranges, watermelon, cantaloupe
- One accessory on your bicycle you would never ride without: Helmet
- Favorite section of road to ride: Kettle Moraine Drive, north of West Bend, Wisconsin
- Most extreme event / experience on a bicycle: A 200k Brevet in late April. It started snowing at the 60 mile mark and continued to snow for the remainder of the ride.
- Best ride of your life: From Tuba City, Arizona to Mexican Hat, Utah through Monument Valley, Grand Canyon Tour. Or from Wenatchee to Coulee Dam, Washington with 50 mph tailwinds on 2010 Northern Transcontinental
- What do you enjoy most about riding a bicycle? Freedom of travel, a relaxing activity
- What do you enjoy most when NOT riding a bicycle? Reading, photography
- Most memorable PAC experiences or days: 1) 2nd day of 2010 Northern Transcontinental (from Wenatchee to Coulee Dam, WA) with terrific tailwinds 2) Riding through South Dakota in 2003 with good friends
- What keeps you coming back? All of the great people you meet
- Tip for a PAC Tour rookie: Take it easy, relax, don’t be so nervous. Listen to Lon.
Jim’s PAC Tour Log
- 1987 200k Brevet- Sharon to Attica, WI
- 2000 Eastern Mountains Tour
- 2001 Northern Transcontinental
- 2002 Southern Transcontinental
- 2003 Grand Canyon Tour
- 2003 Brevet Week
- 2004 Ridge of the Rockies
- 2004 Northern Transcontinental
- 2005 Central Transcontinental
- 2005 Eastern Transcontinental
- 2006 Route 66
- 2006 Southern Transcontinental
- 2007 Brevet Week
- 2007 Northern Transcontinental
- 2008 Alaska- Ride the Circle Tour
- 2008 Southern Transcontinental
- 2009 Route 66
- 2010 Northern Transcontinental
- Many weeks of Desert Camp between 2002 and 2010
Biking across Wisconsin, from La Crosse to Racine, in 1978
At the start of Paris Brest Paris in 1991
In Utah on the Central Transcontinental 2005
Crewing on the Central Transcontinental, 2005
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