About Us
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Kate Ross
CODIRECTOR
Kate's love for the outdoors began to blossom while growing up in Hayward. At the age of 11 in 1992, she started exploring the original ski and bike trails at the Hospital. Kate quickly became a fan of Mountain Bike Action magazine and even bought her first pair of clipless pedals from the old glass case at New Moon. She found herself under the guidance of several legendary Chequama Mamas and went on to race in her first Chequamegon Short & Fat at the young age of 12. Since then, she has taken part in marathons, half marathons, 5k races, as well as mountain bike, road bike, track bike, and gravel bike races. When the winter comes, she enjoys hitting the slopes for alpine skiing, getting on her fat bike, and gliding through the snow on cross-country skis.
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Daryl McNutt
DIRECTOR
Meet Daryl, a Hayward local who is passionate about cycling. He's a proud graduate of Hayward High School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Daryl's passion for cycling began when he took part in the Chequamegon 40 in 1990 and later co-founded the UW Cycling program. For over twenty years, he has been deeply involved in guiding and nurturing innovative technology start-ups in Silicon Valley, particularly in the adtech and martech industry, all while discovering amazing cycling routes across the country. Since 2016, Daryl has been back in Hayward for good, leading the marketing and strategic growth planning for New Moon Ski & Bike in Hayward, WI, and serving on the advisory board for the Digital Marketing Technology Program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
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Greg Simpson
CODIRECTOR
Meet Greg, a true Wisconsinite who hails from the beautiful north. He's a nature enthusiast who has spent countless hours in the forests hunting, fishing, and getting lost in the great outdoors. After leaving for college and a few jobs, he felt the pull of home and returned to raise a family in the northland. Greg loves sharing his outdoor passions with his son, like biking and skiing. You can often find him at local events, either participating or lending a helping hand. Greg's love for adventure has taken him biking over mountains, skiing through Finnish Lapland, encountering grizzlies while hiking (not on purpose), and even road racing in Mazatlán, Mexico. Now, Greg lives in Hayward and works remotely as an eCommerce technology director for an apparel retailer.
The History of The Hungry Bear
Born from the mind of Mick Endersbe, the original owner of The Rivers Eatery with his wife Beth, he envisioned putting together the loop that leaves from Cable, WI, and circles right back around to the pizza joint. Mick chatted with former local Tim Krueger, who runs Esker Cycles and then Terrene Tires, and they devised a route that takes you through an entire 100-mile course with minimal support, no stoplights, and excellent scenery.
Tim’s business has grown, and after five years, he has transferred ownership of the Hungry Bear to Seeley Dave, who promised to keep the event’s family reunion vibe. The Hungry Bear has an up-north culture at its core. Profits from the event are donated to support cycling in the area and the local community.
The Spirit of the Hungry Bear is not a manifesto but a gestalt that some embrace and others eschew. There are hundreds of fun races and rides in Wisconsin with well-stocked aid stations, swag bags stuffed with goodies, expert on-course medical and mechanical support, courses so well marked you can’t possibly get lost, age-group prizes, fierce competition, award ceremonies, podiums, and registration fees nearing $100 or more. The Hungry Bear is less of those things.
While we have basic timing, these are more event rides than races. The top finishers earn bragging rights, a sense of accomplishment, and a handshake or hug, but nothing more tangible. The Hungry Bear was started when many gravel races were DIY, free, and almost underground events. It retains that minimally organized, self-reliant spirit and feels more like a family reunion than a typical bike race.
As the organizers of the Hungry Bear, we charge a minimal fee to cover permits, porta-potties, insurance, and other event expenses. The remaining funds are donated back to the community that hosts us and to other causes that align with our support of cycling now and into the future. For 2025, we will once again support the Cable Volunteer Fire Department. Additionally, funds from this event will be divided among community-based organizations such as The Steve Tilford Foundation, Regional Hospice, Unruly Women, LCO Schools Scholarship, and other local non-profits and worthy causes.
We are very grateful to everyone in our extended Hungry Bear family for their support by paying the fee to race/ride, for embracing the spirit of the Hungry Bear, and for coming up north. This shoulder season event gives local businesses a nice bump to start the summer.
