Madison, Wisconsin - random question

Sorry for just how random this is. I'm sure I've read mentions of Madison, Wisconsin on the forum during my months of lurking and thought there was someone on here from there, but searching I've not found the posts, sorry. (Search for madison brings up lots of talk about, err, madisons!)

Anyway, here goes for random - if someone reads this who's from or knows there, any advice appreciated. I'm going on holiday to the US and have all the transport planned and booked, except I need to get from Madison to Chicago (next Friday). Flights seem a stupid price for a short distance ($350 for 150 miles!), so I want to go by bus / train instead. I've found that I can book an Amtrak train from Milwaukee to Chicago online, and get a Badger Coaches bus from Madison to Milwaukee, but the bus website just won't work for me. I'm just after a bit of reassurance from anyone who knows the area - should I not worry about it being full and just get a bus ticket when I'm there? Or is there a more sensible way of doing it?

Thanks a lot.

(Yes, I worry too much)

you could hire a car. it's a lot easier and probably cheaper. pay on your credit card. that gets you car insurance, which is the most expensive bit
doesn't mega bus also run in the states now? that might be worth having a look.
they do!
http://www.megabus.com/us/schedules/madison_chicago.php

or, just call them up. they'll be super helpful i'm sure.

No, but I can tell you what colour to paint your frame.

http://www.greyhound.com/home/
http://www.coachusa.com/vangalder/

how about trying google, rather than London cyclists......

Thanks for the links both, very helpful, my (rubbish) searches hadn't found those.

Apologies again for the randomness, if I could delete the thread I would.

Roxy is from Madison. Send her a PM maybe?

Not from personal experience, but info from US colleagues.
Trains are ok, but never never take the bus in the US.

i can vouch for amtrak.
the route from toronto to new york is fecking brilliant. take your own food though, the stuff on board is shite.

+1 for avoiding the bus really.

Done the train bit. It's neat, and you can peer at the burbs were Ferris Bueller grew up.

Although I did it instead of a pre-booked connecting flight, and AA cancelled my Chicago-London seat as punishment.

Roxy is from Madison. Send her a PM maybe?

Vidal is also from Madison, another possible PM.

Where is Mikey Moustash from? I think that Mary (lives with Smallbrown Bike & xSheepx) has friends from there too.

mikey is from madison.
I met one of his friends on an alleycat in oxford.a
also from madison

Yeah, Mikey is from Wisconsin as well. They're fucking everywhere.

Like cockroaches, hipsters or arrospoks.

I live in chicago and headed up north to wisconsin many times on both train and bus you dont need to worry about them selling out, never heard of someone having this issue. the train ride is a good time but if you are bringing a bike buses are usually less strict about putting one in the baggage area