Best 2 day/1 night ride?
First thread, here goes:
I'm Stephen, 27 and lover of road bikes and trips for only 3-4 years. The irony is I moved to Chicago 3ish years ago..
Commuting by bike in Chicago is many things: exciting, efficient, and encouraging. Biking wakes you up, saves you money, and propels you to tomorrow.
Then there's long-distance. Not racing nor training, but biking as travel. I've biked to Southwest Michigan and Southeast Wisconsin - both trips similar in distance and difficulty.
Anyone have a good 2 day/1 night group trip model they recommend?
Be easy,
Stephen
Northside, Chicago
Views: 215
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on -
Jeff, according to Mapquest - shortest distance, avoiding highways, toll roads and seasonally closed roads mind you - it's around 12 miles from the Joilet Metra station to US-6 and South McKinley Woods Road. It's probably a bit shorter than that because the closest trailhead is actually east of S McKinley and US-6.
Keep in mind I haven't actually ridden this myself. I just had Mapquest give me a point A to B, but it might help.
Best of luck!
Jeff said:Do you have directions from the Joliet train station to the trailhead? Thanks.
mindfrieze said:Take Metra to Joliet and bike the I&M Canal trail to Starved Rock and back. I think it's around 60 miles one way.
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Permalink Reply by Liz W. Durham on -
I can do crushed limestone with my road bike.
When I commuted out to Wheaton on the Prairie Path I rode crushed limestone. My road bike did quite well and never got chips/nicks. The Starved Rock ride sounds great. My preferred bike though is a longtail and it isn't allowed on the train so I would have to use my road bike.
Tony Adams said:H3N3 said:Probably means crushed limestone. Can do on a road bike if you don't mind getting your frame chipped up.
Liz W. Durham said:I & M Canal Trail is "groomed trail". Does this mean it would be road bike friendly?
mindfrieze said:Take Metra to Joliet and bike the I&M Canal trail to Starved Rock and back. I think it's around 60 miles one way.
It is crushed limestone. Last time I rode it (only from Channahon to Starved Rock and back) I took my early 80's Trek 500. That bike does not have fenders and the paint on the frame did not suffer from it.
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Permalink Reply by jen on -
I once journeyed to western Illinois with a friend.... We put ourselves and our bikes on the Metra headed to Harvard. Departed train once there, got foods in our bellies and headed west. He (friend) mapped out the route which ended up being a bit of a backroad adventure for awhile, so I can't give any specifics. Leaving later than expected and having quite a heedy headwind...we stopped short of the destination campground, but Lake Le-Aqua Na campground was actually more of a paradise after the long day in the saddles (hot showers, indoor plumbing). Got up next morning and peddled to Apple River Canyon campground. Spent the night there and rode the highways back to Harvard the next day. Boarded the Metra and glided our way back to mass civilization. Beautiful landscapes, nice people (not too many fingers flipped from passing cars) and fair/med difficulty of ride (some hills and cross winds).
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Permalink Reply by clp on -
My wife and I like a "credit card" ride each spring: Augusta Blvd west from the City at 5am, pick up the Prairie Path in Oak Park, and stop for breakfast in Glen Ellyn after about 28 miles. Then take the Geneva spur in Wheaton and merge with the Fox River bike path in St Charles for lunch on a deck overlooking the river. After a very civilized lunch, bike north on the Fox River Trail to overnight at a motel in Crystal Lake. The nice thing about this route is that the Fox River communities offer lots of different attractions to enjoy all afternoon as you go north through Elgin, Dundee and Algonquin to Crystal Lake.
Then head east from Crystal Lake at dawn the next morning, trying to beat commuter traffic going through Wauconda and Mundelein, to the North Shore bike path in Libertyville. From there you can choose from at least three bike paths headed south (Des Plaines River Trail; Skokie Valley Bikeway to North Branch Trail; and McClory northshore Trail) but we like to take Sheridan Road all the way south to Chicago.
This is a four-sided two-day route, with each side of the box about 30-40 miles, and each side featuring a significant bike path. And if you decide you want to extend your ride after the first night in Crystal Lake, you're only 60 very pleasant miles from Lake Geneva.
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Maiseloff on -
Wow - that looks awesome. It says its 140 miles outside the city. Thanks :)
jen said:I once journeyed to western Illinois with a friend.... We put ourselves and our bikes on the Metra headed to Harvard. Departed train once there, got foods in our bellies and headed west. He (friend) mapped out the route which ended up being a bit of a backroad adventure for awhile, so I can't give any specifics. Leaving later than expected and having quite a heedy headwind...we stopped short of the destination campground, but Lake Le-Aqua Na campground was actually more of a paradise after the long day in the saddles (hot showers, indoor plumbing). Got up next morning and peddled to Apple River Canyon campground. Spent the night there and rode the highways back to Harvard the next day. Boarded the Metra and glided our way back to mass civilization. Beautiful landscapes, nice people (not too many fingers flipped from passing cars) and fair/med difficulty of ride (some hills and cross winds).
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Maiseloff on
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Excellent! Thanks :)
Clark said:My wife and I like a "credit card" ride each spring: Augusta Blvd west from the City at 5am, pick up the Prairie Path in Oak Park, and stop for breakfast in Glen Ellyn after about 28 miles. Then take the Geneva spur in Wheaton and merge with the Fox River bike path in St Charles for lunch on a deck overlooking the river. After a very civilized lunch, bike north on the Fox River Trail to overnight at a motel in Crystal Lake. The nice thing about this route is that the Fox River communities offer lots of different attractions to enjoy all afternoon as you go north through Elgin, Dundee and Algonquin to Crystal Lake.
Then head east from Crystal Lake at dawn the next morning, trying to beat commuter traffic going through Wauconda and Mundelein, to the North Shore bike path in Libertyville. From there you can choose from at least three bike paths headed south (Des Plaines River Trail; Skokie Valley Bikeway to North Branch Trail; and McClory northshore Trail) but we like to take Sheridan Road all the way south to Chicago.
This is a four-sided two-day route, with each side of the box about 30-40 miles, and each side featuring a significant bike path. And if you decide you want to extend your ride after the first night in Crystal Lake, you're only 60 very pleasant miles from Lake Geneva.
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Permalink Reply by dan brown on
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this is great - I used to live in DuPage county btw.
another great destination is the Oscar Swan Inn (B&B) in Geneva (or is it St. Charles ?)
It's old world German...just like being in Europe.
Mrs brown and I biked there once...30 miles straight into a 25 mph headwind (she swore at me a lot
as she drafted the entire way)
A Jacuzzi and wine was never better.
DB
Stephen Maiseloff said:Excellent! Thanks :)
Clark said:My wife and I like a "credit card" ride each spring: Augusta Blvd west from the City at 5am, pick up the Prairie Path in Oak Park, and stop for breakfast in Glen Ellyn after about 28 miles. Then take the Geneva spur in Wheaton and merge with the Fox River bike path in St Charles for lunch on a deck overlooking the river. After a very civilized lunch, bike north on the Fox River Trail to overnight at a motel in Crystal Lake. The nice thing about this route is that the Fox River communities offer lots of different attractions to enjoy all afternoon as you go north through Elgin, Dundee and Algonquin to Crystal Lake.
Then head east from Crystal Lake at dawn the next morning, trying to beat commuter traffic going through Wauconda and Mundelein, to the North Shore bike path in Libertyville. From there you can choose from at least three bike paths headed south (Des Plaines River Trail; Skokie Valley Bikeway to North Branch Trail; and McClory northshore Trail) but we like to take Sheridan Road all the way south to Chicago.
This is a four-sided two-day route, with each side of the box about 30-40 miles, and each side featuring a significant bike path. And if you decide you want to extend your ride after the first night in Crystal Lake, you're only 60 very pleasant miles from Lake Geneva.
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Permalink Reply by KatieP on -
These sound so lovely! For those who have done these before, how did you handle food? Are you a favorite of the PB&J sandwich or stopping for a bite?
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Permalink Reply by Cameron 7.5 mi on -
The ride up to Zion is a good overnight trip. It's trails most of the way from Chicago and decent scenery for still being in the metro area, although the bit from Great Lake Naval Base to Zion is kind of meh. Also it's a great ride for people new to loaded touring because you parallel a Metra line most of the way so you have a bailout option.
H3N3 said:Stephen,
Are you looking for an organized/ supported ride, or looking to organize something yourself?
Are you thinking loaded touring or so-called "credit card touring."?
If you're thinking loaded touring, 60 miles is probably a reasonable max for one day. Some destinations within that range: Dunes state park in Indiana, Illinois Beach National Park in Zion . . .
Also look out for TC's Starved Rock ride in September:
http://starvedrockride.org/
Although it appears to be a 3-day event I think there's an easy 2-day option.
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Permalink Reply by Cameron 7.5 mi on
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How I handle food depends and what kind of area I'm touring in. If I'm camping somewhere near a town, sometimes I'll eat all meals in restaurants. If I'm camping somewhere more remote I'll pack my backpacking cookware and cook breakfast and dinner in camp. Either way I usually count on finding lunch on the road.
Katie Paffhouse said:These sound so lovely! For those who have done these before, how did you handle food? Are you a favorite of the PB&J sandwich or stopping for a bite?
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Permalink Reply by clp on
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A "credit card" bike trip, by definition, means that you only bring two pieces of plastic: your credit card and your toothbrush. No food, no camping equipment, no change of clothes...a minimalist trip, with no bike luggage. You wear your bike clothes to dinner, and to breakfast the next morning...and rinse them out in the motel sink before you turn in for the night. Everything else you might need you use your credit card to buy. But it is surprising how little you really need...and fun to improvise. And also fun to bike unemcumbered....
Katie Paffhouse said:These sound so lovely! For those who have done these before, how did you handle food? Are you a favorite of the PB&J sandwich or stopping for a bite?
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Permalink Reply by Steven on -
I took a "credit card" trip from SF - Seattle last fall. Nothing but a hydration sized backpack, iPhone, some Clif Bars...the basics. Super fun. I wouldn't do it any other way.
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