The Chainlink

I'm thinking about doing a short tour on a winter weekend and staying overnight in a hotel or bed and breakfast. If there is snow, do trails generally get plowed? Any general advice on planning a trip with inclement weather? Where would you recommend going?

I'd probably want to use the Metra to slingshot out.

Right now i'm thinking Starved Rock and doing the I & M trail, but what are some other ideas? Is it overly optimistic to think I could do a ride in January?

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Me and my other half were thinking of doing the same thing, basically. Sadly the trails I have ridden on in winter don't get plowed(XC-skiing). Lots of walking over snow mounds and the crushed gravel tends to get mushy and hard to pedal on. Mountain bike recommended. Riding can be a bit slower but still fun.
We were going to try for a shorter ride to Chain O' Lakes SP and camp though. not enough money for a room someplace.

I say go for it!
I think the big issue that's overlooked with winter touring is lack of daylight. I did a tour a couple of years ago down south and it would get dark around 5:30-6pm. That seriously limits the distance you can cover. Riding out in the burbs in the dark not on a bike path without excellent lights sounds like suicide to me.
The lack of daylight does sound like a good point. It's looking like I might not be able to do a ride until late January or early February.

I guess I'd assume to do an early wake up and to take advantage of what daylight there is. If it's limited to just 50 miles a day, it shouldn't that hard to cover with limited daylight, right?

My first winter trip might just be to Illinois Beach State park and the lodge there as there are metra stations and trails the whole way.
The Green Bay Trail is not maintained during the winter. The rest probably aren't either.
your right... darn XC skiing/snow shoeing :)

envane x said:
The Green Bay Trail is not maintained during the winter. The rest probably aren't either.

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