Chicago Area Bike Routes

Quoted message said:

I recently moved from the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina to
Chicago. I live in downtown Chicago. I'm looking for some 50-mile
bike routes. It would be great if you could provide specific
directions and cue sheets.

I don't have cue sheets, but I'll recommend the Chicagoland Bicycle Map,
published by the Chicagoland Bike Federation <http://biketraffic.org>. It's
$6.95 unless you want to join CBF for the member's discount, and shows the
best roads for getting around the area, as checked out by actual cyclists.

Kane County also has a free county bike map, available at most shops out
here, as well as village/city halls
<http://www.co.kane.il.us/dot/COM/BikePed/index.asp>.

Quoted message said:

I've been on the Lakefront path and the North Branch trail. I find
that both are too congested. The North Branch trail is too narrow and
curvy. I also rode up Sheridan Road to Lake Forest University. This
wasn't bad once you get past the city and past the horrible streets in
Evanston and Wilmette. I guess I've been spoiled, riding in North
Carolina.

The Green Bay Trail runs from Kenilworth to Highland Park, parallel to the
Metra tracks; you were near it along Sheridan Rd. Further north a bit, you
can pick up the Robert McClory Path (same general alignment as the Green Bay
Trail, and goes all the way to Wisconsin.

Going west, the Illinois Prairie Path <http://ipp.org> comprises 57 miles
of limestone trails in a Y-shape emanating from Wheaton, going to Aurora
(with a branch to Batavia), Elgin (with a branch to Geneva), and Forest Park
(right to the CTA 'L' station's north parking lot).

You can also hit the Fox River Trail/McHenry County Prairie Trail, which
runs from south of Aurora to Genoa City, WI. It connects with the IPP in
4 locations, making for some interesting loops.

All of these trails can be reached via Metra commuter rail from downtown,
though keep in mind bikes are verboten peak period, peak direction
<http://metrarail.com/Special_Promotions/bikes_on_trains.html>.

Quoted message said:

Any recommendations of good routes with good rodes would be
appreciated! Lists of cycling events and stores rides too! Thanks so
much!

CBF maintains a calendar of events <http://www.biketraffic.org/calendar/>
and a list of area shops (not exhaustive)
<http://www.biketraffic.org/content.php?id=52_0_6_0>.

Welcome to Chicago!

--

__o Kristian Zoerhoff
_'\(,_ [email hidden]
(_)/ (_)

Hi Kristian:

Thank you for your recommendations. I will look up these places. You
mentioned that some trails are crushed limestone. I have a road
bike. Are these trails suitable for a road bike?

Thanks!
Jen

On Jun 13, 5:14 pm, Kristian M Zoerhoff <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I recently moved from the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina to
Chicago. I live in downtown Chicago. I'm looking for some 50-mile
bike routes. It would be great if you could provide specific
directions and cue sheets.

I don't have cue sheets, but I'll recommend the Chicagoland Bicycle Map,
published by the Chicagoland Bike Federation <http://biketraffic.org>. It's
$6.95 unless you want to join CBF for the member's discount, and shows the
best roads for getting around the area, as checked out by actual cyclists.

Kane County also has a free county bike map, available at most shops out
here, as well as village/city halls
<http://www.co.kane.il.us/dot/COM/BikePed/index.asp>.

Quoted message said:

I've been on the Lakefront path and the North Branch trail. I find
that both are too congested. The North Branch trail is too narrow and
curvy. I also rode up Sheridan Road to Lake Forest University. This
wasn't bad once you get past the city and past the horrible streets in
Evanston and Wilmette. I guess I've been spoiled, riding in North
Carolina.

The Green Bay Trail runs from Kenilworth to Highland Park, parallel to the
Metra tracks; you were near it along Sheridan Rd. Further north a bit, you
can pick up the Robert McClory Path (same general alignment as the Green Bay
Trail, and goes all the way to Wisconsin.

Going west, the Illinois Prairie Path <http://ipp.org> comprises 57 miles
of limestone trails in a Y-shape emanating from Wheaton, going to Aurora
(with a branch to Batavia), Elgin (with a branch to Geneva), and Forest Park
(right to the CTA 'L' station's north parking lot).

You can also hit the Fox River Trail/McHenry County Prairie Trail, which
runs from south of Aurora to Genoa City, WI. It connects with the IPP in
4 locations, making for some interesting loops.

All of these trails can be reached via Metra commuter rail from downtown,
though keep in mind bikes are verboten peak period, peak direction
<http://metrarail.com/Special_Promotions/bikes_on_trains.html>.

Quoted message said:

Any recommendations of good routes with good rodes would be
appreciated! Lists of cycling events and stores rides too! Thanks so
much!

CBF maintains a calendar of events <http://www.biketraffic.org/calendar/>
and a list of area shops (not exhaustive)
<http://www.biketraffic.org/content.php?id=52_0_6_0>.

Welcome to Chicago!

--

__o Kristian Zoerhoff
_'\(,_ [email hidden]
(_)/ (_)

Quoted message said:

Hi Kristian:

Thank you for your recommendations. I will look up these places. You
mentioned that some trails are crushed limestone. I have a road
bike. Are these trails suitable for a road bike?

The IPP certainly is; I ride 700x25s on it with no problems.

--

__o Kristian Zoerhoff
_'\(,_ [email hidden]
(_)/ (_)

In article <[email hidden]>,

Kristian M Zoerhoff said:

Quoted message said:

Hi Kristian:

Thank you for your recommendations. I will look up these places.
You mentioned that some trails are crushed limestone. I have a
road bike. Are these trails suitable for a road bike?

The IPP certainly is; I ride 700x25s on it with no problems.

I'll second that. I grew up in Elmhurst and rode the IPP on various
road bikes just about daily for years. I still do when I am home
visiting and have a bike with me. It's not quite as "rustic" as it was-
although much of it is really substantially unchanged- but it's still
some of the most pleasant riding in the area.

Kristian M Zoerhoff said:

Quoted message said:

I recently moved from the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina to
Chicago. I live in downtown Chicago. I'm looking for some 50-mile
bike routes. It would be great if you could provide specific
directions and cue sheets.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Going west, the Illinois Prairie Path <http://ipp.org> comprises 57 miles
of limestone trails in a Y-shape emanating from Wheaton, going to Aurora
(with a branch to Batavia), Elgin (with a branch to Geneva), and Forest Park
(right to the CTA 'L' station's north parking lot).

You can also hit the Fox River Trail/McHenry County Prairie Trail, which
runs from south of Aurora to Genoa City, WI. It connects with the IPP in
4 locations, making for some interesting loops.

All of these trails can be reached via Metra commuter rail from downtown,
though keep in mind bikes are verboten peak period, peak direction
<http://metrarail.com/Special_Promotions/bikes_on_trains.html>.

Curious, so I had to take a look (being a Chicago area native - now 25
years in Colorado).

You gotta love US trains ...

"Cyclists will be accommodated on a first come, first serve basis. Metra
reserves the right to prohibit bicycles if coaches are crowded or access
is impeded, and we make no assurances that space will be available for
bicycles. ..."

So ... don't count on it.

"... Standard bicycles that do not exceed 70 inches in length are
permitted on designated trains; tricycles, tandems, trailers, bulky
attachments, ... "

I wonder if that means fully loaded panniers.

"Bicycles must be clean and free of dirt and grease while aboard Metra
trains. "

Free of grease? I guess that would rule out my bike.

At least it's free. But if you can't rely on it to get home ... what
good is that? I wonder how it works in actual practice.

If you're willing to go west, there are roads west of St. Charles, to
Maple Mark, Sycamore and DeKalb that offer some great country riding. I
rode out there years (and years) ago, but went again with some friends
about three years ago. I don't remember the exact route ... probably
Campton Hills Road west to Anderson Road, south to Beith Road to Maple
Park (although I think I heard that the little old time
grocery/convenience store there has closed)... up County Line Rode to
Pleasant Street (or Barber Greene - look at google maps. There are
alternate choices). Sycamore is a great destination. Then turn around
and go back to St.Charles.

Fermi Labs is a great place to ride (east Batavia) ... and is near some
of the paths mentioned. If you've scientific curiosity, Fermi Labs is a
great place to stop for lunch and a self guided tour, too.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
*****************************

Quoted message said:

I recently moved from the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina to
Chicago. I live in downtown Chicago. I'm looking for some 50-mile
bike routes. It would be great if you could provide specific
directions and cue sheets.

What Kristian said, plus:

Probably the two nearest clubs to you are CCC and EBC.
http://evanstonbikeclub.org/ASP/Schedule.asp?club=evbike
http://www.chicagocyclingclub.org/
(Evanston may seem a bit north, but we do have several members who live
downtown. There are also some cue sheets on our site that you might find
helpful. -- Hey, I'm looking for volunteers to mark the route for the North
Shore Century in September. Get in touch with your inner graffiti artist!)

The Chicago cycling e-mail list is a decent source of further info about
specific route:
Send an e-mail with "SUBSCRIBE BIKE-CHI" as the message to
[email hidden].

Quoted message said:

I recently moved from the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina to
Chicago. I live in downtown Chicago. I'm looking for some 50-mile
bike routes. It would be great if you could provide specific
directions and cue sheets.

I've been on the Lakefront path and the North Branch trail. I find
that both are too congested. The North Branch trail is too narrow and
curvy. I also rode up Sheridan Road to Lake Forest University. This
wasn't bad once you get past the city and past the horrible streets in
Evanston and Wilmette. I guess I've been spoiled, riding in North
Carolina.

Any recommendations of good routes with good rodes would be
appreciated! Lists of cycling events and stores rides too! Thanks so
much!

Damn,
I grew up there. Just take Lake shore drive from Gary Indiana (try to
look black down there) all the way up to Wisconsin, maybe all the way to
Milwaukee. There are some great rides near the lake and you can stop for
a swim on the way. I hope all my rides haven't been paved over since the
early 60's, but it was good riding back then. Inland from about
Waukeegan there are some natural lakes to visit, Geneva comes to mind.
If you don't mind going inland more, go to McHenry, where I spent my
first 6 years and visit McCollum lake. The Chicago and Northwestern goes
right by the lake and I used to watch steam engines in regular service
across the lake. Now you get to watch diesels, but it is still a nice ride.
Happy trails, literally,
Bill Baka

Chuck Anderson said:

So ... don't count on it.

You're being overly pessimistic. The policy may /seem/ onerous as written,
but works out fairly well in practice.

Quoted message said:

"Bicycles must be clean and free of dirt and grease while aboard Metra
trains. "

Free of grease? I guess that would rule out my bike.

You have grease smeared on the outer surfaces of your bike? Conductors
don't blink at chains, they're just watching for the really nasty, grimy
stuff that could end up on the floor or seats. So don't have mud dripping
from the bike when you board, and don't have grease where it ought not be.
You'll be fine.

Conductors do prefer that you position the bike with the drivetrain
facing the wall, to keep people from bumping into it and picking up schmutz.

Quoted message said:

At least it's free. But if you can't rely on it to get home ... what
good is that? I wonder how it works in actual practice.

Works out fine for me. There's a bikesonmetra Yahoo group where further
questions can be asked of other locals.

Quoted message said:

alternate choices). Sycamore is a great destination. Then turn around
and go back to St.Charles.

Agreed. And if trail riding is preferred, the Great Western Trail covers
most of the distance from Sycamore to St. Charles.

Quoted message said:

Fermi Labs is a great place to ride (east Batavia) ... and is near some
of the paths mentioned. If you've scientific curiosity, Fermi Labs is a
great place to stop for lunch and a self guided tour, too.

Seconded. Plus they have bison!

--

__o Kristian Zoerhoff
_'\(,_ [email hidden]
(_)/ (_)

Kristian M Zoerhoff said:

Chuck Anderson said:

So ... don't count on it.

You're being overly pessimistic. The policy may /seem/ onerous as written,
but works out fairly well in practice.

That's good to hear. I think trains and bikes go well together.

Quoted message said:

Conductors do prefer that you position the bike with the drivetrain
facing the wall, to keep people from bumping into it and picking up schmutz.

Schmutz? ô¿Ô¬ I haven't seen that word since I bought a can of chain
spray lubricant in Regensburg, Germany. Rex Reinigungs und Pflegeöl -
"löst den Schmutz und schützt vor Rost."

I needed it to remove limestone dust and grit from my drive train.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

At least it's free. But if you can't rely on it to get home ... what
good is that? I wonder how it works in actual practice.

Works out fine for me. There's a bikesonmetra Yahoo group where further
questions can be asked of other locals.

Glad I asked. Not that I'll be taking a Metra any time soon, but I'm
glad to hear that it works. With cooperative train systems a cyclist has
many more options for day and multi-day trips. I was also glad when I
learned that Amtrak has a route from Chicago to St. Louis with roll on
facilities for bikes.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
*****************************

Quoted message said:

I recently moved from the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina to
Chicago. I live in downtown Chicago. I'm looking for some 50-mile
bike routes. It would be great if you could provide specific
directions and cue sheets.

I've been on the Lakefront path and the North Branch trail. I find
that both are too congested. The North Branch trail is too narrow and
curvy. I also rode up Sheridan Road to Lake Forest University. This
wasn't bad once you get past the city and past the horrible streets in
Evanston and Wilmette. I guess I've been spoiled, riding in North
Carolina.

Any recommendations of good routes with good rodes would be
appreciated! Lists of cycling events and stores rides too! Thanks so
much!

http://chicagotrails.netfirms.com/index.htm

--
jeverett3<AT>sbcglobal<DOT>net (John V. Everett)

If your looking for a country ride the Long prarie trail is nice. I take my
bike on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest to Harvard. From there it is about
10 or so miles on country roads to the start of the trail The route I
suggest is South on Marengo to Airport road. Airport road west to Flat
Iron. Flat Iron southwest to Streit. streit west to County line road.
Finally County line north to the trail head which is just north of Rt 173.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I recently moved from the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina to
Chicago. I live in downtown Chicago. I'm looking for some 50-mile
bike routes. It would be great if you could provide specific
directions and cue sheets.

I've been on the Lakefront path and the North Branch trail. I find
that both are too congested. The North Branch trail is too narrow and
curvy. I also rode up Sheridan Road to Lake Forest University. This
wasn't bad once you get past the city and past the horrible streets in
Evanston and Wilmette. I guess I've been spoiled, riding in North
Carolina.

Any recommendations of good routes with good rodes would be
appreciated! Lists of cycling events and stores rides too! Thanks so
much!