Touring - Rides near Chicago (two, possibly three nights)

Hi, all,

I know it's short notice, but I've gotten some extra time off Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and I'd like to go on a three or so day ride with camping. I live in Chicago and am happy to drive up to two hours to wherever I'll begin the ride. I expect the most I could do a day is 70 miles, as I'd like to spend some time taking photographs and just relaxing.

I've ridden on part of the I & M trail before and really liked it. I'm happy doing some rural road riding, but I'd like to spend most of the time on trails of one kind or another, if possible.

As I'll have no one to pick me up, it would be ideal if the ride were a loop, but if scenic enough I could do a back–and-forth ride.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Hi, all,

I know it's short notice, but I've gotten some extra time off Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and I'd like to go on a three or so day ride with camping. I live in Chicago and am happy to drive up to two hours to wherever I'll begin the ride. I expect the most I could do a day is 70 miles, as I'd like to spend some time taking photographs and just relaxing.

I've ridden on part of the I & M trail before and really liked it. I'm happy doing some rural road riding, but I'd like to spend most of the time on trails of one kind or another, if possible.

As I'll have no one to pick me up, it would be ideal if the ride were a loop, but if scenic enough I could do a back–and-forth ride.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Take a look at these trails in southern Wiusconsin:

http://www.glacialdrumlin.com/
http://www.whiterivercycleclub.com/
http://www.bikesparta.com/trailsandattractions.htm
http://www.mikebentley.com/bike/sparta/eslinks.htm

And there's also the Sugar River Trail from Brodhead to New Glarus:
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/specific/sugarriver/

Also, if you get to Brodhead check out this new bike store and hotel: http://www.earthridercycling.com/

They'll have information on the Sugar River Trail and local cycling routes.

I agree with the Wisc idea
I am from chi and live in Madison Wi now
When I was a youth, I'd ride up 42 (Sheridan Rd) to Kenosha, and then work across the state on county roads.

Definitely drive to The southern edge of Sugar river trail, then work up to Blue Mounds, Mt. Horeb, New glarus, etc

Here's a 3-day trip I did recently:

Day 1: Prairie Path in western suburbs to Fox River Trail north to Lake Geneva, WI, camp at Bigfoot Beach State Park (~70 mi)
Day 2: Lake Geneva, WI to Union, IL via country roads, camp at KOA campground (~50 mi)
Day 3: Union, IL to Fox River Trail via country roads, back to western suburbs (~50 mi)

the biggest problem I had riding Illinois/Wisconsin was... Illinois.
The secondary roads were all hit and miss.
Either they are gravel or heavily travelled.
Wisc Cty trunks can be heavily travelled, but because of the Dairy thing, those secondary roads had to carry milk trucks, so they are mostly paved even if they are barely used
ONce I got over the border, it was biker heaven

Metroblossom,

Did you make it to Wisconsin to ride this past weekend?

I did take the ride. Thanks for those great recommendations. The ride was awesome, and the routes that I didn't take, I'm sure I'll take in the near future.

Here's a quick summary of the trip with some photos, for those interested in a similar ride. If you're interested in more details, please let me know.

Briefly, a friend of mine and I started out in Brodhead and took the Sugar River Trail north to New Glarus, where we caught hilly county roads to wind our way up to Blue Mounds State Park, where we camped and made dinner for the night. (50+ miles)

http://metroblossom.com/wisc/1.jpg

http://metroblossom.com/wisc/2.jpg

http://metroblossom.com/wisc/3.jpg

http://metroblossom.com/wisc/4.jpg

The next day we took the Military Ridge Trail to Madison -- which is mostly downhill or flat -- worked our way to the center of the city on the Southwest Commuter Trail, grabbed lunch downtown, and then headed out of town on the Capital City Trail southeast for a rural ride, and then back up north to a campsite on Lake Kegonsa in McFarland (a small town), where we grabbed dinner. (50+ miles)

http://metroblossom.com/wisc/5.jpg

http://metroblossom.com/wisc/6.jpg

http://metroblossom.com/wisc/us_in_madison.jpg
(Happily just destroyed a 20+ inch pizza in Madison.)

http://metroblossom.com/wisc/7.jpg

The last day, we took off from Lake Kegonsa and worked our way southwest via county and village roads to the Sugar River Trail, where we picked up the last 10 miles of the trail back to Brodhead. We grabbed lunch in Brodhead. The very helpful owners of Earth Rider Cycling (from whom I bought a map and a new tube before we left) washed our dirty bikes down and provided details about upcoming rides in the area. Definitely check out their store (and hotel!) if you're in town. (~35 miles)

http://metroblossom.com/wisc/8.jpg

http://metroblossom.com/wisc/9.jpg

It was a great ride, and my first multiday ride -- very relaxed, nice country. Thanks, again.

Great. Glad to hear you had a good ride and got to the bike store in Brodhead. This is a great state for cycling.

Cheers.