Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Planning my first century

so a couple friends and I are going to do our first century by the end of summer. our plan is to go from Chicago to Milwaukee. Has anyone done this before and what would the best route be? thanks.

About when are you considering it?? There are a ton of group century rides in the area. Also check with the Kenosha Racine club to see what routes they might have throught the area.

Check out this link from WGDT http://www.wgtd.org/trailhome.htm I hope to ride it soon, but the opportunity hasn't come up, yet. Once you get here, there's plenty do see and do http://www.onmilwaukee.com/seasonal/festivals/ And don't forget the Miller Brewery tour http://www.superpages.com/cities/mtg/39814/ complete with free samples :D at the end. What's not to like?

thanks guys, i appreciate the advice, but i am still not sure about the route to take. the website doesn't give a direct route from chicago to milwaukee. i drive up to milwaukee about twice a month, so i figured a ride would be a nice change.

One route is described in the thread:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=58492&highlight=milwaukee+chicago+route
If you search the forums for "chicago milwaukee route" there are a couple more useful threads.
My own personal take is that the Robert McClory path and the connecting paths in Wisconsin are fine if you want to get out of traffic. I rode from Racine to Wilmette last year on the paths with no troubles. Green Bay road from Wilmette to Highland Park is a quicker but less scenic option than Sheridan road.

thanks guys, i appreciate the advice, but i am still not sure about the route to take. the website doesn't give a direct route from chicago to milwaukee. i drive up to milwaukee about twice a month, so i figured a ride would be a nice change.

It depends on what you like and what/how you ride.

I've never ridden south of Waukegan, but from Waukegan to Milwaukee there is a nice mix of trails and roads for slower (<15mph) riding featuring the McClory trail and the MRK trail, along with city streets that keeps you close (0-3 miles) to the lake, but it features a lot of moderately packed crushed limestone - not so nice on 23mm or 25mm tires. There's a book available in many stores in Chicagoland and metro Milwaukee called Biking on Bike Trails Between Chicago & Milwaukee by Peter Blommer that details this route.

If you like to go fast on the open road, I'd go inland a bit to Hunt Club Rd, crossing the state line at Kenosha Cty MB and winding north on that until State Hwy 142, turn left going west to US 45, turn right going north to State Hwy 20 - keep straight as US 45 goes left staying on Colony Ave/108t St to Cty G, then go right to Cty V, turning left on V, taking V north to the Oak Leaf trail (aka Drexel Ave at that point) - then you can go east or west on the Oak Leaf Trail (a mix of paved multi use trails and wonderful wide go-fast parkways) depending on your destination.

Has anyone done this before and what would the best route be?

I've ridden from Chicago up to Kenosho and back, so I guess that would be about half way. As far as a "best route" - why not plan it yourself. There's a ton of bike info and trail info for that area.

For now, the main thing is to find out who will have the most current information for the time-frame when you actually decide to ride. (things can change)

Hey, I'm sorry this doesn't relate to the topic that you guys are talkin bout. I'm 14 years old, and have a Bianchi Veloce steel Campy road bike. Me and 3 other friends are thinking about doing a Century race. We live in the Bay Area, so it's here...www.bonfanteride.com...Any tips for me? thanx. I'm a pretty strong rider for my age though. But it's my first century ride. Thanks for helpin me.