Introductions - Hey there- I'm from northern Illinois

Hello everyone,
I am a new member to this forum. My name is Teresa, I live in northern Illinois and my birthday is March 20th.

I have been lurking around for a while before finally deciding to join, and then lurked about some more before posting this "intro".
The information found through out this forum with its various topics have been interesting for the most part.

Anyway, I love riding my bike. It is only 3 weeks old (well, maybe I've had it a little longer now) Wheeee!! time goes by so fast when you're having FUN!!!

I rode several trails/paths here in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin!
In fact just this past Saturday I rode the Sugar River State Trail from Brodhead Wisconsin almost to Monticello; it even has a covered bridge!
Then on August 23, I started in New Glarus and rode to Monticello and then back to New Glarus. I rode on a few of the recreational paths in Rockford Illinois.
I plan on riding the Elroy-Sparta State Trail later this month or first part of October hopefully when the leaves are at their peak.

Oh- my bike is one of those “odd looking” bikes called a comfort bike.
But you know; I love it. It is a Trek Navigator 300, color: Wheatsilver

Sincerely,
Trek’n Teresa

Welcome to the Forum, Teresa!

Enjoy your bike, there's a lot to be said for fat tired bikes.
I ride a mountain bike with street tires, gives me better control on dirt roads (hardly any cars on them!)

I do all of my riding in Indiana, but would like to ride around Chicago sometime.

FXjohn

Howdy, neighbor!

Welcome to the forums.

Welcome to Bikeforums.

:)

I want to say THANKS to FX john, Regular Guy and MsVicki for the warm welcome. I appreciate it. I also look forward to getting to know everyone better and learn lots of stuff. Again thank you for welcoming me to your friendly forum. Have a great day.

~Trek'n Teresa ~

Oops, a tad late...Welcome! :D

-Rob

Hey Teresa,

Welcome. Are there any good roads to ride that have tons of hills. I am looking for that kind of training around here. I am more in the NW burbs of IL, so there are not too many hills here.

Bill

Plenty of hills around here, Bill. Even more if you get our toward Galena.

Where would those hills be ????

Galena.

;)

Pull out a map and you'll find it in the northern part of Illinois. I knew a bunch of cyclists who go to Galena for their hill training on weekends. I haven't been there myself, but it sounds like hill paradise.

Koffee

Galena is a hilly wonderland. Very lovely town. Passed through on TOMRV. Can't wait for next year's TOMRV.

Mark

Welcome to the forum. Good to have you here.

Hey Bill :) (bfong),

Welcome to Bike Forums!
I am still pretty new to all of this, but there is so much information in here-
I hope you enjoy it as well.

Sorry, to just now be getting around to answering your question, but looks like you have already gotten the answer to your question.
The others are sure correct, Galena does indeed have hills! It is absolutely gorgeous over there.

There are many roads that have hills. I can name you a few of them.
in Jo Daviess County: Massbach Rd. this is perhaps more curvey- but nice.

Stage Coach Trail Rd.- a lot of traffic.

2 miles northeast of Scales Mound, at the Wisconsin border is Charles Mound -at a modest 1,235 feet , it is the highest spot in Illinois!

Council Hill Rd. between Scales Mound and Galena

Black Jack Rd. (steepest hill ?)- near Chestnut Mountain Ski Resort this is narrow and MAY NOT be a very "safe" one to ride.

I know there are many more than I've listed here- this is only a few I could remember...plus I do not have a map of the county roads.

However- I suggest that you call the Jo Daviess County Hwy. Dept.
815-858-2437 or e-mail them: jodaviesscohwy@internetni.com
for more information on any and all roads.

However, I cannot recommend them as I am not sure how "safe" they would be for a bicyclist. Some of these county roads are narrow, and have some heavy traffic and also farm machinery that use them.

I don't know if that helps- but, I sure hope it does.

P.S. Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park in Lena Il. (Stephenson Co.) has some small hills all throughout, but it is only 2 miles all the way around the park.

Again, Welcome aboard!
:)

Galena is in the northwest corner of Illinois. It's a great little tourist town and has some incredibly hilly roads. Blackjack Rd. which Teresa mentioned has a 15% grade up one side. The other side is a little less steep.

I live in Dixon, Bill. North of the Rock River the roads get pretty hilly. South of the Rock it all levels out.

If you want to head out this way for a day ride sometime, let me know.

Oh, and IAParamedic is right on the TOMRV (http://www.qcbc.org/tomrv/index). It's hillariffic...hillacious...hillicious...

It's also a darn good weekend ride.

RG, if you don't mind, I may piggyback on that invitation one day- I had plans on heading up to Galena at least once a week once next spring hits.

Koffee

I was in the Galena area this past August for a business meeting and stayed at Eagle Ridge Resort, about 6 miles south of Galena. Spent one morning riding into Galena and then on out on Stagecoach Road heading for Wisconsin. Split a tire after about 13 miles, booted it and had to head back to Eagle Ridge. Route 20 south of Galena has a paved shoulder with plenty of traffic, but I felt safe enough. Stagecoach Road has no shoulder and is narrow, but drivers were courteous - I assume they see a lot of cyclists. The hills made ours here in Balmy Southern Illinois seem like youngsters. The next morning I rode around the resort properties - decent roads, minimal traffic, nice views, and hills. I rode a 12 mile loop, but could have made it much longer if I had the time. I'm trying to post a few pics, but not having any success.

Ya know, Koffee & RegularGuy - that sounds like fun. Give me a shout if it happens.

Guys and Gals,

This sounds fun. I would be up for some crazy hill training :D

Bill F.

Hi Teresa

If you ever want a riding partner let me know. I live in the same area and can often be found on the Cheese Country Trail in my spare time.

Randy

Ya know, Koffee & RegularGuy - that sounds like fun. Give me a shout if it happens.

Heck, yeah! Theresa and Bill, you guys show up, too, and it can be a little Bikeforums par-tay! I think that sounds like JUST the ticket!

:D

av8or Randy,

Hello there, Where exactly do you live? (if you don't mind me asking) I love the trails in Wisconsin! In fact last Saturday I rode the Elroy-Sparta Trail. I started out in Elroy and made it to Norwalk through the last tunnel;
turned around and rode back for a total of 48 miles. I also enjoy the Sugar River Trail in Wisconsin. Hey, I may be there this Saturday (if it doesn't rain) and also Monday.
"Happy Riding"