Great Lakes - Any big rides closer to Chicago you guys meet for?
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Title says it all. We have in-laws in Orland Park, so the idea of sneaking up for a ride is doable, but would rather be closer to Chi-town then a couple hours away. We did Bike the Drive last year and hope to again, without the rain, the Breakfast/Nite ride looks great, but I think it might conflict with the RAIN ride.
Here are some links, I'm sure you will find something. A bunch of us do the Udder Century in May.
http://www.elmhurstbicycling.org/links.asp
CyLowe97
01-04-08, 02:48 PM
The Joliet Bike Club's Sudden Century is usually the first weekend in May. That one starts in Joliet, so is just right down I-80 from Orland Park. It's a big turnout ride and usually does a lap around the Chicagoland Speedway track or a run down the Route 66 dragstrip. Good support on that ride and a great first century of the season opportunity.
The 2007 ride was one of the hardest rides all year. Friggin' 20+ MPH winds straight out of the east were crazy. Here are our some of the whiny ride reports (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=295325)from the usual gang of idiots.
Psimet2001
01-04-08, 04:24 PM
The Joliet Bike Club's Sudden Century is usually the first weekend in May. That one starts in Joliet, so is just right down I-80 from Orland Park. It's a big turnout ride and usually does a lap around the Chicagoland Speedway track or a run down the Route 66 dragstrip. Good support on that ride and a great first century of the season opportunity.
The 2007 ride was one of the hardest rides all year. Friggin' 20+ MPH winds straight out of the east were crazy. Here are our some of the whiny ride reports (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=295325)from the usual gang of idiots.
+1 - Sudden Century and Udder are two of what seem to be our favorite events. There's some good Udder ride reports on here as well. Good reads.
BTW - any time you are up this way and want to ride just start a thread or drop us a PM. Who knows....someone may join you ;)
BetweenRides
01-04-08, 10:13 PM
+1 on the rides mentioned - do 'em every year. Here's a link (http://www.mikebentley.com/bike/ilrides.htm) for pretty much every invitational in Illinois. Mike is just getting started on updates for 2008, but you can look at his link for 2007 to see what's out there. If you want to travel out to the Fox Valley (not that far from Orland Park), I can hook you up with some sweet routes in Kane, Kendall, Dekalb & McHenry counties.