Recumbent - Riding the Tinley Creek Trail

http://www.vimeo.com/884175

The Tinley Creek Trail is located in South Suburban Cook County, just South of Chicago. The trail runs atop an ice age terminal moraine and, during the 1800's, was extensively farmed. The area is now inhabited by coyotes, deer, hawks and other critters. From my house, it is a 31 + mile round trip. All this within a county with over 5,000,000 human souls. Hope you enjoy the vid. Feel free to comment. All shot freehand, hence the 'shakes', at speeds up to 28 mph.

http://www.vimeo.com/884175

The Tinley Creek Trail is located in South Suburban Cook County, just South of Chicago. The trail runs atop an ice age terminal moraine and, during the 1800's, was extensively farmed. The area is now inhabited by coyotes, deer, hawks and other critters. From my house, it is a 31 + mile round trip. All this within a county with over 5,000,000 human souls. Hope you enjoy the vid. Feel free to comment. All shot freehand, hence the 'shakes', at speeds up to 28 mph.

I wish that you would quit posting this stuff. I'm going to have to load up and come North one of these days. How close is this trail to the Old Plank Trail? I could make a day of it and hit both. :)

Riding distance if you don't mind some traffic, otherwise, about 20 minutes by car. Old Plank is about 40 miles r/t, add another 18- 20 to ride to the Tinley and another 10 -20 on the Tinley - all in all, a very good days work. Given enough lead time and decent weather, should be able to put together a good group to ride with you. Our group has over 30 riders, of which 8 - 12 show up regularly. Let me know if interested.

Rick

Riding distance if you don't mind some traffic, otherwise, about 20 minutes by car. Old Plank is about 40 miles r/t, add another 18- 20 to ride to the Tinley and another 10 -20 on the Tinley - all in all, a very good days work. Given enough lead time and decent weather, should be able to put together a good group to ride with you. Our group has over 30 riders, of which 8 - 12 show up regularly. Let me know if interested.

Rick

How often do you guys ride? Any weekday rides?

nice. It looks like snowmobiles must hit the trail too in the winter. I can see some real nasty marks on the path from the studs.

Thanks for viewing! The marks are from the flail mowers that the FPD uses to mow the trailsides. Have seen themout, and I had a "Mott" flail mower on the rear of my Ford 2200 diesel tractor. But you are right, looks like spinning drive belt marks. FPD police are pretty severe on folks riding snowmobiles outside of posted areas.

Thanks for the pictures and music choices.

Were you riding what the Forest Preserve District calls the Red Loop? Is there also some good riding in the other areas?

Yup, guess that's it. Trail continues as far North as 119th St. just West of Il. 43, and as far South as 167th St. just West of Il. 50. Good riding can be found on the Old Plank Road Trail, a rails-trails conversion with a length of 20 miles, although more can be added by going North to what we optimistically call "the hills". Best ride going on a nice summer day is the Chicago Lakefront Path. Drop dead scenery cooled by Lake Michigan breezes, beautiful women and good food! Here's a link to one of my earlier videos edited with Windows Movie Maker http://youtube.com/watch?v=r8VWzW7wO5c. Enjoy!

How often do you guys ride? Any weekday rides?

We are "ROF's", and thus, ride when the spirit moves us to - every day when it is nice. With some advance notice we can put together a group of 6 - 10 on lwb, swb and trikes. "ROF's" are we, "Retired Old Farts", and some "Fartettes", too. Man, am I gonna catch the crap from the 'she-police'!

We are "ROF's", and thus, ride when the spirit moves us to - every day when it is nice. With some advance notice we can put together a group of 6 - 10 on lwb, swb and trikes. "ROF's" are we, "Retired Old Farts", and some "Fartettes", too. Man, am I gonna catch the crap from the 'she-police'!

I'm coming that way to ride some day. Of course, I've been saying that since 2004 when I visited the Frankfort bike shop to look at a Baron. :)

Though Tourezrick claims ROF status, I suspect he is an agent in the employ of Chicago area dark forces of tourism. How else to explain how he would make entering the maw of that urban beast seem so appealing?

Though Tourezrick claims ROF status, I suspect he is an agent in the employ of Chicago area dark forces of tourism. How else to explain how he would make entering the maw of that urban beast seem so appealing?

You may be right. Also, being a downstater, that's also one reason that I haven't gone up and rode the trails; we country bumpkins are scared of the big city. :)

My riding buddies and I do a ride called the "BLT", the 'Boulevard Lakefront Tour', which leads us through many of Chicago's historic neighborhoods, which normally, I wouldn't ride through - WAY too dangerous except in a large crowd. We provide comic relief, being on two wheel bents and trikes, as most haven't seen a recumbent before. Most common comment(other than laughter or "Are those comfortable?") is "Look at them crazy white folks". Funny, how they hit the nail on the head.