Great Lakes - I did it.

I see all of you ride 80 or 100 miles and that is just for a warmup. My goals for this summer were far more modest. Ever since they put the Pennsy Greenway through Lansing, I have wanted to figure out a route from Lansing to Crown Point using the trails in Lansing, Munster, Highland etc... out to Crown Point. I had planned the route and rode parts of it earlier this year, but I always stopped before I reached my goal. Not today, I made it all the way there 17miles and took a different route home for a grand total of just over 31 miles. My speed was perhaps not the fastest but I managed an average 11.4mph round trip. The ride took about 2hrs 45min. I feel like I rode the tour, and I was just about completely gassed due to the wind on the last stretch, but I didn't give up, I DID IT.

torgrot

:thumb:

You rode 31 more miles than most of the planet. Keep it up!

Just ride baby. Keep it going.

Outstanding!

I can go back a few years and see where I was averaging 14 mph (for much shorter rides) and proud. It's all relative, just keep up the good work!

:thumb: Just ride Just ride

In 2004, when I started, (from a complete sedentary lifestyle) 3 miles was enough to totally drain me. Now I'm up to 15 mile rides and more without even getting winded. Everyone starts somewhere.

If you feel like going longer do this:

Going down the Pennsy Greenway when you hit Main St, get off the bike path and onto Main St heading east. Once you go by the Oak Ridge Prairie Park, then hit the bike path along E. Main Street until you hit Wisconsin St. in Hobart.

That will easily put a 40-50 mile ride into your bank.

Sounds like you had a great ride! Congrats. I remember taking days off to rest before my first 30 miler and had to take a day off after!

Great job! Once you see that you can make it to all sorts of destinations you'll never need your car anymore! I live in Chicago and my parents live in the suburbs - about 25 miles away. I rode out to their house about a month ago and now I don't have to take the train out anymore! It's fun to realize what you can do on your bike.

Torgrot

Would you be able to describe the route you took? I live in Homewood and am looking for a safe way to get over towards the Indiana trails (e.g. Erie Lackawanna). I have a good route to Lansing, but always get stuck where the Pennsy ends in Lansing. Any suggestions??

Bobby Boy, Just before the end of the Pennsy on the left you see a couple of cuts down to a cul-de-sac, that is Willow take that north to Terrace. Right, or east to Forest, south on Forrest which becomes Timerick and just before Timerick becomes Fisher there is an entrance to a bike path which extends along Fisher past the Hospital on the right eventually it crosses White Oak. Turn south on White Oak in the bike lane, Munster is pretty good about that. Take it to Fran-Lin and make a left or East over the bridge continue to Azalia not Magnolia as that takes you into a bunch of cul-de-sacs. Take Azalia to the end and turn left on Southmoor. Go North one block and turn right on Hart Road. Take Hart Road East across Indianapolis and then Kennedy all the way to 5th st. Turn left one block to 41st and then east on 41st street to the Erie Lackawanna trail in Highland by the school. There are only three roads that cross Indianapolis Lincoln, Hart and 45th street. It is possible to get to Lincoln but you really are going out of your way and only someone with a death wish would ride 45th street.

torgrot

Bobby Boy,

I live in Munster. So I'm right in your neighborhood. My best way to get to the trail starting at Kennedy Av. I take Ridge Rd. across Indianapolis Blvd, move onto Highway Av. after the first light and then right turn on Kennedy Av. and the trail starts in about 100 yards from the turn.

Ridge is a little bit busy with traffic, but that doesn't hold me back.

:thumb:
You rode 31 more miles than most of the planet. Keep it up!
+1, congrats :)

Congrats! I just did my first 30-mile ride earlier this week too!

Good for you! 31 miles is a lot of pedaling. :thumb:

Congrats. My first 30+ miles ride was a few years ago on the night of the LATE ride in Chicago. I was terrified of doing it and I was pretty beat afterward, but I did do it. It get's easier and easier to tack on miles as you go along.

This year I'm tempted to do the LATE ride on my singlespeed.

Well, I took your suggestion scummer and rode over to the Oak Savannah Trail which I had ridden in the past. I forgot how pretty that trail can be. I rode it to the end in Hobart. I just wish they would do something about the crossing at Broadway, the signs and the fence say go to the light, but there isn't anything to ride on so you might as well go round the fence and cross Broadway as soon as you can. I wouldn't suggest riding down Main street in Griffith either, as I encounter numerous gravel trucks dropping copious amounts of, well gravel as they rolled by me. Colfax is a much nicer route with a lot less traffic and no gravel trucks. All in all it was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, the sky was blue and the path was smooth. I rode a grand total of just over 38 miles today. It took me too long and I was too slow, but who cares.

torgrot

Torgrot

Would you be able to describe the route you took? I live in Homewood and am looking for a safe way to get over towards the Indiana trails (e.g. Erie Lackawanna). I have a good route to Lansing, but always get stuck where the Pennsy ends in Lansing. Any suggestions??

Here's torgrot's route (slightly modified to take Wentworth to Terrace Dr.) starting on the Pennsy Greenway in Lansing at Ridge Road and ending at the Erie Lackawanna Trail at 41st St. in Highland: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2869015 (switch to hybrid mode to see the trails).

Supposedly there is 2009 funding for extending the Pennsy Greenway from the State Line to Fisher St. in Munster, and future plans all the way to Crown Point along the former Pennsylvania RR right-of-way, parts of which may be started in 2009. :thumb: I read that somewhere on the internet..... :rolleyes:, just didn't bookmark it. :(

..... a bike path which extends along Fisher past the Hospital on the right eventually it crosses .....

Two short bike/pedestrian bridges across the ditches at the east end of the Fisher bike path to Lincoln Street would be fannnnnnnnnnn-tastic. The region's bike path network would benefit greatly.

Well, I took your suggestion scummer and rode over to the Oak Savannah Trail which I had ridden in the past. I forgot how pretty that trail can be. I rode it to the end in Hobart. I just wish they would do something about the crossing at Broadway, the signs and the fence say go to the light, but there isn't anything to ride on so you might as well go round the fence and cross Broadway as soon as you can. I wouldn't suggest riding down Main street in Griffith either, as I encounter numerous gravel trucks dropping copious amounts of, well gravel as they rolled by me. Colfax is a much nicer route with a lot less traffic and no gravel trucks. All in all it was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, the sky was blue and the path was smooth. I rode a grand total of just over 38 miles today. It took me too long and I was too slow, but who cares.

torgrot

Torgrot, from the Erie Lackawanna Trail taking Colfax through the Oak Ridge Prairie County Park and onto the Oak Savannah Trail is the trip I normally take. I only suggested Main street, because you came from the other trail, where Main street is a more direct route.

Two short bike/pedestrian bridges across the ditches at the east end of the Fisher bike path to Lincoln Street would be fannnnnnnnnnn-tastic. The region's bike path network would benefit greatly.

+1 that would certainly be high on my list of future enhancements.:thumb:

They are already working on parts of it south of route 30. I have a friend who lives out there and it was included in legislation for sewer work out there.

Thanks for the Gmap. I've been riding from Homewood to Frankfort most weekends - but that gets old. Looking forward to using your directions over to Indiana and exploring the trails on the C4 Site.