Road Cycling - Chicagoland Riding

My riding buddies and I usually ride from the Northwestern campus north to Highland Park for a nice 30 mile loop, but recently I have found the roads to be less than satisfactory.

Does anyone live in the Chicago area and can recommend a route?

We all live downtown and have no problem going out to suburbia to begin our ride.

Thanks!

FB

I live in the south suburbs (the Orland Park/Lockport area) and once you get out here, there is nothing but farms for as long as you want to ride. Starved Rock is a great ride. Also, the Fox River in St. Charles is about a 40 mile trip one way I think. It takes a little bit to get out there, but it’s a really nice ride.

If you’d like more details just private message me and I’ll give you some great roads to ride out this way.

My riding buddies and I usually ride from the Northwestern campus north to Highland Park for a nice 30 mile loop, but recently I have found the roads to be less than satisfactory.

Does anyone live in the Chicago area and can recommend a route?

We all live downtown and have no problem going out to suburbia to begin our ride.

Thanks!

FB


I used to live in Chicago. Just south of the Northwestern campus at about Hollywood and Sheridan you can pick up the Lake front paved trails. I would not do it in the middle of the day but in the morning the biking is pretty good.

That only is good anymore very early in the morning. Now it is cluttered with rollerbladers, cruisers, and pedestrians. Any rider going more than 15 mph is risking a lot.

That only is good anymore very early in the morning. Now it is cluttered with rollerbladers, cruisers, and pedestrians. Any rider going more than 15 mph is risking a lot.


I was afraid of that. Sorry. I used to go out late at night after work in the summer time.

No biggie. It just stinks.

I agree....the lakefront is a terrible place to ride now. A friend and I rode the path last Friday at about 4:00 and it felt like we were risking our lives for a bike ride. Between the inconsiderate walkers to the cocky roller bladers...it was quite the hellish ride.
Also, is there a reason why the city, especially with the taxes being what they are, can't seem to afford to fix up the pathway?? It felt like I was riding over railroad tracks the whole time.

I agree....the lakefront is a terrible place to ride now. A friend and I rode the path last Friday at about 4:00 and it felt like we were risking our lives for a bike ride. Between the inconsiderate walkers to the cocky roller bladers...it was quite the hellish ride.
Also, is there a reason why the city, especially with the taxes being what they are, can't seem to afford to fix up the pathway?? It felt like I was riding over railroad tracks the whole time.

You must have been riding north of Fullerton. the sections of concrete that they have placed there are terrible! I did get a solo ride in yesterday with a ride down to 63rd St. and back. Once you get south of McCormick it opens up quite a bit and I was able to hold 25+ for a good while before the path got clogged. As I told a fellow biker after he and I were nearly wiped out by an SUV. "I just consider it a six-mile cooldown."

The Chicago Triathlon Club has a site with a bunch of good rides. My wife and I tend to ride the Buffalo Grove Ride. Nice roads, rolling hills, and not too much traffic. The map included on the site shows a right turn on Braeburn to begin a loop, but we prefer to continue straight and do the mapped out loop in reverse. Here's the link to the Chicago Tri Club site with directions to various rides:

http://www.chicagotriclub.com/info/directions.asp