Great Lakes - Capital City Century & DARE to Ride to the Lake

I MAY be in the south central Illinois area on the weekend of Sept. 12-13 and I see that there are century rides in Trenton, Illinois on Saturday the 12th(DARE to Ride to the Lake) and in Springfield, Illinois (Capital City Century) on Sunday the 13th. These two rides may fit into my travel plans pretty well but I'd like to hear from a few forumites that may have ridden either or both of these. Road conditions, etc. are my main concerns since I can ride a lot of different places on these same days and don't want to spend 4-5 hours on a bunch of crappy chip-seal when I can get all I want of that stuff right here in Texas.

How about it, can anyone help me with either of these!!!???

Also looking at doing the Ride the Rivers Century on my way back from Michigan...it's on the 11th of October, anyone with any first hand experience doing this one? Basically I'm going up to northern Michigan around the 12th or so of September and heading back sometime between the 7th and 11th of October and looking to do at least metric century rides every Saturday and Sunday while I'm on the road. I've got the 19th and 20th of September taken care of, as well as the 26th and 27th. Only dates that I really need to look at are the early ones (12th-13th September) and the 10th and 11th of October....provided, that is, that I can stay away that long. The first weekend in October I'm going to be on Mackinac Island and then on into the UP, headed for Copper Harbor....I think! I'm open to routes going up AND coming back as long as I don't have to swing further east than Indiana nor further west than eastern Minnesota. How about some information and a few suggestions!? Thanks!

I have done the D.A.R.E. ride since the first one, I think this will be 4 years. This is the first year for the century option. It is almost 100% chip and seal, (maybe it is 100%) but I don't consider it bad. Not as good as blacktop, but it is pretty much what I ride most of the time, so I guess I am used to it, and don't mind it. Sept. here is not generally hot enough to turn the road sticky. The only unknown is how much of the route has recently (July/August) had new chip and sealcoat applied. You can probably count on a few miles of it, but a few weeks of traffic does a pretty good job of smoothing it out.

As for rest stops, they previously have been good, with a pretty good supply of refreshents, including bananas and Power Bars. I would expect them to be as good as ever this year. They have some great volunteers. I have never needed sag support on the ride, but I have seen support vehicles out on the course.


Officer Chris Joellenbeck does a great job putting this on, and I am sure he would be glad to answer any questions. Give him a call, his number is on the flyer, with his email address.


I have never ridden the Capitol City Century, so I can't speak to that.


Edit: It looks like about 5% is not chip and seal. And by the way, the course is Flat, about as flat as a century can get. There is another century near Trenton in June, over some of the same roads, that they call the "Flat as a Pancake Century." That description would fit the D.A.R.E. ride too.

I have ridden the Capitol City Century (metric) in the past. Almost 8 or 9 years ago now. :eek: Wow hadn't realized that till now.

Am returning this year to ride my first full century.

The website (http://www.spfldcycling.org/) and documents lay it all out accurately. Mostly flat, oiled (what you call chip and seal? some, but not usually asphalt) roads, well supported with SAG and great food stops.

Temps have been cool for August around here. Right now it is struggling to get up to 80. The roads took some heat in June and smooothed out. These low temps have kept them in good shape and not sticky right now. Hope it continues for the ride on the 13th.

Usually a fun ride amongst the corn fields. Maybe I'll see you there.