Great Lakes - Chicago / Chicagoland riders listing

Since I know you are on BF, trying not to type sentences into one word or use terms like you keep your bike in the "frunch room" or you lost your "gerraashkey" and can't get to your bike out so you can't log any miles for the month, let us unite.

Or at least have a thread where we can see each other and know who we can ride with.

I think it would be great to meet others from the forums and perhaps organize a ride, meet up at other organized events, and so on. Chicago has been doing a lot more to become a more bike friendly city with Rahm coming into power as mayor and redoing bike lanes and such in the city. And we will willing accept our suburban friends, since most of the nicer trails are out your way.

So who are youse and where youse live by?

Mike here from the NW side (Jeff Park)

I live in west Rogers Park on the north side of Chicago. Near the corner of Kedzie and Devon.

I have several routes that go north.

31 miles to Glencoe and back using the North Branch bike path and Sheridan Rd.

55 miles to Lake Bluff and back using the Skokie Valley bike path and Sheridan Rd.

75 miles to Libertyville and back using the Skokie Valley bike path, Old Elm, Everett, St Mary, River and Sheridan Rd.

May average moving pace id 17.5 to 19 mph. I do like to hold 20 mph when the route and traffic allows.

I live in west Rogers Park on the north side of Chicago. Near the corner of Kedzie and Devon.

I have several routes that go north.

31 miles to Glencoe and back using the North Branch bike path and Sheridan Rd.

55 miles to Lake Bluff and back using the Skokie Valley bike path and Sheridan Rd.

75 miles to Libertyville and back using the Skokie Valley bike path, Old Elm, Everett, St Mary, River and Sheridan Rd.

May average moving pace id 17.5 to 19 mph. I do like to hold 20 mph when the route and traffic allows.

I have been looking at doing a 75 mile ride and a lot of people advise to avoid going up through Waukegan and that area because of the neighborhood.

How often you ride? I try to go out every Saturday I can for a long ride, I am shooting for 60 plus this Saturday and keep a very similar pace as you do, usually I try to stay consistently between 18-19 mph. And how is Sheridan road for riding? I see a lot of Chicago groups that use it, and I am tempted to link up with XXX (I think that is their name) that leaves out of Wicker Park and goes up Sheridan.

I have been looking at doing a 75 mile ride and a lot of people advise to avoid going up through Waukegan and that area because of the neighborhood.

How often you ride? I try to go out every Saturday I can for a long ride, I am shooting for 60 plus this Saturday and keep a very similar pace as you do, usually I try to stay consistently between 18-19 mph. And how is Sheridan road for riding? I see a lot of Chicago groups that use it, and I am tempted to link up with XXX (I think that is their name) that leaves out of Wicker Park and goes up Sheridan.

I did 51 miles today. PM me, I'll be out of town this week, but will be back to my cycling routes next weekend.

I unfortunately cannot PM you because I do not have 50 posts yet, I would imagine by weeks end I will have contributed something of value elsewhere a few times to increase that post count. But as I stand my wife is very pregnant so this weekend may be out as I might be a new father! :)

[QUOTE=Chitown_Mike;14642902]I have been looking at doing a 75 mile ride and a lot of people advise to avoid going up through Waukegan and that area because of the neighborhood.

Not the best area for sure but there are plenty of routes to avoid the 5 to 6 miles that are not good
I live just west of waukegan and have ridden it several times with no problems but I wont say its safe
Depending on where you want to go when you get to Lake Buff you can go west to the Des Plaines river trail
or if you want to continue north on the trail there are a lot routes on streets to skirt the area on the west side

I unfortunately cannot PM you because I do not have 50 posts yet, I would imagine by weeks end I will have contributed something of value elsewhere a few times to increase that post count. But as I stand my wife is very pregnant so this weekend may be out as I might be a new father! :)

Yes, the arrival of a new family member might trump a bike ride!

Here is a nice 50+ mile route from Chicago: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/91403615/

Here is a nice 75+ mile route from Chicago: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/52907834/

Hopeful congrats on the new baby!
We're up around Highland Park/Lake Forest. Any of you city guys get up on the North Shore?
I've been doing the Green Bay Trail-Isabella-Sheridan loop with the kids.

Adam from the southwest suburbs here. Mostly short (by my standards) neighborhood and forest preserves trail rides.

Mike from the far NW burbs. East Dundee to be exact. Cut way back on the multi-century rides my youth. Mostly commute to work to Elgin along the FRT on my 1952 Monark Rocket or one of my many 3 speeds now.

I do have a 27 mile route through Barrington Hills that I'll do a couple times a year with some friends.

Congrats on parenthood, whether impending or having already happened. Expecting my second grandkid in February. That tells you that I'm old.

I live in North Chicago. I regularly ride on the North Branch trail starting at my place, through the trail that starts at Rt 176 (forgot the name of it).
I usually stop at Super H mart (http://www.yelp.com/biz/super-h-mart-niles) to have some sushi or whatever suits my taste for the day. :)

Dale here, far far far west in Sheridan. I have some nice routes of 40, 50, and 64 miles going to Yorkville, Oswego, Sheridan, Newark, Millington, Millbrook - all the hot spots. :)

I have a metric century route to Starved Rock from my place if there's interest. There are some nice hills on that route near Starved Rock.

Hopeful congrats on the new baby!
We're up around Highland Park/Lake Forest. Any of you city guys get up on the North Shore?
I've been doing the Green Bay Trail-Isabella-Sheridan loop with the kids.


For those who asked, the baby boy and mama are home and healthy! Thanks and excited for this chapter in our lives.

And I will venture up to the North Shore from time to time. Took a ride up Sheridan from Wicker Park in Chicago and that was a great ride.

Dale here, far far far west in Sheridan.

I rode out your way on Labor day. Out west through Plainfield, Oswego,
& Yorkville. Down through Lisbon Center & into Morris. Then back east
through Minooka, Channahon, & into Joliet.

Got caught up in the Lisbon Labor Day parade, didn't have any candy to throw.:rolleyes:

George from Edgewater (Andersonville) here. I do the ride up Sheridan to the Perfect Blend coffee shop in Highland Park most weekends. ~40 miles. Sometimes add on another 10-15 with the Skokie Valley bike path. I'm going to start 'cross races soon, but the other day of the weekends are still free for rides. Only been in Chicago for a year, still figuring out the good routes.

I'm out in Elgin (The sticks I know), but there are some decent roads out to the west of me. I want to get more miles in. I ride with a group right now, but they dont put in the miles that I want!

I mostly ride out my door to one of 3 local forest preserve MUPs around Palatine/Schaumburg. Pavement w/ road tires, but also gravel and some singletrack at Deer Grove with cross tires or my 29er. I've also ridden through Barrington Hills but that's usually 40+ miles round trip so harder to schedule.

If anyone rides a mountain bike, here's a NW burbs club: http://www.northwestmountainbike.com/index.htm
and of course chicago area mountain bikers: http://cambr.org/SMF/index.php?action=forum
(currently doing great things in Carpentersville for singletrack (http://www.facebook.com/cambrnorth))

George from Edgewater (Andersonville) here. I do the ride up Sheridan to the Perfect Blend coffee shop in Highland Park most weekends. ~40 miles. Sometimes add on another 10-15 with the Skokie Valley bike path. I'm going to start 'cross races soon, but the other day of the weekends are still free for rides. Only been in Chicago for a year, still figuring out the good routes.

You ride with the XXX Racing guys on weekends?




I'm out in Elgin (The sticks I know), but there are some decent roads out to the west of me. I want to get more miles in. I ride with a group right now, but they dont put in the miles that I want!

atallen, I have wandered out towards that way, I have used the Busse woods circle a few times to train on long runs for but I am definitely down to ride some distances. There isn't a lot I can do in Chicago that doesn't have me stopping every few hundred feet it seems. Especially if the roads are clear in the winter, I would be interested in putting in some miles then too.

Bryan from Rogers Park (Morse and the lake, more or less). I work near Lake-Cook Road and Green Bay, so I get a nice 28 miles on Green Bay Road (not a fan of the trail) five days a week. DPRT and FRT are two of my favorites.

I'm in Waukegan. I want to get out every chance I get while the good weather lasts. Got backs into cycling with my new recumbent and have 800 plus miles accumilated so far in the last few months. Do all my riding on the Des Plaines River Trail with a range from the Wisconsin state line down to Rt 60 with an average speed on the limestone trail of about 11-12 mph. Lately, horse riders have plowed up good portions of the trail. This has prompted me to seek out new routes and a chance to ride on some asphalt for a change.

I'm out in Barrington, and have access to all the great rides in Barrington Hills, and can also ride to Deer Grove FP very easily for psuedo-mountain biking. Just got into road riding this summer and managed to find some nice (relatively) easy 15-20 mile loops through the Hills. Which is good for me, because I'm still sloooooow.

Wish I had gotten more miles when the weather was good, but it feels like it went from 90º to 40º - where did fall go? That said, I plan to keep riding during the cold weather months when it's dry outside.

Here in Old Town... Near North Ave. and Halsted... Glad to ride with folks - rides near 20 - need to get my mileage up - I run as well, so, I would imagine I could go up to 30 at 16-18 (pending headwind) - oh, and currently, on a mountain HT or fixed gear... (working on adding a CX and road bike to the stable)

Here in Old Town... Near North Ave. and Halsted... Glad to ride with folks - rides near 20 - need to get my mileage up - I run as well, so, I would imagine I could go up to 30 at 16-18 (pending headwind) - oh, and currently, on a mountain HT or fixed gear... (working on adding a CX and road bike to the stable)

Jon, if you're ever down for longer rides let me know, I have been meaning to ride the lake front path since it is colder out and traffic will be sparse. From north to south round trip I believe is a little over 30 miles.

Correction: its 18 one way, so 36 total.

Since I know you are on BF, trying not to type sentences into one word or use terms like you keep your bike in the "frunch room" or you lost your "gerraashkey" and can't get to your bike out so you can't log any miles for the month, let us unite.

Or at least have a thread where we can see each other and know who we can ride with.

I think it would be great to meet others from the forums and perhaps organize a ride, meet up at other organized events, and so on. Chicago has been doing a lot more to become a more bike friendly city with Rahm coming into power as mayor and redoing bike lanes and such in the city. And we will willing accept our suburban friends, since most of the nicer trails are out your way.

So who are youse and where youse live by?

Mike here from the NW side (Jeff Park)
Derrick here. I'm in Chicago around the lake and ride up to Edgewater Beach and sometimes further than that. I'm looking for a good ride and good group to ride with as well..

Here in Old Town... Near North Ave. and Halsted... Glad to ride with folks - rides near 20 - need to get my mileage up - I run as well, so, I would imagine I could go up to 30 at 16-18 (pending headwind) - oh, and currently, on a mountain HT or fixed gear... (working on adding a CX and road bike to the stable)
I ride that way sometimes. It's a good distance from my house and I like riding and going further.

Enjoy it while it lasts folks, looks like they're pulling the plug by next week (back into the 20's). Still, above freezing commuting in late December! Let's hear it for Global Warming :lol:

Here comes the SNOW! To all the commuters out there today. Be careful!

I live in the far north suburbs (I'm actually less than 10 miles from the IL/WI border!!!)... but I commute by bike and Metra train everyday to my office in downtown Chicago.

At the rate the snow is falling right now, I may not be riding this evening.... good thing my bike is a folding bike and I have a shoulder bag it fits into.

Hey guys - I'm not sure how I missed this thread.

I live in Edgewater (andersonville, specifically.)

I will ride with anyone, any time.

Hey guys - I'm not sure how I missed this thread.

I live in Edgewater (andersonville, specifically.)

I will ride with anyone, any time.

I miss living in the little Edgewater Beach neighborhood ...yes, with an emphasis on 'hood' for the block I was on. At least the gangbangers on my block knew who I was and didn't mess with me... they just wanted to sell weed to Loyola students it seemed. :lol:

I used to ride my vintage muscle bikes and custom cruisers every night between 8pm and 10pm around Edgewater and Andersonville back in the late 90's. Maybe you saw me cruising around back then? Good times. :)

In Oak Lawn, and work in the city (River North) and always looking for a group to ride with close to home.

In Rogers Park, work down at/near/in Feinberg med school (so around Michigan ave touristy area lol). That's my daily commute anyway. Looking for suggestions for good long day rides when the weather warms up :)

Jose from Skokie....work in lakeview so ride to work. about 10 miles. depending the day and place I work...Wouldnt mind riding with a couple of guys mornings or whatever.

Jose from Skokie....work in lakeview so ride to work. about 10 miles. depending the day and place I work...Wouldnt mind riding with a couple of guys mornings or whatever.


Jose I live up in the Jeff Park neighborhood and work in Morton Grove. Once the weather is better I plan on doing my long mile rides (30+) on Saturday mornings. PM me and we can chat and plan something out in the near future.

Jose I live up in the Jeff Park neighborhood and work in Morton Grove. Once the weather is better I plan on doing my long mile rides (30+) on Saturday mornings. PM me and we can chat and plan something out in the near future.

hey man just relooked at the thread.....yeah that be cool anyone else interested?

what do you ride?

Yes, I would be very interested - just have to work out scheduling for others events (little folk who rule the roost). Been riding a bit in this weather - need boots - dang cold... Looking forward to spring...

Yes, I would be very interested - just have to work out scheduling for others events (little folk who rule the roost). Been riding a bit in this weather - need boots - dang cold... Looking forward to spring...

Yeah I hear you man. I deliver food so yesterday was a bummer! I usually ride to work but this past 2 weeks haven't been able to. :(

Can we organize a ride to Pennsylvania? Capture that lying groundhog and eat it?

Can we organize a ride to Pennsylvania? Capture that lying groundhog and eat it?

I was just thinking how the 'groundhog was wrong'.

If anything, it's like we're Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day"..crappy January/February weather seems to keep on repeating itself over and over.

Can we organize a ride to Pennsylvania? Capture that lying groundhog and eat it?

' tastes like chicken?
Never had one before.

hey man just relooked at the thread.....yeah that be cool anyone else interested?

what do you ride?


I have been on my old Trek 800 that I take on short trips, in the mud and to get my legs back under me. I also have my old Schwinn Conti I roll for longer trips in the warmer months. I have been putting in about 12-15 miles a week right now. But got the Trek fixed and should be riding to work once more.

I do have some cold weather gear so I'll ride anytime.

Looking for anyone interested in doing occasional Sat. or Sun. morning rides north from St. Charles on the Fox River Trail. A couple hours. Or 4-5 hours. Depending on weather and weekend commitments. I haven't made it too far past McHenry yet, but willing to try.

I've been doing a lot of riding at Bussee Woods so far this year. Moved to the area last June. So far doing laps has been helping me build endurance which is great. I'm not much for riding in traffic after getting hit a couple years. I might do some shop group rides but not for a while. Still working on getting my legs back in shape.

Looking for anyone interested in doing occasional Sat. or Sun. morning rides north from St. Charles on the Fox River Trail. A couple hours. Or 4-5 hours. Depending on weather and weekend commitments. I haven't made it too far past McHenry yet, but willing to try.

What time do you usually ride? I have been wanting to ride the Fox River Trail but haven't.

I've been doing a lot of riding at Bussee Woods so far this year. Moved to the area last June. So far doing laps has been helping me build endurance which is great. I'm not much for riding in traffic after getting hit a couple years. I might do some shop group rides but not for a while. Still working on getting my legs back in shape.
Busse isn't much better for "traffic" if you include kids and slow people :) Try Paul Douglas preserve just north of Route 90 and west of Roselle. You have a couple street crossings (with lights), but fewer people. I've heard poplar creek/shoe factory is good, but haven't been out there yet (I'm on the other side of 90).

Steven from Niles coming out of hibernation. The usual routes are Gurnee/Waukegan, or Barrington.

Somewhat temp dependent. Once summer arrives in full force, I try to get out there no later than 8:00. Otherwise, it gets too hot too fast. But I'm flexible. You would have the drive to get out here. What time could you get out here by? Why don't you PM me and we can try and work out details. It's a nice ride. A good amount of shade as long as the sun is not right above you. Not very crowded.

Steven from Niles coming out of hibernation. The usual routes are Gurnee/Waukegan, or Barrington.

I live on the NW side of Chicago, so if you're ever down for an early morning ride I go up the North Branch Trail quite often. Look for the guy on the 30 year old Schwinn that isn't 30 yet himself!

Somewhat temp dependent. Once summer arrives in full force, I try to get out there no later than 8:00. Otherwise, it gets too hot too fast. But I'm flexible. You would have the drive to get out here. What time could you get out here by? Why don't you PM me and we can try and work out details. It's a nice ride. A good amount of shade as long as the sun is not right above you. Not very crowded.

I wouldn't want to ride with Lord Voldemort, hehe.

I wouldn't want to ride with Lord Voldemort, hehe.

Did I say Voldemort? I meant Tom Riddle:innocent:

I heard last year they were giving speeding tickets to cyclists on the North Branch Trail for going more than 8mph I believe is the stupid speed limit. I've stayed off that trail since then.