Cyclogenesis

Ok, this may have been done, if so point me at the thread (still getting the hang of the search form) but I am after people's opinion of the best places to ride on the road in Chicagoland.. by best I mean:
*Good surface
*Good shoulder/excess capacity to allow cars to pass
*Sensible speed limits (ie not 55mph!)
*NO STOP SIGNS!
*Minor/secondary route
*Scenic
*Loop if possible

For example I find Madison in Hinsdale/Willowbrook/Burr Ridge a lot of fun and then link i up with County Line...

Where are the big group rides? (Those in Melbourne would know Beach road or Yarra Boulevard)

kiltedcelt

I couldn't tell ya about any rides elsewhere other than the Lakefront Path, but I heard about this group ride from a guy I met doing loops out on Northerly Island.

https://www.xxxracing.org/index.php?/pages/ride/

This loop is 50 miles round trip and goes from Wicker Park in the city all the way up to Highland Park and back. I plan on giving it a try some time in the next couple weeks when my days off switch to Friday/Saturday. Also, the Map My Ride website seems to have some good info on longer rides, many of which are further out of the city. The MMR stuff seems to be a mixed bag though - some rides and descriptions are good, others not so much. Also, have you checked out The Chainlink?

https://www.thechainlink.org/

You can probably find out about some good rides on there, although I've not had much of a chance to poke around on there yet.

Cyclogenesis

Awesome, Thanks!

BikingGrad80

I ride with the Evanston fast group. Most of our rides are from Wilmette to either Gurnee or Barrington Hills. Some portions meet your criteria others not so much. For real nice riding get on the metra and head to central Lake or McHenry counties, or Wisc. I did one ride on Sat from Kenosha to Lake Geneva to Harvard and One on Sunday from Fox Lake to Lake Geneva to Wood Stock. Both had nice long rural stretches with few other cars or traffic controls and in some cases street name signs

Cyclogenesis

Thanks... I was thinking of getting a Metra some where... just did not know where to go!

iab

Lots up here in the NW except some roads are 55 and all roads have no shoulder.

But Bull Valley has some of the better hills in Chicagoland and if you are on the right roads there is little to no traffic. MCBC has some good routes on their site, https://www.mchenrybicycleclub.org/

perspiration

If you're around Madison, you might want to check out the Downers Grove bike club.

I actually commute on Madison every day to work...one road that is great for exercise is taking Madison south to 79th street and taking it as far east as it'll go...I think it's Archer ave or something? Lots of big, rolling hils and one huge hill at the end.

ColombianGT

I also just stick to the Lake Front Path and Busse Woods on Higgins and Arlington Heights road due but would like some new suggestions for riding. This 50 mile rountrip Loop sounds very appealing..