Originally Posted by
nlerner
Wow, Steve, 43 miles and just 930 feet of climbing? That's some serious flatland. I imagine winds might be an issue, however.
I suppose it's all relative.
I can think of a number of friends who will shoot you a nasty look if you pick a route that doesn't take the shallowest path up the river bluff. To be fair, there are one or two nearby roads that are 14% grades when going up the bluffs.
Our friends in Chicago have a general expectation of minimal elevation change too.
I do enjoy a nice hill or two. Having lived in the St. Louis area for a while before moving to Peoria, I've been going back down there to enjoy the hills west of the urban area. Lots to chose from! My most recent ride was this one:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36676314
48 miles and about 3000 feet of climbing, and the heavily wooded hills tend to be steep.
It can be a bit secluded, and you never know what sort of wild life you might see....
Steve in Peoria