I dont know why I am posting this in this forum, but towards the end of the summer I want to put together a ride from Grand Rapids, MI to Chicago... I'm having trouble finding anyone interested, or how I can plan a route so I'm opening it up to all you guys if you have suggestions or want to ride along.

Jon

i would be interested if the timing worked out. but i'd have to start in ann arbor.


i met a guy in a barnes and noble last week at the cycling section. we got to chatting and apparently he's been travelling the united states for 7 years now, on bicycle. he's a travelling preacher and said he was on spreading the word of god. he was also a bum. i guess there's no reason why the two can't be of the same.


in either case, he said he just looks at maps of major highways, because when interstates are rebuilt, they leave the old highways down to be like side roads. for example, I-44 runs alongside of route 66. it is not legal to take a bike on the interstate, but it is legal to ride on one of the outer, existing roads like route 66. both routes go to the same place.


another idea is to find a book called "rail trails." apparently, they (i don't know who "they" is) took all these long stretches of railroad and built them into trails for riders and hikers alike. the book(s) list the rail trails and information about the ride. the only rail trail i know of is the Katy trail, in Missouri.




sounds like fun, though. hope this helped.


randy

Some good places to start there--I just noticed they are talking about Chicago > dunes in the Chi > Milwaukee thread. Maybe we could get some people together to either go down to Chicago and ride up and back, or get a group to ride down to the dunes and meet those hooligans for some sandy fun.

Just a slight correction- it's "Rails to Trails". I went to a lecture at the Chicago Bike Show, and they had one of the creators of Rails to Trails there, and the guy really gave a lot of insight about the old railroad tracks that were converted to bike trails, and he also had a book that described the whole rails to trails map. It was pretty impressive. I actually believe I bought the book, just haven't had the time yet to attempt it. *sigh* Hopefully, next summer!

Koffee

I'm coming over from the chicago/milwaukee thread...

I would definately consider doing a long weekend with some of you michigan crazies. I know alot of people not tapped into this forum who would probably consider it too. If we want to do it, either meeting at the dunes or doing a chicago-michigan michigan-chicago run we really need to plan it well so no one flakes out. How far is it from grand rapids/ann arbor to chicago?

I know I definitely will be going to the dunes at some point this summer with some number of people. That is really a given. So we could plan that around a time that may work for you, if you want to come down.

I feel really good this morning after just riding 200+ miles in ~36 hrs. I'm ready to do it again!

cheers

Man I need to train HARD before I do this!!! But I'm gettin back to my high mileage suffer fest rides so hopefully I'll be able to hang.

Anyways, I'm all for planning this out but not real sure where to start. I've never planned a long distant route before, and I'm terrible with directions so I'm probably not your point person on this one, though any help I can provide I will be happy to help with!

holy **** you guys...

i think i'm underestimating you all, as well as the trip distance.


200 miles in <36 hours?



the furthest i've ever ridden was just over 60 miles... it took me like, 5 hours. and then i went home and slept for about 12 hours from hard exhaustion. i got my first bike this june. :\

I guess I should have said 200 miles -- 100+ each day. With a night of rest.

I just have never done two centuries within 36 hrs. of each other. That's all I meant. Not that I did 200 miles stretched out over 36 hrs.

Oh... and I'm not a guy.

I think if I went to Chicago it would be AT LEAST a two day event. Most I have ever done is 100mi in a day and I was DEAD after 5hrs on the saddle, though I suppose if I slowed it down I could maybe ride 9 or 10hrs but with the reduction in avg. speed, would I cover the same amount of ground still??? Hmmm...

Anyone???