I want to ride from the city up to Ravinia, suggestions?

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on July 3, 2009 at 12:18am

The Green Bay Trail is also pretty bumpy. It feels like your riding over small rolling speed bumps. It definitely needs to be repaved.

I second going Sheridan.

Brian Bird said:

Assuming Evane X is correct about the Sheridan Road construction being completed, I'd take Sheridan Road all the way to Ravinia instead of the Green Bay Trail. That's my personal preference. On Sheridan, the vehicles (usually) know where I am on the roadway (as far to the right as practicable) and take extra care in passing me. I find that pedestrians (especially those toting little kids and/or walking their pets) on the GBT tend to dart quickly in front of my bike when I'm approaching from behind - even when I call out "passing on left".
Your choice. Either way works. Have fun!! Safe journey to you!!!

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on July 4, 2009 at 3:49pm

You're blaming my bike for the trail conditions? Interesting. Then again, maybe the tank needs to go crush the pavement into submission with its massive weight.

Brian Kennedy said:

Spoken like a true roadie, Ryan! Ha! Ha! Get some suspension and try the trail again.

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:

The Green Bay Trail is also pretty bumpy. It feels like your riding over small rolling speed bumps. It definitely needs to be repaved.

I second going Sheridan.

Brian Bird said:

Assuming Evane X is correct about the Sheridan Road construction being completed, I'd take Sheridan Road all the way to Ravinia instead of the Green Bay Trail. That's my personal preference. On Sheridan, the vehicles (usually) know where I am on the roadway (as far to the right as practicable) and take extra care in passing me. I find that pedestrians (especially those toting little kids and/or walking their pets) on the GBT tend to dart quickly in front of my bike when I'm approaching from behind - even when I call out "passing on left".
Your choice. Either way works. Have fun!! Safe journey to you!!!

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Permalink Reply by Jamie on July 6, 2009 at 10:25am

2nd the Sheridan route... from Chicago I take Damen all the way north. basically a variation of XXX-Athletico's training ride which can be found on mapmyride.com

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Permalink Reply by Carrie on July 6, 2009 at 10:35am

Okay, just an update. So I rode the suggested route posted by Rubani and his google map. Pretty good route. Direct, though a tiny bit confusing at parts but nothing I couldn't fix next time around. Then I came back via the Botanical Gardens/Lagoons/North Branch trail - got off at Devon and took Milwaukee to Elston and then east on Lawrence to get back to Lincoln Square where I live. It was perhaps a bit longer of a ride and out of the way a tad, but made up for it big time in it's scenic aspects and better paved trails. I'd ride that way again in a heartbeat. Thanks again to everyone for the suggestions. Next time I'll try the Sheridan route...

Rubani said:

This is the way my friends and I tend to go. Let me know if the map doesn't work. North Shore Channel Trail — Ravinia

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Permalink Reply by Sue Clark on July 9, 2010 at 5:01pm

Any thoughts on riding back from Ravinia into Chicago (Lakeview) post-event (i.e., later in the evening). My company is going to a show there in a couple weeks; I thought about biking up/biking home. It'll be a Sunday night. Good idea? Not so good idea?

An alternative would be bike up, train home, but I'm not sure if they'll let a bike on Metra or if it'd be too crowded.

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on July 9, 2010 at 5:13pm

Sue, do you have a bright enough light to see by and would you feel ok riding the Green Bay Trail back and coming through the blackhole known as Evanston?

My other suggestion would be Sheridan, but that's equally dark in some places up north.

Sue Clark said:

Any thoughts on riding back from Ravinia into Chicago (Lakeview) post-event (i.e., later in the evening). My company is going to a show there in a couple weeks; I thought about biking up/biking home. It'll be a Sunday night. Good idea? Not so good idea?
An alternative would be bike up, train home, but I'm not sure if they'll let a bike on Metra or if it'd be too crowded.

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on July 9, 2010 at 7:58pm

You don't say where you're starting from but here's one possible route from the LFP which mostly avoids busy streets and is fairly direct.

Lakefront Path to Sheridan and Ardmore
Ardmore west to Kenmore
Right (N) on Kenmore
Left (W) on Granville
Right on Glenwood
Jog L across Devon,
Left (W) on Arthur
Right (N) on Greenview
Jog R on Pratt, continue north on Greenview
Left (W) on Sherwin
Right (N) on Paulina
Left (W) on Rogers
Right (N) on Winchester
Left (W) on Howard
Right (N) on Custer
Left (W) on Main
Right (N) on Asbury
Right (E) on Church
Left (N) on Ridge (becomes Sheridan, pass Bahai temple)
Left (W) on Forest
Right (N) into Shorewood Park (Before RR crossing)
Follow "Bike Route" signs North across Kenilworth Ave.
Right (E) on Melrose
Left (N) on Abbottsford
Left (W) on Ivy Court
Follow Ivy Court around to Left, turn
Right up onto start of Green Bay Trail
Follow path through Shelton Park, continue north on Old Green Bay Road
When Paved Green Bay Trail ends, continue on marked gravel trail-- it will lead you through/into Ravinia. Continue a bit north (1-2 miles) to downtown Highand Park.


As Ryan just pointed out there's there's relative darkness towards the Evanston end of this route (and one stretch that's pitch black at the south end of the GBT.)

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Permalink Reply by Sue Clark on July 10, 2010 at 7:41am

Yeah, I'm okay with the lights. From the description from both you and Howard, though, maybe taking Sheridan would be better than the Green Bay path. Thanks.

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:

Sue, do you have a bright enough light to see by and would you feel ok riding the Green Bay Trail back and coming through the blackhole known as Evanston?

My other suggestion would be Sheridan, but that's equally dark in some places up north.

Sue Clark said:

Any thoughts on riding back from Ravinia into Chicago (Lakeview) post-event (i.e., later in the evening). My company is going to a show there in a couple weeks; I thought about biking up/biking home. It'll be a Sunday night. Good idea? Not so good idea?
An alternative would be bike up, train home, but I'm not sure if they'll let a bike on Metra or if it'd be too crowded.

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