Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on September 7, 2012 at 5:41am

I did not realize there was a 50 mile loop.  That would be my longest ride, but with two rest stops I think I can do it.  How fast does your wife ride, James?  Maybe we could hook up?  Would my Linus Dutchie be okay on the ride (it's faster, but not fast) or would I be better off with the fatter tires on the hybrid cruiser type?

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Permalink Reply by David of the North (David606xx) on September 7, 2012 at 7:47am

Hey--this is coming up and right up your alley:

http://www.thechainlink.org/events/perimeter-ride-11-2012?commentId...

100 miles around the entire city, last Saturday in September.

Cheers!

d

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Permalink Reply by 1s20gdv3auw5h on September 7, 2012 at 7:57am

Long rides are not as tough as you think if you make the pace reasonable.  I've done many and would love to join but have to work in the morning.  Maybe I will look for you mid day on the trail.  Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Erik on September 7, 2012 at 8:06am

For anyone looking for a circular long route around the city... http://app.strava.com/rides/20752448

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Permalink Reply by dietrich77 on September 7, 2012 at 8:09am

Looks great.  Do you use the major trails or is this roads? 

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 7, 2012 at 9:14am

Fast would not be an adjective that I would use to describe my wife's riding pace.  She rides a Raleigh C30 Hybrid with a super-duper Dutchbike-high stem and a wide saddle.  

We will be getting to the starting point as early as the sign-in opens (6AM? -something like that, I'll have to check the website again)  That will give her enough time to do the 50 even if she needs to stop  long time at each rest stop to recover.

If you decide to ride and want to  hook up with my wife you can send me your contact info to James@blackheronbikes.com and I can forward it on to her. 

Domenica Cresap,  i agree with what you said about long rides.  It is not bad if you go slow enough not to tire yourself out, give yourself enough time, and have a bike suitable for going slow with a comfortable upright saddle (going slow on a road bike can be painful -I only take my road bike with my wife to toughen myself up for longer rides as going really slow on a narrow-saddle drop-bar bike can be torture)  

As long as you have a comfortable saddle, don't get monkey-butt, and give yourself enough time any rider can just keep pedaling all day and do 50+ miles.   It's really not that big of a deal.  But if you ride harder, push yourself by going too fast, and really build up the toxins in your muscles from really working them out then you'll  burn yourself out faster and be shot for the rest of the day (or week!)

Lisa Curcio said:

 How fast does your wife ride, James?  Maybe we could hook up?  Would my Linus Dutchie be okay on the ride (it's faster, but not fast) or would I be better off with the fatter tires on the hybrid cruiser type?

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on September 7, 2012 at 12:09pm

I can ride slow with the best of them!  We sound well matched.  I will be in touch.

James BlackHeron said:

Fast would not be an adjective that I would use to describe my wife's riding pace.  She rides a Raleigh C30 Hybrid with a super-duper Dutchbike-high stem and a wide saddle.  

We will be getting to the starting point as early as the sign-in opens (6AM? -something like that, I'll have to check the website again)  That will give her enough time to do the 50 even if she needs to stop  long time at each rest stop to recover.

If you decide to ride and want to  hook up with my wife you can send me your contact info to James@blackheronbikes.com and I can forward it on to her. 

Domenica Cresap,  i agree with what you said about long rides.  It is not bad if you go slow enough not to tire yourself out, give yourself enough time, and have a bike suitable for going slow with a comfortable upright saddle (going slow on a road bike can be painful -I only take my road bike with my wife to toughen myself up for longer rides as going really slow on a narrow-saddle drop-bar bike can be torture)  

As long as you have a comfortable saddle, don't get monkey-butt, and give yourself enough time any rider can just keep pedaling all day and do 50+ miles.   It's really not that big of a deal.  But if you ride harder, push yourself by going too fast, and really build up the toxins in your muscles from really working them out then you'll  burn yourself out faster and be shot for the rest of the day (or week!)

Lisa Curcio said:

 How fast does your wife ride, James?  Maybe we could hook up?  Would my Linus Dutchie be okay on the ride (it's faster, but not fast) or would I be better off with the fatter tires on the hybrid cruiser type?

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Permalink Reply by Clark Lasswell on September 12, 2012 at 4:49pm

DPRT is actually pretty well kept trail generally north of North Ave all the way up to just about 3 miles south of Wisconsin boarder. I did a pure DPRT century last year in about 8 hours on my CX bike. A touring bike can handle it but it will be a bit more effort. 

This weekend will not work for me but if you are game I would love to try your course with you another time, at any speed. Eager to hear about it.

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Permalink Reply by Loan L. on September 12, 2012 at 5:14pm

Clark,
Is it doable to ride the trail segment you mentioned on road bike?

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Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on September 13, 2012 at 2:42am

Loan:

It really depends upon conditions and how your road bike is set up.  If your bike is set up for racing (e.g., with narrow tires), you're probably not going to enjoy being on the DPRT.  If it is set up more as a tourer, with stouter tires and a more relaxed geometry, you might enjoy it quite well.  The bike I use on the DPRT (a cyclocross bike) is essentially a road bike with narrow mountain-bike tires.

This is an excerpt from a website that gives a great description of the entire DPRT.

The Des Plaines River Trail in Cook County is not as developed as it is in Lake County. The trail surface varies from natural surfaced (dirt) to gravel/crushed stone to some paved sections. Because of the natural surfaced sections of trail, this trail is better ridden with a mountain bike though it is possible to ride it with a road bike provided conditions are dry and firm. The natural surfaced portions of the trail can be very muddy when wet (especially in late winter/early spring) and should not be ridden under these conditions. Even during dry periods, you are still likely to find occasional mudholes on the trail. 

Loan L. said:

Clark,
Is it doable to ride the trail segment you mentioned on road bike?

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Permalink Reply by Clark Lasswell on September 13, 2012 at 6:45pm

Joe's absolutely correct. I commute a lot on this trail from Mt. Prospect to Mettawa (Lake forest). I use a CX bike, as Joe does; and its great fun. Plus, it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I have done it once with road tyres (700c x 23's) on a dry day and it was no problem. Not as enjoyable as the cross tyres because of the amount of tyre pressure made for a much rougher ride.

If it is has been wet within 3 days there is a 5-7 mile stretch through Wheeling (from Euclid to Dundee roads) that is not going to be pleasant on a race road bike. Dirt, sand, large gravel, grass, tree litter etc. Dirt becomes slippery mud. This is similar condition south of Lawrence Ave. in Cook county.

Also in the late fall / early winter when there is freezing and thawing of the ground, the normally wonderful crushed limestone surfaces of the best kept parts of this trail becomes very sticky. It will suck your strength dry in a hurry.

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