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Permalink Reply by Legacy Frameworks on October 12, 2013 at 11:04am

Here is the proposed Route http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/307889319

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Permalink Reply by Mike Bullis 5.5-6.5 miles on October 12, 2013 at 3:48pm

Only thing I see as a problem is the FRT to Highland Ave. No real safe way to do it, also a bitch of a short steep climb once across 31.

You can try continuing north on the FRT to the bike bridge under the tollway, cross the river there, and take the trail to the left. That will cross under 31 and dump you out into the Tyler Creek FP. Exit the FP and head up the hill on Davis Rd(Only exit).

At the end of Davis, (wave at 1415, that's where I work) Turn left on Mclean.

Turn right at first light, then the first left(Sheffield).

Left on Lyle

Right on Big Timber(4 lane at this spot but not much traffic on weekends)

Cross Randall(aka, Kane County Speedway) Big Timber drops down to 2 lanes here.

Burnridge FP a couple miles ahead on left, just past Tyrrell Rd. (side paths available along Big Timber in a few places.

Adds a few miles but keeps you from getting squashed.

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Permalink Reply by Drewbacca on October 12, 2013 at 7:03pm

I have no idea beyond Elgin, but your route getting there shouldn't cause any problems. There may be some construction near Stearns (which is passible) but you avoid that anyways, by going north right after Dunham.

Elgin itself had a detour a month ago when I went through, but the city streets on the east side of the river were an easy enough ride. The detour itself wasn't well marked but the streets are intuitive enough that this isn't a problem in practice. Strange city, when I last entered it I was greeted by an encampment of maybe 8-10 homeless. Then someone yelled at me near the center of the city (suggesting that cycling wasn't manly, I guess). Great town ( to avoid LOL). 

I'm not sure what river-bridges you were considering going under? I don't think that there are any bridges like that in Elgin. 

All of the major roads across the river in Elgin proper look a bit fast to me, Mike's advice seems to be right on the money, although I haven't taken that exact path myself. 

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Permalink Reply by Mike Bullis 5.5-6.5 miles on October 15, 2013 at 10:26am

So, how did this work out?

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Permalink Reply by Legacy Frameworks on October 15, 2013 at 11:22am

Thanks for the route info. We ended up deciding to go on the highland ave route for simplicity. The river trail was closed for a few blocks so we had to take the city streets. But there is a ramp from the river trail right up to highland - although it does look like they recently ground off the bike markings on highland near the river.

Only issue we ran into were these things they have out there called "hills". I don't know why they put them there, but on single speeds pulling cargo trailers it was not a pleasant surprise at the end of the trip. 

We took the same route going back to take advantage of the effects of gravity on our loaded bike and tired legs. 

It was a fantastic trip and I would highly suggest it for a moderate level of cycling ability and camping prowess. The forrest park blue line is a great jumping on point to get on the trails which made up 90% of the trip.

Mike Bullis 5.5-6.5 miles said:

So, how did this work out?

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Permalink Reply by Mike Bullis 5.5-6.5 miles on October 15, 2013 at 12:36pm

Glad it worked out for you.

As far as the "hills" go, I am all too familiar with them. Until this past June, when I boogered up my knee, I commuted to my job in Elgin from East Dundee for eight years using the FRT. I can say I went uphill both ways and not be bullshitting.

You would have enjoyed the downhill run to the FRT on Davis/Tyler Creek Trail. If I'm not mistaken, it's a 2 mile roll with little traffic, plus a 1/4 mile climb in the middle to keep you honest.

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