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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Quist on July 28, 2014 at 10:06am

The Fox River Trail is closed in Elgin in the immediate vicinity of the I90 overpass for construction work. I heard a rumor that River Road (which runs parallel to the trail) will also have closures, but have not confirmed. The info online says the closure was for the month of June, but as the trail didn't actually close until last week (prior to that the barricades were up but everyone ignored them), the duration is in question.

I had heard rumors of additional closures further south; they appear to be documented here:

http://kanecountyconnected.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/4-fox-river-tra...

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Permalink Reply by Rich S on July 28, 2014 at 10:12am

The IPP and Fox River Trails are both fun to ride so you can't go wrong either way!

Regarding trail closures, the Fox River Trail is closed for 1/3 mile or so just south of where the Elgin branch of the IPP splits off. There's a fairly well marked detour to get back on the Fox River Trail if you choose to take that trail instead of the IPP. There's also the bridge over Algonquin Rd that may still be under construction. 

To answer your second question, I personally would take this route. Basically just stay on the Fox River Trail to the Batavia spur of the IPP. Take that east for about 1.5 miles and then cut through Fermilab. It's a pleasant ride through Fermilab and you'll probably see the bison herd. Just make sure you stop at the stop signs since they are enforced. 

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Permalink Reply by Ben Blair on July 28, 2014 at 3:13pm

Thanks Guys!!  You've all been most helpful!

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Quist on July 28, 2014 at 3:34pm

You're welcome!

I've never been to the Two Brothers Tap, but have thoroughly enjoyed their retail products... A post-ride report would be appreciated. :) <hic>

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Permalink Reply by Ben Blair on July 30, 2014 at 5:26am

The ride was absolutely fantastic!  We left Algonquin about noon and headed south.  There is construction North of Elgin, under 90, but it is an easy detour onto the road and then back onto the trail.  There is also construction just north of South Elgin, but another quick detour onto the road, then through a neighborhood served us well.

Two Brothers didn't open until 3, so we stopped at Penrose Brewing in Batavia (the beer was excellent).  Google Maps served us incredibly well, and very little road riding was required for this small detour.  We rode on to Two Brothers, through Fermilab, following the route Rich suggested.  Really peaceful riding.  

On the way back, we rode north on Kirk Rd to Fabyan Pkwy.  I do not recommend this, the 4 lane road was a little unsettling.  We stopped at Prairie Rock on the way back through Elgin.  I was a little bummed to find that it is no longer a brewery, but they had a decent craft beer selection nonetheless.  

Overall ~75 miles, pretty flat overall.

Thanks all for the advice!

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Quist on July 30, 2014 at 6:48am

When we lived in Batavia in the 90's, Kirk Road was known to area residents as "Killer Kirk". It had a higher-than-normal accident rate; the square curbs were intended to keep traffic from going off the road into ditches, but had the effect of directing cars who hit them back into oncoming traffic. Add to it that they reduced the speed limit to an artificially-low level, which had the overall effect of making everybody guilty of speeding, hence they figured what-the-hell and the average speed actually increased, and the spread from slow to fast traffic increased as well. Not good. And not something I'd attempt on a bike either.

It used to be possible to exit Fermilab at Wilson Street, but I think that was closed a while back. I don't recall any reasonable alternatives - if  you end up on Rt 25, you're nearly at the trail anyway.

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Permalink Reply by Tom Armstrong on July 31, 2014 at 6:53am

Included is an exhibit prepared by the Kane County Division of Transportation regarding Fox River Trail closures. There is a two day Art & Soul festival (art, music, eats) in downtown Elgin this weekend, Aug. 2 & 3. The Elgin BPAC will be staffing a bike corral for festival goers cycling in. Governor Quinn will be in town on Saturday to officially open the Riverside Drive Promenade ... a beautiful new amenity along the Fox River Trail.

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Permalink Reply by Alan Lloyd on July 31, 2014 at 7:39am

The brewery closed several years ago, but I didn't know that there was now a Prairie Rock Grill in it's place. Prairie Rock opened a second brew-pub in Schaumburg which always seemed pretty busy to me, so I was surprised when that closed down ...

Ben Blair said:

The ride was absolutely fantastic!  We left Algonquin about noon and headed south.  There is construction North of Elgin, under 90, but it is an easy detour onto the road and then back onto the trail.  There is also construction just north of South Elgin, but another quick detour onto the road, then through a neighborhood served us well.

Two Brothers didn't open until 3, so we stopped at Penrose Brewing in Batavia (the beer was excellent).  Google Maps served us incredibly well, and very little road riding was required for this small detour.  We rode on to Two Brothers, through Fermilab, following the route Rich suggested.  Really peaceful riding.  

On the way back, we rode north on Kirk Rd to Fabyan Pkwy.  I do not recommend this, the 4 lane road was a little unsettling.  We stopped at Prairie Rock on the way back through Elgin.  I was a little bummed to find that it is no longer a brewery, but they had a decent craft beer selection nonetheless.  

Overall ~75 miles, pretty flat overall.

Thanks all for the advice!

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