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Permalink Reply by on2wheels on June 30, 2009 at 9:28am

I live in oak park and do most of my rides on the Prairie Path and the Great Illinois Trail (I think) out of maywood. (this is the loop I do out of the forest park blue line stop http://tinyurl.com/l89stf) Also have done the Salt Creek trail which is all paved, it starts by the brookfield zoo.

I have had no problems on the prairie path or the great western trail with my 23 gatorskins. The limestone is usually well packed

If you want a training loop, I used to go around Columbus park, its 1.5 miles and a good circuit. Part dirt though. Wife says it is sketchy, but I think it is fine

For getting around, it depends on where you live. I live on the southern end and like Oak park ave and ridgeland north and south and jackson and washington east and west. I avoid the traffic of harlem, austin and madison, along with the crappy streets around the expressway. To get into the city I have taken washington, august and lake (in order of preference)

For safety, I use the general rule of being on guard between austin and western. And avoiding riding that area at night at all possible.

I night be doing a casual ride with some friends this weekend, Ill let you know.

Also, let me know if you want someone to commute with, I am trying to as much as possible. I leave around 8 and get to north/halsted around 8:50/9

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Permalink Reply by Brian Bird on July 4, 2009 at 6:14am

You can take Randolph Street west to Des Plaines Avenue, then take it southwest to 31st Street. Turn right on 31st and head west to 1st Avenue. Brookfield Zoo is on your left. A half-mile further west on 31st Street is access to the Salt Creek Bike Path. Take the path west until you go under I-294 where it ends. That's 9-10 miles of bike path riding. Double back to head home.

If you want a 50-miler-or-so ride, you can go to Argonne National Laboratory. Take the Salt Creek Bike Path but turn south on Wolf Road. Take it to its end (91st Street). Turn right on 91st and enjoy the rollers of Burr Ridge. Cross the Kingery, still heading west on 91st, take it to the end (Cass Avenue). A right turn then a quick left gets you to ANL. Or you can turn left and follow Cass south where it becomes Bluff Road at the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve. Recross the Kingery (at a VERY QUICK stoplight), then turn right onto 97th Street. Take it to the hill's bottom where you have to turn left (onto Madison Street). Enjoy the climb. At the top is the stop sign for 91st Street. Turn right and do the reverse route back.

NOTE: Tight two-lane street riding on Wolf Road between Ogden Avenue and about 47th Street. Otherwise. the Wolf Road aprons are wide enough for riding to the right of the line.

Hope that helps. Bon voyage!

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