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Permalink Reply by David P. on June 5, 2014 at 4:13am

A bimodal alternative is to roll your bike onto a Metra train, take it to Kenosha, and ride the rest of the way; repeat in opposite direction.

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Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on June 5, 2014 at 4:18am

There is a bus that leaves from the Milwaukee Amtrak Station that takes you to the Kenosha Metra station, which you can then take home.  No box required for the bus.   The bus is schedualed to arrive just before the last Metra to Chicago, which can get hairy.

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Permalink Reply by Juan Boyce on June 5, 2014 at 4:54am

Doesn't a bike box require one to disassemble the bike?

Cameron 7.5 mi said:

If you call ahead you can buy a bike box at the Amtrak station for $15.

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Permalink Reply by Crazy David 84 Furlongs on June 5, 2014 at 5:20am

You might try to find a "team" for this.   Say four Chainlinkers with a two bike rack and one car or van   Team A rides to Milwaukee.   Team B drives to Milwaukee.    Team A drives back to Chicago.  Team B bikes to Chicago.   With proper coordination and the like (the car leaves later from Chicago and hangs around Milwaukee for a while) you could even have a good "sag" vehicle.  (Assuming the rack will hold more than two bicycles...

)   This would work for just about any century situation.

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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on June 5, 2014 at 6:04am

Amtrak boxes require you to remove the pedals and dislocate the handlebars so you can turn them sideways.  After that it'll roll right in, racks, fenders and all.  Between Chicago and Milwaukee do you need to box bikes for the Hiawatha, and does it even have baggage service?  Depending on where you finish in Milwaukee see if VanGalder has buses heading back to Chicago.  From Madison, WI Bikes are an extra $10 you give the driver and they are tossed in the luggage area with no modifications.  I can't imagine Milwaukee would be much different.

Or you can ride to Milwaukee and back.

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