NEW IPO Logo - by Charles Larry Home Search Browse About IPO Staff Links

Bicycling the Trails of Illinois
Use the power of pedaling to experience Illinois from a new perspective.

STORY BY AMY MADIGAN
PHOTOS BY ADELE HODDE

Bicycling is an activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, shapes and sizes.

Perhaps your ideal ride is just around town or on a local trail, or maybe it's a fitness ride or even a 50-mile competitive ride. Whatever your reasons for riding, a bicycle provides a mode of travel powered only by you and your imagination.

The history of the bicycle, some say, started with Leonardo da Vinci who sketched a model of the modern bicycle in the fifteenth century. But the bicycle remained a sketch until an eighteenth-century French craftsman built a wooden two-wheeled apparatus that was similar to a scooter—the rider straddled it and pushed off the ground with his feet. Then in the early 1800s, Kirkpatrick MacMillan, a blacksmith from Scotland, invented the first bicycle with pedals. Soon after came the bike most frequently associated with history—the model with the huge front wheel. It originally had wooden tires and was called by its descriptive name, 'bone shaker.' Chains were developed in the late 1800s, pneumatic tires were added about that same time, and cutting-edge technology has shaped the bicycle's evolution from a scooter to the multi-speed machines we see on the road today.

Times certainly have changed—no more wooden tires or big wheels. Now bikes have multiple speeds, shock absorbers, comfortable seats, water bottle holders and other improvements to make the ride comfortable and almost effortless. Bicycles can be

Hanna and Ethan McGinnis navigate one of the bridges found on the Tunnel Hill State Trail.

2   OutdoorIllinois



Hybrid bikes (above left) are designed to handle most trail surfaces, while touring bikes (right) are designed for long-distance travel on paved surfaces.

transported virtually anywhere thanks to car racks and other accessories available for travel.

Equipment

If you don't already have a bike, and are looking to purchase one, talk to the owner of your local bike specialty shop and ask questions. He or she will help you select a bicycle that fits you properly, meets your needs and makes your riding most enjoyable.

In addition to the bicycle, you'll need some equipment to make your trip enjoyable and worry-free. Most importantly, a helmet. It should fit your head comfortably, and the chin strap should feel taut when you open your mouth wide. You'll need a water bottle to prevent dehydration. Other necessities are a patch kit, tire pump and spare tube. There are two types of valves, Presta and Schrader, so take your tire to your local bike shop to make sure that the pump and tube are a proper fit. You'll also need a tire tool, a crescent wrench and an Allen wrench. Other items to consider are sunscreen, rain gear and a compact first aid kit.

The type of bicycle you have may determine where you ride. Bicycling enthusiasts have a great selection of bicycles to choose from, with hybrid bikes and touring bikes topping the list. A hybrid bike will go most places and is comfortable on longer rides because of its upright handlebars, cushioned seat and multi-purpose tires. Touring bikes, with forward handlebars, narrow seat and 'skinny' tires, are designed for those who ride long distances, mainly on roads. These bikes are built for speed. And then there are the road-racing bikes for the Lance Armstrong types.

Where to Go?

There are local trails connecting you to your own community, regional trails connecting you to other communities, and 'destination trails,' classified by their distance and defining features. For example, the Hennepin Canal State Trail in northwestern Illinois is a 100-mile linear corridor paralleling the waterway on which the Panama Canal was modeled. Tunnel Hill State Trail in southeastern Illinois is a 45-mile abandoned railroad corridor highlighted by its raised trestles and tunnel. Destination trails connect you to unique environments and historic areas.

Be aware that trails can have different surfaces, primarily limestone screening similar to small gravel, or can be paved with asphalt or concrete. You may want to select a trail with a surface compatible to your type of bike.

I questioned two experienced bicyclists, Al Sturges, president of the League of Illinois Bicyclists (LIB), and Chuck Oestreich, a board member of LIE and a guest bicycling columnist for the Quad-City Times, about "where to ride." They each have completed the 475-mile Grand Illinois Trail (GIT), as


A well-stocked safety tool kit will prevent a long walk back to the car.

June 2002   3



Trail riders should take care to make sure they are well hydrated, especially in hot weather.

well as having logged thousands of other miles throughout Illinois. Both said they prefer local trails close to them. For Sturges, it's the Old Plank Road Trail (pan of the GIT) and for Oestreich. it's the Great River Trail (also part of the GIT). However, they both highly recommended the Grand Illinois Trail.

The growth and development of trails throughout Illinois have been noticeable over the last 10 years. DNR has worked with many communities, coalitions and organizations throughout the state to increase development of trails—The Grand Illinois Trail, Rock Island Trail, and Illinois and Michigan (I&M) Canal State Trail, to name a few. Trails provide a safer alternative to riding on roads, allowing the cyclist to enjoy the environment more and worry less about automobile traffic.

A special thanks to Rich and the staff of R&M Cyclery in Springfield for their generosity in sharing both their merchandise and expertise.

The GIT was developed through many partnerships with groups and individuals throughout northern Illinois and is a network of trails, both on-road and off-road. In Chicago, on the Lake Front Path, the GIT affords a fabulous view of the city and of Lake Michigan. From there, it offers the chance to visit historic neighborhoods and sites like the Rialto Theater in Joliet. Once you connect with the I&M Canal, you can see bluffs and rolling hills as you travel on to the Hennepin Canal and then head north along the Great River Trail, where the mighty Mississippi is your companion for almost 50 miles. The trail leads into the quaint city of Galena and then on to the fields and prairies of northern Illinois by way of the Pecatonica Prairie Path and Long Prairie Trail. A side trip south from there brings you to the Fox River and 35 miles of small communities and open space along the river.


Make sure all components are tight and running smoothly before heading out on the road.

Central Illinois is host to destination trails like the Rock Island Trail and the Lincoln Prairie Trail. The Rock Island Trail, northwest of Peoria, was once the Rock Island Railroad Line, which transported its first passenger in 1871. The wildflowers and prairie grasses that coexist make for a very aesthetic ride.

The Lincoln Prairie Trail in east central Illinois opened in 2001 and offers a 15-mile excursion in the heart of the prairie, where you can explore the charm of the rural Midwest.

In southern Illinois, the Confluence Bikeway at the joining of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers is an enjoyable bike path. And Pere Marquette State Park is home to the Vadalabene Trail, from which you can overlook the confluence of the rivers and visit the landing point of Louis Jolliet and French missionary Pere Marquette.

Planning is Important

These trails and many others are available to you, so choose a destination and start planning your trip. It is always wise to phone ahead and, whenever possible, check Internet sites to make sure trail conditions are suitable for riding.

See the "Information you can use" sidebar for important resources that can help make your ride more enjoyable.

Information you can use

Illinois Bicycling Guide and Grand Illinois Trail Information: Contact the DNR Clearinghouse at One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, phone (217) 782-7498 or visit the website:http://dnr.state.il.us.

Illinois Department of Transportation: Map Sales, Room 121, 2300 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62764 or visit http://www.dot.state.il.us.

League of Illinois Bicyclists: http://www.bikeLIB.org.

Chicagoland Bicycle Federation: 650 S.Clark Street, Suite 300 Chicago, IL 60605 or http://www.biketraffic.org.

Amy Madigan is the Green-ways and Trails Outreach Coordinator with DNR's Division of Planning.

4    OutdoorIllinois


|Home| |Search| |Back to Periodicals Available| |Table of Contents| |Back to OutdoorIllinois 2002|
Illinois Periodicals Online (IPO) is a digital imaging project at the Northern Illinois University Libraries funded by the Illinois
State Library