|   Chicagoan wants a 2/3 day bike vacation- suggestions? | floatch
Oct 21, 2003 11:08 AM | | Hey all, I've got Thursday-Monday off, and my two riding buddies and I want to go on a bike trip somewhere nearby. We live in NW Indiana/Chicagoland area, and want to go somewhere at most about 3 hours away. It'd be nice if it had expansive, difficult trails. I like lots of twisty, technical singletrack, and my buddies do too. Any suggestions? I'd love to hear ideas, directions, maybe a story or two, as well as maybe a cool bike shop nearby who'd give us directions, or maybe ride with us! Any ideas from the community?
Thanks so much! |
| Take a whole day, | RobW
Oct 21, 2003 11:44 AM | | Sorry about the title, couldn't resist. Come to Metro Detroit. There are some majorly cool trails around here. Drive to the M-59 and U.S. 23 juction and stay somewhere around there. Within 30 minutes of there, you have a ton of great riding possibilities. I know three of them real well. One of them is Highland Recreation area. This thing, if you do all four loops is about eighteen miles long. It's a twisty, tight,sweet piece of singletrack liberally littered with roots and rocks. Don't expect to get much speed up on this thing, cause as soon as you do, your gonna have a switchback and climb, followed by a log pile or rock garden. It's a constant grind, but what a great time. The next ride on the itenerary is Pontiac Lake. This one is all about speed. Some good climbs reward you with the opportunity to bomb down the other side, and there are a bunch of rocks to look out for as well. I think this ride is pretty brutal, cause it just shakes you to death. If you make it through the whole thing you'll log about 11 miles. The last must ride trail around here is Potowatami. This is a classic 18 mile trail through the woods, over lakes (bridges), and with hillclimbs galore. One of my favorites. There are more possibilities within a half hour's drive, Brighton comes to mind, as well as Island Lake. These are all on the trail review page, check it out. |
| How about Nashville, IN area??? | Otter
Oct 21, 2003 12:14 PM | | This will be right at a 3 hour's from Merriville(sp), IN and is a very easy drive (straight down I-65 and turn right at Columbus). We were just there last weekend and the leaves are as bright and beautiful as can be. Lots and lots of hills with a variety of terrain. There are 3-4 really good trail systems, with a couple that have upwards of 30-40 miles of trails. Do Gnaw Bone Camp or Valley Branch (they actually meet up with each other) and are a maize of different trails. If you scroll down a little on this page you'll see a posting about the Southern Indiana MTB Festival that's actually being held @ Valley Branch this weekend. You can camp at either VB or GB or even the state park that's a mile down the road. The other trail to do is Nebo Ridge. WOW is this one fun, not very technical, but FUN! It's a 16 mile out & back that has quite a bit of climbing in the first few miles then rides along a ridge top with quite a few swooping turns. Of course on the way back those first 3 miles of climbing are pretty much all downhill. You'll have a grin painted on your face the entire ride. Feel free to email with any questions (drew_ott@hotmail.com). I may make it down there this Sunday if things work out. Have Fun! |
| If you can spare an extra 2 hours... | Ken in KC.
Oct 21, 2003 12:15 PM | | I suggest the Berryman trail/Ozark Trail System SE of St. Louis. Great singletrack, definately expansive with over 100 miles to ride. I don't think they're too technical, but they will offer you considerably more elevation than what you're used to around Chicago.
Ken |
| Like Wisconsin? | scotta
Oct 21, 2003 12:37 PM | | How about a whirlwind road trip? Hit John Muir on day 1, then drive up to 9 Mile Forest near Wausau for day 2, then day 3 at Levis Mound. Done all three this year, and Levis Mound just a week and a half ago.
Some personal photos from levis and 9 Mile:
http://63.164.215.74/biking/levismound/index.htm
http://63.164.215.74/biking/9mile/index.htm |
| re: Chicagoan wants a 2/3 day bike vacation- suggestions? | Green Giant
Oct 21, 2003 1:40 PM | | 3 hours - Michigan.
Western Michigan - Yankee Springs, Fort Custer, TK Lawless. All fun.
Near Lansing - Burchfield - north shore style technical, but not much climbing.
Detroit area - Highland, twisty up and down, Holdridge lake - the grinder is 2+ hours of fun, and the Potowattami trail. |
| re: Chicagoan wants a 2/3 day bike vacation- suggestions? | mmorgan
Oct 21, 2003 2:54 PM | | TRy the Peoria/Pekin are plenty to ride with camping. If you want to try some local "stuff" let me know and we can show you. Good luck |
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