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Suburban Chicago Bicycling

Back home for charity bike rides, Old Plank trail closure, e-bike debate ...

Published about 2 months ago • 2 min read

First, a pretty travel scene — this one out of the Northwoods of Wisconsin. That's my roommate Chuck and another tourmate riding County X east of Three Lakes. More on that later. We're about to have a lot of activity in our neck of the woods.

Charity bike rides starting this weekend

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It was slow for invitational rides this July in the Chicago area after the Fourth, but things ramp up again in August, and a lot for charity. To wit:

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Cowalunga Charity Bike Tour: The two-day event out of Gurnee this weekend benefits the Respiratory Health Association. Up to 135 miles.

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Fox and Hound Bike Ride: PIM Africa, formed to support a school in Uganda, is holding 25- and 50-mile bike rides on Saturday largely on the Illinois Prairie Path and Fox River Trail, starting in Glen Ellyn.

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Raue Center for the Arts Night Owl Bike Ride: Bike rides of 10 and 20 miles start at 9 p.m. Saturday at Crystal Lake city hall and end at the center for a party.

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Tour de Cure: The fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association on Aug. 9 starts in St. Charles, with routes of between 5 and 63 miles.

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Naperville Sunrise Rotary Ride: The local Rotary Club hosts rides of 20, 40 or 60 miles on Aug. 10 out of Commissioners Park.

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After all this, it's a ride just over the Wisconsin border with ice cream rest stops! And Bike the Drive in Chicago is at the very end of the month. See the full ride list.​

Old Plank Road Trail riders losing 7 miles

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The Forest Preserve District of Will County just announced that the 7 miles on the west end of the Old Plank Road Trail will be closed for rehab probably the rest of this year. Ouch! But it's short-term pain for long-term gain, as the trail could use some love. It's the latest on the 2025 road and trail construction list.​

E-bike regulations going around

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Fox Lake joined the e-bike regulation debate by enacting an ordinance prohibiting anything motorized that goes more than 10 mph from sidewalks and paths, plus requiring a driver's license and insurance for any e-bikers using village streets. The group Ride Illinois is urging restraint in restrictions. I plan to analyze suburbs' oddly varying rule structures, but for now, I'm adding to my town-by-town report.​

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ABOUT THOSE NORTHWOODS

Is that bicycling heaven in the Northwoods of Wisconsin? The tour company I've used for 18 years bills the region as such. It's hard to argue, with an endless supply of peaceful roads and lakes to peek at and tall pines, plus ice cream! I wrote about it. Now I'll see you back around the 'burbs. — Neil

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Suburban Chicago Bicycling

Neil Holdway

A source for the great trails and roads to ride a bicycle in Chicago's suburbs, and to learn about efforts to make bicycling easier there.

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