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Suburban Chicago Bicycling

Two TdFs: One is hard, the other is way, way harder

Published 3 months ago • 1 min read

Yes, this was as hot as it looks. But just as much of a problem with the Tour de Farms MS ride June 21-22 was the wind. That starts my tale of two TdFs: the Tour de Farms in Kane and DeKalb counties, and the Tour de France as a new edition of it is about to begin.

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TdF #1: How does the two-day Tour de Farms compare to the Tour de France? Yeah, it really doesn't. It's just hard (for mere amateurs) in its own way. With the primary feature of the ride being ... farms, we're exposed to all kinds of weather each year. This year, it was heat and wind. On the first day, we fought the wind on the first half of the ride. But it was really the cross wind that got us. Here's how it all went.​

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TdF #2: Obviously, the three-week, typically 2,100-mile Tour de France involving multi-thousand-foot climbs like the legendary Col du Tourmalet is way, way harder. In 2022, I got a tiny taste of it by riding a couple of Pyrénées passes myself. Tourmalet is indeed as cruel as they say. The airport ramp finish with a 16% grade at Peyragudes is no picnic, either. But getting to ride the latter, ahead of the live Tour de France stage finish, was an incredible experience. So was descending Tourmalet! Yet my favorite ride (and accomplishment) was on a neighboring mountain that's never been in the Tour de France. Here's the story of my little Tour de France, with videos.

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ALWAYS ON THE WEBSITE

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​Invitational/charity ride calendar:

  • The Joliet Bicycle Club July 4th Ride is Friday, with a new starting spot: The Kendall County Fairgrounds.

​Road and trail construction:​

  • The much-discussed Salem Road path is now open in Schaumburg.

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I'm off to Maryland to watch fireworks from ... a boat? I'll explore roads, too. Happy Fourth. — 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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