Bronze Level

Generous Corporate Members

Some Fun Photos from Our Friends

Small Business Partners

Generous small businesses support Ride Illinois by donating a portion of the proceeds of certain merchandise sales. By purchasing items from these businesses, you’re supporting Ride Illinois and a local business at the same time!

Learn more at rideillinois.org/small-business-partners

Are you a small business owner? Do you believe in the many benefits of riding a bike for recreation, transportation and everyday trips? If you answered yes to those questions, our Small Business Partner program may be for you!

Contact dave@rideillinois.org to learn more and to discuss a mutually-beneficial partnership with Ride Illinois.

2023 Routes to Ride

Sure, organized rides are lots of fun. But do you sometimes get that itch to break away and explore a new route – either on your own or with friends and family?

Ask and you shall receive! Several Ride Illinois members were happy to share some fun, interesting routes to explore by bike! Heck, they even included some must see destinations to enhance your experience. The routes that we curated, based on input from members, can be found at bit.ly/Routes2RideIL. Enjoy!

Got feedback on these routes or want to share another route? Contact us at community@rideillinois.org with the details.

2023 Routes to Ride

Rock Island Trail

Part urban trail with access to neat culture, part rail trail with crushed limestone surface broken up by quaint towns. There is a primitive campsite available just off the trail, so bike packing is an option.

• Distance: 38 miles

• Surface: road, paved trail, dirt/ crushed limestone trail

• Type of ride: city, rural, familyfriendly, historical

• Break time: Downtown Peoria has everything, including a museum near the trail. The trail weaves through a trendy area of Peoria heights. Primitive camping is at Kickapoo Creek Recreation Area between Alta and Dunlop (no bathrooms or water). The rural portion goes through a few small towns with gas stations and not much else. There is a tavern between Wyoming and Toulon, near the NW terminus of the trail.

Download Route

Wyoming is a quaint little town that offers an access point for the trail. There is an old rail depot that you can check out as well.

2023 Routes to Ride

Bikes, Bison and Gravel

Experience both the Wauponsee Glacial Trail, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, and historic Wilmington, IL on this 80% gravel ride through history. The 20% on-road part of the route is on low-traffic roads. The gravel sections of this ride can be moderately difficult for casual riders but well worth the effort. While in the Midewin section of the ride try to find the bison herd out in the distance.

(Don’t approach bison!)

• Distance: 33 miles

As you are nearing the southern end of Midewin you can see the border areas between the prairie and forested areas on thee way to Wilmington.

• Surface: dirt/crushed limestone trail, gravel

• Type of ride: rural

• Break time:

• Must see: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Download Route

2023 Routes to Ride

Tunnel Hill State Trail or Shawnee Challenge

Southern Illinois is the state’s cycling paradise. Many trail opportunities, gravel roads, back roads, and plenty of nature to explore by bike.

• Distance: 45 miles for Tunnel Hill or 10 miles for Shawnee Challenge

• Surface: dirt/crushed limestone trail, single track

• Type of ride: rural

• Break time: Enjoy a blast from the past with various items left behind from the railroad days, old tractors, and even a few ghost towns.

• Must see: Shawnee National Forest and Sandburn Junction

Download Route

The Ride Illinois Community

Ride Illinois wants to build community on bikes across the state and we want you to be part of the Ride Illinois community! We don’t care how far or often you ride, whether you ride a bike for recreation or transportation (or both), what kind of bike you own, where you ride or your Strava stats. Let’s pedal forward together! Use #rideILcommunity on your social media posts.

#rideILcommunity

Pedaling forward together!

Check out a wide variety of swag, gear and other items to show your support of Ride Illinois! Yard signs, magnets, neck gaiters, jerseys and more are available on the shop on our website.

You can also purchase a variety of items on our Redbubble shop!

Useful Resources

• Finding routes

• Maps

• Bike to Metra guides

• Route guides

• Webinars

• Ride Illinois Safely education program

• BikeSafetyQuiz

• Bike-Friendly Illinois Map

• Advocacy resources

Support Illinois Bike Shops

Illinois has over 200 local bike shops throughout the state!

Visit our regularly-updated, online Bike-Friendly Illinois map to find bike shops near you. Local bike shops and their staff have the products and knowledge for new and returning cyclists, as well as those who have been biking for many years.

We encourage you to support local bikes shops whether you’re purchasing a bike, getting a bike repaired or picking up some accessories. Please support small business and shop local!

Safety Tip: ABC Quick Check

A is for Air

 Inflate tires to the pressure listed on the side of the tire

 Use a gauge to insure proper pressure

 Check for wear and tear; replace damaged and worn tires

B is for Brakes

 Inspect pads for wear and replace worn pads

 Check pad adjustment; make sure they do not rub

 Make sure you can fit your thumb between the brake lever and handlebar when the brakes are squeezed

C is for Cranks and Chain

 Pull up and down on your cranks. Tighten loose bolts

 Check your that your chain is free of rust and gunk

Quick is for Quick Releases

 Make sure all quick release levers are closed

 Make sure levers are pointing to the back of the bike

Check is for Check It Over

 Take a short ride to make sure all’s well before leaving home

Safety Tip: Scanning

Scanning allows you to avoid dangerous situations before they happen. This skill also communicates to others that you are about to maneuver to another position or change lanes.

Get comfortable looking over your shoulder to see who or what’s behind you – without swerving! Occasionally checking behind you will increase your safety when biking on roads and trails.

Affiliated Bike Clubs & Community Organizations

Ride Illinois would like to recognize these fun, social bike clubs and community organizations for their generous contributions:

Platinum Level

Bicycle Club of Lake County

Blackhawk Bicycle & Ski Club

Elmhurst Bicycle Club

Evanston Bicycle Club

Fox Valley Bicycle & Ski Club

Joliet Bicycle Club

McLean County Wheelers

Quad Cities Bicycle Club

Springfield Bicycle Club

Silver Level

Arlington Heights Bicycle Club

Downers Grove Bicycle Club

Folks On Spokes Bicycle Club

Friends of Cycling in Elk Grove

Illinois Valley Wheelm’n

Kankakee River Bike Club

McHenry County Bicycle Club

Wheeling Wheelmen

Bronze Level

Bike Palatine Club

Champaign County Bikes

Chicago Area Tandem Society

Chicago Cycling Club (CU)rbanism Club

Cycle Brookfield

Decatur Bicycle Club

GOATS Bicycle Club of Galena

Kish Bike and Rec Club

Naperville Bicycle Club

Oak Park Cycle Club

Prairie Cycle Club

Schaumburg Bicycle Club

Starved Rock Cycling Association

Team224, Inc.

Z Tour

Friend Level

Boxing Out Negativity

City of Warrenville Bicyclist & Pedestrian Advisory Commission

Gateway East Trails

Greater Freeport Partnership

Rock River Valley Bicycle Club