Best Bike Rides Chicago

Written for the cyclists of all stripes, Best Bikes Rides Near Chicago marks the debut of a new series that offers a diverse array of scenic tours in some of America’s largest urban destinations—from easy excursions for the Sunday cyclist to challenging treks for the veteran. Here, veteran author and cyclist Ted Villaire presents 35 diverse rides in and around the Windy City. As amply demonstrated by this guide, Chicago’s heritage as a transportation hub has reaped huge rewards for local cyclists. Twenty miles of lakeshore parkland and an elaborate system of leafy boulevards connect a series of mega-parks throughout the city. Coupled with this is an ever-expanding cycling infrastructure featuring more than 100 miles of bikes lanes. The Illinois Prairie Path, which runs between the Des Plaines River and Wheaton, was one of the first linear trails in the nation converted from a railroad line—and today it is part of the most extensive collection of rail trails in the Midwest, perhaps the nation.

Detailed descriptions and maps of forty of the best bicycle rides in Illinois, from easy afternoon jaunts to multi-day tours.

For the expert biker looking for a fast ride or the novice interested in a scenic route, here are the best biking excursions between Chicago and Milwaukee.Covering a diverse selection of biking trails from tranquil paths to quiet streets, bikers can choose trails suited to their needs. Bike trails covered include the lake front bike path in Chicago, the oak leaf bike path in Milwaukee, paths in Evanston and Northwestern University, the bike route on the lake front of Kenosha, and many more. Few cyclists realize that they can pedal on their local bike paths and find their way to Chicago and Milwaukee with relative ease. Now cyclists can learn to avoid traffic and pass the most interesting places but continue to progress directly to their destination.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Chicago was the center of bicycle manufacturing in the United States. As an early industrial and transportation center, two-thirds of all bicycles manufactured in the United States were from Chicago--it was the Detroit of bike manufacturing. For decades, Chicago was also a center for cycling track and road racing. Six-day races drew capacity crowds at the Chicago Stadium, Chicago Coliseum, and International Amphitheatre. Road and track competitions were also held at Sherman Park, the Humboldt Park Velodrome, and on Chicago's famed Magnificent Mile. Today, Chicago is a hub for recreational cyclists. Hundreds of miles of bike lanes, rail to trails, and bike paths, such as the Illinois Prairie Path, the Bloomingdale Trail, Lakefront Path, and the Big Marsh, provide cyclists with numerous recreational and commuting options in a crowded urban environment. Chicago was awarded Bicycling Magazine's Best Bike City of 2016.

Detailed descriptions and maps of forty of the best bicycle rides in Illinois, from easy afternoon jaunts to multi-day tours.

Bikers at every level of skill can enjoy 43 interesting and beautiful bike rides through the nation's mid-Atlantic region. This edition offers: new rides in the scenic northern section of Virginia, with additional new rides in northern and western New York State; new photos and completely updated route information.

Where to Bike Chicago, Best biking in the C ity and suburbs

Over 200 easy scenic bike rides throughout Southern California.