I’ll be in Chicago next week, staying across from Grant Park.
What are my options for 30-50 mile bike rides? I’m hoping the answer is not going up and down the lakeshore…
If so, how far south and how far north does the trail extend?
Also, any options for swimming?
Thanks!
I am not sure about the bike route. When I lived there to avoid all the traffic I did go about and down lakeshore. If you go early enough you can avoid the crowds and get in a pretty decent ride of 40+. Down by Oak Street Beach they used to put some training bouys in for local triathletes. The running is great. Lots of nice scenery! Enjoy.
The lakefront isn’t too bad once you get south of McCormick Place. I’d only recommend riding north very early in the morning. All the way south to north is 18.5 miles, giving you a 37 mile round trip. Street riding stinks for non-stop training rides and is stop and go until you can get north of Evanston.
The beaches are open for swimming and they have the “lanes” up at the beach just north of Navy Pier. If open water is your thing, that’s the place.
The Lakefront bike path is 18 miles from end to end. To get in 30 miles you would just need to do a loop. Here is a link to a map of path. http://www.cararuns.org/maps/lakefront_maps.html
Be warned - the path on the weekends is out of control (very crowed). Your best bet is to ride very early (sunrise) and go north first as that is the most croweded part of the path.
A great spot of open water swimming is Ohio St beach. http://www.chicagotriclub.com/info/directions/OhioStreetBeach.asp
it’s beach entry - and then you swim along the ‘rocks’ Distances are marked on the wall, and lifeguards are on duty after 8:30 A.M. Water is still cold - so you will need a wet suit.
For indoor swimming - check with your hotel. Many have agreements with heath clubs that have pools. Another option would be to swim at UIC. UIC is just west of the loop. The public can swim at the Student Center pool - The fee is $7.00 http://ccc.ops.uic.edu/rec/llfit.html
You will be in our fine City for the Taste Of Chicago. Personally, I hate the Taste. Unless your on an expense account - skip the taste, and instead visit some of out fine restaurants. You will get better food and spend less in the long run.
I left chicago in 96, so this is all vague memories, but…
When I lived on the north side (on Belmont, w of Sheffield), I used to do a loop where I went straight over to the Lake and then turned north. At some point it stops being a bike path, but was still a relatively good road to bike on. (Sheridan?) Basically, I would go north for a while, through a whole bunch of suburbs, including the one with Northwestern; Glencoe; Highland park maybe? It’s been a while… but basically, you can go north a while, and as you go north you’re also going a bit west. At a certain point, there’s some sort of park/forest that joins up the lakefront. That park has a path going through it that takes you down south into Chicago. You wind up on Devon Avenue. After that, you’ve got some city riding, but it wasn’t usually that bad.
When I used to do that ride I didn’t have any sort of computer/odomoter on my bike, but I’m guessing it was around 50 miles. Waaaay flat for my tasts, but it’s hard to get around that in chicago.
If you’re not on a 9-5 schedule, there are times when you can get a good ride in just up and down the lake. But on a nice saturday, stay clear. Esp. on the north side.
check the helpful info section of the Chicago tri club website
www.chicagotriclub.com
if you are around and interested, there are some group workouts over the weekend, not being a club member shouldn’t be too much of a complication as long as you email ahead. The bike path on the lake is nice early in the AM, especially during the week. Swims are Ohio st. beach are pretty good as someone else mentioned. If you are around and want to ride over the weekend, I recommend heading north up to Evanston and beyond. There are maps on the Chicago tri club website, look for routes to either Fort Sheridan or Tower rd. (I can’t remember which).
josh
Definitely avoid the Taste of E. Coli. Local food is better and you can avoid the heinous crowds.
good luck and you can PM if you need more info about anything.
The swimming part is the easier to answer. At Ohio Street Beach (just North of Navy Pier) there is a swim course (out and back about 1 1/2 miles) parallel to the shore and not more than 5 feet deep.
Your only real option on the bike is the lakefront bike path but that will be crowded at most times. South of McCormick Place is usually less crowded. My guess is from Grant Park it goes about 10 miles North to Hollywood and about 8 miles South to about 85th (?) Street.
Thanks for all the excellent information!
I’m in town M - Th, so it looks like I’ll become good friends with the bike path!