Routes
Looking to plan your own ride in central Illinois? Here are some tips so you have a safe and enjoyable time:
Remember to check the wind speed and direction! Winds can be strong in central Illinois, and you wouldn't want to ride back with a strong headwind.
Check the weather forecast. You don't want to be riding in a thunderstorm.
Try to pick a destination that is somewhat interesting and go there for your ride. For example, state parks, towns, and bodies of water are all good examples of this. This gives you somewhere to ride towards rather than just turning around in a cornfield, and usually this results a more interesting route.
To plan a route, you can use the site ridewithgps.com or something similar. We also recommend going to the Illinois DOT website and looking at the bicycling maps for any counties you'll be biking through. The main counties to look at typically are Champaign (Home), Piatt (West), Vermillion (East), and DeWitt (Northwest).
Remember to buy basic bike repair supplies to bring with you such as a multi-tool, spare inner tube, and tire levers. Know how to use them as well! Practice changing a flat at home before you are stuck on the side of the road.
Remember to check the wind speed and direction! Winds can be strong in central Illinois, and you wouldn't want to ride back with a strong headwind.
Check the weather forecast. You don't want to be riding in a thunderstorm.
Try to pick a destination that is somewhat interesting and go there for your ride. For example, state parks, towns, and bodies of water are all good examples of this. This gives you somewhere to ride towards rather than just turning around in a cornfield, and usually this results a more interesting route.
To plan a route, you can use the site ridewithgps.com or something similar. We also recommend going to the Illinois DOT website and looking at the bicycling maps for any counties you'll be biking through. The main counties to look at typically are Champaign (Home), Piatt (West), Vermillion (East), and DeWitt (Northwest).
Remember to buy basic bike repair supplies to bring with you such as a multi-tool, spare inner tube, and tire levers. Know how to use them as well! Practice changing a flat at home before you are stuck on the side of the road.