The Best Bike Rides In The Midwest

With its quiet roads, small towns, blue lakes, and gentle terrain, the Midwest was made for bicycle touring. These forty-four carefully designed routes in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota Ohio, and Wisconsin range from 20 to 100 miles and show you the best of the Midwest.

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.

A guide for anyone--newcomer to experienced--who wants to go bike riding on the roads of Washtenaw County

Hidden in and around Minneapolis and St. Paul are some great roads, trails, and bike paths that are fun to explore. Best Bike Rides Minneapolis and St. Paul describes 40 great recreational rides in the metro areas. With most rides between 5 and 30 miles—including road rides, rail trails, bike paths, and mountain bike rides—it’s easy to find an interesting place to ride. Each route includes complete directions, a map, a text description of the area you’ll be riding, the GPS coordinates of the start/finish point, and color photos of one the ride’s features. Also included is information on local restaurants, lodging, maps, bicycle shops, other facilities for cyclists, and community resources. Features: • Detailed maps and directions • Rides that explore the city as well as the surrounding area. • A variety of rides, from 5-mile trail rides to 60-mile destination rides and everything in between • In-depth information about each ride, including length, terrain, traffic conditions, and road hazards • Interesting facts about each area • Options to create longer or shorter rides

f you think the Midwest is nothing but flatlands covered with cornfields, then you need to hop on your bicycle and rediscover the startling diversity and beautiful scenery of the states of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Thanks to this indispensable book, you can select a B&B as your base of operations and set out to explore the countryside using the maps and cue sheets for at least two rides that begin right from each inn's driveway. From the unexpected highlands around Marietta, Ohio, to the beautiful emerald necklace of Cleveland's urban parks, from the woods and lakes of Michigan to the quintessential small towns of Indiana, there is a destination for you in Bed, Breakfast & Bike. The lodging choices run the gamut, as well. You'll find restored Victorian mansions, rustic lodges, sprawling farmhouses--even a vintage sternwheeler moored in the Muskingum River! The authors have personally selected each of the 27 inns and B&Bs in these pages, and provide you with a thorough description of the accommodations and dining options. To help you remember your trip, there's a chapter full of recipes culled from the inns so that you can replicate that stunning breakfast that fueled you up the first hill.

From Chicago's magnificent lakefront to the mountain trails of the Shawnee National Forest, no state has more varied terrain for the cyclist than Illinois. Large, full-detail maps guide you confidently on city streets or prairie back roads, and concise, entertaining trail descriptions make your bicycle adventure come alive. Includes 60 rides for cyclists of all ability levels, tips on where to find water, snacks, lodging, repairs, fascinating notes that help you appreciate the nature and history along the trail, and much more.

Be the first to open your mountain biking patrons' eyes to the surprising geographic diversity of the Midwest. From vast prairies to rolling, forested hills, and from roaring rivers to tranquil lakes, the Midwest is much more than cornfields! Newly revised and expanded to include 96 rides throughout Illinois. Indiana, and Ohio, Mountain Bike! The Midwest will dazzle fat-tire buffs with its array of excellent off-road tours. From challenging single-track ascents to leisurely jaunts along white, sandy beaches, bikers will find trails to fit all skill levels and tastes. Authors Richard Ries and Dave Shepherd save bikers precious time by leading them straight to the classic trails in the Midwest. Enthusiasts will find tours in the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys, Chicago-area forest preserves, and Shawnee, Hoosier, and Wayne National Forests, among other exciting areas. Riders will also appreciate a few new elements in this edition -- concise, at-a-glance key information at the beginning of each route profiled and handy ride recommendations for special interest groups.