NW Illinois riders - casual gravel ride Daylight Savings Time weekend from Stockton, IL

A small group of us have been doing a ride the Sunday following Daylight Savings Time. It starts and finishes in Stockton, IL. Definitely not a race and we have never had numbers in the double digits. If you are out that way and want to meet a few other gravel riders on Sunday, November 4th, RSVP on Strava or send me a PM here. Roughly 2/3 of the route is gravel and there's an incredible amount of elevation to be had. Super quiet farm roads. Most of us do the 100k or 80k routes, but I modified things to make a couple more options and hopefully get some more people out there.


*Copy and paste from from event page*

9a start for 120k and 100k routes 
10a for the 80k and 60k routes
3p after-party at JJ and Freddies

Get ready for amazing fall scenery with lots of quiet, unpaved roads and several challenging climbs. After-party at JJ and Freddies restaurant across the street from the start. Great food and drinks. Start and finish whenever you want, but if you want people to ride or eat with, those are the recommended times.

73 mile riders should start by 9a. There's a 64 mile route for those that want to ride a little slower than the 73 mile group, but still hit the after-party. A 50 mile version with much of the same highlights should start by 10:30a at the latest. There's also a 38 mile route snuck in there too, but keep in mind there's no stops along the way. No gas stations, no towns, no Boy Scouts with lemonade stands. Paces will vary quite a bit, but don't be surprised by a 13 mph average for a rider used to 17+ on the road.

Tires under 32mm are discouraged. Helmets required. Tail light encouraged. Mountain bikes are definitely welcome and an advantage on many parts of the route.

The routes (except the 38 miles) will have ONE place to stop the entire route. You should have enough fluids and calories to go for at least 3 hours at a time. This is entirely self supported. There are no course markings. You are expected to download or print the route. Nobody is bringing you food or drinks. Nobody is fixing your flats. There is no phone number to call for a ride.

73 mile route here. Gas station rest stop at mile 49.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26011067 
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/21274954

64 mile route here. Gas station rest stop at mile 43.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26012092 
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/21274928

50 mile route here. Gas station rest stop at mile 28.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26012293 
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/21274903

38 mile route here. No rest stops. 
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28801821 
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/21274982

Dangle looks like a ride I would be interested in next year.

Zman

I would be interested next year as well. It didn't happen this year since it was mid 30's, rainy and sustained 15-20 mph winds all day. I'm pretty deep into cyclocross season right now, so it might be next spring before there's gravel riding to be done.

dangle wrote:I would be interested next year as well. It didn't happen this year since it was mid 30's, rainy and sustained 15-20 mph winds all day. I'm pretty deep into cyclocross season right now, so it might be next spring before there's gravel riding to be done.

That would be tough for an out of state rider to plan though. But yeah that wouldn't be no fun riding in that. Live to ride another day.

Zman