Arlington Heights Bicycle Club
Ride Reviews
Outside of the club rides, members often participate in other organized cycling events. The goal of this page is
to gather our collective wisdom and help other members seeking interesting riding opportunities.
Members: If you've ridden an organized ride, whether it be one-day invitational ride or a longer ride, please send your comments or notes
on the ride to the cyclearlington.com webmaster at web@cyclearlington.com for inclusion in this list. We don't need a full essay, just a few
sentences describing the ride and your recommendation - from one to five stars. Include a link to the ride and the year you rode in your comments and the distance
from Arlington Heights.
Organized Rides within a 90 minute drive of Arlington Heights
St Patricks Day Ride (Wheeling Wheelmen)
St. Patricks Day Ride in March.
review: Anonymous: 2018: Itching to ride in the spring? Is the weekend close to St Patricks Day having pleasant weather?
No planning in advance required, day of registration only. Two loops possible: 21 miles and / or 17 miles both leaving
and returning to Wauconda High School. 5-stars if the weather cooperates, 3-star if its snowing or too cold,
in between otherwise. Too cold to ride: register and hang out while listening to the band.
Organized Rides within a days drive of Arlington Heights
Bike Van Buren (Iowa)
Bike Van Buren in August.
review: Gary Gilbert: 2017: Small town Iowa with lots of sag stops. Some hills but a fairly easy terrain with friendly people.
Small ride with 100 riders or less. Close to the Missouri/Iowa border, 300 miles from Arlington Heights. Two days, 60 miles or less each day. 4-stars
Crane Cruise (Indiana)
Crane Cruise in October.
review: Gary Gilbert: 2016: Small town Indiana. Very flat ride in the corn fields. Depending on the weather an year, the fields
may be full of Sandhill Cranes migrating from Wisconsin to Florida. Near the Jasper-Pulaski state park where the cranes spend the night and worth
an evening or early morning visit when the cranes are there. Small ride with 50 riders or less. 120 mile drive from Arlington Heights.
One day, 50 miles or less. 4-stars if you see Cranes, 3 stars otherwise.
Horsey Hundred (Kentucky)
Horsey Hundred in May.
review: Tom Drabant 2014: The Horsey Hundred is a Memorial Day Weekend, 3 day ride, that is a fully supported Invitational
Bike Ride sponsored by the Bluegrass Bicycle Club that rolls through the Beautiful Equine filled countryside around
Georgetown Kentucky. 400 mile drive from Arlington Heights. It includes Optional Rides on Friday as well as Standard Rides on Saturday ranging from 25 miles to a full Century while on
Sunday there is a choice of Rides ranging from 25-75 miles. 5-stars.
Organized Rides further than a days drive of Arlington Heights
Cycle Zydeco (Louisiana)
Cycle Zydeco in April.
review: Gary Gilbert: 2016: Cajun Louisiana near Lafayette, LA. 1000 miles from Arlington Heights. Food, Music, Cycling, and Dancing.
How many days in a row can you have crawfish? Party ride with several hundred riders. Five days, 60 miles or less each day.
One hill (an overpass over I-10). Chip-seal roads. 5-stars if you like the food or music.
review: Paula Matzek: 2018: 400+ riders, very friendly crowd. 4-day ride, 40 miles per day with longer options available
(and shorter ones if necessary due to weather.) Weather was a concern in 2018. All of the rain was late afternoon and overnight,
so no riding in the rain, but the last two days were windy, overcast and unseasonably cool (50 degrees).
Flat routes. Drink tickets and several meals included in ride price. Live music every evening and at some of the rest stops.
Choice of camping or motel lodging. Well-organized ride with efficient luggage and shuttle bus service.
A few interesting attractions (1830's house tour, swamp boat ride, etc.) 4-stars.
Gary Gilbert 3/23/2018