AHBC

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

Amishland and Lakes (Indiana) Amishland and Lakes in July. review: Al Gibbs: 2018: The annual Amishlands and Lakes ride is back on the 2 day schedule in 2018 with optional riding on Friday. The ride start (headquarters) will be at Lakeland High School in Lagrange, IN 6 miles south of the previous Howe, IN start. There is plenty to explore, experience and eat. Amishland and Lakes is famous for great SAG food (watermelons, peaches, blueberries, bananas and fresh baked cookies), and there are Amish bakeries, restaurants and homemade ice cream parlors along the route for riders who want to sample local "home cooking". 185 miles form Arlington heights. Two or Three days. 5-stars. 45 to 182 miles total.

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.

Amish Country Tour (Illinois) Amish Country Tour (Decatur Bike Club) in September. review: anonymous 2018: The Amish Country Tour is a a fully supported Invitational Bike Ride sponsored by the Decatur Bike Club in the Amish area of Central Illinois. It is 200 miles south of Arlington Heights,south of Champaign, an easy drive down I-57. Distances are 20, 40, and 60 miles. It was a fun ride, flat roads, challenging only due to the strong winds in 2018. This ride happens during harvest season. The ride was well run and we did find great ice cream in an Amish grocery near the end of the route. 4-1/2 stars.

Organized Rides further than a days drive of Arlington Heights

Cycle North Carolina Cycle North Carolina Coastal Ride in April.

review: Bob Dominski: 2019: Cycle North Carolina's Coastal Ride is a weekend ride(Thursday to Sunday) at the end of April. It rotates between the Cities of Oriental, Washington & Edington in North Carolina. Next year, 2020, the Ride is in Oriental. It is an outdoor Camping Weekend, but indoor camping & motels/B&B's are available. Routes vary each day, on flat terrain, ranging from 5 to 100 or more miles. CNC's Coastal Ride is well organized providing waterfront campsites, entertainment & good food. It is a Ride worth attending. Check it out. 5-stars.

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.

Cheers and Gears Ride(Ridgeland, Mississippi) Cheers and Gears in April.

review: Paula Matzek: 2019: First full weekend in April. 60 riders in 2019, including 4 from AHBC. The main ride is Saturday, with options of 25, 43, or 60 miles. Route includes paved bike paths, the Natchez Trace, and semi-rural and rural roads (most in good condition.) Route is well-marked and scenic and includes a few hills, all doable. There are three rest stops on the 43-mile route. There is also a 25-mile "poker run" ride on Friday and a short ride out of the local bike shop (Bike Revolution) on Sunday. (Don't miss the chance to see this very nice shop, which also serves paninis and beer.) Lodging is at the Hyatt Place, located next to the local mall, which hosts a juried fine art show on Saturday and a wine fest on Saturday evening. Cost of the ride was just $85, and you get a lot for your money: a reception with a free drink and free hors d'oeuvres on Friday evening, free lunch after the ride on Saturday, a t-shirt, a wine opener, a rear bike light, and a beer cozy. Ridgeland is just north of Jackson, MS, and is considered one of the top three cycling towns in Mississippi. The mayor, who did the 60-mile route on Saturday, is an avid cyclist. 4-1/2 stars.