Touring the Rock Island Trail
Today I went for a ride on the Rock Island trail. I figured to catch some of the Bears game when I got back, but they were up 30-0! The won 40-7; if there is a better team in the NFC this year I don't know who they are. But it is still early...
Getting there: I usually take the Allen road exit off of IL-6 (the Peoria bypass that hooks up with 24 and I-474. Go north on Allen road (away from Peoria) a mile or so. Click here for a map.
Distance: 24.7 miles each way (25 if you ride from the parking lot to the "0" sign and back.
Surface: crushed limestone. "Soft" in spots; a few scattered gopher holes.
Challenges: soft surface, can get wet, wind (remember, this is Illinois, and the wind usually kicks up between 10 and noon). On occasion, you might get a family or two (or just kids) on the trail who aren't paying attention.
Time to complete: for the whole out and back, take your road century ride time, divide by two, and add a few minutes (10-30) depending on wind, wetness, etc. My two times have been 4:06 (hard) and 4:35 (easier). For runners and walkers: take a few seconds per mile off of your road pace; runners won't slow that much; faster walkers will "slip" just a bit.
If you've done a road 50, add about 1/6'th to 1/5'th to your road time (e. g., 3 hour road person can add 30-35 minutes or more.)
Aid: there is a Casey's in Princeville (10 miles from 0) right off of the marked bike bath and another one about 200 meters off of the path in Wyoming (20 miles). The Princeville Casey's store has free air as well.
For those who don't know: Casey's is one of those "marts" that sells gas, soft drinks, snacks, fast food pizza, etc.
Course: it starts at Alta (just north of Peoria off of Allen road). There is a 2.4 mile spur (mostly paved) that runs south to Pioneer Parkway. The gravel part (starting at mile 0) runs north and west, through Dunlap (4.5 miles away), Princeville (10-11 miles), Wyoming (20 miles) and into Toulon (24.7 miles).
Notes for hikers, cyclists and runners: cyclists: I found that 1 1/4 inch tires (32 cm) (the kind you see on touring road bikes) eat into the gravel path a bit. The 35 cm (1.4 inch; the kind found on my Trek 7200 hybrid) does a bit better.
For runners, walkers and hikers: if you are a "shuffler" or a faster walker, I'd wear trail gaiters to keep the rocks out of your shoes. Runners with a high knee action might not notice this as much.
Both groups: carry water. Opprotunities to buy water (without an excursion off of the trail a bit) are scarce; the two best places are 10 miles apart.
Today: I had a slight cough going in and so had to take it easier than I'd like.
Here is my trail hybrid at mile 0. The entrace to the trail is actually up ahead.
Just past mile 3 you come to this bridge. In between, you pass farm fields and McMansion neighborhoods.
At Princeville, you cross tracks (this is where the No Baloney ride enters Princeville). Today, I had to wait for trains going in both directions (this is a triple track crossings); that has never happened before.
Here is the trail as you leave Princeville on the way back. You are about 10 miles away from the 0 mile sign.
This is the entrance into Wyoming at mile 20.
This is what it looks like to the other side.
Somewhere between miles 22 and 23 you come to this bridge.
This is what it looks like coming into the bridge. The leaves hide walnuts and gopher holes.
You are entering Toulon here and the trail is about to terminate. Under the yellow sign is another sign saying "24.7 miles."
Touring ride of the Rock Island Trail.
Getting there: I usually take the Allen road exit off of IL-6 (the Peoria bypass that hooks up with 24 and I-474. Go north on Allen road (away from Peoria) a mile or so. Click here for a map.
Distance: 24.7 miles each way (25 if you ride from the parking lot to the "0" sign and back.
Surface: crushed limestone. "Soft" in spots; a few scattered gopher holes.
Challenges: soft surface, can get wet, wind (remember, this is Illinois, and the wind usually kicks up between 10 and noon). On occasion, you might get a family or two (or just kids) on the trail who aren't paying attention.
Time to complete: for the whole out and back, take your road century ride time, divide by two, and add a few minutes (10-30) depending on wind, wetness, etc. My two times have been 4:06 (hard) and 4:35 (easier). For runners and walkers: take a few seconds per mile off of your road pace; runners won't slow that much; faster walkers will "slip" just a bit.
If you've done a road 50, add about 1/6'th to 1/5'th to your road time (e. g., 3 hour road person can add 30-35 minutes or more.)
Aid: there is a Casey's in Princeville (10 miles from 0) right off of the marked bike bath and another one about 200 meters off of the path in Wyoming (20 miles). The Princeville Casey's store has free air as well.
For those who don't know: Casey's is one of those "marts" that sells gas, soft drinks, snacks, fast food pizza, etc.
Course: it starts at Alta (just north of Peoria off of Allen road). There is a 2.4 mile spur (mostly paved) that runs south to Pioneer Parkway. The gravel part (starting at mile 0) runs north and west, through Dunlap (4.5 miles away), Princeville (10-11 miles), Wyoming (20 miles) and into Toulon (24.7 miles).
Notes for hikers, cyclists and runners: cyclists: I found that 1 1/4 inch tires (32 cm) (the kind you see on touring road bikes) eat into the gravel path a bit. The 35 cm (1.4 inch; the kind found on my Trek 7200 hybrid) does a bit better.
For runners, walkers and hikers: if you are a "shuffler" or a faster walker, I'd wear trail gaiters to keep the rocks out of your shoes. Runners with a high knee action might not notice this as much.
Both groups: carry water. Opprotunities to buy water (without an excursion off of the trail a bit) are scarce; the two best places are 10 miles apart.
Today: I had a slight cough going in and so had to take it easier than I'd like.
Photos
(click to see a larger image)
Map is at the end
(click to see a larger image)
Map is at the end
Here is my trail hybrid at mile 0. The entrace to the trail is actually up ahead.
Just past mile 3 you come to this bridge. In between, you pass farm fields and McMansion neighborhoods.
At Princeville, you cross tracks (this is where the No Baloney ride enters Princeville). Today, I had to wait for trains going in both directions (this is a triple track crossings); that has never happened before.
Here is the trail as you leave Princeville on the way back. You are about 10 miles away from the 0 mile sign.
This is the entrance into Wyoming at mile 20.
This is what it looks like to the other side.
Somewhere between miles 22 and 23 you come to this bridge.
This is what it looks like coming into the bridge. The leaves hide walnuts and gopher holes.
You are entering Toulon here and the trail is about to terminate. Under the yellow sign is another sign saying "24.7 miles."
posted by Harriet at
10/08/2006 12:59:00 PM
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