Trails bring a sort of joy to cycling. You can be surrounded by prairie or forest or rivers or really any natural environment, and it is always changing. It’s nice to not have to worry about cars and to be able to wave at so many people getting their own outdoor time in for the day. For our team, our orange jerseys definitely turn heads and this helps to pique curiousity when we’re on the bike and start meaningful conversations when we’re off it. Toward the end of our route today, we entered our seventh(!) state: Wisconsin, the Badger State.

Edit: Apologies for the late entry, no wifi and poor cell service again, as well as a looong ride day. I will be back on schedule tomorrow to fill you in on today (Day 22) and the rest day in Madison! :)

Ride Overview

Mileage: 79.1

Elevation: +1734’/-1426’

General Direction: Pedal south and weave through residential River Forest until reaching the Illinois Prairie Path near Concordia Cemetery, take it west to 11.3, divert to the Great Western Trail, and pick up the IPP Elgin Branch via a slight right at 22.8, this trail becomes the northbound Fox River Trail at mile 32 (Poplar Creek), this trail becomes the northbound Prairie Trail at mile 43.5, with a few small deviations continue on this trail until mile 68.4, turn left onto U.S. 12 and cross into Wisconsin at 69.6, take a frontage road and County Highway B to County Highway H and follow it for 5.5 miles to South Street, take this road west to the stayover lot.

Points of Interest: Illinois Prairie Path, Great Western Trail, Fox River Trail, Prairie Trail, Fox River, downtown Elgin, Dundee, Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Strene’s Fen Nature Preserve, Glacial Park Conservation Area

Tales of the Trail

The Becks made us an amazing breakfast to begin a quick morning of getting packed and ready after our relaxing rest day. A ferocious watermelon eating contest hosted by I4K alum and past president Marie Hubbard (2019, 2022) kicked off our morning before we departed. We were joined on our ride by a few guests as well. I4K alums Rahul Ramkumar (2021) and Max Potvin (2022) rode with us until our first stop at mile 16. Also, my friend and UIUC/Oberlin alum Maxwell Schultz joined for the entire duration and finished his longest ride yet!

Today’s route reaped one of the rarest and most rewarding parts of road cycling: a route that increases in elevation but feels like descending for most of it. Situated among four bike trails for the vast majority, it was a very pleasant ride, save for the mountain biking-esque section near Algonquin (still really fun though) and the thousands of bumps we went over. The trails made it easy to cut between and through the central and western suburbs, and at one point gave us beautiful views of the Fox River on our left. We’ve seen many deer on this ride too, but none as close as the handful who stopped next to the trail at various points to watch us fly by. There was prairie grass and festivals, downtowns and pockets of trees, and everything in between. Even the bit in Wisconsin toward the end gave us plenty of leverage on the descents. An exhausting day for sure, but very, very enjoyable.

Tonight, we are staying at Lake Geneva Bible Chapel. Adam’s family provided us with a delicious and filling pasta dinner, and we spent time taking hose showers and cleaning our bikes from all the dust they kicked up on the gravel portions. We are excited to reach Madison, a town known for its cycling culture, and have another rest day to follow.

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Sam Michalak

How are you today? I’m doing well! Today was a tiring but really fun day.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? I am riding a white 2022 Trek Domane AL3.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? My favorite aspect has been meeting people all over the country whether that be through portraits or at stayovers. It’s really cool to meet people with both shared and different experiences from us, and there has been so much kindness and overall support in helping us to fight cancer.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? When COVID started, me and one of my high school friends since our sophomore year made a loose goal to bike 1000 miles during the three months of summer. We did casual 20-30 mile rides, nothing like what we do today, and it is interesting that we have already surpassed that goal on this ride.

Is there anyone you are riding for today and would like to share a few words for? On the ride as a whole, I am riding for my grandfather and grandmother who both had long fights with cancer, both of which I watched firsthand. I want to make a difference and do this for them. I am also riding for my mother who is currently dealing with the annoyances of skin cancer.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? Today, we spent a lot of time on the Illinois Prairie Path. Mile marker 0 on this path is in downtown Wheaton, which is my hometown. I have spent many hours on this path, whether for transportation to school or simply rides with friends. So, it meant a lot to me to be on my home turf today.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? I would like to say thank you for believing in me, thank you for continuing to believe in me, and I can’t wait to see you all soon.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)