The best road cycling routes around Lakewood

Who said the Illinois is flat, well it is flat, however the section of McHenry / Illinois Prairie Rail Trail ad add a bit of variety to the rest of the trail which usually has long drawn out grades of max 2%, here there are 4 short but steep climbs hitting 16% in a very dense Forrest spending a bit of shade on very hot Midwest summers. The trail twists and turns through the forest which does not give one a notice that the climbs are going to be steep.

The section of trail between McHenry and Edgewood Road is a part of the trail that needs to be resurfaces. It is rideable but there are places where the roots of trees and shrubs have pushed up the surface creating a bit of a rough ride.

For those riding out from the City of Chicago to the countryside of McHenry County, the Metra Rail Service offers regular and convenient service to Union Station in downtown Chicago. The City of McHenry also has a wide variety of restaurants and bars with outdoor dining facilities to relax, quench a thirsty throat or satisfy a hungry stomach.

The section of McHenry / Illinois Prairie Rail Trail from Ringwood to McHenry is all asphalted, sometimes smooth, sometimes rough but all in all a decent trail. Suitable for all bicycles but recommend with tyres => 28mm. The trail rolls up and down the countryside, passing McCollum Lake, giving one the opportunity for a quick swim in hot weather. McHenry itself offers many opportunities to eat and drink. The village is very nice clean and many outdoor possibilities to eat and keep an eye on your bike.

The stretch of the McHenry / Illinois Prairie Trail Bergseen Richmond and Ringwood is a ver smooth cycling path on hard packed limestone. It is very suitable for road bikes, as well as gravel and MTB. I would highly recommend tyres with widths of =>28mm. The path is well kept, with the exception of within the city limits of Richmond. The trail is paved south of Ringwood all the way down to Oswego, IL with the exception of one or two small sections of hard packed roadbike suitable gravel. In Ringwood itself is a bar located directly on the trail with an outdoor terrace which makes it easy to for one to dine and drink, while being able to keep an eye on your bike.

This beautiful well packed and smooth cycle path on hard packed gravel is a joy, until one gets into the Richmond City Limits. It seems the city does not take very well care of their trail under their jurisdiction. The crossings are rough with some short cement edges and some metal objects sticking out. Look before you cross, as they can be rough. Richmond it self is a beautiful village with a very European touch to it. Filled with great restaurants and well preserved brick buildings.

A nicely hard packed gravel trail with a smooth surface for the most part, easily accessible and a lot of cyclists underway on this. This trail cuts through the Glacier Nature Park which one can see a lot of Eagles, Deer and many different species of birds.

This stretch of Harts Road in the Wildlife Zone is in much better shape than the rest of the road. The pavement is asphalt with a few blemishes here and there but easily rode with tyres => 28mm.