Vacationing – Suburban Chicago Bicycling

City street with parked cars, trees, and a digital parking sign in Messina, Italy.

August 7, 2026

Thrill and chill? What it’s like to ride in Sicily traffic (vs. Chicago, New York, Munich …)

The reputation of Italian drivers precedes them: fast, wild, no rules. Could they also possibly be … relaxed? And could bicycling in Italian traffic really be … fun?

Scenic forest road with tall trees and sunlight filtering through.

July 29, 2026

Destination roads: What’s worth the ride to find in the suburbs, and southern Illinois

Some great roads are kind of a secret; they may take a while to find on a bike. But they’re so worth it. There’s a good one in southern Illinois, but there are plenty in our suburbs, too.

A lush green forest trail with a "No Motorized Vehicles" sign and a paved bike path.

May 2, 2026

On the road in greater Atlanta: Stick to the trails, like the 61-mile Silver Comet

I discovered the sprawl of suburban Atlanta and its bike-unfriendly roads. But the area makes up for it with incredible trails like the Big Creek Greenway and Silver Comet Trail.

The bridge from downtown Clearwater to Clearwater Beach shows all the buildings, water and sun you can bicycle by — slowly or not.

February 10, 2026

Great winter getaway ride: Gulf Blvd. and the bridges around Clearwater, Florida

While scouting routes during my visits to the Clearwater area, I quickly discovered Gulf Blvd. on the map. It’s on a thin strip of land, really a few islands, providing Gulf and Tampa Bay views.

Looking down a road between rows of tall trees, pine trees on the right side.

July 29, 2025

Summer road trip: Endless options in the Northwoods of Wisconsin

Riding in the Northwoods of Wisconsin is like entering a different world. Up there is an endless supply of peaceful roads amid tall trees and small lakes, perfect for unwinding.

Looking down a curvy two-lane paved road with a shoulder through a forested area.

July 15, 2025

Vacation surprise: Great roads in Maryland southeast of D.C.

On a visit to a peninsula in eastern Maryland, I thought I would struggle to find comfortable roads to bicycle. It turns out the land southeast of Washington off Chesapeake Bay is full of pretty roads, whether you see water or not.

Looking at the downslope and upslope of a hairpin turn in a dry mountain range under a blue sky.

July 1, 2025

When I got to ride Tour de France routes (and another amazing one)

For my 50th birthday I got to ride a couple of the famous climbs of the Tour de France plus another neighboring mountain. Here’s what Tourmalet, Peyragudes and Tentes were like.

Two cyclists in tight coats are seen on a Grand Teton National Park road, with a few feet of snow and short pine trees on the sides, and a mountain seen in the backgraound under a hazy blue sky.

April 17, 2025

Vacation planning: Which national parks are really bike-friendly?

I know that Grand Teton is an awfully bike-friendly national park for vacationing bicyclists. What about the other ones? Here’s what I know so far from my visits.

Looking down a paved road with snow-capped mountains far in the background, snow-covered prairie on the sides.

April 16, 2025

Spring break: Why the Tetons are great for Chicago-area bicyclists

I just got back from Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming — a national park that accommodates bicyclists well. Is this the perfect national park for us Chicagoans?

Government sites:

Cook County bicycling

DuPage County bikeways and trails

Kane County DOT bicycle and pedestrian resources

McHenry County Conservation District bicycling

Lake County DOT non-motorized paths

Forest Preserve District of Will County biking

Click for this site's posts relevant to Cook, DuPage, Kane, McHenry, Lake or Will counties

Get the latest local news.

See a list of bicycling infrastructure construction.

Read about the bicycling infrastructure town by town.

Bicyclists ride down a tree and bush lined paved trail under sun and a blue sky.

Join a local bicycle club: Here's a list of them

The Schaumburg Bicycle Club, above, is just one of dozens that organize rides for various skill levels throughout the region. LOOK FOR A CLUB

Then see a calendar of organized rides.

Advocates, resources for Chicago-area bicycling

Ride Illinois
Active Transportation Alliance
Ralph Banasiak's bicycling column in the Daily Herald
Northwest Municipal Conference Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning
CMAP Walking and Biking
Safe Travel For All/Safe Streets For All/Safety Action Plans in Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Will County
Illinois Prairie Path
Friends of the Great Western Trails
Friends of the East Branch Trail
Friends of the Cal-Sag Trail
Chicago Area Mountain Bikers, or CAMBR
Streetsblog Chicago
Chicago Family Biking
Illinois Bike Trails Map
Illinois Bicycle Rules of the Road
IDOT Trails and Paths System
The League of American Bicyclists

Other great video resources

Virtual Cycling, a YouTube channel with long, soothing videos of rides on popular Chicago-area trails
Cynical Zombie, a YouTube channel loaded with guided videos of Chicago-area trails and rides
Dan Moroney, another YouTuber who makes professional-level videos of trails and trips
Virtual Transit, another YouTuber who videos bike trail rides (and highway drives)
Be Historic, featuring a video series in which a couple visit and explore all the sites of the disused stations and stops of the historic Chicago, Aurora, & Elgin electric railway by cycling the Illinois Prairie Path (including spurs) and Fox River Trail

Who am I and why did I make this website?

A cyclist in helmet and slightly shaded eyeglasses looks head-on into a selfie with a road through the forest behind him. — **Alas, here I am on a road not in the Chicago area but in Maryland.**

I'm Neil Holdway, a former Daily Herald editor who has liked to explore by bike since my childhood. Now I ride on trails and roads all over the vast Chicago area. I aim to help you discover them, too. I also want to highlight efforts to make bicycling easier here. LEARN MORE about me and this site. Also, EMAIL ME with thoughts and ideas.

I also dig ...

Hiking with Shawn, a southern Illinois blog that inspired this one
Unshakable Hiker, another inspiration from here in the suburbs
Suburb Talk, bits of good news in the northwest suburbs
Introvert, Dear, one site that has helped explain why I like it quiet
ACES: The Society for Editing, because I believe in quality writing and editing

I do not write or photograph with AI: I like to write myself and make my own pictures, and videos. And I edit my own work (or will have other humans do it). I've used AI so far only for alt-text on the images on this website. It's mostly accurate.

Join a local bicycle club: Here's a list of them

Know how to bike on the road? Take this quiz