The Arlington Heights Bicycle Club has put on its “Arlington 500” invitational bike ride for many years, with many different locations. When I first rode one a couple of decades ago, it ran on the roads of the Barrington area including Barrington Hills.
Yes, the Arlington 500 hasn’t been in Arlington Heights in quite some time. The organizers have been choosing more open and scenic routes.
It was no different on June 1 this year, when the Arlington 500 started even farther north at Lake Zurich High School. Organizers offered five loops of 20-23 miles with one shorter one at about 15, all starting and ending at the high school, so the club needed to set up only one rest stop and riders could pick and choose their total distance by accumulating loops.
The loops were programmed into the Ride with GPS app, and little color-coded signs with arrows were thoroughly placed throughout, including before and after turns and maybe along straight stretches so you knew you were on the right track. The ride went as far south as Hillside Avenue and Road through Barrington, as far north as Wauconda around Bangs Lake, as far west as Kelsey Road by Lake Barrington, and as far east as Kildeer past Quentin Road.
The routes often cut through spacious neighborhoods before you had to ride on main roads like Long Grove Road, Cuba Road, Miller Road, Bonner Road and Fairfield Road. Sometimes there was tight traffic and busy intersections, and sometimes we had to dodge bumps and potholes. We were on the Quentin Road trail for a short stretch, and maybe Quentin and Cuba was the toughest crossing.
But overall the organizers had the right idea. They chose roads that Lake County road cyclists typically seek out, including long back roads with smooth peaceful stretches, and they showed their knowledge of intricate, quiet neighborhood roads that could get us out of traffic and across the area.
Then the rest stop was well-stocked. We had the usual fruit and nut offerings, pickles and cookies, as well as premade PB&J, and the crew was well ready with Gatorade and water. Then toward lunchtime, they brought out the really good stuff: sandwiches with ham or turkey (including lettuce and tomato), pizza and even jumbo hot dogs from CostCo.
I heard about 400 people registered for the ride. The rest stop had plenty available for everyone, including the serious lunch offerings.
“Gary Bicycles” above relays this history of the Arlington 500: “The first 500 originated around 1978 and was known as the Arlington Adventure. Over the years the starting point was Recreation Park in Arlington Heights, Frontier Park, Fremd High School, Wheeling High School, Barrington High School, and Lake Zurich High School.”
For the 2025 edition, we were lucky to get a sunny day with light wind if a little cool. Just as important, the Arlington Heights Bicycle Club is well-versed in putting on a ride.
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