Spooky Bike Ride to Sycamore Pumpkin Festival (Larry)
- October 28, 2012 · 10:00 AM
Don't put the bike away for the season just yet! Join us for a ride along the Great Western Trail for a visit to the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival. Our ride begins at the Great Western Trailhead in Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve in St Charles. From there, we will ride about 20 miles on the trail to the DeKalb County Courthouse in downtown Sycamore, where thousands of decorated pumpkins will be on display. http://www.sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/schedule.htm We will have lunch in Sycamore, with many food vendors at the Pumpkin Festival as well as a few restaurants to choose from. We will also be in Sycamore in time for the Pumpkin Festival Parade that starts at 1 PM. The Great Western Trail has a crushed limestone surface, so a bike with wider tires is recommended. We will also ride about 1 mile on roads as we enter the town of Sycamore. Total of about 40 miles for the ride. Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve is located on Dean Street on the west side of St Charles, about one-half mile west of Randall Road. The parking lot for the Great Western Trail is located on the left (south) side of the street if you are coming from Randall Road. Please plan to arrive by 10:00 AM. We will push-off promptly at 10:30 AM. 10:00 Gather at Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles 10:30 Depart for Sycamore 1:00 Arrive in Sycamore.... We will lock our bikes up by the post office.... In Sycamore.... Break off into groups for: Watching the parade (starts at 1:00), Lunch (local restaurants or booths at the festival--your choice), walk around the town square viewing the pumpkins.... 2:30 Gather at the post office and get ready to ride back to St. Charles 2:45 Ride back to St. Charles 5:30ish Arrive in St. Charles It usually takes longer to ride to Sycamore than it does to return due to winds.... The ride there is pretty much straight west (usually a headwind) and the return trip is pretty much straight east (usually a tailwind)....
Transportation/Parking
There is plenty of parking at Leroy Oakes....
Carpool
If you want to arrange carpools, post it in your RSVP or as a comment....
What You Should Bring
Bike (in good working order), Water or Gatorade, Helmet, Extra Inner Tube, Portable Air Pump (or CO2 cartridges), Tire Levers, Sunscreen, Lock (if stopping for lunch), Money (if stopping for lunch), Cell phone (recommended), Photo ID (recommended), Insurance Card (recommended), Munchies / Power Bars / Trail Mix (recommended for any long ride without a break for food.)
Waiver / Helmet Rule
All participants must sign a CBG waiver (one will be provided for you).... All riders must wear a helmet for the duration of the ride....
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Jim B.
Great ride and great group of people to ride with :) The Pumpkin Fest was a good place to stop. It was much bigger than I expected it to be. Thanks Larry for putting this together. Well organized. I hope to do this again next year.
October 29
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Larry G
Thanks to everyone for coming out and braving the weather.... (And it was MUCH better than last year's weather!!!!)
October 28
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Al
Today was a first class ride with a first class group of cyclists. Had a wonderful time on the ride and in Sycamore at the Pumpkin Fest. Well done, as always, Larry. Thank you!
October 28
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Nancy
Cold and windy! LOL It was a long ride for me but I had a great workout! Everyone was so nice and friendly! I had a chance to chat with some old friend and also met some new ones!!
October 28
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Bruce McConachie
We had a good day, the pumpkins were great, street food was good, nice group to ride with. Larry did a great job leading.
October 28
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Marcia
Sorry I can't make it this year! Hope you guys don't get last year's freezing rain back!
October 27
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Jim B.
Partly sunny with a high near 48, Woo Hoo!! Hey Al, make sure I get off in Sycamore. I don't want to end up in Iowa!...LOL...
October 27
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Bruce McConachie
City People, see what you think of this idea. Metra West line Sunday train leaves Ogilvie at 8:40 AM, arrives Geneva at 9:47 AM. I meet you at the station with van that carries 2 more bikes. We make it to start about 10:20 AM.
After the ride, we load the bikes and drive back to the city. I drop you off at home.
You need to find out train with bike procedures, ticket price.
If yes, let me know by Friday. Keep it simple, no Q&A, just yes or no.
October 25
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Jim B.
For those of you who feel that 40 miles might be too much for you, I have some information that could be helpful. I spoke to Betsy with the Kane County Forest Preserve [masked] and she said that there is public parking on Hanson Rd which is only about 0.5 mi. east of Rt.47. The trail is next to the parking lot. It looks like this may knock off about 15 miles.
October 25
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Jeff E
I rode this last year on my road bike without any issues whatsoever. Even in the rain and 30 mph wind on he ride back. LOL
October 24
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Joy
I'd love to join, but no longer have a car -- is anyone interested in giving me and my bike a ride in exchange for gas money and conversation? :-) I live in Chicago (Rogers Park).
October 12
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