So far this season, you’ve ridden the lakefront trail from bottom to top countless times, been on an overnight to Starved Rock State Park, gotten dusty on the Des Plaines River trail, and stopped in Highland Park for coffee on a road ride, but have you gotten rad on a mountain bike lately? Chicago’s flat as a pancake grid of streets doesn’t scream out “MOUNTAIN BIKES,” but if you’re in the know, you can easily find some dirt to rip. Have you been by the shop lately and seen some wider than average Chicago tires? We’re keeping a selection of mountain bikes in stock to slake the thirst of folks who are looking to get a little more variety into their riding menu. The Honzo AL is a great bike to handle the local terrain, and we’re keeping a size run in stock.

Chicago’s closest local treasure is the trail system at Palos Forest Preserve in Willow Springs, IL. Palos offers a robust 50+ miles of singletrack and widetrack trails to explore. The area boasts elevation not seen in Chicago proper, which means you’ll be climbing and descending on tight twisty sections, hammering up long rolling widetrack, and navigating rocky technical sections. Your guide to adventure comes from the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers at CAMBr.org, where you can find trail maps, conditions, directions, and more. Also check out the mountain biking at Kettle Moraine in Wisconsin!

Be sure and check the trail conditions before heading out, as riding on a muddy trail can damage them and make the trails unusable for others.

Palos2010Map