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TRI-STATE TOUR
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BICYCLE ILLINOIS
Updates


Updates for the 2009 Season

11/19/2008

  • The Free Trolley Service in Chicago has been discontinued by the City of Chicago.
  • Events Bike Ride Services is now offering bicycle detailing service! Click Here for more information.

11/15/2008

We are pleased to announce that we now will be staying the first night in Cairo instead of Carbondale!

  • A new web page with the facilities and services in Cairo has been added. Click Here for more information.
    • Dinner in Cairo will be from a local mom and pop barbeque joint!
    • You will need you arrive at the start of the event more prepared. Many services and facilities available in other stopping towns will either be limited or not available in Cairo.
    • Room blocks will not be available, you will need to call for the best rate. We recommend calling early due to potential availability issues from other participants or anyone else.
  • A new daily itinerary web page has been added for the Saturday arrival in Cairo. Click Here for more information.
  • The Cairo to Carbondale ride itinerary and all related route has been updated. Click Here for more information.
    • We will now be able to depart Cairo at our normal group departure time of 6:30 am. We will no longer have a late start out of Cairo!
      • You will have significantly more time to compete the ride from Cairo to Carbondale
        • The possibility that you will not be able to complete the ride from Cairo to Carbondale is significantly reduced.
      • The ride will be safer because there will be less liklihood of heat related medical paroblems. You will be able to depart Cairo much earlier before it gets hot.
      • Lunch will be served at our rest stop in Giant City, but at a much earlier relative time in the day.
      • You will have much more time to do whatever you want after you arrive in Carbondale
    • New ride segments have been added from our new supported hotel and main lodging site in Cairo to the southern tip of Illinois and the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
      • These new ride segments are through flat ground.
      • Bathrooms will now be available directly at the start in Cairo
      • If you depart from the Cairo main lodging site the new ride segment is only 8.5 miles long and adds on only 4.7 miles to the route for a new minimum ride distance is 70.2 miles.
      • If you depart from the Cairo supported hotel the new ride segment is only 10.3 miles long and adds on only 6.5 miles to the route for a minimum ride distance of 72.0 miles.
    • The ride segment from Cairo to Ullin, one of the longest of the event, has been decreased by 3.8 miles from 23.1 to 19.3 miles.
    • The entire ride from Cairo to Carbondale has become easier on the most "intense" day!
      • An additional rest stop has been added at the Cairo main lodging site on the way out of Cairo to accomodate the new ride segments.
      • The average ride segment distance has decreased
        • If you do not do the century option, the average ride segment distance from Cairo to Carbondale has decreased by 2.5 miles from 16.3 miles to 13.8 miles.
        • If you do the century option, the average ride segment distance has decreased by 3.6 miles from 18.0 miles to 14.4 miles
      • The century ride has also become easier on the most "intense" day!
        • The century loop has been decreased by 8.6 miles from 26.4 to 18.8 miles.
        • The minimum length of the century ride has also been decreased by 2.9 miles from 102.9 miles to exactly 100.0 miles!
    • Many of our transportation services have been modified. Click Here for more information about transportation services.
      • All transportation services before the start of the event will now all go all the way to Cairo.
        • You will not need to get to the main lodging site or supported hotel from the Amtrak train station in Carbondale.
        • We will not have to reload and unpack bicycles in Carbondale and Cairo on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
      • Our transportation service from Carbondale to Cairo will now be on Saturday afternoon. We will no longer transport any participants to Cairo from Carbondale on Sunday morning. We will no longer need to:
        • Load the charter school bus at the Carbondale main lodging site
        • Load bicycles and participants at the Carbondale supported hotel
        • Transport all participants and their bicycles to Cairo from Carbondale
        • Unload all participants and their bicycles in Cairo
        • Get a rest stop set up in Cairo
        • Have you bring your floor pump with you to the start in Cairo
        • Return your floor pump to the main lodging site or supported hotel in Carbondale
  • The information for all appropriate facilities and services in Carbondale has been modified on the Carbondale web page and in-town map to reflect the fact that we won't be staying in Carbondale on Saturday any more. Click Here for more information on the facilities and services in Carbondale.
    • The Carbondale hotel room block has been modified. The room block for Sat. July 11th has been dropped and the reservation cut-off date has been changed to July 12th.
  • The cue numbers of all in-town maps have been changed.
  • The route profile data for the entire event has been updated. Click Here for more information.

11/7/2008

  • In-town mileages and in-town cue sheets and maps updated in Champaign and Kankakee
  • Champaign to Kankakee ride segment data updated for Champaign Main Lodging to Rantoul, Ashkum to Kankakee Main Lodging, and Kankakee Main Lodging to Kankakee Hotel
  • Kankakee to Chicago ride segment data updated for Kankakee Main Lodging to Peotone
  • Cumulative mileage information added for lunch stop locations under the individual daily ride itinerary pages
  • Effingham to Champaign ride segment data updated for Pesotum to Champaign non-century and century rides and Champaign Main Lodging to Champaign Hotel
  • Site maps posted for all main lodging sites under the individual stopping town pages

11/6/2008

  • Construction on the main lodging site in Champaign is complete. The swimming pool will now be available directly there. Click Here for more information.

8/28/2008

  • If you need to transport yourself and your bike and baggage between the Amtrak Train and Greyhound Bus Station, long term parking, main lodging site, and/or supported hotel in Champaign we strongly recommend considering using the local bus service. Click Here for more information.

8/23/2008

  • Events Bike Ride Services can shuttle you, your bike, and your baggage within each stopping town. This is perfect if you have a change of plans and decide to stay in our supported hotel after you arrive or if need help getting to or from the Amtrak train station if you are doing a partial day trip. Click Here for more information.

8/20/2008

  • The supported cycling routes from both the main lodging site and supported hotel to all other supported services and facilities in each stopping town have been posted on the satellite imagery overlays.
  • The in town cue sheet(s) and map for each stopping town has been posted under the specific stopping town information.
  • The long term parking location in every nightly stopping town except Chicago has been changed to be either directly at or very close to the Amtrak train station because our primary means of transportation between every stopping town is the Amtrak train. Click Here for much more information.
  • There will be a fee of $2.00 per day for long term parking at the Carbondale Amtrak train station. You will need to pay for all of the days in advance while the station is open and post your receipt in the window of your vehicle so you do not get ticketed or towed.
  • If fewer than 5 participants register for any specific transportation service they will carry their bicycle and baggage directly with them on the Amtrak train and we will not transport them on a separate moving truck because each Amtrak train can accommodate up to 4 bicycles. We will only transport your bicycle and bags on a separate moving truck if 5 or more participants register for the transportation service on any specific date.
  • In order to ensure the timely arrival of the moving truck from Chicago to Carbondale and Cairo by not having to stop along the way, if you register for a transportation service mid-route pick up or drop off we may have you carry your bicycle and baggage directly on the Amtrak train with you and we may not transport them on a separate moving truck because the Amtrak train can accommodate up to 4 bicycles on each train.
  • If fewer than 20 participants register for any specific transportation service, you will receive an individual train ticket. If 20 or more participants register for any specific transportation service, we will travel as a single group and Amtrak requires that there be only one ticket for everyone as a group and you will not receive an individual train ticket.
  • Some of the Amtrak train schedules between Chicago and Carbondale have changed. For the most current train schedules between Chicago and Carbondale Click Here to access Amtrak's "Illinois Service" web page and click on "Chicago - Carbondale" under "Schedules".
  • Amtrak has moved the schedule of the "Saluki" Amtrak train we use for our transportation service one hour earlier. The train now departs Chicago at 8:15 am and arrives in Carbondale at 1:45 pm. Accordingly, all times related to our transportation service have also been moved up one hour. Baggage and bicycle loading for the Transportation Service to Carbondale and Cairo Before the Start of the Event will now begin at 5:00 am, and baggage and bicycle loading for the Transportation from Chicago After the End of the Event will now begin at 6:30 am.
  • A shower will be available directly at the ending location in Chicago but it is a public, open air shower used for rinsing off after going swimming and not a private, enclosed shower. You will only be able to rinse yourself off however and not bathe nude.
  • Parking at the ending location in Chicago will only be allowed while you are immediately loading your bike and baggage and you will not be able to park there for any extended amount of time.
  • Please be aware that bicycles are not allowed on any Metra train at any time during some major summer events in Chicago. Please check Metra's web site to check if the date restrictions for the current year may affect your arrival and/or departure plans if you are planning on taking your bicycle on a Metra train. Click Here for more information.
  • Information about local bus service has been added to the information about each stopping town where it is available.
  • Registration for non-riding participants has been added. If you have friends or family who want to travel with you during the event but will not actually be riding a bicycle they must still register for the event. The registration fee for non-riders will be 50% of the regular registration fee. All other registration policies, procedures and fees will be the same for non-riders including late fees and fees for all extra services and merchandise.
  • The registraton fee has increased to $599.00 from $549.00, the fee for the Transportation Service to Carbondale and Cairo Before the Start of the Event has increased to $99.00 from $95.00, and the fee for the Transportation Service from Chicago After the End of the Event has increased to $135.00 from $115.00 to cover significantly rising food and fuel prices.
  • If you prefer not to eat the box lunches, you can opt out of them for the entire event and deduct $6.25 per day from your registration fees.
  • Box lunches for the Tri-State Tour #1 will be available exclusively to participants of Bicycle Illinois for a 35% discount from the regular price when you initially register!
  • Future event dates changed. Bicycle Illinois will no longer occur on the 4th of July holiday.
  • Bicycle Illinois will occur on July 11th - 18th, 2009 and the Tri-State Tour #1 will occur on Sat. July 18th, 2009. All date related information has been updated.

Major Updates for the 2008 Season

  • The Chicago long term parking site and transportation service staging point Saturday morning to Carbondale and Cairo before the start of the event has been changed to the following location:

    CPS Parking Garage
    1301 W. Madison St.
    Chicago, IL 60607
    (312) 415-7410

  • We will have a final get together at Oliver's Bar and Grill at the Quality Inn and Suites in Kankakee from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Come join us to celebrate the completion of the century ride and our last night together. You will be able to ride the trolley bus back to the main lodging site instead of biking there after sunset.
  • Our new Bicycle Illinois flyer has been posted! Click Here to download it in.pdf Adobe Acrobat format (10 MB file size)
  • In town cue sheets and maps for Hammond will be available for participants continuing on the Tri-State Tour.
  • Elevation and gross climb profiles added for every potential ride.
  • Showers at Daley Bicentennial Plaza in Chicago removed.
  • Kankakee to Chicago rest stop 2 changed from Matteson Woodgate Park to Matteson Allemong Park
  • New dinner locations announced for Carbondale and Effingham.
  • Procedures for bicycle shipments from the Chicago bike shop updated.
  • Pictures of all rest stop and in town facilities and service locations posted.
  • Long term parking sign posted on internet. You will need to download this sign, fill in the appropriate information, and leave it in plain view on your dashboard or windshield if you plan on parking your car long term in any stopping town. Click Here for more information about long term parking.
  • Our main lodging site in Champaign will be at the Activities and Recreation Center (formerly know as IMPE) directly on the U of I campus! We have changed most of the other facilties and services in Champaign to accomodate our new main lodging site location.
  • Participants staying at the supported hotels will have the continent breakfast provided at each supported hotel that starts at 6:00 am and begin riding directly from the supported hotel.
  • On road and in town cue sheets and maps will be available with directions directly to and from the supported hotel in each town.
  • The group departure for everyone has moved to 6:30 am from 6:00 am to accomodate participants staying in the supported hotel eating the continental breakfasts there. This applies both to participants staying at the main lodging site and to participants staying at the supported hotel. AS a result breakfast will be served at the main lodging site from 5:30 - 6:30 am and the baggage truck will depart the main lodging site at 6:00 am.
  • The ending location in Chicago has been changed to Northerly Island.
  • A century option will be available every day for both Bicycle Illinois and the Tri-State Tour! You'll have the option of cycling over 700 miles in 7 days! No other ride in the midwest even comes close to that amount of mileage!
  • Complete Bicycle Illinois web site update for 2008 season!

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