Hey, looking to ride from the city to Elgin and back this weekend. How is the prarie path right now? has the warmth/sun/wind dried it out, or is it a mud pit? Would be on a road bike with 32's and fenders. Thanks!
Posted Mar 5, 2020, 4:49 PM UTC · edited
Can only speak to a small part out your way. Work out in St Charles (metra in and out and take the path around the West Chicago stop).
Around there it’s currently dependent on temperature. Mornings when it’s still a bit cooler, the trail is alright, if not just a bit rutted from trucks passing through.
But toward the evening after everything has a chance to warm up, the dirt stretches are beach-esque. Not impassable on 32s (and fenders for sure a good bet) but you’d be just as well jumping on the road right now.
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Icy patches and muddy per my friends who were on it this past weekend. Don't know what it looks like today.
Thanks for the heads up! I'm hoping the relatively nice weather this week has improved the condition because doing 80 miles in that sounds pretty miserable. Especially if it has also rutted.