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Midwest Trips and Rides

north branch trail winter

Late Winter on Chicago’s North Branch Trail

When something sits in front of you every day, it can be easy to forget it’s there at all. On the Northwest Side of Chicago, we have the North Branch Trail, and I am often surprised by how few people have been on it, or ridden its entire length. Some don’t even know about it. … Read more

Categories Biking, Midwest Trips and Rides, The Microescape
brompton day trip

Nature & Industry: Wolf Lake Brompton Day Trip

I’ve been fascinated by Wolf Lake since I was a teenager, but — incredibly — I never visited it until this year. The lake straddles the Illinois-Indiana border, and the tollroad to Indiana Dunes bisects it, offering tantalizing views of wildlife, nature and fishermen on the west side, and massive industry to the east. The … Read more

Categories Biking, Midwest Trips and Rides, The Microescape
long bike rides near Chicago

Best Long Bike Rides Near Chicago

There’s always the North Branch Trail or the Lakefront, and sometimes the Des Plaines River Trail (when not flooded). But maybe you’ve ridden those, and you want something else. Here are some of our best suggestions for best long bike rides near Chicago, plus several loop trails of 10 miles or more located within a … Read more

Categories Biking, Midwest Trips and Rides, The Microescape
Hikes with challenging climbs near chicago

8 Great Hikes With Challenging Climbs Near Chicago

OK, so maybe Chicago doesn’t offer many climbing opportunities right out of your front door. Illinois is the second flattest state in the union (trailing only Florida), therefore you may have to be willing to travel a bit if you want to climb anything other than the steps of the Sears Tower (I’m a lifelong … Read more

Categories Uncategorized, Hiking, Midwest Trips and Rides, The Microescape
Brompton camping trip

Solo Brompton Camping Trip at Bullfrog Lake

For months, I’ve fantasized about doing a quick, minimalist solo Brompton camping trip. After all, what more perfect tool for a quick getaway than this stealthy, compact, uncluttered folding bike, with neatly fitted self-contained luggage options? What could be simpler? Pack a bag, hop a train, find a stop with good biking access to some … Read more

Categories Biking, Camping, Midwest Trips and Rides, The Microescape
GRT bike overnight

Great River Trail Bike Overnight

Bike overnight camping trips have several advantages over epic treks. You can do them virtually on the spur of the moment with little or no planning if you happen to find yourself with a couple of free days. Carrying and preparing food for a trip lasting not much longer than 24 hour is vastly simplified. … Read more

Categories Camping, Biking, Midwest Trips and Rides, The Microescape
best tent camping around chicago

7 Tent Camping Locations Around Chicago To Try This Fall

We love tent camping, especially in the Fall!! And we love finding places to camp that are a little off the beaten path and away from crowds. The best known camping areas around Chicago tend to be dominated by busy, RV-accessible parks. As tent camping enthusiasts, each year we set out to explore campgrounds that … Read more

Categories Camping, Midwest Trips and Rides, The Microescape

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This blog is an online journal of Cosmic Bikes, an independent bicycle shop in Chicago. In addition to product links that may take you to our own website, I’ve partnered with a network of companies whose products we love and use in order to refer those products through our blog. If you purchase the product through the link I provide, I may earn a small commission, which does not affect the price that you pay (more here).

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