Moving to Oswego, IL from Pacific NW, And Decent Riding Roads?

[2001f4s]

Moving to Oswego, IL.  How far do I have to ride to find a decent riding road, SW Wisconsin?
I am not looking forward to riding in a straight line all the time.
Any help would be appreciated.

[FlowBee]

Uh...er ... um...    yeah.   Good luck.  

Any really decent riding roads are 2+ hours away from Oswego.     Mississippi river valley, southern Wisconsin, southern Illinois.  

Chicago was built on a swamp, then a grid was laid over it. The area is very flat overall, hence the popularity of cruisers in the midwest.  There are some mildly interesting country roads along the river valleys in the area, but nothing particularly inspiring or challenging.

Sorry.

[mxvet57]

Moving to Oswego, IL.  

Why??

[Capirex]

Why??

+1
Stay in the PNW and thank us later.

[Fourstring]

Such negativity!    

There are some decent spots, but you won't trip over them like in PNW.

Starved Rock by Utica is pretty decent, as is Kettle Moraine in southern Wisconsin.  Quite a few roads out to Galena can scrape your pegs as well.
I've also found some pretty good B roads west of Peoria.  The Great River Road is full of fast sweepers all the way from Peoria to St. Louis, and traffic is nil.  And hey, it ends up in Grafton at the bluffs!

There are good roads out here, but you have to reset your thinking to a midwest style of riding.  It's more about fast sweeping roads than short twisty mountain switchbacks.

[FlowBee]

Google Maps:
Oswego to Starved Rock:  45.9 mi – about 1 hour 9 mins
Oswego to Peoria:  142 mi – about 2 hours 33 mins
Oswego to Galena, IL:  151 mi – about 2 hours 53 mins
Oswego to Lake Geneva, WI:  71.4 mi – about 1 hour 46 mins
Oswego to Carbondale, IL:   336 mi – about 5 hours 49 mins

You could do what the squids do and ride Bluff Rd in Lemont. Back and forth, back and forth, back ...

[mxvet57]

You could do what the squids do and ride Bluff Rd in Lemont. Back and forth, back and forth, back ...

i didn't know about that road. but then agan i'm no squid.

[DavidLSI]

Google Maps:
Oswego to Starved Rock:  45.9 mi – about 1 hour 9 mins
Oswego to Peoria:  142 mi – about 2 hours 33 mins
Oswego to Galena, IL:  151 mi – about 2 hours 53 mins
Oswego to Lake Geneva, WI:  71.4 mi – about 1 hour 46 mins
Oswego to Carbondale, IL:   336 mi – about 5 hours 49 mins

ZING.....

[evilmedic13]

There should be a house up for sale real soon! You don't drive an Expedition by chance too?

[Mookie]

You guys have some good race tracks nearby, no?

[forester]

Moving to Oswego, IL.  How far do I have to ride to find a decent riding road, SW Wisconsin?
I am not looking forward to riding in a straight line all the time.
Any help would be appreciated.

Man, f4s - I mean, seriously - I really don't enjoy being negative, but you are leaving one of the best riding areas in the country and entering probably the MOST BORING riding area in the entire country.  For crying out loud, even Nebraska has some scenery...You're really going to learn a whole new definition of sport TOURING to ride the decent roads...

On the bright side, Most Midwestern people are really friendly and some of the farmers daughters are hot!

[Mookie]

and they have gravy, lots and lots of gravy!

[tomek]

You guys have some good race tracks nearby, no?

Tracks ?? Yeah baby,,,There are 7 ( seven) race tracks within 200 mile ,,,,,,,,,,our roads do suck big time but if you are racetrack junkie this is the place.

Road America WI

Blackhawk Il

Autobahn Il ,2 racetracks there basically

Gingerman MI,

Grattan MI

Puttman IN

if you have time and money you can hit racetracks almost every weekend,,,,,,,,,,,

[2001f4s]

Thanks for the responses.  As you may have guessed, I am not moving in order to find better riding roads.  But it is sounding like riding in the mid-west is a bit less demanding (read fun) than where I am now.  I actually moved from the Bay Area to PNW.  There the roads were also great.  

Now I am starting to understand why I see so many Harleys in Ill.

Looks like I will be trading my Aprilia for a cage sooner than later.

[Murph]

I relocated to Chicagoland 2 years ago.  Let's just say that I put alot more miles on now .... because I have to pack bags to get anywhere that I would consider good riding.  Then again, I have come to learn the value of a casual ride and the value of taking in the scenery regardless of how mundane it may at first appear!    

Seriously, however, the move to this area has forced me to take my riding and mileage up a notch and to seek out destinations.  I think that is a good thing...or at least that's what I tell myself!  

[mxvet57]

 

Seriously, however, the move to this area has forced me to take my riding and mileage up a notch and to seek out destinations.  I think that is a good thing...or at least that's what I tell myself!  

 i try to tell my self the same thing to but it don't work.

[VIVID1]

All the good roads require an overnight stay in a motel room or tent

[jadziadax8]

I relocated to Chicagoland 2 years ago.  Let's just say that I put alot more miles on now .... because I have to pack bags to get anywhere that I would consider good riding.  Then again, I have come to learn the value of a casual ride and the value of taking in the scenery regardless of how mundane it may at first appear!    

You also learn to appreciate coffee and ice cream riding with the folks around here.

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

You also learn to appreciate coffee and ice cream riding with the folks around here.

   

[Grnarrowe]

Moving to Oswego, IL.  How far do I have to ride to find a decent riding road, SW Wisconsin?
I am not looking forward to riding in a straight line all the time.
Any help would be appreciated.

NO!! None here. We have to go to Wisconsin for good roads. Or ride 750 miles to TN/NC for really good roads. Besides, our Governor is a total TWIT!!