Meet at 9:00 am in Pecatonica American Legion Post 197 parking lot, 403 Main St., Pecatonica, IL. Pecatonica is NW of Rockford and about a 90-min drive from St. Charles.
This is a 40-mile intermediate gravel ride in with 2100 ft. elevation on mostly gravel roads (65%), some country roads (35%) and hilly terrain. This is a NO DROP ride with an expected overall average pace of 12-14+ mph. We are using the Freeport Bicycle Company's Frostbite 40 route but added a rest stop at mile 17. Recommend gravel, road or hybrid bikes with a minimum of 32MM gravel tires. Fall is the perfect time to ride gravel! Not too hot, ground is hard, gravel is fairly worn down. Layer up for the wind and cooler temps, but be ready to peel off after you get warmed up.
Post-ride lunch at Pecatonica Brewery. ROUTE