Bike Menard County

Wondering where to ride in Menard County? There are miles and miles of country roads in Menard County where automobile traffic is low, and if you’re cautious, can be safe to ride. If hills have discouraged you from riding, there are some relatively flat country roads and smaller hills that are perfect for training rides in Menard County. Below are couple routes that begin at the PORTA High School parking lot.

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This route goes past Oakland Cemetery and around Lake Petersburg to New Salem State Historic Site.

This route goes through Atterberry and uses some lightly travelled, relatively flat country roads to loop back towards the Menard County Fairgrounds.

Here’s a link to the Atterberry route on ridewithgps.com.
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/16822497

Looking for other routes in Menard County? Go to ridewithgps.com and create an account. At the top of the home page, click on “find.” Fill in the boxes under “find a route,” such as “starts within 10 miles of Petersburg, Illinois”.  Multiple area routes with cuesheets (turn-by-turn directions) are available and can be printed or downloaded to a smartphone or Garmin. If you ride in Menard County, please save your routes and make them public.

Some precautions are always in order for solo biking:

• Wear a helmet and bright clothing.
• Use blinking taillights and preferably front-facing daytime running lights to increase visibility.
• Always take water and some snacks with you.
• Make sure someone knows you’re going for a ride and share your location with someone through Google or another app if possible.

Choosing a Bike

For riding in Menard County, most people start with a hybrid bike or road bike. Hybrid bikes have flat handlebars and wider tires and can be used around town and for commuting. Road bikes have dropped handlebars and skinnier tires and are generally preferred by riders who plan to go further than those on hybrid bikes or feel a need for speed. Both types offer lots of gears for biking up hills. Entry-level bike frames are composed of light-weight aluminum or steel and often have a carbon fiber fork to help with shock absorption.

The brand and type of bike isn’t nearly as important as the fit. Bike shop staff are great at helping customers find the right bike and making sure it’s the right size for the rider. Some simple adjustments like making sure the saddle is at the right height and shortening or lengthening the reach from the saddle to the handlebars can help reduce injuries and increase comfort. Some shops also have a limited inventory of used bikes.

Shop around. The right bike is the one that feels best to you. Don’t forget to ask about accessories like helmets, lights, small cargo bag, spare tubes and tools to change a flat.

Discover (or rediscover) the joy of cycling and enjoy the outdoors!

Area cyclists post routes on websites that also have free apps like ridewithgps.com and strava.com.