Southern Illinois Cycling...

[Shawn Gossman]

In your opinion, what is the one thing that would make Southern Illinois better for cycling?

If you could add or change one thing to make cycling better in this region, what would it be?

 

[Rom]

More bike infrastructure, bike rentals (especially in the vienna/tunnel hill area), people organizing/attending group rides for newer riders/people not wanting to ride 20+ mph. My wife leads the C group from BS-carterville, and that group is regularly growing with new riders. She and Trish work to help get people comfortable in groups, riding pacelines, and in general gaining confidence on the bike.

Many of the people have never ridden 15 miles, then they go out with the group, get chatting, learn to draft and 15 is done before they know it. I hear it every week.

EDIT: Lastly, ladies in cycling. We have a lot of lady cyclists in the area (I see them all the time), and we need to find a way to draw them to these rides to grow the community.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

More bike infrastructure, bike rentals (especially in the vienna/tunnel hill area), people organizing/attending group rides for newer riders/people not wanting to ride 20+ mph. My wife leads the C group from BS-carterville, and that group is regularly growing with new riders. She and Trish work to help get people comfortable in groups, riding pacelines, and in general gaining confidence on the bike.

Many of the people have never ridden 15 miles, then they go out with the group, get chatting, learn to draft and 15 is done before they know it. I hear it every week.

EDIT: Lastly, ladies in cycling. We have a lot of lady cyclists in the area (I see them all the time), and we need to find a way to draw them to these rides to grow the community.

I love all of your suggestions!

I do think we're starting to see some infrastructure improvements in the bigger cities in Southern Illinois.

Bike rentals would be a great idea! If I could afford to get into that, I definitely would.

 

[Rom]

yea just setting up a building that rents ebikes there in vienna would probably do okay

 

[Shawn Gossman]

yea just setting up a building that rents ebikes there in vienna would probably do okay

I agree. E-Bikes and even regular bikes. There is an old gas station across the street from Ned's Shed. If I had that and the capital, I'd be a bike shop + rental shop right there. I'd restore it to make it look like it did as a gas station, too. Maybe put a couple of air tanks where the pumps would have been.

I think that would make people stop for sightseeing and if they're into cycling or want to ride the trail, I have them there already.

 

[Wade]

Less humidity.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Less humidity.

Yeah. Here lately, that's for sure!

 

[Rom]

Yeah. Here lately, that's for sure!

im ready for this heat wave to be over

 

[Shawn Gossman]

im ready for this heat wave to be over

Should be by the late week.

Yesterday's ride wasn't too bad though. But I constantly had to wipe sweat from my face. Good seeing you!

 

[Rom]

Should be by the late week.

Yesterday's ride wasn't too bad though. But I constantly had to wipe sweat from my face. Good seeing you!

You too buddy, but all that being said. Paducah isn't that much closer than Carterville, you should come up and do the Saturday morning rides.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

You too buddy, but all that being said. Paducah isn't that much closer than Carterville, you should come up and do the Saturday morning rides.

Me and wife like to spend the weekends together, so I rarely do bike stuff then. I do need to get over there and MTB at Touch some more.