Join us June 7 -12, for our 18th annual Grand Illinois Bike Tour! Our 2020 loop will tour the Trails of Madison County, on the Illinois side of the St. Louis area. We will start and stop in Litchfield, with overnights in Lebanon (one night), Edwardsville and Godfrey/Alton (two nights each). Join us and invite your cycling friends (non-riding volunteers needed too). Registration is now open.
The tour offers many options
Choose among our daily mileage options, with the total mileage ranging from 200 to 375 miles. Tour routes use quiet rural roads and 140+ miles on trails (almost all asphalt-surfaced) on old railroad corridors. Pick between our camping and hotel options. Each evening you will find good food and fellowship with riders hailing from around the country. Proceeds benefit Ride Illinois. A nonprofit bicycle advocacy organization, and support our mission to make Illinois a better, safer and more enjoyable place to ride.
Our fully supported tour basics:
Basic daily route distances between towns range from 45 to 52 miles. Longer route and layover day options are available. Routes are marked, and both cue sheets and RideWithGPS navigation are provided.
Campers will tent in parks and college grounds, with showering facilities on-site (four nights) or nearby via shuttle bus (one night). All breakfasts and dinners (10 meals in total) are included.
The hotel option, available for an additional fee, accommodates approximately 100 riders and sells out early. Nine meals (all breakfasts and four dinners) and evening receptions are included.
Luggage
Luggage transportation is provided in separate vehicles for campers and hoteliers.
Emergency SAG, refreshment stops, and t-shirt are included. Expert bike repair, as well as a professional massage, are available every day to hoteliers and campers, at the campsites. (In addition, other services are available including tent setup and takedown, towel and sherpa services.)
Nightly meetings include ride information and more.
Velosophie, an optional reading discussion group, meets before dinner each day. Join the fun after dinner at camp, as fellow riders play guitar and banjo.
The ride is limited to 250 riders. Registration is now open.
Registration will is available online as well as via a PDF that you can print and mail to Ride Illinois.
Why should you ride GIBT?
We will let some of the riders in this year’s GIBT answer that with their favorite parts of the ride:
- “I had a great time. The folks who do the ride were interesting and funny. I felt welcomed as a lone first-timer and really had a lot of fun.”
- “The routes were enjoyable and varied.”
- “This ride was perfect for me! The mileage options, camping, Velosophie, meals, layover days, and location = perfect!”
- “Great ride. Liked the small size.”