GITAP-2008

Photo by Jennifer Davis

Photo by Larry Varney

6^th annual Grand Illinois Trail and Parks bicycle tour
June 15-21, 2008

The Grand Illinois Trail And Parks (GITAP) ride welcomes you to bike through beautiful northern Illinois on its sixth annual week-long tour. This year's tour will take place mid-June, 2008 - from Sunday, June 15 to Saturday, June 21.

For GITAP-08 we're returning to one of the ride's favorite routes, although our start/finish location - near Dixon - is new. We'll ride prairie, hills, and Mississippi River shoreline through small towns and one large one - the Quad Cities - using a mixture of green trails and low-traffic roads (for the most part). We'll be overnighting at three superlative Illinois State Parks. The basic route covers about 300 miles, but added mileage extras will allow for as many as 550 miles for the week.

Our basics are:

• A mid-June week-long supported bicycle tour using much of the Grand Illinois Trail and a number of the state parks along it.
• Sponsored by the League of Illinois Bicyclists with support from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
• Tent camping in state parks, with a motel package available at additional cost. Showers and luggage transportation provided.
• Breakfasts and dinners included - and, of course, a T-shirt, emergency sag, bike repair, and refreshment stops when needed. (An optional jersey will be for sale.)
• Nightly meetings featuring ride info, occasional entertainment, and door prizes.
• Alternative on-pavement routes when soft trails are used.
• Velosophie: optional nightly discussions sponsored and led by the Illinois Humanities Council.

For 2008 we'll also have:

• The ride will begin on Sunday, June 15, 2008, and end on Saturday, June 21.
• We'll begin and end just south of Dixon, Illinois, at Sauk Valley Community College.
• Our loop will feature quiet roads through northwestern Illinois, the entire Great River Trail along the Mississippi River, and portions of the Hennepin Canal Trail.
• You'll have many route choices: bike anywhere from 300 to 550 miles during the week. An extra loop almost every day!
• We'll be overnighting on a bluff overlooking the charming Rock River at Lowden State Park, enjoying the scenic Mississippi River environment at its finest for two days at Mississippi Palisades State Park (including an extra-mileage route to Galena), and ending the week at serene Morrison/Rockwood State Park.
• We'll have a "day off" at Rock Island's Augustana College, with all of the Quad Cities' trails and bicycle-friendly streets to explore - along with an optional century loop through classic small town America. (Note: We will be using a quieter location on Augie's campus this year.)
• Campfires, sing-alongs, some-mores, photo contest, and more.

Here's the tentative route:

Su, 06-15: Start at Dixon's Sauk Valley Community College to Lowden State Park - 30 or 60 miles
M, 06-16: to Mississippi Palisades State Park - 65 or 85 miles
T, 06-17: loops from Mississippi Palisades State Park - 35 or 85 miles
W, 06-18: to Rock Island's Augustana College - 65 or 95 miles
Th, 06-19: Day off at Augie - Take a day off, bike your choice of the trails and locations in the Quad Cities, or do the Small Town Century - 0 to 100 miles
F, 06-20: to Morrison/Rockwood State Park - 70 or 95 miles
Sa, 06-21: To Sauk Valley Community College, Dixon - 30 miles

Note: We stay within the parameters of the Grand Illinois Trail, using as much of it as possible, but much of this year's route will be on roads. However on Wednesday most of the ride is on the Great River Trail, and on Friday we will use a part of the Hennepin Canal Trail.

Additional Information about GITAP-08:

The base price for the ride will be $375.

We'll also have an "early planning rate" of $365 - for registrations mailed by April 1. A late rate of $400 will go into effect on June 1.

Members of LIB will get a $20 discount, paying $355 (if you're unsure about your status, e-mail lib@bikelib.org). Special rates for younger riders: 15 to 12 year-old: $280; 11 and younger: $185.

Special group incentive for bike clubs: For every bike club with 5 members on GITAP, 5% of their GITAP registration fees will be added to that club's annual contribution to LIB. Each additional rider from that club will add 5% more to the club's contribution.

Remember, any profit from GITAP goes to support LIB, which really means supporting bicycling. LIB is Illinois' statewide bike advocacy organization.

Those interested in the motel package should check the box on the registration form to receive information about the package.

Our master sports masseuse, Glen Morey, will be offering a number of camp services including tent, towel, chair, and luggage services. Contact through http://www.eventsbikerideservices.com/.

Registration is first-come, first-served with a limit of 160 riders. We're asking for the full amount up front, with refunds according to this schedule: full refund before April 15; half refund before May 15; no refunds after May 15.

For reviews and pictures of the first five GITAPs, go to http://www.bikelib.org/gitap.

So, if you want to join this grand outdoor bicycling adventure, do one of the following:

1. To print a registration form and mail your payment, click this link. (This registration form uses the free Adobe Acrobat^® reader.)
1. Complete the form, remembering to sign the waiver.
2. Mail the registration form and the total of your registration fees to GITAP, Chuck Oestreich, 816 - 22^nd St, Rock Island, IL  61201. Make the check payable to "League of Illinois Bicyclists".
2. For online registration with electronic payment (including an extra fee to Active.com) go to Active.com, http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1495863.

After May 15, 2008, fees are not refundable. But your registration will be transferable. If we meet our limit and have a waiting list of potential riders, we will help you if you need to transfer your registration.

Any questions:

Chuck at oestreich@qconline.com or 309-788-1845.