While the Midwest has it’s ups and downs, it is not where I want to be. I'm not alone either, as the Illinois population dropped by 45k last year - the fifth straight year of population decline. Below are my thoughts at various times over the last 10 months, in no particular order.
Back-roads of the Heartland
It’s been a long time since I’ve explored anything new. School, work, and a student budget can be pretty limiting, but that chapter is over. It is the end of an era; r.i.p. Ole Miss Cycling. But, the next chapter is just beginning.
I don’t think Indiana is on anyone’s riding list, for good reason, but since I’m here, the chance to explore new roads is enticing nonetheless. The first thing (and sometimes the only thing) one notices in Indiana is the corn. It’s everywhere. Every somewhat level patch of ground is planted with corn, or soybeans. But between the amber waves of grain, are beautiful hardwoods, and if you’re lucky, you can find a swooping descent on a tree-lined road that dips down to a creek before climbing up the next hill. Other roads gain elevation imperceptibly, like 200 feet in 20 miles, until you near the top where you can see for miles – endless rows of corn and trees in the distance. Taking a detour off of a busy highway, I wound up on seldom-traveled gravel roads that create a grid through the maize (pun intended). I was reminded what it’s like to ride through the back-country, miles from civilization. To see a path unfold for the first time. Where the destination is not the same as the start. I was reminded of adventure.
Ready for Change
I realized the other day that I haven’t ridden the single speed since last July. I’ve ridden trails eight times in the last eight months. It was a sad moment, but the Inbred is patiently waiting in storage while I’m working “on the road” in the Midwest. I wasn’t looking forward to coming here, but it was a good opportunity to make some money and to get “on my feet” so to speak. I’ve reached that point and beyond, and my reasons for staying here are dwindling. I’ve built an emergency fund, fixed my car, and saved up to cover my next move and job search. Even though the work is fine, this job won’t work out in the long run, and it’s not advancing my career. It’s scheduled to finish at the end of March but will likely get extended. By how much will determine whether or not I stick around. I’d like to see the job through, but I’m itching to move back south and get on with my career (and life). Even so, I’m glad to have experienced the Midwest, it was something new and different, if a bit bland. I can say with certainty it is not where I want to live, though I’ve only seen a small part.
Terre Haute, IN
While the country side is decent enough, Terre Haute is not. Maybe it’s a lack of parks, trails, and forests. Maybe it’s a lack of culture. Maybe it’s the evenly spaced grid of shitty, narrow roads with no sidewalks and no shoulder. The city may as well be gray. The trees aren’t quite as green as the Deep South. When I leave I don’t want to be reminded of this place.
Peoria, IL
Peoria is almost ok. It would be if it weren’t for the crappy weather and roads. The road riding is decent out of town and there are several trail systems nearby. The problem with road riding is getting out of the sprawl zone. The city is made up of a grid of 4-lane, 40+ mph streets with very few secondary, connecting roads. What’s worse is that nearly every expansion joint has pot holes big enough to destroy a bike wheel. A full suspension mountain bike isn’t overkill. Additionally, many drivers think bikes don’t belong in the road and will honk and/or angrily yell explicatives to get on the sidewalk. I’m sure the trails are a blast in the summer. I only got a few rides in before the first snow. A fat bike would be fun for the first part of winter, but once the freeze-thaw cycles starts, all packed snow turns to ice. One thing the city does have going for it is a nice rail-trail that runs from the north side of town all the way to downtown. Unfortunately it is not maintained in winter. There are a few attempts at building separated bike lanes, but they’re basically just big sidewalks and don’t alleviate any of the issues associated with riding on regular sidewalks. Other than that, the bars/restaurants are good, there are lots of parks and short hiking trails, and the geography is pretty cool if you know where to look.
-Update: It’s mid-May, there was a brief period where the trails were in fantastic shape, but the constant rain has been a real buzz-kill. It’s bad enough putting up with a shitty winter, but a shitty spring/summer is no better. I can’t wait to get the hell out of here.
Conclusion
It seems ironic that Terre Haute has a much better cycling scene than Peoria even though it’s less than half the size. The few group rides I’ve seen advertised around Peoria are 15-17 mph, ~20 miles. I suppose I could’ve ridden my mountain bike with them. There are at least four groups in Peoria, but two are more of advocacy groups, while the other two only have short, slow rides occasionally. In contrast, the bike shop in Terre Haute has a very active club, hosting social events, races, and regular gravel, trail, and road rides. They even had a few events in the winter. In addition, it’s much easier to get in/out of town, and there are a lot of options for road routes, even if they are mostly flat and straight.
I’ve been ready to move south for three months now. I was really counting on getting out of here in May to ramp up my training for the TNGA; now it’s looking like the end of June. July will be hot and sticky. I’m not sure my training will be where it needs to be, especially with a serious lack of trail time.
