GITAP-2007
Three Rivers Ride

5^th annual Grand Illinois Trail and Parks bicycle tour
June 17-23, 2007

GITAP 07 - Most Audacious Photo contest

The judges have met, conferred, and selected and here are the results of the GITAP 2007 Photo contest are here.

We're calling GITAP-07 the "Three Rivers Ride". Our loop will follow parts of the Illinois, Rock, and Fox Rivers, using trails and state parks along the rivers and little-used country roads for connectors. Our weeklong route has a minimum of 325 miles, but there will be many days when you'll be able to do a loop of extra mileage - 565 miles possible.

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 (sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council) will be with us again as an optional activity in the evenings. Read, think about, and discuss journey-related literature with a philosophical bent.

For 2007 we'll also have:

• The ride will begin on Sunday, June 17, 2007, and end on Saturday, June 23.
• We'll begin and end at Batavia, IL - right on the Fox River Trail.
• Our loop will feature the I & M Canal Trail, trails along the Rock River, the Prairie Trail, and the Fox River Trail.
• You'll have many route choices: bike anywhere from 325 to 565 miles during the week. An extra loop almost every day!
• New stops will be lovely Illini State Park, where we'll be camping near to the river, and Lowden State Park under the shadow of the majestic native American statue built by Larado Taft.

However we'll also visit favorites from the past: Starved Rock, Rock Cut, and Chain O'Lakes State Parks. We'll have a "day off" at Rock Cut, with the close-by city of Rockford yours to explore. Or do a century that includes the Jane Addams Trail near Freeport.

• The T-shirt this year will be redesigned - and bright!
• Campfires, sing-alongs, some-mores, photo contest, and more.
• "Give-aways" to all riders provided by our sponsors:
  

  Motor Tabs
  Sore No More

Here's the tentative route:
Day 1, Su, 06-17: to Illini State Park - 60 miles
Day 2, M, 06-18: to Starved Rock State Park - 35, 70, or 105 miles
Day 3, T, 06-19: to Lowden State Park - 75 or 90 miles
Day 4, W, 06-20: to Rock Cut State Park - 45 or 80 miles
Day 5, Th, 06-21: Rock Cut State Park - Take a day off, bike your choice of the trails and locations in Rockford, or do 100 miles to Freeport and back - 0 to 100 miles
Day 6, F, 06-22: to Chain O’ Lakes State Park - 55 or 75 miles
Day 7, Sa, 06-23: To Batavia - 55 miles

The base price for the ride will be $355. Members of LIB will get a $20 discount, paying $335 (if you're unsure about your status, e-mail lib@bikelib.org). Special rates for younger riders: 15 to 12 year-old: $265; 11 and younger: $175.

We'll also have an "early planning rate" of $345 - for registrations mailed by April 1. A late rate of $380 will go into effect on June 1.

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.

For information about the motel package contact Laura Kuhlman; 630-462-5427; laura@thekuhlmans.com. And our master sports masseuse, Glen Morey, will be offering a number of camp services including tent rental and a towel service.

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 11; half refund before May 17; no refunds after May 17.

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

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

1. Use the link below to complete and print the registration form.
2. Sign the registration form AND the waiver on the bottom of the form.
3. Make the check payable to "League of Illinois Bicyclists".
4. 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".
5. After May 17, 2007, 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.
6. Printable registration form. (If you use the free Adobe Acrobat^® reader you may use your computer to complete the registration form before signing and mailing it.)
7. Online registration with electronic payment is available at www.Active.com.

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