League of American Wheelman 1896 Ride

Union Park in downtown Chicago to Joliet Bicycle Map - 1896 (click image for large scale map)

The Bicycling Department

This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our maps and tours contain many valuable data kindly supplied from the official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen. Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L.A.W., the Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership blanks and information so far as possible.

General Route Instructions

The route given in the next three weeks will be one of the best trips in the vicinity of Chicago, extending from Chicago itself to Joliet, thence to Ottawa, and thence to La Salle, and return. Like the great majority of trips taken from Chicago, this one depends largely upon the time at the rider’s disposal, for you may either start from Chicago itself, or if the time is too short you can take the train for Ottawa and ride front there, or it is possible to get off the train at Joliet and ride on. But if time is not so important a matter, it is by all means best to ride all the way from Chicago. A choice of roads leads out of the city. You can go by the Archer Road to Joliet via Summit, Mount Forest, Willow Springs, Sag, Lentomt, Romeo, and Lockport. In going the other way, take the Washington Boulevard west to Des Plaines Avenue, and then south to Riverside. This route leads along the old Illinois-Michigan Canal, Des Plaines River, and the new drainage canal, and it gives an excellent opportunity for you to examine the work of this large engineering undertaking.

THERE IS STILL ONE OTHER ROUTE to Joliet, which is a good road if the weather is good, hut witich after rain it would be unwise to attempt. This route is as follows: Start south of Western Avenue, or go down through Pullman City, turningg westward to arrive at Blue Island. Here it will be necessary to make inquiry for the Blue Island and Orland Road, which runs south west through Orland Station on the Wabash railway to Joliet. Part of this secondary route is not on the map, but it can be traced from Orland through Alpine, Hadley, and on into Joliet.

The most attractive route, however, is the second one—that , through Riverside, Suemmit, Willow Springs, etc.

ON THIS FIRST STAGE TO JOLIET the road to Summit is easily found, except that on passing through Stimmit a sharp turn to the left should be made, instead of crossing the track and the canal, up a hill, the road then being perfectly clear through Mount Forest and Willow Springs to Sag Station, with one hill about midway betweett the two latter places. At Sag Station turn to the left and run down to Sag, less than a mile away; then, turning sharply to the right, run to Lockport. Tnence, keeping always on the southern and eastern side of the tracks and the river, follow the road to Romeo, with a hill as you enter the town, and run tnence through Lockport to Joliet. The distance is close upon forty miles. If the trip is made in a day, a good place to stop is at Sag. If however, the wheelman decides to
run to Ottawa in one day, Joliet would make a stop a little less thact half the distance; though this run to Ottawa of about ninty miles is a little too much for the average rider, and Joliet being a good place to stop overnight, he is advised to make a two days' trip of the journey. In case Joliet is too far, there is a good hotel at Lockport, six or seven miles nearer Chicago than Joliet, and the stop might be made there, although that leaves a long ride for the next day.

The League of American Wheelman (LAW)

The League of American Wheelman headquarters was in Illinois for many years.

"..This organization is composed of men interested in bicycling in all its many branches, in the construction of good roads, and in the protection of the rights of all others who are riding wheels. If you join the League you become a member of the division which is composed of all the members residing in your State. This division issues road-books of one kind or another, some containing maps, others only description. By becoming a member and paying two dollars you receive a copy of this book free and a ticket or member's card which gives you somewhat reduced rates at hotels of standing all through your state, and all through the United States for that matter to-day. In the many League meets you may take part in racing and so on, and most important of all, you become an influence for improving the roads of the United States in a way that would be totally beyond your power as an individual."

- from "The Bicycling Department"
Volume XVII, Number 871 of Harper's Round Table
Published Tuesday, July 7, 1896

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