Hi {{contact.first_name}},
November is the season most Chicago riders give up on, and that is exactly why the good days are worth grabbing. The clocks went back on November 1, so the light is gone before most of us are off work, and the cold fronts come through fast. But there are still bright, dry, 50-degree afternoons out there, and the roads are nearly empty. Pick your day, keep the run short, and get home before dark.
Ride of the Month: The Rock River Valley on Route 2
River bluffs, oak woods and an easy road home before the sun goes down
Head out I-90 to Rockford, then pick up Illinois Route 2 as it follows the Rock River southwest through Byron and Oregon. The road runs right along the water, with wooded bluffs on one side and the river on the other. Past Oregon, look up for the Black Hawk statue standing on the bluff at Lowden State Park, then roll past Castle Rock State Park and into Grand Detour, a small town tucked into a big bend of the river, before you finish in Dixon.
The oaks hold their bronze leaves well into November, so the valley still has color after the maples are bare. It is a shorter run than Galena, which makes it the right ride for short days. Leave by late morning, fuel up in Rockford or Dixon, and plan to be heading home by 3:30.
If you only have a couple of hours, the Fox River Valley on Route 31 from Elgin up toward Algonquin is a quick, easy loop close to home. On Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, take a minute to thank the veterans in your riding crew, plenty of them are the reason this community exists.
Late-Fall Safety: Illinois Edition
November gives you fewer good riding days and a few new ways to get hurt on them.
- Deer season peaks now. November is the worst month of the year for deer crashes in Illinois. They move at dawn and dusk, which is now right in the middle of the evening commute. Slow down near tree lines and fields, cover your brakes, and never swerve across the center line to avoid one.
- You are riding home in the dark. With the time change, sunset in Chicago comes before 4:30 by mid-month. Drivers are not looking for motorcycles after dark. Run your lights, wear something reflective, and give yourself extra space at intersections.
- Cold tires and frosty patches. Morning temperatures drop below freezing, and bridges, overpasses and shaded corners can stay icy into the afternoon. Give your tires a few easy miles to warm up before you lean on them.
- Thanksgiving week traffic. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. The Wednesday night before is one of the worst nights of the year for drunk driving. If you ride that week, ride early in the day and stay off the road that night.
Know Your Illinois Law
- Fault gets split, and there is a cutoff. Illinois uses modified comparative negligence. Your recovery goes down by your share of the blame, and if you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you collect nothing. That is why what happens in the first hours after a crash matters so much.
- No helmet law does not mean no argument. Illinois does not require a helmet for any rider. That choice is yours, but insurers may still argue that your injuries would have been less with one, so gear up.
- The minimums are low, so check your UM/UIM. Illinois requires only 25/50/20 in liability coverage. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is what protects you when the driver who hit you has little or no insurance. Before you put the bike away for winter, make sure your policy is still active.
- You have two years. Illinois generally gives you two years from the crash to file an injury claim, and less time to give notice when a government vehicle or road is involved. Do not wait until spring to call.
Ride Nation Chicago
Winter is coming, but the Chicago riding community does not go quiet. Post your last good ride of the year, share where you are storing the bike, and let other riders know which roads have gravel, salt or potholes. Tag us in your photos. This is your scene, run by riders who ride these roads.
Final Weeks for the $20,000 BikeWin Giveaway
You are already entered for a chance at 20,000 dollars toward any motorcycle you want, and the winner is drawn December 10. That is only a few weeks away. Know a riding buddy who has not entered yet? Entry is free, so send them the link before it closes.
Enter the giveaway
A driver who never saw your headlight in the 4:30 dark. A deer jumping out on a county road. A pickup sliding on the first icy overpass. If you go down in Illinois, you want a lawyer who rides these roads and knows how the fault rules get used against riders.