1. • CommentAuthora4rodite
   • CommentTimeJun 28th 2008

    
   Being chicago residents we wanted an sandy beach escape and decided to ride our bikes from our home in chicago to the indiana dunes. We decided on this route - and will never EVER EVER take it again. Along the lakeshore trail in chicago is beautiful, and riding through south chicago (IN THE DAY TIME) is just fine, but once you get to the last part of 41 around the Calumet lake and find your way onto 12 IT BECOMES A NIGHTMARE. If you are excited about HEAVEY TRAFFIC, BREATHING IN CANCEROUS TOXIC WASTE and GETTING BOTTLES THROWN AT YOU from the neighborhood residents of East Chicago and Gary indiana , then by all means go this route. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND IT. If you do, make sure to go in broad daylight (like we did) AND carry with you a breathing mask and a gun or two. We wish you the best of luck... but there are many other ways to go that may SEEM like a round about way, but are actually much faster and amazingly beautiful.
2. • CommentAuthorgefg10
   • CommentTimeJul 7th 2008

    
   I took this route on the 4th of July and couldn't disagree more with the previous comment. I took my trip up to a friends cabin in Stevensville, MI and though that the ride was beautiful and well thought out. Going into Whiting, IN is no treat, but I expected much worse. The roads were slightly busy at times but plan ahead and leave Chicago early in the morning to avoid the rush. Once I left the lake front path, you enter some classic, old Chicago neighborhoods that do sport burnt out windows and run down empty lots, but this isn't the North Shore, we knew that. Take it as an opportunity to contemplate the disparity that exists in our city. Whiting is industrial, ride fast. Think of Gary as a glimpse of the power and grandeur that this steel capitol once held. It now has an errie quiet abandoned feeling; sorta cool by bike. Getting out of Gary you head down hwy 12, forever. The road is flat, fast and shaddy... but have water because gas stations get sparse. You pass US Steel as well as Arcelor Mittal before ending up a good while later in Michigan City. You'll know you're getting close when you begin to see groups of road bikers out for weekend rides. Past Michigan City you hug the coast which is beautiful. Before long you'll find yourself in New Buffalo and beyond...
   
   Just the facts:
   90 miles from Chicago to Stevensville in about 6 hours
   I rode a mountain bike with slicks
   A bridge crossing the calumet canal was out so I had to detour around which probably added an additional 5 miles on the trip.
   Start time was 6:30 am
3. • CommentAuthor1lesscar
   • CommentTimeSep 12th 2008

    
   i just used this route and it was great! i work for bicycle touring company and we have a ride that starts in hammond and goes north and we use pretty much this exact route. you guys made it sound like it was through bad areas i never was nervous at all it was a relaxing nice ride. thanx for making the first part of my trip so easy.

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