Northwest Illinois Century aka Tour for Cancer Century

We should really call this the Tour de Teresa, since Teresa Isbell orchestrated this spectacular September event and invited all her friends from bikejournal.com to join her in the Upper Left Hand Corner.

We gathered in the wee crisp hours last Saturday, and Teresa had name tags and a big banner waiting. Bill Leibman, his son Adam rolled in and were joined by ChainLinkCyclists Andrew "Diet Rite" Soria, and Steve Spyrison to welcome bikejournal riders from Racine, Roscoe, Savanna, South Elgin, et elsewhere.

Still shivering beneath the early sunrise, we headed out on our favorite Tour for Cancer Century route. Teresa and her husband, Chris, had carefully freshened up the road route markers for newcomers and the forgetful. How could we not remember last June 30's century for cancer?

It was hard not to smile at the wonderful early autumn weather, as we turned south from Warren down Fiedler Road, and the grace of the countryside embraced us. Bill, Adam, Steve and I rolled happily and effortlessly down to Canyon Park Road over one of the most beautiful stretches of this Century... or any century.

Naturally, we had to climb over the Binkley Bonk. I was on top first and became the cheerleader as Adam hurdled up at an amazing velocity. Then came Dad (Bill) and Steve.

Full of our achievement in the backdrop of a grand view, we streaked down the east side of the bump ready to consume whatever delights awaited us at Karen's.

Karen's is a scumptious eat n bakery in downtown Stockton. With more than 45 miles under the belt and 55 to go, fueling the engine at Karen's is a must. I believe we each had an egg and bacon (or sausage) sandwich on fresh bread or croissants. Bill and I followed that with hot Dutch Apple and rhubarb pie which we reluctantly shared with our tablemates.

Shortly after arriving at Karen's Andrew "Diet Rite" Soria and Craig from South Elgin arrived. Naturally, Andrew was porting his favorite carry-on lunch-- shrinkwrappedfreezedried Salmon.
Yummy!

Craig pulled up a chair and was complimentary of the route. Indeed, this century is majestic, and the best was yet to come. Our next stop was Mount Carroll, and we rolled out of Stockton with our legs laden with egg n pie. Soon, we were wringing out for the big roll down the grande Loran Valley.

En route, we happily met up with some bikejournal.com guests, and we rolled south together into Mount Carroll. Our destination was (as always) the Dairy Queen to prime the pump with a Hawaiian Blizzard. Then it was homeward bound along Cyclone Ridge Road and north out of Lanark over Center Road. Then we ran into Dennis Robinson while waiting for a train.

Dennis led Bill, Adam and me home wishing he had ridden the previous 75 miles. The Commodore had just returned from a great Cycle Oregon (Check out his photos of Crater Lake.) and was full of piss and vinegar. He challenged us on his P-38 recumbent. But Adam was up to that, and his dad would not be put off the back.

As for me, it was a pleasure to have another opportunity to ride this great century route with good friends on such a magnificent day.

Thanks Teresa (and Chris) for making it possible. Thanks to Bill and Adam for the company and the Bergie Oktoberfest afterwords. And thanks to all the bikejournal.com riders for joining us in the Upper Left Hand Corner.