Mountain Bike Racing

Mountain biking is not the first form of cycling that comes to mind when you think of flat Chicago, but we are lucky to have some great mountain biking options nearby.

Palos Forest Preserve in Willow Springs, Ill., is the most popular. These trails offer great opportunities for riders of all skill levels, with miles and miles of single track. Chicago Area Mountain Bikers (CAMBR) oversees maintenance of these trails and schedules maintenance days throughout the year. Before venturing out to these trails, please refer to the CAMBR website for trail conditions. This is important so we don’t damage the trails for all users. For a complete list of mountain biking options, please visit www.cambr.org.

There are three competitive race series in the region. Each of these series provides racing opportunities for all skill levels, including beginner and junior categories.

• The Peoria Area Mountain Bike Association hosts the I-74 Homegrown Race Series. Racing starts in late April and continues through late September.

• The Wisconsin Off-road Series (WORS) is the largest race series in the country. Racing starts in May and continues through October.

• The DINO Series offers races throughout Indiana.

The WORS and DINO Series are sanctioned by USA Cycling.