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North Shore Century
Sunday, September 23th, 2012

Register online. Online registration closes September 20.  Register at the ride after September 20.


or Use Printable registration form. 

 

Free Music!  Homemade Goodies! 

Bike Mechanics at All Rest Stops! 

SAG Wagons along the Route! 

Dawes Park-Church St. & Sheridan Rd, Evanston, Ill. (Click for map)

ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF A LATE SUMMER RIDE

The North Shore Century offers incredibly scenic biking. You'll experience luxurious neighborhoods, view unique architectural treasures, pedal down tranquil tree-lined streets and feel the refreshing breezes of Lake Michigan. Open it up in the flat to rolling countryside between Chicago and Wisconsin.

Join us on Sunday, September 23rd when the Evanston Bicycle Club sponsors one of Chicagoland's premiere invitational rides - the 28th annual North Shore Century.

Hundreds of riders make the North Shore Century their last - maybe their best - ride of summer. You can, too.


CHOOSE THE RIDE THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU

We offer a variety of well-mapped and well-marked rides for biking enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. Annotated cue sheets and painted street markers guide you. All routes share the same first 5 miles.

THE CLASSIC CENTURY This 100-mile ride is what the North ShoreCentury is famous for, starting in Evanston and stretching into Kenosha, Wisconsin. Before you head back, you'll cycle through some of the most elegant communities in Illinois.

THE DIAMOND CENTURY For those who want more than a Metric Century but may not be up to doing a full Century, this 70-mile route is calling you!

THE METRIC CENTURY This 62 miler winds its way through quiet rural streets and picturesque towns and villages, past handsome homes, parks and lovely village greens.

THE HALF CENTURY Our most popular ride! This 50-mile ride goes to beautiful Lake Forest before your journey takes you back towards Evanston, riding past mansions on Sheridan Road.

THE QUARTER CENTURY A wonderful 25-mile ride for those of you who want a leisurely day out on your bike and an opportunity to see some of the most architecturally impressive homes around.

All routes depart from and finish at Evanston's Dawes Parlk. (Scroll down for parking information.)  Registration begins at 6 a.m. on the day of the ride. Century riders must register by 9 a.m. All others may register until 11 a.m., at which time registration closes. Routes close at 6 p.m.

 (Please note that Evanston requires cyclists under the age of 18 to wear a helmet).

If You - or Your Tires - Go Flat

...we offer frequent rest stops, stocked with free, nourishing snacks and drinks, every 15 to 18 miles. Not to mention ...
  • Bike mechanics at the start/finish line to provide pre-ride safety checks.
  • Bike mechanics at all rest stops
  • Road monitors (on bikes) sweeping the route all day.
  • Sag wagons in case of emergencies. 
  • Free bagels and coffee at the registration area.
  • Live music!

Safety Tips
A Beauty of a Ride What to Bring
"There are a hundred reasons why hundreds of bicyclists of all ages and skill levels will ride in the North Shore Century.  Each mile is a delightful blend of easy riding and terrific viewing."  You are expected to bring a bike in good condition and a spare tube or patch kit.  You should also have water or a hydration drink.  Helmets are strongly recommended along with suitable clothing based on expected weather.
Pictures of the Route
Team Judson photos of the North Shore Century Route
How to Register
nsc2-ll.jpg (4173 bytes)

Helmets are strongly recommended!

We encourage you to pre-register.  The fee is $22 if your registration form and payment is postmarked by August 19th, 2012.  After that, the fee is $30 for registrations.  No mail-in pre-registration after September 16th, 2012.  Registration on the day of the event is $35.  

Riders age 16 and younger can participate for $10 each.  Children who are passengers on the ride are free.

Groups of five or more who pre-register for the ride by delivering their forms and payment in the same envelope get a 10% discount! 

Riders age 16 and younger can participate for $10 each.  Children who are passengers on the ride are free.  
Online registration closes September 20.  Register at the ride after September 20.  or use this Printable registration form. 
Click for driving directions or map to start/finish at Dawes Park at Church Street and Sheridan Road in Evanston.
Registration begins at 6:00 am on the day of the ride.  Century, Diamond Century (70 miles),  and Metric-Century (62 miles, 100 km) riders must register by 9:00 am.  All others may register until 11:00 am, at which time registration closes. 

There is no fixed start time. You may begin to ride as soon as you have finished registration.

The registration facility has restrooms, telephones, picnic tables, and shelter.

Bagels and coffee will be available at no charge at the registration area before you begin your ride.

You are expected to bring a bike in good condition with spare tube, basic tools, and rudimentary knowledge of repairs.

Bike mechanics from local bike shops will be available at the registration area to give your bike a safety check before you begin your ride.

We will have bike shop mechanics at the start, two next stops, and the last rest stop on the longer routes to provide minor repairs. 

There will be one rest stop on the 25-mile route, two rest stops on the 50-mile route, three rest stops on the 62-mile and 70-mile routes, and five rest stops on the century route, not including the start/finish area.

Riders must be off the course by 6:00 pm.
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We typically donate a large portion of the funds raised by the ride to local organizations and agencies that promote safe, fun bicycling, including the League of Illinois Bicyclists, Active Transportation Alliance (was Chicagoland Bicycle Federation), Y.O.U. (a youth services agency in Evanston), local police departments and others.  We plan to continue that tradition.

Riders must obey the same traffic laws as motorists.  Our ability to offer this ride each year is dependent on the conduct of our riders.  Aside from the question of safety, riders who ride recklessly or discourteously, or disobey traffic laws, can cause towns along our routes to bar us from using their streets for our routes next year.   Drivers and cyclists need to get along!

Keep the NSC alive in the future:

Please be courteous to residents.  While we encourage enthusiasm about the ride, we ask that riders keep their  voices at a low volume in the morning, as not to awaken residents.

 

Arriving and Parking for the NSC

Evanston is easy to get to by car, but on street parking in the high-density residential area near Dawes Park is very hard to find.   Both Evanston City parking garages and the Northwestern University garage are located close to the start/finish line and parking is Free on Sundays.  Remember to take your bike OFF the roof before entering garage.

The parking garages are located at:

  • Northwestern University Parking Garage (3 blocks north of Start/Finish). Cars with roof-racks may park on the upper level.  Click for map.  (P1)
  • The Maple Avenue entrance of the new parking garage at 1800 Maple (1 block north of the Transportation Center's "L" / METRA stops on Maple at Clark St.).  Click for map.  (P2)
  • The parking garage on Chicago Ave. at 525 Church St.  Alternate entrance on Clark at 524 Clark Ave.  Click for map.  (P3)
  • The Sherman Plaza Self Park on Davis St. at Benson Ave.   Click for map.  (P4)

It is also easy to get to Evanston without a car.  Downtown Evanston is well served by public transit.  The CTA trains now allow bikes during all hours on weekends. 

  • RTA online trip planner click here.

  • CTA train info click here.

  • CTA "L" service is available from Chicago into Evanston's Davis St station.  Davis St. is a handicapped accessible station (easier for taking bikes through) with an elevator.  From the station go a half block north to Church St and then 6 blocks East to Dawes Park.  It's all down hill.

  • For more info on CTA Bike and Ride program click here.

If you are coming from the western suburbs of Evanston the Pace busses that serve downtown Evanston all have bike carriers.

  • Pace bus routes to Davis St. Evanston with Sunday service are the 208 and 250.   Both routes stop at the Davis St. CTA station.  From the station go a half block north to Church St and then 6 blocks East to Dawes Park.  It's all down hill.

  • Pace Route Information click here.

  • 208 - serves Skokie and Niles via Golf Rd. to Old Orchard, Golf Mill

  • 250 - serves Skokie, Morton Grove and Des Plaines via Dempster St.

 

EBC thanks the following for their support: