Downhill Trails?

[Mooseknuckle]

I've looked and can't find anything about any good downhill trails?  I played on a trail in Cali that was like a 2 minute run that rocked my world.  Looking to help out and get it on out here!! Just ordered my new bike and we'll see how it does!  Any info would rock, I'm out of wheaton so anyone who wants to ride, drop me a line!

[baudler]

There is some 30 second Illinois downhill down at Matthiessan state park.  http://www.bikeiv.org/

[tihsepa]

There are hills around here?

[adhd-tv]

I've looked and can't find anything about any good downhill trails? 

You may want to look a lot further west... there is some downhill stuff within a 5 hour drive but in terms of your immediate area... nada.

[Jeff Hanson]

Farmdale Reservior has about a one minute average time downhill, and it's less than two hours from the western suburbs.  It's probably the best you're gonna find within a two hour drive. 

http://www.sicklines.com/courses/illinois/farmdale_reservoir_dh/

Like anything else, the faster you go the more challenging it is.

[fat-tyr]

Farmdale Reservior has about a one minute average time downhill, and it's less than two hours from the western suburbs.  It's probably the best you're gonna find within a two hour drive.  

http://www.sicklines.com/courses/illinois/farmdale_reservoir_dh/

Like anything else, the faster you go the more challenging it is.

Olgesby near Mattiessen State Park is much, much better and closer.

[Jeff Hanson]

Sorry for the misinformation.  Haven't been to Oglesby.

[mikeo]

Trestle bike park is awesome, I was there last week. If you make it there and want to ride jumps check out rainmaker to beallucanbe.

[Mooseknuckle]

no doubt Trestle looks awesome, but is there anything a little closer you think?  I love the turns, gaps and all that fun stuff, are there places like that in illinois?

[Huckster McPlush]

If you want long runs, yes, go west   But when asked the question about DH in Illinois, most people give the generic answer "there are no hills or mountains in Illinois".  Which is true if you want to have miles and miles of lift assisted DH paradise....but we all know that wont happen in Illinois.  But if you want to session parts of trails and hike a bike sections of trails for practice, you can do this in Illinois...you just have to be creative   There are sections of kettle (I know, not Illinois) that are fun and can be sessioned.  Down in Ogelsby there is the DH course, and supposedly Mathiessen state park has some DH sections.  There are others (that I wont talk about publicly )  There can be DH in Illinois, but the quantity is just not as much.

[mikeo]

There are some fun rock hucks at lake kinkaide and Dixon springs in southern Illinois.  Also, chubb trail in the St Louis area has some mini dh sections.  Brown county, in also has some short dh sections.   Nearby just fly down gravity cavity and dynamite rd at palos.  I have not been to any lift areas in the Midwest for biking so can't comment on those.  Maybe one day CCFPD will allow a mini dh trail with features at palos with ride arounds for the fully rigid single speed 29ers.