Pick your own distance, ride your own pace
Depending on your planetary destination, there are options for every member of your family, for riders of all ages and abilities. Road routes, trail routes or any combination are available. For example:
- Jupiter-Saturn-Jupiter - (Rock Island Trail) 1.5 billion miles (12mi.)
- Sun-Jupiter-Sun - (Sunday a.m. city streets) 2 billion miles (13 mi.)
- Saturn-Uranus-Saturn - (Rock Island Trail or roads) 1.5 - 2.1 billion miles (12 - 17 miles)
- Saturn-Neptune-Saturn - (Rock Island Trail or roads) 4 - 5.1 billion miles (32 - 41 miles)
- Through the Kuiper Comet Belt to Pluto (must depart by 7:30 am) - 14 billion miles (100 mi.)
- The Inner Solar System & Historic Peoria 3 billion miles (24 mi.)
Whatís Included in the Registration Fee
- Bragging Rights - Who else can say they've cycled to Pluto?
- Reversal of the aging process - Since ride speeds will be in excess of the speed of light (186,000 miles per second) there are relativistic implications. Some observers predict that participants will actually return younger than when they started.
- Exhibits and activities from the Peoria Academy of Sciences and Friends of the Rock Island Trail.
- Admission to the planetarium & museum.
- Beautiful Central Illinois scenery on well-marked routes.
- Outstanding food and drink at each stop
- Star Party by Peoria Astronomical Society. Meet at North Moor Observatory at 8:00 p.m.
- Support vehicle service
- Bagels, donuts, coffee, fruit & juice at check-in
- End of ride pasta and garlic bread (10:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.)
- Lots of fun and food for everyone
- Proceeds will benefit the education programs of the sponsoring groups.
- Visit the Totem Pole Carver in Osceola
- See the Rock Island RR Depot in Wyoming (Neptune).
- A one-way ride option from Pluto (Kewanee) to Saturn (Dunlap starting point). Board a bus along with your bike at 6:15 am Saturday bound for Pluto. This opportunity will allow a limited number of cyclists to explore the beautiful outer Solar System route. (There will be a $7 extra charge for this option).
Saturday, June 21, 2008
- A "Century" Ride to Pluto and Back
Starting times between 6-9am at Dunlap Community Middle School, Dunlap Il*. From there riders will take either the Rock Island Trail or low traffic roads to Wyoming (at Neptune). From Wyoming, all riders will use a low traffic road loop through the Kuiper Comet Belt en route to Kewanee and Pluto. Participants may choose to go as far as any particular planet. Rest stops will be staffed by members of the Peoria Academy of Sciences and Peoria Astronomical Society, and will feature exhibits and activities, such as sunspot viewing. Plus, rest stops will be stocked with FOOD, because we all know interplanetary travel can create a real SPACE in your innards. Riders will feast on pasta and garlic bread upon returning. Assemble at 6:45 am. at Lakeview Museum, 1125 W. Lake, Peoria. Depart as a group at 7 am. Tour the inner solar system from the Sun to Saturn and back. This 24-mile ride takes about 3 hours. Riders will travel through Peoria and East Peoria, stopping at each of the planets in order from the Sun. See the historic Peoria Riverfront, Springdale Cemetery, and historic homes including a Frank Lloyd Wright house (city streets).
Sunday, August 22, 2008 The Inner Solar System and Historic Peoria
Assemble at 6:45 am. at Lakeview Museum, 1125 W. Lake, Peoria. Depart as a group at 7 am. Tour the inner solar system from the Sun to Saturn and back. This 24-mile ride takes about 3 hours. Riders will travel through Peoria and East Peoria, stopping at each of the planets in order from the Sun. See the historic Peoria Riverfront, Springdale Cemetery, and historic homes including a Frank Lloyd Wright house (city streets).
Directions to Lakeview Museum: From I-74, take the University Exit 91 North, go about 2 miles on University to Lake. Turn right on Lake and left into Lakeview Park. To Dunlap Community Middle I-74 to Rt 6 north, exit Allen Rd., go north 2.6 miles to Cedar Hills Drive (2nd stop sign, Banner School on right, the street signs may still be missing), turn left (west) to Dunlap. At the Middle School turn left into the parking lot (5220 W. Legion Hall Rd, Dunlap, Il 61525). The Middle School is at the far end of the parking lot from the High School.
