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ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF A LATE SUMMER RIDE

Join us on Sunday, September 19th, 2021 when the Evanston Bicycle Club presents the 36th annual North Shore Century  -- one of Chicagoland’s premiere invitational rides.  You’ll ride through beautiful neighborhoods, view unique architectural treasures, pedal down tree-lined streets and feel the refreshing breezes of Lake Michigan while enjoying the flat to rolling countryside between Chicago and Wisconsin.


The North Shore Century features . . .

  • A range of “centuries” from which to choose – Classic, Metric, Half or Quarter
  • Paper and/or digitally downloadable cue sheets and clear pavement markings for all routes
  • Fabulous food – fresh fruit, home made baked goods, PB&Js, bagels, snack bars, Nuun energy drinks – plus something special and unique to each rest stop
  • Mechanical support from a local bike shop at each rest stop
  • Radio-directed SAG vehicles providing mid-ride assistance for emergencies
  • A certificate of completion to impress your friends





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Registration and Fees
Registration and Fees
 Registration fee:  June 1 - August 12, 2021
  $30
 Registration fee:  August 7 - September 16, 2021
  $40
 Registration fee:  Day of Ride (Registration is open from 6 am to 11 am.) 
  $60
 Riders age 17 and under (Must be accompanied by a registered adult rider.)
  $10

Commemorative performance t-shirts may be included with pre-registration for $20 or purchased on the day of ride for $25, while supplies last.

 
 
   


35th anniversary cycling jerseys are also available for pre-order. See the section below.

Registration fees are not refundable.



Registered riders will receive their cue sheets and NSC wristband ID at Dawes Park. The wristband is your "ticket" to rest stop and SAG support.  To speed check-in, please bring your confirmation with its QR code.

Interested in riding the North Shore Century as a fundraiser for our partner charitable organizations? See details in Ride for Charity!


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Routes / Mileage / Timing
Routes / Mileage / Timing
CHOOSE THE RIDE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU

Pick a distance that suits your abilities and goals for the day – whether that’s enjoying a leisurely ride with friends/family or challenging yourself for distance or pace.  

  • All rides begin and end at Dawes Park in Evanston near the Arrington Lakefront Lagoon at Church   
    Street and Sheridan Road; we open at 6am and close at 6pm.
  • 100-mile riders should start no later than 8am; 62-mile riders should start no later than 10am; 50-mile and 25-mile riders should start no later than 11am.
  • Be sure you allow enough time to complete your ride before the rest stops on your route choice close.  All support ends as each rest stop closes.
  • NOTE: From 7am-11am Sheridan Road in Winnetka, Kenilworth and Wilmette will be closed to all vehicles, including bicycles.  Riders encountering the closure on their southbound return route to Dawes Park should follow the detour signage/markings.  Most riders will not be affected by the closure.
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The Classic Century -- 100 Miles
The Classic Century -- 100 Miles
Plan to start before 8am and leave Lake Forest by 10am. This ride starts in Evanston and stretches to Pleasant Prairie in Wisconsin in one very big loop.  The southern portion takes a north/northwest route via mostly residential streets in Glenview, Northbrook, Highland Park and Lake Forest to start; the ending of the route heads south from Lake Bluff to return to Evanston, staying along the lake as much as possible, through the North Shore’s more elegant suburbs. The middle or northern portion (after leaving Lake Forest) heads west and north via Libertyville, Gurnee and Wadsworth to Pleasant Prairie (WI) and then skirts scenic Lake Michigan before heading due south via Zion, Waukegan and North Chicago; this northern section of the ride includes long stretches on busier roads.  It’s a great ride for confident and conditioned cyclists.  

Rest Stops:  Lake Forest/Northcroft Park (6:30am – 1:30pm), Gurnee/Viking Park (8am – 11:30am), Pleasant Prairie/RecPlex (8am – 1:00pm), Waukegan/Bowen Park (9am – 3pm) and Highland Park/Sunset Park (8am – 5pm)

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The Metric Century -- 62 Miles
The Metric Century -- 62 Miles

Plan to start before 10am. This ride adds a 12-mile loop onto the 50-mile route that takes you through western Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Bannockburn and Deerfield.  The loop includes a few stretches on the shoulder of busier arterials.  You can decide whether you want to add this loop as you munch the goodies at the Lake Forest rest stop – so long as you make the call before noon.


Rest Stops:  Lake Forest/Northcroft Park (6:30am – 1:30pm) and Highland Park/Sunset Park (8am – 5pm)

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The Half Century -- 50 Miles
The Half Century -- 50 Miles

Plan to start before 11am. This ride goes to beautiful Lake Bluff by a north/northwest route via mostly residential streets in Glenview, Northbrook, Highland Park and Lake Forest before heading south to return to Evanston and staying along the lake as much as possible. This scenic 50-mile route appeals to both leisurely and speedier cyclists.


Rest Stops:  Lake Forest/Northcroft Park (6:30am – 1:30pm) and Highland Park/Sunset Park (8am – 5pm)

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The Quarter Century -- 25 Miles
The Quarter Century -- 25 Miles

Plan to start before 11am. This ride starts and ends with the longer rides but follows a route all its own through quiet residential streets in Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe and Kenilworth while avoiding busier roads as much as possible.  It’s a wonderful choice for those of you who want a leisurely day out on your bike and an opportunity to see some architecturally impressive homes. Perfect for families and a great introduction for new riders.


Rest Stop:  Glencoe Metra Station (8am – 2pm)
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Navigating the Routes
Navigating the Routes

We provide four ways for you to navigate your chosen route -- road markings, paper cue sheets and two types of digitally downloadable turn-by-turn directions.  

  • Road markings use orange arrows painted right on the pavement at every turn.  They are put in place a few days before the ride.  Below are 2 sample road markings.
     

  • Cue sheets and digital downloads are produced through Ride With GPS, which we use to map all routes. Paper cue sheets will be provided at registration when you check in. An email sent to registrants the Friday before the ride will contain links to get either a TCX file downloadable to your personal GPS device or a free Ride With GPS app for your phone which provides turn by turn voice navigation. The phone app will be the only form of digital navigation available to day-of-ride registrants.

Most riders simply follow the road markings and use one of the other modes as back up.
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Rest Stops / SAG Support
Rest Stops / SAG Support
We’re famous for our food.  No brag; that’s a fact.  Be prepared to show your wristband when visiting a rest stop for food or mechanical assistance or when flagging down a SAG vehicle for assistance.  It’s your proof of registration and contains the emergency phone number.


Rest stops on all routes are stocked with fresh fruit, home-baked cookies/breads, PB&Js, nourishing snacks, water and Nuun hydration drinks.  Each rest stop also has something special and unique.  Some of the special items we have had in the past include sub sandwiches, Egg McMuffins, potato soup, grilled hot dogs, and pizza.


Rest stop hours and featured attraction (while supplies last):

Rest Stop
  Hours of Operation
  Mechanic
• Lake Forest/Northcroft  6:30am - 1:30pm Everyday Cycles & Motion
• Gurnee/Viking Park  8:00am - 11:30am Velosmith
• Pleasant Prairie/RecPlex  8:00am - 1:00pm Velofix
• Waukegan/Bowen Park  9:00am - 3:00pm Erik's Bikes Deerfield
• Highland Park/Sunset Woods  8:00am - 5:00pm Trek - Highland Park
• Glencoe/Metra Station  8:00am - 2:00pm (25 mile route only) The Recyclery
• Evanston/Dawes Park  6:00am - 6:00pm Amlings Cycle


SAG vehicles cruise all routes and can be flagged down when needed. Each SAG vehicle has a knowledgeable bike maintenance person who can help with flats or minor adjustments.  SAG vehicles are also radio dispatched when the emergency number on your wristband is called.
 
 
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Be Prepared / Be Safe
Be Prepared / Be Safe
For your own safety and the safety of others:
  • Bring a bike in good condition, with a spare tube, basic tools and a water bottle.
  • Wear light or bright clothing to make yourself more visible on the roadway.
  • Helmets are strongly recommended for everyone; Evanston requires cyclists under the age of 18 to wear a helmet.
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult throughout the ride.
  • Know and obey all traffic laws and signals/signs.  Signal your turns.  Ride predictably.
  • Always pass other riders on their left and call out "On your left" or "Passing" as you do so.
  • Carry personal identification.
  • Ride within your ability and physical condition.
  • Our routes are on public roads that we share with motorists.  North Shore communities may issue tickets for riding more than two abreast or for disregarding traffic signals and signs.
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Getting There / Parking
Getting There / Parking
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By Car
By Car
Evanston is easy to get to by car, but on street parking in the area near Dawes Park is difficult. We recommend that you use one of the following parking garages.  Parking is free on Sundays.
  • Northwestern University Parking Garage.   Click for map. (P1)
  • 1800 Maple Self Park.  The entrance is at Clark St. Click for map. (P2)
  • Church St. Self Park.  Entrances are on Church St. and on Clark St. just east of Chicago Avenue. Click for map. (P3)
  • Sherman Plaza Self Park.  Entrances are on Davis St. and on Benson Ave. Click for map (P4)
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By Metra / CTA L Train
By Metra / CTA L Train
Both Metra and the “L” have stops at Davis St. From the Davis Street stations, go a half block north to Church St., then 6 blocks east to Sheridan Rd. to the Dawes Park entrance.
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By Pace
By Pace
Pace buses Route 208 (serving Skokie and Niles) and Route 250 (serving Skokie, Morton Grove, Des Plaines) have bike carriers and stop at the Davis Street "L" station in Evanston.  From the station go a half block north to Church St., then 6 blocks east to Sheridan Rd. to the entrance to Dawes Park.

For Pace route information click here.
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Paying It Forward
Paying It Forward

Roughly 80% of the annual net proceeds of the North Shore Century is used by the Evanston Bike Club to make grants or donations to not-for-profit or municipal organizations for biking related programs and activities. In recent years, this amount has ranged from $33,000 to $42,000. Previous recipients include:

 

Active Transportation Alliance, Bikes N’ Roses /Communities United, Center for Independent Futures, Chicago Jesuit Academy, Chicago Women’s Elite Cycling, Citizens Greener Evanston/Streets Alive, City of Evanston/Parks & Recreation, Experimental Station/Blackstone Bicycle Works, Dare2Tri Paratriathlon Club, League of American Bicyclists, Northbrook Cycle Committee, Northshore Radio Club, The Recyclery Collective, Ride Illinois, West Town Bikes, and Working Bikes. 

 
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Ride For Charity!
Ride For Charity!

Almost $200,000 is raised annually by our partner charitable organizations who participate in the North Shore Century as a fundraiser.  If you wish to ride in the North Shore Century with these organizations, the links below will take you to their registration or donation sites.


Over The Rainbow Association, the OTR Challenge Tour - Builds affordable, accessible apartment communities and provides services for individuals with physical disabilities to live high quality, independent lives. Over the Rainbow Association of Illinois Challenge Tour


 
 

EBC thanks the following for their support: