The CB1100 Community Forum

Sheridan Rd. is named for General Philip Sheridan. He was a Union general in the U.S. Civil War, served with distinction there.and eventually was promoted to General of the Army. He was stationed near Chicago at the time of the Great Fire and was instrumental in containing the fire to the extent it could be contained and for maintaining law and order in the days and weeks following the fire. We passed close to a statue of him on horseback (his likeness is on horseback -- we were still on the bikes) just about when I was taking the picture of the Edgewater Beach Apartments. The road on which we would travel for the next 25 miles or so stands in memorial to him as does Fort Sheridan which we would pass along the way.

Sheridan Rd. roughly follows the shoreline of Lake Michigan. It starts being called "Sheridan Rd." at Irving Park Road in Chicago and continues mostly straight north, keeping its name all the way to Racine, Wisconsin. Our original route took us only as far as downtown Highland Park, known (at least locally) for being the spot where Joel finally loses Guido "The Killer Pimp" after their late-night chase in the movie "Risky Business". The chase scene in the movie basically started on Lake Shore Drive at Oak Street (where Veech was gawking at the girls earlier). Thanks to the efficiency of my fellow riders, we had some extra time before dining so we explored a bit further north, into Lake Forest, before abandoning Sheridan Rd.'s tranquility for the chaos of an expressway for a brief spell on our way west to the restaurant.

Chicago is built in a flat, low-lying area. Glacial movement and melting at the end of the last Ice Age flattened the land there and filled Lake Michigan. As you proceed north from the city limits, you will probably not notice the elevation change, but it creeps higher. You can spot the changes at the beaches in each town on the North Shore. It's a nice gradual slope to the beach in Evanston, but by the time you get to Wilmette, the roads to the lakefront are quite steep and by the time you get to Glencoe, the access roads are actually made with switchbacks and you will often find a set of stairs to lead beach goers from the parking lots atop the bluffs to the coarse sand beaches below.

Sheridan Rd. is a tree-lined passage through this topography. Tree-lined and mansion-lined. Huge houses border both sides of the road for most of its length. It's a great road for motorcycling, but not because of the turns or steep elevation changes. Rather, it is shaded and quiet and, I think, relaxing. Folks out for a morning walk stroll down the sidewalks, sometimes with their dogs, every so often stepping aside to let a runner pass without breaking stride. And bicyclists. Many many bicyclists. For the most part on this ride, our manually-powered two-wheeled compatriots left us plenty of room to motor around them. On some mornings, though, I have run into peloton after peloton riding 3 or 4 across which makes passing very difficult. Luckily they are prohibited from riding on "My Road".

[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/1b3068b0af91666710acf00fce99ab4a_zpswdjkoisj.jpg.html]

Elsewhere in this forum is a thread titled "My Road" where members have written and submitted photos of their favorite local road. My submission was the short curvy stretch of Sheridan Rd. that runs for about 8/10ths of a mile (I just measured it on Google Maps and it's a bit longer than I have previously reported) from Tower Rd. in Winnetka down around and back up to Scott St. in Glencoe. This area of high bluffs overlooking the lake with a steep-walled valley running between them is called "The Ravines".

I stopped our group just before Tower Rd. and explained that I wanted to to my best "Killboy" impression (one of several photographers who take action photos along The Tail of The Dragon) and ride ahead to take photos of each rider as he navigated his CB1100 along "My Road". Riders would go through with about a 30 second interval between each and then re-group at the other end. I wasn't clear about where "the other end was" so they missed a couple of shallow but fun little bends before exiting the area. My Killboy impression turned out to be a bit lacking, but there are a few good shots of almost everyone....

Veech...
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/e1d771765ea923ee8b678574af4c1d63_zps3svpsy2a.jpg.html]
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/e3c3de0d5de3bde85509f39809d45980_zpsgrbrhvun.jpg.html]

Stratus...
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specialist8...
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[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/be13acebd36eb327e5e0a5a93ed6ea13_zps8lyx91zk.jpg.html]

Fritzwilliger...
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Todd_K...
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[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/aed86fc6f6a865dcc642a1615485829f_zpsbdxfhfiw.jpg.html]

Since these reports should have at least a little bit about how our bikes performed, here would be a good spot for my companions from the ride to chime in about how our bikes behaved on the curvy, bumpy, surfaces here.

Since we were riding the standard staggered approach, I had the honors of riding near the curb. Since Veech was in my same position, but ahead, I had the privilege of seeing what was to come based off his riding. There were a few bumps on the road where I swear my shocks fully compressed. Aside from that, the road conditions were good, but always be fearful when riding close to the curb, there's a lot of erosion to be mindful of that if you're not prepared, could send you easily off your bike.

The turns were pretty tight on some parts for an amateur like me. I got a good idea of how well the CB could do the twisty's though seeing such vets like MTC, Veech, and Stratus plowing right through them with ease.

BTW, the picture's of Todd_K turned out best I think. I think MTC figured out what burst shot meant right at that moment.

EmptySea-awesome pictures! I feel like I am getting educated every time I read your posts with all the knowledge you share. I too am full of information, but most of it is useless!

Specialist8, have you tried adjusting the preload on your shocks at all? If you were bottoming out you might want to go one click more on the rears. I did as I also have a large frame and it helped tighten things up for me. I haven't bottomed out since I did that last year. I think these bikes come set up for 170lb riders.

I agree that Todd_K's pics turned out great. That side shot could be in a magazine it is so good...

Veech, I haven't done that yet, but will get right on it. If it is setup for about 170lbs, I'm clearing that margin by about +45%!

You and me both brother! Last I weighed myself I was 230, but at least that was down from the 248 I weighed last Thanksgiving. No wonder we look like giants on these bikes!

After regrouping on the other end of this section of road, we continued a little further down (or up, I guess) and stopped at a beach in Glencoe for a refreshment break. It seems that Fritzwilliger's cooler..er..topbox was loaded with beer. Ok, ginger beer. Ok, ginger ale...and even that had to be "retro". Vernor's, I found later, is the oldest surviving ginger ale brand in the United States. Retro bikes. Retro drinks. Nice.
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/e7acef96cfc85ad26262385b7619372f_zpsntk89woi.jpg.html]
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[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/Glencoe_zpswjiiglc6.jpg.html]
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Notice the elevation difference between here and when we were downtown...
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/D1298CE9-E98D-470B-9C03-E5C963E13817_zpsgjzktxmp.jpg.html]

Sheridan Rd. north of Glencoe and into Highland Park has some nice sweeping turns and you can ride a bit faster here, too. Unless....
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/50af550348a2f92694ac93f9d9cd199c_zps28gohnqx.jpg.html]

Mmmm Vernors. Good stuff.

fritz ... camera shy? Lol

Nice observation ferret hahahah

Fritz is a highly intelligent type and was too busy pondering the mysteries of the universe to be distracted by a mere photograph...
More awesome pics EmptySea!

OK, so lets put some names to the faces. Going Left to Right:

Todd_K, veech, Stratus, Fritz, Specialist8

(06-30-2015, 04:56 AM)EmptySea_imp Wrote: [ -> ]After regrouping on the other end of this section of road, we continued a little further down (or up, I guess) and stopped at a beach in Glencoe for a refreshment break. It seems that Fritzwilliger's cooler..er..topbox was loaded with beer. Ok, ginger beer. Ok, ginger ale...and even that had to be "retro". Vernor's, I found later, is the oldest surviving ginger ale brand in the United States. Retro bikes. Retro drinks. Nice.
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/e7acef96cfc85ad26262385b7619372f_zpsntk89woi.jpg.html]
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/b4a9ec5bf8f0d1b012edb7504d64e411_zpsj1cp8hua.jpg.html]
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/Glencoe_zpswjiiglc6.jpg.html]
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/505868c9d9b50275eb9d22cf12dc18cc_zpslveqhhtl.jpg.html]

Notice the elevation difference between here and when we were downtown...
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/D1298CE9-E98D-470B-9C03-E5C963E13817_zpsgjzktxmp.jpg.html]

Sheridan Rd. north of Glencoe and into Highland Park has some nice sweeping turns and you can ride a bit faster here, too. Unless....
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/50af550348a2f92694ac93f9d9cd199c_zps28gohnqx.jpg.html]

Todd_K, veech, EmptySea, Fritz, Specialist8

(06-30-2015, 04:56 AM)EmptySea_imp Wrote: [ -> ]After regrouping on the other end of this section of road, we continued a little further down (or up, I guess) and stopped at a beach in Glencoe for a refreshment break. It seems that Fritzwilliger's cooler..er..topbox was loaded with beer. Ok, ginger beer. Ok, ginger ale...and even that had to be "retro". Vernor's, I found later, is the oldest surviving ginger ale brand in the United States. Retro bikes. Retro drinks. Nice.
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/e7acef96cfc85ad26262385b7619372f_zpsntk89woi.jpg.html]
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/b4a9ec5bf8f0d1b012edb7504d64e411_zpsj1cp8hua.jpg.html]
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/Glencoe_zpswjiiglc6.jpg.html]
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/505868c9d9b50275eb9d22cf12dc18cc_zpslveqhhtl.jpg.html]

Notice the elevation difference between here and when we were downtown...
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/D1298CE9-E98D-470B-9C03-E5C963E13817_zpsgjzktxmp.jpg.html]

Sheridan Rd. north of Glencoe and into Highland Park has some nice sweeping turns and you can ride a bit faster here, too. Unless....
[url=http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/emptysea43/media/LSD%20Trip/50af550348a2f92694ac93f9d9cd199c_zps28gohnqx.jpg.html]

MTC, GREAT POSTING. In fact the whole thread has been both interesting and entertaining.

(06-30-2015, 12:23 AM)specialist8_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Veech, keep in mind that those even/odds rules apply to the [b]majority[\b] of how the route/highway is laid out. For example, I90/94 clearly goes north and south for a good stretch in Illinois, but the majority of the route lies east-west. Also, wikipedia has some insightful info here:

Freeways that go into cites are called spur routes and start with an odd number. Freeways that go around cities are called loop routes and start with an even number. The last two digits in a spur or a loop route are the same as the freeway it started from.

I can't imagine why Cormanus and I spent some time standing by our bikes somewhere in the wilds of NC (or was it GA?), scratching our heads and thinking "WTFHAW?" Not lost, just "temporarily unsure of our position".

Cheers, and great thread.