Frozen Toes and Fresh Gravel: Metropolis, Illinois (State 1 of 48)
Let’s be honest: riding a bike in the middle of January when it’s 20 degrees outside is a special kind of crazy. But when you’ve got a brand-new bike and a New Year’s resolution burning a hole in your pocket, “crazy” starts to look a lot like “adventure.”
Today’s mission kicked off at a rest area just outside Metropolis, Illinois. The goal? A 25-mile shakedown ride on my new pride and joy—the ARI Shafer gravel bike. I only picked this beauty up on January 8th, so we’re still in the honeymoon phase. What better way to bond than freezing together?
Into the Woods (Literally)
Leaving the rest area, I cruised over to Metropolis proper and eagerly jumped onto a local bike trail that promised a scenic route through the woods. It started strong, but about a mile in, the trail decided it was done for the day. It just… stopped. Unfinished.
So there I was, surrounded by trees, staring at a dead end. I knew there was a road just south of me, but I was quite literally deep in the woods with no obvious exit. Turning back felt like defeat. Then, lo and behold, I spotted a tiny, rough trail cutting off the main path and heading down toward the road.
I didn’t hesitate. I jumped on that little path, bounced my way down, and hooked up to the road. Adventure: 1, Dead Ends: 0.
Gravel, Concrete, and Scenic Brookport, IL.
About a mile down the road, I started seeing signs for the bike trail again. I hopped back on, and this is where the ride really found its rhythm. The first few miles were pure gravel goodness—exactly what the Shafer was built for. The second half smoothed out into a nice concrete path. I made a mental note right then: I am definitely coming back here when spring and summer actually arrive.
I followed the trail to its end and was genuinely surprised by how bike-friendly the area is. There are bike routes everywhere! My wandering eventually led me to a pitstop on the south side of town, right on the banks of the Ohio River. Specifically, I found myself in Brookport, Illinois.
I took a moment to catch my breath and snap some photos of the bridge spanning the river. It was pretty awesome seeing that massive structure against the winter sky.
The Gear and The Grind
Cruising out of town about 10 miles, I hit the real country roads. Even in the dead of winter, with everything brown and dormant, the scenery was starkly beautiful. It’s quiet out there when the world is frozen.
Speaking of frozen—let’s talk about the gear.
This ride was the maiden voyage for some serious climbing on the ARI. There were a few hills that forced me to dump the chain into the easiest gear. I have to say, I am absolutely loving the 10-52 cassette on the SRAM Rival AXS 12-speed. The electronic shifting (E-Tap) is superb. I was wearing thick Gore-Tex gloves to keep my hands from falling off, and shifting was still effortless. Just a tap, and click-whir, perfect gear.
The only serious issue? My feet. They got freaking cold. But honestly, it was 20 degrees. What did I expect?
One Down, 47 to Go
Despite the frozen toes and the detour through the woods, this was a fantastic ride. It’s the longest I’ve done on the new bike so far, and more importantly, it marks the official start of my big resolution: to ride in every state in the continental 48.
Illinois is in the books. The ARI Shafer is broken in. And my feet are finally starting to thaw out.
Onto the next state!
New Year’s Mission
I’m on a mission this year to pedal my way across all 48 continental states, and my new ARI Shafer gravel bike is going to be my trusty sidekick for every mile. If you love a good adventure, want to see some wild places, or just enjoy laughing at my misadventures (frozen toes and all), stick around and follow along. I can’t wait to share every twist, turn, and trail with you—so keep checking back and join me for the ride!
