Rockford will also serve as a major hub during Harley's 105th anniversary rides; a good number of the routes go right through town. That's all well and good, say a few locals we spoke with recently, but for epic scenery and a unique destination, they recommend heading west to Galena, near the Mississippi River. U.S. 20 west from Rockford shunts you through Freeport, site of the famous second Lincoln-Douglas debate, and if you continue west to Rte. 73 into the town of Lena, you'll want to reward yourself with the best soft-serve ice cream west of the Rockies at the Lena Drive Inn.
West again, out of Lena, is the historic Stagecoach Trail, one of the most scenic 40 miles of road in the state. The normally flat topography of Illinois morphs into green hills, with farmhouses and barns that look like a scene out of the 1850s. You'll roll through small, sleepy towns with names like Waddams Grove, Apple River and Scales Mound. The winding two-laner, with its tight turns and switchbacks, should be about perfect for a day cruise or even a weekend rumble.
The end of the trail takes you to the top of Main Street in Galena, where 85 percent of the town is on the national Register of Historic Places. Tour President Ulysses S. Grant's abode or browse the quaint Main Street shops.
Another option? Start in Rockford along South Main Street and ride along the ultra-scenic Rock River, down through Byron, on to Oregon and then Dixon. During the fall you can stop in on Byron's annual, uh, Turkey Testicle Festival. Hey, you asked -AC
The Goods
Starting Point: Rockford, IL
Distance: 87 miles
Eats: Lena Drive Inn304 N. Freedom St., Lena, IL 61048
Best Time of Year: Spring to fall
Points of Interest: Home of President Ulysses S. Grant
resources:
www.kegelmotorcycles.com.
www.gorockford.com
SnowBird Alert:
Arizona If you're looking for a warm-weather destination this winter, there's a new option available in Arizona. Sedona-based WildWind Motorcycle Tours has launched a series of escorted programs through the land of towering crimson cliffs, including Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Canyon De Chelly and "secret paradises known only to us," according to WildWind. Tours begin at $100 for a half-day, and custom tours can be specially built to combine with horseback riding, ATV tours, helicopter rides, hikes and other theme activities. Self-ride, off-season and group rates are available, and WildWind can arrange bike rentals, too. Visit www.wildwindmctours.com or call 602-690-2864.
A Mini Buyer's Guide To
Extreme Cold-Weather Gloves
A wise man once said, "If you can't feel your hands, it's too cold to ride." He may have been onto something: Throttle, brake and clutch operation all require acute motor skills, which can go south if your extremities get too cold. Even with heated grips, you still need the appropriate mitts to keep your hands warm and provide protection should the rubber side go up. According to the manufacturers, the gloves assembled here should keep your hands toasty down to about 30 degrees Fahrenheit (air temperature), though your results will vary.
Dainese Gore-Tex Jerico Gloves $159Cowhide, Lorica and thermoformed inserts (over the knuckles) protect your hands on the outside, while a waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex membrane and Primaloft insulation keep things warm and dry inside. A strap and cuff zipper makes sure they stay put.www.dainese.com | 
Olympia Gloves 4298 Gore-Tex 2in1 Commander $65The Commander is two gloves in one. The first provides less insulation on the palm and fingertips for maximum grip and feel, while the second provides full Primaloft insulation for greater warmth. You get all this, plus leather palms and a Gore-Tex liner.www.olympiagloves.com | 
Firstgear Commander Waterproof Gloves $50Exterior protection is provided by a leather palm and abrasion-resistant soft armor panels on the back. 3M Thinsulate provides warmth, and Hipora inserts keep the Commanders waterproof and breathable. A wrist strap secures them, and a gauntlet drawcord keeps out the cold.www.firstgear-usa.com |
Joe Rocket Nitrogen Gloves $70These gloves have cowhide on top, goathide on the bottom and high-density foam on the knuckles for serious hand protection. Chamude (synthetic leather) palms provide better grip, with Thermolite insulation for warmth and a waterproof Dry Tech liner for comfort.www.joerocket.com | 
Rev' IT! Fahrenheit Gloves $150The Fahrenheit features Schoeller Phase Change Material for insulation (it's claimed to maintain a constant internal temperature), along with a carbon-fiber knuckle protector. Outers are a combination of goatskin, Pittards leather and cowhide. A Hydratex membrane provides waterproofing with breathability.www.revit.eu | 
Roadgear Ultra Gloves $66With a breathable, waterproof Hipora liner and 3M Thinsulate, the Ultras should be a good choice for winter rides. Glove shells are cowhide, with extra-long gauntlets and Keprotec reinforced palms. Note that Roadgear claims these gloves have a 35-60-degree F comfort zone.www.roadgear.com |
Spidi Nk2 H2out Touring Gloves $100Although leather is used in potential abrasion areas, these gloves have a predominantly Cordura shell combined with Primaloft insulation and an H2OUT waterproof/breathable liner. There's also a plastic knuckle guard, padding on the back and sides, plus wrist and cuff straps.www.motonation.com | 
Tour Master Winter Elite Gloves $100Tour Master claims the Elites' flexibility helps eliminate hand fatigue while maintaining the warmth of bulkier gloves. Thinsulate Liteloft helps achieve this goal, while a waterproof and breathable Hipora liner keeps your hands dry. Goatskin and sheepskin provide exterior abrasion resistance.www.helmethouse.com | 
RS Taichi RST557 Gore-Tex Armed Winter Gloves $100 These gloves feature a unique aluminum coating in the liner for extra warmth, with a Gore-Tex insert handling the waterproofing. Pittards leather palms improve grip, carbon fiber protects knuckles and a "double blade wind-shield wiper" on the left thumb keeps visors clear.www.motoliberty.com |
Teknic Thunder Gloves $60With the Thunders, cowhide, a Keprotec-lined double-leather palm and rubber foam protect your hands on the outside, and Thermolite keeps them warm on the inside. A waterproof and breathable Powerskin II Z liner offers comfort and hook-and-loop straps keep the gloves securely fastened.www.teknicgear.com | 
Shift Torrent SS Waterproof Gloves $50For its tough exterior, the Torrent combines a goatskin palm (with Chamude reinforcements) and a windproof nylon back. Hipora inserts keep hands dry, while a microfleece wrist cuff helps keep them warm, and wrist and gauntlet straps keep it all snug.www.shiftmx.com | |