Chris Zois

Chicago is filled with great breweries and amazing attractions, but there's nothing wrong with leaving city limits if you need a bit of variety to your life. There's a ton of great stuff in our neighborhoods, but the suburbs (and neighboring state Indiana) contain particle accelerators, sought-after beer and even a state park. If you're an intrepid cyclist who knows the rules of the road (and doesn't mind getting lost a few times), you'll love these long-distance bike routes to destinations well beyond Chicago. Test your strength, endurance and sense of direction with these far-reaching bike trips. RECOMMENDED: Check out more Chicago bike routes

If you're the kind of person who pedals to Chicago's best attractions on a regular basis, you probably don't need much help figuring out how to navigate the city on two wheels. Hard-core Chicago cyclists don't let traffic, mother nature or stop them from getting where they need to be. While you're gliding across our city's pavement, why not see some public art, have a drink at a tiki bar or navigate the historic boulevard system. Show off your skills and go for a spin on these advanced routes. RECOMMENDED: Check out more Chicago bike routes

If you've frequented your local bike shop and tuned up your ride, you're ready to tackle some casual routes throughout Chicago. For the most part, you won't have to worry about dealing with traffic—these routes stick to paths and trails that are cyclist-friendly. Along the way, you'll encounter hot dog stands, scenic views and some reminders of the city's rich history. Hop on your bike, bring a lock and prepare for a leisurely roll. RECOMMENDED: Check out more Chicago bike routes

Dipping your toes into city cycling? Not ready to commit to buying a bike? Thankfully, Chicago is a place where you can experience the thrills of two-wheeled exploration without actually owning a bicycle. Find a Divvy station, rent a bright blue bike and take it out for a spin (a half-hour at a time). If you're looking for easy rides that, we've put together a list of Divvy-friendly bike routes that will take you across the 606 and to some of the best museums in Chicago. Don't forget to pack a helmet! RECOMMENDED: Check out more Chicago bike routes

Chicago is full of bands making heavy, loud music, but Pelican stands out as one of the city’s most beloved purveyors of sludgy riffs. To put things in perspective: The group boasts not one, but two Three Floyds beers named after its songs—that’s like the metal equivalent of winning a Grammy. Though Pelican quit touring full-time in 2009, the group has played regular shows in Chicago and released a new EP, The Cliff, earlier this year. Guitarist Trevor de Brauw sat down to chat about Pelican’s current status, its upcoming gig at the Empty Bottle and the possibility of a new full-length record. Pelican is no longer a full-time touring band. Could you explain how you made that decision?After five years of living in a van and trying to write albums in the brief breaks between tours we started to feel burned out. We decided that the best way to keep the band going and continue feeling passionate about it was to hit the brakes and figure out how to integrate the band into our lives in a way that was healthier for ourselves mentally and creatively. Since that time a couple of us have started families and careers, so there’s limitations to how much we can do with the band, but it occupies a very important place in our lives and we wouldn’t trade it for anything. How did the December tour come about?We were offered a headlining slot at the Scorched Tundra Festival in Sweden. Since [drummer] Larry [Herweg] has to fly in to Chicago for rehearsals, it seemed like we ought to play a Chic