Spring Cycle Camp '24
Events We Ride
Individually, we take on rides from Colorado's Triple Bypass to climbs in the French Alps to local criteriums, sanctioned either by American Bicycle Racing or USA Cycling. We ride the events listed below more or less as a club. We also organize a spring pilgrimage to North Georgia, tackling climbs featured in the Six Gap Century and the old Tour of Georgia.
Grand Fondo New York — Sunday, May 19, 2024. An intense, European-style fondo for lovers of green kits.
Dairyland Dare — Saturday, Aug 3, 2024. Hilly, bucolic Wisconsin splendor in serving sizes from 50k to 200k.
GFNY Rockford — early August? TBD. The New York vibe comes to us! Long & medium courses.
Ride across Wisconsin — Sat/Sun, Aug 17/18, 2024. One- and two-day options; mixed-surface and all-paved route options; cows not optional.
Race the Lake — Sunday, Aug 18, 2024. Circumnavigate Lake Winnebago. Fast or chill: wave start times, from 25 to 15 mph.
Bike the Drive — Sunday, Sept 1, 2024. DuSable Lake Shore Drive as it was meant to be—and a key fundraiser for safer and more equitable non-car transportation in Chicago! Combine coupon code FINAL5 and an Active Transportation Alliance membership for best pricing. Some of us ride from Pickwick to the north entrance of DLSD then bike back. Details below:
55- and 30-mile options: Meet at the Pickwick, time TBD, for a 12-mile route on quiet city streets to muster at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, 5649 N Sheridan Rd. If you skip the first 12 miles, join here before we enter DuSable Lake Shore Drive at Hollywood. DLSD is a 30-mile loop. We rest halfway, at Museum of Science & Industry, for food & T-shirt pickup. Rubber bands will help fit that shirt into a jersey pocket. Upon completing the loop, muster again at St. Andrew's before heading home. • Driving downtown, you unfortunate soul? Try Grant Park South garage. Ample volunteers guide cyclists riding up the garage ramp onto DLSD. • Too smart to drive? Take a Blue Line to Monroe and Dearborn, a half-mile from Grant Park. Or board Metra to Ogilvie, then take the 1-mile protected bike lane to Grant Park (Washington outbound; Randolph back). Metra leaves at 7:51 AM and returns 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM; they usually add an extra early AM inbound and a extra 1:30 outbound for BTD, but please confirm! Bikes are allowed on all CTA and Metra trains; bring a bungie cord for Metra.
Door County Century — Sunday, Sept 8, 2024. An overnight or weekend. Count on someone here to book a huge airbnb.
North Shore Century — Sunday, Sept 15, 2024. Pay to ride our usual roads.... but in support of a good cause!
Apple Cider Century — Sunday, Sept 29, 2024. Tour Michiana backroads before the season wraps up.
Where We Chat
Need a buyer for your old ride, or a partner for an impromptu ride? Got a photo to share? Join Park Ridge Cycling's Facebook group. Not an email fan? You'll see our weekly ride times posted here, too.
Strava users: You can follow every cyclist in town—or join our Strava club instead. Club rides will appear in your feed separately from your activities and those of folks you follow. Use it to find a new local route, or simply add a post. You can specify whether your rides are visible to the club, to your followers, or just you. Strava's club FAQ is here and privacy details here.
Places We Go
Wheel & Sprocket — Our very own LBS. Great service and bikes of every type. Large stock on hand, plus access to anything at Wheel's other Illinois and Wisconsin shops. Village Green Shopping Center, 672 N Northwest Hwy, Park Ridge.
Beer on the Wall — End point of our Monday rides. Extensive beer list, a chill vibe, and fine food from their next-door companion, Off the Wall Café.
Hansa Coffee Roasters — Beloved Lake Bluff and Libertyville café stops. You're independent. So why drink chain-store coffee?
Active Life Yoga — Leader of our "Yoga for Athletes" sessions, Cindy Dienhart knows yoga, from stress reduction to strength training to pelvic floor therapy. Individual and group classes.
Peregrine Bicycle Studio — The best bike fitter in Chicago, plus road bike sales and service. Set up a new bike or help you love your old ride more.
Lee Physical Therapy Chicago — One-on-one PT. Deep experience with athletes to address injuries and their underlying cause. Arlington Hts., Chicago, and home visits.
Biking in Park Ridge — Local route map and a city plan for better biking.
Pothole or other danger? Report a road hazard to the Park Ridge public works dept.
Active Transportation Alliance — Advocate for safer and more equitable non-car transit options throughout the Chicago area and, of course, Bike the Drive's organizer.
