Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Tower Hamlets Wheelers

Traveling to London for the Olympics?  Visit one of the Community Bicycle Organizations.

Welcome to Tower Hamlets Wheelers


Come along and give your trusty cycle the maintenance it deserves.

Hands on workshop with Dr Bike ready to help if needed.

Tools, advice, special events, tea & cakes and friendly chat provided. We have some spare parts but bring your own to be sure.

What does it cost?

Free but donations are always welcome!

When is it?

Third Saturday of each month, 11am - 3pm

Check our diary page for the next date.

Don't arrive late if you've got lots to do!

Where is it?

Limehouse Town Hall, 646 Commercial Road E14 7HA

On NCN Route 1 opposite junction with Salmon Lane.

Need more info?

Contact: Owen 07903 018970 (if no answer it's probably quicker to email)

/http://www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk/workshop/http://www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk/workshop/

Monday, July 30, 2012

Olympic Cycling Results

The Dutch rider edged ahead at the end of a pulsating 140km race, which featured two climbs of Surrey's Box Hill.


With the peloton cast adrift, Great Britain's Lizzie Armitstead was in line for the Host Nation's first medal of the Games, but the question remained which colour.

Armitstead positioned herself behind Vos entering the finishing straight, but the Dutchwoman was strong enough to hold off the Briton, who had to settle for second.

Russia's Olga Zabelinskaya was third.

I knew I had a big chance but I also knew that if I made a little mistake then Lizzie would take the gold.

Marianne VosVos, who suffered a broken collarbone just two months ago, said after the dramatic sprint finish: 'I knew Lizzie was really fast on the line so I was not at all confident.

'I knew I had a big chance but I also knew that if I made a little mistake then Lizzie would take the gold.

'So I had to choose the right moment at the finish and, yeah, I think I did.'



Happy Birthday, Arnold

64.  "I'll Be Back"

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Venus de Miles

WELCOME GODDESSES


Venus de Miles is a lot of things - a celebration of sisterhood, support for Greenhouse Scholars, and crazy fun - but one thing it's not is a race. Join us for our first year - because this ride isn't about setting a great time, it's about having one.

Online registration is now closed for the event. Not to fret, you can register the morning of the ride starting at 6AM for $99.

Need more information about the event? Visit http://illinois.venusdemiles.com/.

Lake Forest





Saturday, July 28, 2012

Ride Alive - ALIVE Rescue

Wrangle up your two-wheeler & teammate.....Registration is underway!!!! ALIVE Rescue has created Ride Alive, a two person team scavenger hunt on bicycles! This event is sure to be the rescue event of the year! Teams will begin the race at The Little Barn, located at 2227 W. Belmont in the Roscoe Village neighborhood and cross the finish line at Canine Crews, located at 1616 N. Washtenaw in Humboldt Park, navigating fun tasks and interactive puzzles along the way. Canine Crews will be hosting a celebration for all event participants after the race, with food and drink, raffle prizes, and prizes for the teams that come in the first, second and third positions as well as those who raise the most funds through Firstgiving. All participants who register before July 16th will receive a Ride Alive t-shirt and gift bag filled with great items. Some of our awesome dogs who are looking for their forever homes will be there to greet the participants as well! This event kicks off at 10 AM and ends at 3 PM. To register: http://www.firstgiving.com/ALIVErescue/ride-alive For more information on ALIVE Rescue: www.aliverescue.org


Friday, July 27, 2012

London 2012 Olympic Cycling - Track

At the London 2012 Olympic Games, there are 10 gold medals in nine sessions up for grabs over six action-packed days in the Track Cycling competition.


Cycling has a long and fascinating history in the UK. As early as 1870, large crowds were drawn to races held in England on indoor wooden tracks, which closely resembled the velodromes of today.

Did you know...

In February 2011, the Velodrome became the first competition venue in the Olympic Park to be completed. At Beijing 2008, Chris Hoy became the first British athlete to win three gold medals at a single Olympic Games since 1908. Track Cycling was held indoors at the Olympic Games for the first time at Montreal 1976. Track bikes have a fixed wheel and no brakes: riders stop by putting pressure on the pedals.

Competition dates

Thursday 2 – Tuesday 7 August



Thursday, July 26, 2012

London 2012 Olympic Cycling - Road

At London 2012, a quartet of challenging, exciting Road Cycling events will energise the streets of London and Surrey.

According to popular legend, the first ever bicycle race was held in Paris in 1868 and was won by a 19-year-old cyclist from Suffolk named James Moore. It goes without saying that the sport has grown since these humble beginnings. More than 140 years after Moore’s triumph, Road Cycling events draw huge crowds and enormous TV audiences around the world. The four Olympic medal events at London 2012 should see the streets of London and Surrey packed with passionate fans. They are likely to be among the largest road cycling events of all time.

The first bicycle is thought to have been created by a Frenchman, Comte de Sivrac, in 1790. However, it wasn’t very functional: it lacked a steering system and pedals, and was made of a wooden frame and solid wheels.The first Olympic Games Road Race in 1896 was from Athens to Marathon, and back again. Only six riders took part.Canada’s Clara Hughes is one of only four people to have won medals at the Summer Olympic Games and Winter Olympic Games. In Atlanta 1996, she took bronze in the Individual Road Race and Individual Time Trial, while in Salt Lake City 2002 she won bronze in the 5000m Speed Skating.Previous

Competition dates

Saturday 28, Sunday 29 July, and Wednesday 1 August



Wednesday, July 25, 2012

London Olympics 2012 Cycling - Mountain Bike

Rocky paths, tricky climbs and technical descents provide plenty of challenges for riders in the Mountain Bike competition.


Much like BMX, Mountain Biking is a young sport that has risen to worldwide popularity at an amazing rate. Fast and furious, the sport developed in northern California during the 1970s. However, it quickly spread from its low-key beginnings and now has a huge following around the globe, which has only grown since its arrival on the Olympic program in 1996.

Did you know...

Road Cycling did not feature on the Olympic programme at the Paris 1900, St Louis 1904 or London 1908 Games, but has appeared at every Games since 1912.

Events are scheduled for July 28, 29, and August 1


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

London Olympics 2012 - Cycling - BMX


Having made its debut at the Beijing 2008 Games, the fast and furious sport of BMX makes its second Olympic appearance at the London 2012 Games and is the most recent discipline to have been added to the program.

Taking place at the BMX Track in the Olympic Park, the London 2012 competition will see 48 competitors (32 men and 16 women) compete over three days from Wednesday 8 to Friday 10 August.

The brand new 400-metre BMX Track is located next to the Velodrome in the north of the Olympic Park. The entire venue covers a total area of 160m by 90m, slightly larger than the size of a football pitch. All athlete entries will be confirmed following the sport entries deadline on 9 July 2012.









Monday, July 23, 2012

Great Britain's Bradley Wiggins Wind Tour de France

It was a rare sight at the Tour de France: The yellow jersey holder charging down the streets of Paris at the head of the peloton, trying to set up a teammate for a sprint victory on the final stage.


Bradley Wiggins turned his victory lap into another exhibition at the Tour de France.

With Wiggins heading for a historic victory at the end of a largely ceremonial ride into the French capital, there was one last job to perform before savoring his achievement of becoming the first British rider to win cycling's biggest race.

As with everything else over the last three weeks, Wiggins did it to perfection - leading the team Sky train for parts of the final kilometers before pulling back to let Mark Cavendish secure yet another sprint victory.

Only then was it time for Wiggins to take it all in - the British flags waving in the heart of Paris, the view of the Champs-Elysees from the top of the podium and ''God Save the Queen'' being sung in his honor.

''It's been a magical couple of weeks for the team and for British cycling,'' Wiggins said. ''Some dreams come true. My mother over there, she's now - her son has won the Tour de France.''

Thanks AP for this article

106 Bicycles collected at the Buffalo Grove Farmer's Market

BUFFALO GROVE — It will not be worth much if you try to sell it, but if you give it away, you may unlock its real value.


In the northwest suburbs, buying a bicycle can be cheap and trying to sell a used one can be useless. At Sunday’s Buffalo Grove Farmers Market, however, a local agency will collect unwanted bikes, in any condition, in a drive that will make them worth something again.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re broken,” said Mark Steuer, a member of the Buffalo Grove Environmental Action Team. “We even accept parts. If you only have pedals or inner tubes, we’ll take them.”

Steuer is organizing the group’s third-annual collection of unwanted bikes, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday at the market, 951 N. McHenry Road, near the Rylko Community Park sprayground. The donations will go to the Working Bikes Cooperative, a Chicago nonprofit that repairs old bicycles and delivers them to underdeveloped nations, where having two wheels can open a recipient up to new job and educational opportunities.

“We do this every chance we get,” Working Bikes founder Lee Ravenscroft said of partnering with other agencies for collections. “In a developing country, there’s no junkyards. Everything is reused. Used bikes don’t have a lot of value here, but they are worth a lot there.”

That could change as bicycles become more commonly used in the suburbs.

“There’s a huge business behind getting the streets safe for bicyclists,” said Barb Cornew, suburban outreach coordinator for the Active Transportation Alliance – one of several groups, she said, hoping to make the collar of Chicagoland more welcoming to riders.

ATA is an advocacy and consulting group that markets biking, walking and public transportation to municipal authorities and planning agencies. Cornew said she believed that, in the years to come, residents of villages built to be driven to and through will embrace the health, environmental and economic benefits of riding. As they do, the ATA and other organizations are lobbying planners to design streets with bicycle traffic built in.

“All roadways should accommodate all users,” Cornew said. “The roadways really need to be thought about.”

Jerry Meyerhoff, another member of Buffalo Grove’s Environmental Action Team, said street-layout changes would have to be accompanied by changes in the thought process.

“We’ve got this suburban mentality of ‘automobile,’” Meyerhoff said. “Now, we’re trying to undo that. A lot of people perceive, ‘Well, I put my bike on my car, and I drive to a trail.’ In Illinois, we have a 3-foot rule and hardly anybody knows about it — except bicyclists.”

Cornew said that major vehicle paths like Lake Cook Road likely will never be targeted for bicycle traffic; smaller streets that carry fewer cars will serve that purpose better. Of course, any change to make streets more bike friendly, be it adding new stripes for a shared lane or the construction of a new multiuse path, will require funding.

“Biking is definitely huge in the suburbs,” Cornew said. “The goal is really to get these plans to develop.”

Cornew and Ravenscroft noted that communities will need to work together, as a bicycle lane that ends at one suburb’s city limit does little good to a pedal-powered commuter.

“Do they go where you need to go? Can you get safely to the Metra station, that’s the thing,” Ravenscroft said. “There’s plenty of places to go to exercise, but can you get to work?”

One way to start a change locally, Steuer said, was to get people thinking about their unused bicycles. He said the team’s collection drive brought 60 cycles to Working Bikes in 2010 and 90 in 2011, despite the second year being cut to only two hours because of a downpour.

Steuer believes there are more bikes that could be donated Sunday — owners holding onto bicycles for sentimental reasons or mistakenly thinking that it is a collectible or worthless junk.

“They think it has no value, or they think it has too much value and it’s an antique or something,” Steuer said. “It’s a lot of those bikes we’re getting.”

Ride your bike to Lollapalooza


August 3-5, Grant Park.  Stop by and visit the Working Bikes display



Sunday, July 22, 2012

Prairie State Tandem Rally

2012 Prairie State Tandem Rally


July 27-29, 2012

Yet again, the Chicago Area Tandem Society has decided to support the Prairie State Tandem Rally. The Prairie State Tandem Rally was designed to feature a ride held in the state of Illinois - The Prairie State. The plan is to again provide a simple, affordable rally, with an eye towards good riding and high sociability.

The rally this year will be held in Dixon, Illinois. You can visit their online Welcome Center at www.discoverdixon.com Dixon boasts much history, including the only statue of President Abraham Lincoln in military uniform, as he served part of his federal military service at Fort Dixon, as well as being the boyhood home of President Ronald Reagan. Dixon is located approximately 100 miles west of downtown Chicago, along the Rock River.



Saturday, July 21, 2012

Tour de Fat

New Belgium Brewing's annual Tour de Fat rolls into Chicago today. Registration begins at 9am in Palmer Square, with a parade beginning at 10am followed by music, beer and cycling-related fun until 4pm. Los Amigos Invisibles, The Cleverlys, Mucca Pazza, The Moth storytelling, Yo-Yo People, Sssnakenstein and The Racketeers bicyle troupe perform.  Proceeds benefit West Town Bikes. 

Friday, July 20, 2012

Muddy Buddy - Gilbert, Illinois

Muddy Buddy Bike & Run


•2-person team & 1 Bike

•Bike & Run 6-7 miles with 5 obstacles

•Each buddy switches between running and biking every mile

•Finish together in the Mud Pit!

Both buddy options include the legendary Muddy Buddy elements: two teammates, awesome obstacles and the infamous 50-foot-long, sloppy mud pit that buddies crawl through together to finish as official “Muddy Buddies.”

muddybuddy.com

Thursday, July 19, 2012

New York Bike Lanes Booby-Trapped with thumb tacks

New York City Cyclists are crying foul after a rash of incidents involving thumb tacks being left on the bike trails in Central Park.  More than a dozen cyclists have reportedly been injured and many more have endured flat bicycle tires, as the riders demand that police collar the person involved. 

thank you MSN for this article

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Happy Birthday Richard Branson

Nice Working Bike!!!

Sanctuary Ski & Social Club

Join Sanctuary Club members in New Glarus,Wisconsin located in south central Wisconsin just 40 miles north of Freeport,Illinois.


New Glarus is a popular tourist destination best know for its Swiss heritage, old world architecture, ethnic dining and local microbreweries. You can also find folk art, museums, and a Swiss style bakery, meat market and shops.

On Saturday, they will bike the scenic Badger State trail that travels betweenMadison and the Wisconsin/Illinois border. The trail runs through farmlands, woods, rolling hills and several small communities. It also boasts the 1,200 foot long Steward Tunnel. The tunnel is built on a curve, so you can not see the end and requires a flashlight to navigate thru. The next day they will bike the Sugar River Trail, an abandoned railroad line, that features 14 trestle bridges and a replica covered bridge. It is also a designated National Recreation Trail.

Sanctuary Ski Club is a Chicago area ski, snow-board and social club. They meet at Cabana Charley’s, 6315 Main Street, Woodridge, IL 60517 on the first and third Wednesdays of every month at 8:00 pm. This ski club is open to those 21 and over with an interest in having fun and enjoying outdoor activities. Non-members are always welcome at their meetings and events.


Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Bike-In Movie

Bike-In movie at the 1550 Bar rooftop. 

Tuesday, July 17!

They will be screening Rushmore at 8:30pm. Stop by the 1550 Bar between 7:30pm - 8:15pm for a pre-reception with New Belgium Beer specials. Admission is $5 and can be paid at the door. All proceeds will benefit local non-profit Fresh Moves. Register in advance and be entered to win a special prize. Be one of the first 50 people to register in advance and you will get a special goodie bag!
Sign up today by calling 312-587-0648

Monday, July 16, 2012

Touring Ride in Rural Indiana

RAINSTORM™ offers an intensive week of cycling for riders preferring longer distances. Each day's route is approximately 100 miles, and there are no layover days.


RAINSTORM™ travels over hard-surfaced back roads in southern Indiana. Terrain ranges from rolling to hilly; expect to be challenged. Lodging in Indiana State Park inns (three nights) and nice hotels (two nights) is included in the tour fee. All accommodations offer comfortable beds, air conditioning, and free WiFi.

Four breakfasts and three dinners are included; menus are carefully planned for sound nutrition and variety, and include options for vegetarian and diabetic participants. At the Indiana State Park Inns, buffets are served in the inn dining rooms. Dinners in Bloomington and Terre Haute (carbo loading the night before RAIN™) are on your own.


July 16-21

triri.org

spinzonecycling.com

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Evanston Grand Prix

Sunday • July 15, 2012 • Evanston, Illinois


Downtown Evanston will be bustling all day for the annual Evanston Grand Prix. Get up close and personal with Olympics-level cyclists as they careen around the city streets clocking in at more than 30 mph.

Come early and visit the local shops on the course which starts at Fountain Square. Choose from 70+ restaurants — many featuring outdoor dining — or relax in the 312 Urban Wheat Ale Beer Garden, ALL along the racecourse. Enjoy a dance party and bring the kids for their own bicycle race on Sunday afternoon before the pro series begins. But don't miss the main event: Pro Races Begin at 4:00 pm.



Saturday, July 14, 2012

Ride For AIDS Chicago July 14-15, 2012

Ride for AIDS Chicago is a two-day 200-mile bicycling event produced by TPAN and designed to raise needed monies for TPAN and Community Partners

Friday, July 13, 2012

Bike to Pitchfork

Bike To Pitchfork! (And volunteer for a free day pass!)


Pease email Ginny Cook: http://gcook@chicagoreader.com

The Chicago Reader is back with the Chicago Reader Biker Villages at Pitchfork this year, providing over 10,000 square feet of safe & secure parking, plus free water, grease for chains, and air for tires provided by The Bike Lane. The larger village is located in the North West corner of Ashland and Madison and the smaller village is located at 235 N Ashland, in the parking lot of Cobra Lounge. When you head into the festival, check out their booth inside where they will be giving away icy bandannas and taking festival photos.

Need tickets? Volunteer in the Biker Village for FREE day passes and a custom Biker Village tshirt! Your responsibility will be to greet bikers as they arrive, help them lock their bikes should they need assistance, communicate with Pitchfork staff to keep amenities stocked, and monitor the facility to keep bikes secure. Five-hour shifts are still available. Please email Ginny Cook:

Thank you thechainlink.org for this post

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Taste of Chicago

Taste of Chicago is the nation's premier outdoor food festival showcasing the diversity of Chicago's dining community. The delicious array of food served at Taste of Chicago is complemented by music and exciting activities for the entire family.  July 11-15th. 

Biking:



Bike parking is available on the perimeter of Grant and Millennium Parks. Visit the Chicago Bicycle Program for maps, safety, and other information.



Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Oswego Para-Cyclist Heads to London

Oswego para-cyclist Joe Berenyi is headed to London after his third-place finish in the Paralympic road cycling championships.


The 43-year-old cyclist was named to the 17-person roster, beating out more than 110 para-cyclists for his slot in the Paralympic Games to be held Aug. 29 through Sept 9. Berenyi’s road to London has not been easy. After losing his right arm in a construction accident nearly 18 years ago, the once athletic Berenyi was forced to live without sports for several years, the Beacon-News reported. But that didn't stop him from getting back on a bicycle. His two-wheeled bike, adjusted to hold all gear and brake functions on the left side, and his drive to win earned Berenyi the Olympic berth he’s been working for. He told the Beacon the only thing left on his mind, outside of winning a medal in the upcoming Paralympic Games, is getting his wife and three children to the London Games. Athletes By Design, one of Berenyi’s sponsors for the Games, hosted a fundraiser last week in hopes of raising money to send the family to London. Berenyi is set to appear in the Paralympic cycling event beginning Sept. 5.



Monday, July 9, 2012

Big Water Bike

On May 1st, 2012, two adventurers hit the saddle and began their journey around all of the North American Great Lakes. This 5300 mile expedition will take just 97 days to complete and will take them through 2 countries, 8 states, and over 20 major cities. The expedition will all be caught in HD and later turned into a feature documentary.


The team invites anyone to join them at anytime. They have a spot tracker on their webpage that you can follow to see where they are at.

They will be in Chicago on July 9th, following as close to the lake as possible. They will start the day leaving Indiana Dunes and heading up to Illinois Beach State park. They would appreciate it if people rode along and got them safely through town. if nothing else people who ride along have a chance to be in the film.

bigwaterbike.com

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Pedal America

I was watching Pedal America when I saw an episode filmed in Sedona Arizona initiated at the Bike & Bean.  Check it out...

iradavidspedalamerica.com
bike-bean.com

TART Cherry Bike Tour

The National Cherry Festival, in cooperation with the Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails, Inc. (TART TRAILS), is proud to present the TART Cherry Bike Tour, on Sunday, July 8, 2012.

Formerly known as the Old Mission Bike Tour, this revamped event will stroll along the TART Trails in Leelanau County to the MSU Horticultural Research Station. Enjoy rolling hills and orchard views along the 22 mile ride.

Registration is now open! A portion of your registration fee will be donated to The TART Trails, Inc. For more information about the TART Trails, or to obtain a map of the trails, please visit http://www.traversetrails.org/.









Saturday, July 7, 2012

Happy Birthday Ringo - July 7, 1940

Richard Starkey, better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for the Beatles.

Friday, July 6, 2012

America's Top 10 Bike-Friendly Cities

Coming in at #5, Chicago, IL


Population: 2,695,598

When former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel took over as mayor in 2010, he brought with him Washington’s forward-thinking former transportation director, Gabe Klein, and an ambitious agenda to reinvigorate Chicago’s bike network. The Streets for Cycling 2020 plan calls for the installation of 100 miles of separated bike lanes over the next four years, a commitment local bike advocates refer to as “staggering.”

There’s already a lot to love. A protected bike lane on Kinzie Street was installed in just six weeks; cyclists now account for 51 percent of the traffic during rush hour. Other funded projects include turning an elevated railway into a bike path and expanding the bike-share system to 5,000 bikes. During Chicago’s Bike the Drive event each May, thousands of cyclists flock to Lake Shore Drive for a car-free 30-mile ride.

In case you were wondering, Washington D.C. came in 4th, Boulder, Co. 3rd, Minneapolis, MN. 2nd, and the #1 Bike-Friendly City is..........Portland, OR.  Thank you Bicycling Magazine for the article

http://fitbie.msn.com/slideshow/america-s-top-10-bike-friendly-cities/slide/5





Thursday, July 5, 2012

Film: Hell on Wheels

Film: "Hell on Wheels"


Jul 5, 2012 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Chicago, IL

The Tour de France is not only the most difficult bicycle race in the world, but also a major sporting event, like the Olympic Games or the World Cup. Its venue is an entire country. Major differences in altitude and a competitive field made up of nearly 200 cyclists place enormous demands on the participants. When Pepe Danquart shot his intimate portrait of the Tour de France in 2003, one of the largest sporting events in the world celebrated its 100th anniversary. Yet HELL ON WHEELS is neither an historical review nor a sports report, but a documentary that focuses on the cyclists as people as well as France’s nationwide public festival that unfolds around the tour. Following the rhythm of the daily stages, Danquart plunges into the cyclists’ world, portraying their respect for this “hellish route” and what makes it so distinctive.

Pepe Danquart was born in 1955 in Singen and reached international acclaim as the director of the short film SCHWARZFAHRER, taking home the Oscar in 1994. In addition to his directorial work, the co-founder of the “Medienwerkstatt Freiburg” film collective has taught at the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin and at the Film Academy Baden-Wuerttemberg in Ludwigsburg. Since 2008, he has been Professor for Film at the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg.



© Goethe-Institut Chicago

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Need a Get-Away? How about Breckenridge, Co.?

4th Annual Bicycle Festival in Breckenridge, Colorado


Thursday, July 5 – Sunday, July 8, 2012

Breck Bike Week: Join the Community of Cyclists from novice pedalers to pro riders there is something for all levels of bikers!

One of “Breck’s” best kept secrets is its expansive backcountry trail network – an interconnected system that can be accessed from anywhere in town within two minutes and leading to hundreds of miles of riding across Summit County. Recently named a silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, Breckenridge introduces visitors to pedal paradise during the annual Breck Bike Week.

Kicked off by the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Marathon National Championships, the Firecracker 50 on July 4, visitors will be able to race or partake in all the non-competitive aspects of Breck Bike Week including high-end bike demos, led group rides, bike-in movie nights, trail building, lectures, clinics, bike fits and tunes, kids’ races, daily Tour de France viewing parties and more. The bonus is that all Breck Bike Week activities are FREE and open to everyone. In addition, this week will showcase the town’s history as well as shopping, dining, lodging, other unique activities and temperate summer weather.

Breckenridge is a unique mountain resort in comparison to its neighbors in that it is an authentic historic mining town full of full-time outdoorsy residents who want nothing more than to introduce visitors to the bike paths, trails and roads that make up their backyard bike playground. Breck Bike Week will do just that. In addition, Breck is surrounded by a trail network the width and breadth of which is unsurpassed in North America, a resource the community is very committed to protect and preserve…while still enjoying it to its fullest. While here, cyclists are invited to give back to the trails through trail building workshops. Breck Bike Week is a feast for cyclists of all types and truly communicates the town’s passion for biking.

Todd Spaur - Artist

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47997194/ns/today-today_news/t/payback-painter-thanks-town-kindness-mural/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47997194/ns/today-today_news/t/payback-painter-thanks-town-kindness-mural/

Here's a tragic story with a happy ending.  Happy 4th of July, Todd!

4th of July

Celebrate our independence and never take it for granted.

Happy 4th of July!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Fox River Bike Trail

Fox River Bike Trail


Region: Chicago & Beyond Dawn until dusk, a 36 m. trail is the forefront of outdoor recreation passing through Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia and Aurora. It winds along the banks of the Fox River through miles of prairie grass, overshadowing trees and blooming flowers. Running from Algonquin in the north, south to Aurora.  For more information call 847 695-7540



Monday, July 2, 2012

Wind in the City @ Millennium Park

Ride your bike over to Millennium Park today!

Chicago Wilderness is the featured partner in the Family Fun Activity Zone for the Millennium Park Family Fun Festival’s “Wild in the City” week, July 2-9. The Family Fun Festival is sponsored by Target and presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture.

July 2, 2012 10:00am - 3:00pm