Touring Ride: Let's See . . . Income Taxes or a Bike Ride to Oak Brook?

START: Clock Tower at Waveland and Lake Shore Dr. (3700N)

8:00 AM

60 miles, 15 to 18 mph

You've got better things to do with your weekend than your income tax filings. So come out and ride points west and south past historic Graue Mill to the Fullersburg Nature Preserve in trendy bucolic Oak Brook - conveniently located west of the I-294 Curtain. Come out with your fully-functioning road bike and grind out a grainy 60-mile coarse ride and find out the answer to the question "How far west does the Salt Creek Bike Path run?". Think three rest stops - Oak Park for coffee en route, midstop at the Nature Preserve and Tasty Dog in Oak Park en return.  

Contact Brian Bird at 773 354-8056
[Click Here to contact Brian Bird via email]

Social Ride: Bike Handlings Skills Ride

START: Clock Tower at Waveland and Lake Shore Dr. (3700N)

9:30 AM

30 miles, 12 to 15 mph

Are you all rusty from the Winter Blues? Not sure how to ride in a group? Let alone ride in traffic? Has your bike riding been limited to riding on the bike path? Do you want to know the skills required to ride safely on or off the road? Are your cycling skills a little rusty after the winter? Whether you are a novice bike rider or a hard-core commuter in any weather type, this ride is for you. Join Jim 'Tech-Tip' Kreps on this educational ride and sharpen your bicycling skills. Jim will demonstrate proper bike handling techniques and best practices. Participants will have a chance to practice these skills along the way. Pace will be as slow (or fast) as the slowest rider. This is a great way to get ready for all of the riding you'll be doing this summer!  

Contact Jim Kreps at (773) 862-9879

Touring Ride: Dark Lord Ride

START: Clock Tower at Waveland and Lake Shore Dr. (3700N)

8:30 AM

70 miles, 16 to 20 mph

Dark Lord Day (http://www.darklordday.com) is the only day of the year to buy Three Floyds (http://www.3floyds.com) Dark Lord Russian imperial stout. DLD is a festival where participants can meet other beer enthusiasts, sample beers from all over the world, buy Dark Lord, try Oak Aged Dark Lord, eat BBQ, listen to live music, and generally have a great time. We'll leave the clock tower at 8:30, pick up South Siders at the 31st Street beach house at 9:15, take a short break at Wolf Lake, partake of Dark Lord Day, and return. Going, we'll take the Daniel Burnham Centennial Century route (http://burnhamplan100.uchicago.edu/events/id/956), coming back, the traditional winter route (http://bigempire.com/mark/beer_run/beer_run_map.pdf). This will be a "TOUR ride" with few stops. We won't necessarily stay together. Faster riders may go ahead, and slower riders may drop back. Bring money, a lock, snacks to have en route, and panniers for Dark Lord you don't finish there. Anyone interested is more than welcome to meet us at the brew pub if they don't care to participate in the bike ride.  

Contact Robert Hsiung at (773) 726-3227
[Click Here to contact Robert Hsiung via email]

Social Ride: Weekly Gentlemen (and Ladies) of Leisure Rides (Cycling Seniors)

REMOTE START: North Avenue Beach House

10:30 AM

10-20 miles, 10 to 12 mph

This is standing weekly ride of the Cycling Seniors and Gourmet Club. Why ride alone? Come make some new friends who bicycle. Our rides start (the last Thursday in April and run to the last Thursday in September) at 10:30 A.M at the North Avenue Beach house, and we go for lunch at the end of the ride. Join Mitch Gold for a weekly social ride along the lake front. This ride affords an opportunity for active gentlemen and ladies, 55 years and older to meet, ride and perhaps have lunch. ALL RIDERS ARE WELCOME.  

Contact Mitch Gold at 1-312-642-1988
[Click Here to contact Mitch Gold via email]

Social Ride: Weekly Gentlemen (and Ladies) of Leisure Rides (Cycling Seniors)

REMOTE START: North Avenue Beach House

10:30 AM

10-20 miles, 10 to 12 mph

This is standing weekly ride of the Cycling Seniors and Gourmet Club. Why ride alone? Come make some new friends who bicycle. Our rides start (the last Thursday in April and run to the last Thursday in September) at 10:30 A.M at the North Avenue Beach house, and we go for lunch at the end of the ride. Join Mitch Gold for a weekly social ride along the lake front. This ride affords an opportunity for active gentlemen and ladies, 55 years and older to meet, ride and perhaps have lunch. ALL RIDERS ARE WELCOME.  

Contact Mitch Gold at 1-312-642-1988

Touring Ride: Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve

START: Clock Tower at Waveland and Lake Shore Dr. (3700N)

8:00 AM

70 miles, 16 to 20 mph

Enjoy more west-southwest riding by taking a 70-mile round trip road-bike ride to the aforementioned forest preserve located next to Argonne National Laboratory in swinging DuPage County. Points of Interest include Oak Park, Brookfield Zoo, Salt Creek Bike Path, Wolf Road and the hills of Burr Ridge. There will be three rest stops - one near the Forest Preserve at mid-point and two in Oak Park, both en route (for coffee/pastry) and en return (for snack/beverage).  

Contact Brian Bird at 773 354-8056
[Click Here to contact Brian Bird via email]

Touring Ride: The Road to Hegewisch Part 10

REMOTE START: Chicago Lakefront, 31st Street Beach house

9:00 AM

40 miles, 14 to 18 mph

Ride leaders George Vrechek and Walt Choromanski return again this year with several excursions to the South - as in the southeastern portion of Chicago. We'll start the season with this ride that begins at the 31st Beach House and heads to the most remote corner of Chicago, Hegewisch, founded as a separate town in the 1880s. We'll avoid most lights and head down the lakefront via South Shore Drive, Avenue L, and the Burnham Greenway. The pace should get you sweating but not keeling over. You'll see the only lakes inside the City, the only trailer park, and the only saw mill. We'll stop for lunch at Darcy's Dog and Shrimp Shack or equivalent establishment in downtown Hegewisch. We'll come back a different way than we have in the past. Parking is usually available at the 31st Street Beach lot or ride your bike to the start to add some more miles to your trip. We'll shoot for getting back by 2PM.  

Contact George Vrechek at (312) 654-8909
[Click Here to contact George Vrechek via email]

Touring Ride: 2010 Bike The Drive Twice on Memorial Day Weekend

REMOTE START: Columbus and Jackson, Grant Park, Chicago

6:00 AM

60 miles, 16 to 18 mph

Bike the Drive Twice with Brian Bird. Since you only get to bike the drive once a year, why not get in 2 cracks at it? Note: you will need to register and pay the fee to the Active Transportation Alliance to participate in this ride, see here for more details: ATA Web site link Here's Brian's description: Bike the Drive. The ride so nice, I'm doing it twice. Get yourself registered then come out and keep me company as I complete the Bike the Drive circuit twice in preparation for the grueling CCC Memorial Day ride. I'm sticking to the advertised pace so as to finish just before the broom wagon & car traffic catch me. That means only two 10-15 minute rest stops - probably both at the north end (Bryn Mawr) location.  

Contact Brian Bird at 773 354-8056
[Click Here to contact Brian Bird via email]

Touring Ride: Tinley Woods - Old Plank Trail

REMOTE START: Bremen Woods Preserve - 159th and Oak Park Avenue - See Link for Directions

10:00 AM

35-40 miles, 14 to 16 mph

A CCC Memorial Day tradition! Join CCC's resident Southwest-sider, Brian Bird on 40-some-odd mile tour of (what else?) the Southwest suburbs. We'll be starting at the Bremen Woods Preserve (159th St. and Oak Park Ave.) the riding through the Cook County Forest Preserve, and on the Old Plank Trail to Frankfort, IL. and back. All roads and paths are 100% paved and skinny tire ride-able (fat tires welcome too!). Mid-point stop at the Frankfort Creamery. End point stop at Aurelio's Pizza and its universally-renown all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. The Bremen Woods Preserve entrance/starting point is South of the intersection, just past Aurelio's Pizza on the East side of Oak Park Avenue. See here for Google map directions: 159th St. & Oak Park Ave, Tinley Park  

Contact Brian Bird at 773 354-8056
[Click Here to contact Brian Bird via email]

Social Ride: Devil in the White City Tour

REMOTE START: Contact ride leader for start location and to RSVP

10:00 AM

20-22 miles, 10 to 14 mph

The tour is based on "The Devil in the White City," a best-selling, non-fiction book of 2004. It focuses on Chicago's Columbian Expo/World's Fair of 1893 and America's first serial killer, Dr. Holmes, who lured young women to his hotel near the fairgrounds. Our ride begins with a PowerPoint presentation at an apartment near Millennium Park. (Bike parking is available in the building). We'll then ride to Prairie Ave. (the Astor Street of the 19th century), where you'll be introduced to Glessner House, Clark House (circa 1836, oldest in Chicago) and other buildings relevant to the Fair. From Prairie we'll bike south along the scenic lakefront to Jackson Park -- site of the White City -- where you'll learn about the Palace of Fine Arts (now Museum of Science and Industry), Clarence Darrow Bridge (the famous lawyer's ashes were spread on the lagoon), Wooded Island (designed by Alfred Law Olmsted, creator of NYC's Central Park), Statue of the Republic (you'll see the 1/3-size golden replica) and other features of the Fair. After the tour, at about 2:30 p.m., we can have lunch in Hyde Park -- or catch a bite at one of the concessions along the lakefront on our return to the Loop. This is a popular tour, limited to the first 20 sign-ups.  

Contact Brent Hoffmann at (773) 327-4727
[Click Here to contact Brent Hoffmann via email]

Social Ride: Oak Wood Cemetery and Jackson Park Highlands Historic District Tour

REMOTE START: DALEY PLAZA AT THE PICASSO

8:30 AM

28 miles, 12 to 14 mph

Our destinations are the interesting Oak Wood Cemetery and Jackson Park Highlands residential district. Oak Woods Cemetery is on 71st and one of the oldest in the City. It includes monuments for 6,000 Confederate soldiers, Jesse Owens, Harold Washington, and Roland Burris. The Jackson Park Highlands Chicago Historic District just south of Jackson Park is a pleasant tree-lined neighborhood that developed starting in 1905. We'll start at the Daley Plaza in front of the Picasso sculpture at the Richard J. Daley Center, Washington and Dearborn, head south along the boulevards through Kenwood, Hyde Park and Woodlawn. The 28-mile round trip will include: the Prairie Avenue Historic District, Lake Meadows, Groveland Park, homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Barack Obama's neighborhood, the University of Chicago, Mt. Carmel High School, the site of the World's Fair and the Midway, Washington Park, and a trip down the Boulevards. Rest stops including a brief lunch at Jackson Park Golf Club, a quick spiel at each point of interest, and as many bike lanes as we can hit. Back by about 1:30 PM. Comments: REMOTE START: NEW LOCATION - DALEY PLAZA AT THE PICASSO  

Contact George Vrechek at (312) 654-8909
[Click Here to contact George Vrechek via email]

Fathers Day Ride

START: Clock Tower at Waveland and Lake Shore Dr. (3700N)

8:00 a.m.

50 miles, 15 to 20 mph

This year, give dad what he really wants - a very nice bike ride out in the country (or at least north suburban Lake County). We will be home by 1:00 so there will plenty of opportunity for some family time too. This ride is NOT restricted. papa, mama and all able baby bears are welcome to join in the festivities.  

Contact Michael H. Wasserman at (312) 726-1512
[Click Here to contact Michael H. Wasserman via email]

Touring Ride: Marktown, Indiana - Not That Far

REMOTE START: 31st Street Beach House, Lakefront

9:00 AM

40 miles, 14 to 18 mph

Marktown is an historic district in East Chicago, Indiana, designed in 1917 by noted architect Howard Van Doren Shaw. It is only 19 miles on a direct route from downtown Chicago. The tiny residential community was to be the start of a company town to serve the nearby (as in across the street) steel mill owned by Clayton Mark. Shaw designed the community to be like an English village with narrow streets and houses with small yards. Cars were to be parked in a central garage. Today homes are very economical due to their location in the middle of an industrial area. People park on the sidewalks and walk on the streets, which got them mentioned in Ripley's Believe It or Not. To get to Marktown we'll go down the lakefront, South Shore Drive, and the Burnham Greenway bikepath to Wolf Lake. We'll zip around Wolf Lake and head east across open land to Marktown. We'll tour the town and head back through interesting areas of Whiting along Lake Michigan as much as possible. Lunch will be on the way. We'll be back by about 2PM.  

Contact George Vrechek at (312) 654-8909
[Click Here to contact George Vrechek via email]

Social Ride: FWEGA

START: Clock Tower at Waveland and Lake Shore Dr. (3700N)

6:30 PM

10 miles, 12 to 14 mph

Fourth Wed. Getting Acquainted has been a club tradition dating back many years. Meet and make new friends or renew old ones. A socially-paced ride that will end at a local North-side eating and drinking establishment.  

Contact Art Gilfand at (773) 871-1872
[Click Here to contact Art Gilfand via email]

Social Ride: Alternative Late Night Ride

REMOTE START: Buckingham Fountain, Columbus and Congress, downtown Chicago

11:59 PM

30 miles, 10 to 14 mph

Note: Starts on FRIDAY night @ 11:59 and goes into Saturday morning, June 26th, around 6:00 AM. For those of you who have tried the big LATE ride and wanted a version without the huge crowds, this is the ride for you. Wander through an interesting variety of neighborhoods from downtown to the north, west and south sides. We'll finish with breakfast at Manny's around dawn. LIGHTS are REQUIRED. It is recommended that you have, in addition to a light for your handlebars (and or helmet) that can illuminate in front of you, a light for your helmet and a light that traffic approaching from the rear will be able to see (or reflective strips on clothing)  

Contact Anne Alt at (312) 520-1641
[Click Here to contact Anne Alt via email]

Training Ride: The Fast Road to Hegewisch, Hammond, Highland and Beyond Part 11

REMOTE START: Remote Start at 31st Street Beach House

8:30 AM

55 miles, 16 to 20 mph

This is the fastest-paced version of the rides to the south this summer and the annual visit to the far south. We won't be going 16 to 20 the entire time but we will move along as much as possible based on conditions. This will not be a leisurely pace. We'll start at the 31st Beach House and head to the most remote corner of Chicago, Hegewisch, founded as a separate town in the 1880s. We'll head down the lakefront via South Shore Drive, and the Burnham Greenway. We'll blow through downtown Hegewisch and continue on to Hammond - which isn't that far. We'll navigate through Hammond on the Erie Lackawanna Bike Trail. We'll stop for a quick lunch. Once we get back into Illinois, we'll only hit one stop light getting back to 31st Street! Parking is usually available at the 31st Street Beach lot or ride your bike to the start to add some more miles to your trip. We'll shoot for getting back by 2PM.  

Contact George Vrechek at (312) 654-8909
[Click Here to contact George Vrechek via email]

Social Ride: Digital Photo Scavenger Hunt

REMOTE START: Contact ride leader for start location and details.

9:00 AM

20 miles, 10 to 14 mph

It's back. If you missed it last year, or heard about it and want to give it a try, here's your chance. Come with a team, or form one at the start. Bring your digital camera, your creative brain and your knowledge of Chicago history and trivia. You'll get a list of clues at the start, then teams will head out to take pictures for each clue. We'll meet for lunch a few hours later, where you'll get info on putting your photos online to share. Bring your lock and lunch money.  

Contact Anne Alt at (312) 520-1641
[Click Here to contact Anne Alt via email]

Social Ride: 3rd Annual South Lakefront and Boulevard Architectural Tour

REMOTE START: Start at Queen's Landing - east of Buckingham Fountain and Lake Shore Drive

9:30 AM

28 miles, 12 to 14 mph

This is the third year for this bike trip with an architectural theme. We'll check out a few different areas than we have in the past. The residential architecture on the near south side has a remarkable history and future. We'll take a look at the past (Frank Lloyd Wright), the present (redevelopment along Drexel and Cottage Grove) and the future (Lake Meadows Redevelopment.) We'll start at the "Queen's Landing" which is the plaza on the lakefront bike path immediately east of Buckingham Fountain and Lake Shore Drive, head inland and turn around at Jackson Park. The 28-mile round trip will include: the Prairie Avenue Historic District, Bronzeville, whatever is left of Michael Reese Hospital, Lake Meadows, the Civil War site of Camp Douglas, Groveland Park, Stephen Douglas's tomb (and rest stop), the last Chicago building associated with the Civil War, nine structures designed or remodeled by Frank Lloyd Wright including the Robie (1906) and Blossom Houses (1892), homes of prominent Kenwood residents (Barack Obama's house from afar), the University of Chicago, Mt. Carmel High School, the site of the World's Fair and the Midway, Washington Park, and a trip down the Boulevards. Rest stops but no lunch stop, a quick spiel at each point of interest, and as many bike lanes as we can hit. Back by about 1PM. George Vrechek will lead several other CCC rides to Hegweisch, Hyde Park, and other destinations to the south this year through early August.  

Contact George Vrechek at (312) 654-8909
[Click Here to contact George Vrechek via email]

Touring Ride: The Road to Hegewisch Part 12

REMOTE START: 31st Street Beach House

9:00 AM

40 miles, 14 to 18 mph

The last ride of the year to that crazy town of Hegewisch. We'll start at the 31st Beach House and head to the most remote corner of Chicago, Hegewisch, founded as a separate town in the 1880s. We'll avoid most lights and head down the lakefront via South Shore Drive and the Burnham Greenway. The pace will be brisk but not impossible. You'll see the only lakes inside the City, the only trailer park, and the only saw mill. We'll stop for lunch at Darcy's Dog and Shrimp Shack or equivalent establishment in downtown Hegewisch. Parking is usually available at the 31st Street Beach lot or ride your bike to the start to add some more miles to your trip. We'll shoot for getting back by 2PM.  

Contact George Vrechek at (312) 654-8909
[Click Here to contact George Vrechek via email]

Social Ride: FWEGA - July First Wed Getting Acquainted Ride

START: Clock Tower at Waveland and Lake Shore Dr. (3700N)

6:30 PM

10 miles, 12 to 14 mph

The Fourth Wed. Getting Acquainted Ride has been a club tradition dating back many years. Meet and make new friends or renew old ones. A socially-paced ride that will end at a local North-side eating and drinking establishment.  

Contact Anne Alt at (312) 520-1641
[Click Here to contact Anne Alt via email]

Old School Forest Preserve

START: Clock Tower at Waveland and Lake Shore Dr. (3700N)

8:30 AM

65 miles, 15 to 20 mph

This touring ride is a final tune up and training ride for Cowalunga 2010 and will visit the Lake County Forest Preserve District's Ryerson Conservation area and Old School Lake County Forest Preserve.  

Contact Michael H. Wasserman at (312) 726-1512
[Click Here to contact Michael H. Wasserman via email]

Cowalunga 2010

REMOTE START: See website www.cowalunga.com for start location dates and other details

8:30 AM

185 miles, 10+ mph

Join Team Chicago Cycling Club on the 13th Annual Cowalunga Bike Tour, in support of the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago. This is a 3 day, fully supported bike tour through Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. There are 1 and 2 day options as well. Note that there are modest fundraising requirements and ride registration fees. Contact the ride leader for details or visit www.cowalunga.com  

Contact Michael H. Wasserman at (312) 726-1512
[Click Here to contact Michael H. Wasserman via email]

Social Ride: Hyde Park/Kenwood Architectural Tour

REMOTE START: Queen's Landing, on the lakefront bikepath across from Buckingham Fountain

9:30 AM

28 miles, 12 to 14 mph

Our principal destination will be Kenwood and Hyde Park. We'll see if President Barack Obama is around. We'll start at the "Queen's Landing" which is the plaza on the lakefront bike path immediately east of Buckingham Fountain and Lake Shore Drive, head inland and turn around at Jackson Park. The 28-mile round trip will include: the Prairie Avenue Historic District, Lake Meadows, Groveland Park, Stephen Douglas's tomb, the last Chicago building associated with the Civil War, structures designed by Frank Lloyd Wright including the Robie (shown here) (1906) and Blossom Houses (1892), Barack Obama's neighborhood, the University of Chicago, Mt. Carmel High School, the site of the World's Fair and the Midway, Washington Park, and a trip down the Boulevards. Rest stops and a short lunch, a quick spiel at each point of interest, and as many bike lanes as we can hit. Back by about 1:30 PM.  

Contact George Vrechek at (312) 654-8909
[Click Here to contact George Vrechek via email]

Touring Ride: Heaven on Earth-A Visit to the Beloit, WI Angel Museum

REMOTE START: Sugar River Trail parking lot, corner of Exchange St. and W 3rd Ave, downtown Brodhead, Wisconsin

10:30 AM

49 miles, 14 to 16 mph

This is a remote start ride that takes advantage of the beautiful, quiet backroads in southern Wisconsin, only 123 miles from Chicago. We'll start in Brodhead, WI and bike to Beloit and tour the world's largest angel museum housed in a historic building with thousands of angels from The Berg Angel Collection and The Black Angel Collection donated by Oprah Winfrey. Admission fee to the museum. Visit www.angelmuseum.com. This is a beautiful, moderately flat route. Start at 10:30am.  

Contact Sharon Kaminecki at (773) 442-2549
[Click Here to contact Sharon Kaminecki via email]