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]