'Chase the Moon' inspires rave review
July 29 was arguably one of the most enjoyable cycling days ever in the Fox River Valley. The fourth annual "Chase the Moon" bike ride and the first-ever Dundee Distance Classic provided back-to-back opportunities for fun.
At 12:01 am, exhilarated moon-chasers set out to ride 25 miles in and around the grounds of Fermilab in Batavia. My 13-year-old daughter, Savannah, and I are "veterans" of this midnight ride, and she was so amazed with this year's experience that she begged to write her own review:
"Chase the Moon" takes everything you know about cycling to an incredible new level. Anticipation builds at the start line, counting down to midnight, when all at once hundreds of riders break loose into the night.
"Candles in paper bags alongside the road cast a flickering and almost eerie glow on the path in front of you, as headlight after headlight slides away behind you and you shoot off into the night. Mist blankets the ponds beside the road, and late-night crickets applaud your every move.
"The sense of exhilaration is like electricity in the air; it charges your every muscle. When you're out there with no hot, beating sun or bright, distracting sights, the road ahead of you is all that is not hidden from view by shadows and fog. The world centers on that bit of road in front of you. It's like stepping into an entirely different world -- and sticking around for 25 miles."
Congratulations to the Conservation Foundation for a great job of organizing the ride.
After hitting the pillow for about 90 minutes, I then left the house again to meet up with my friend Eric Prebys for part two of a double-header.
The brainstorm of Mike Burns and a few comrades only a few weeks earlier, Emmett's Dundee Distance Classic was too tempting to stay in bed for.
The $30 ride fee included a delicious breakfast buffet at Emmett's Tavern & Brewing Co. in West Dundee. Dozens of cyclists then took to the Fox River Trail for a peaceful 34-mile ride down to Oswego. The early morning start time ensured fairly light traffic on the trail and relatively cool temperatures. Eric and I really enjoyed the ride.
Upon arrival in Oswego, we kicked back for a provided lunch, ordered from the diverse menu at Emmett's Ale House -- and a pint of their Armstrong Ale. The staff at both restaurants was superb, and when the word gets out about this ride next year, early reservations may be a necessity!