Motorcycling calendar
May 6: 29th annual Bike Blessing, Lake Shore H.O.G. Chapter No. 3522, starting at 10 a.m., Lake Shore Harley-Davidson, 14000 Rockland Road, Libertyville. Ride starts at noon. Destination: St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Kenosha, Wisconsin. Visit lakeshorehog.com.
May 6: Ride Janie Ride, 12th annual cancer benefit ride, will launch from Wild Fire Harley-Davidson in Villa Park, 120 North Ave. Registration, 8:30 to 10:45 a.m. Blessing of the bikes at 10:45 a.m. Ride features a 50-mile, fully escorted parade and will end at Skooter's Roadhouse, 700 W. Jefferson St., Shorewood. Kickstands up at 11 a.m. Cost is $25 for riders and $25 for passengers. The cost to attend the after-ride party only is $25 per person. The first 750 registered participants attending the event are guaranteed a shirt and goody bag. Complementary food, soft drinks, a full service bar, raffles, silent auctions, live auctions, door prizes and live music.
May 12: Seventh annual Mother's Day Women Only Ride and Bike Blessing, 11 a.m., Woodstock Harley-Davidson, 2235 S. Eastwood Drive, Woodstock. Lunch provided. All brands and bikes welcome. Leisurely ride, weather permitting. No cost to participate. Visit www.furiesmc.com.
May 19: 15th annual Mooseheart Blessing of the Bikes, 155 S. International Drive, Mooseheart (near Batavia). Advance registration, $20. On-site registration, $25, begins at 8 a.m. Riders' tour, 11:30 a.m.; Blessing, 12:15 p.m. New this year, Mooseheart children ride bicycles during the blessing in appreciation of riders. Register online at www.moosecharities.org. For details, www.mooseriders.org.
July 29: Fourth annual Ride for Hope, for ovarian cancer awareness. Our mission is to spread awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer, and to help improve the quality of life for women battling this silent disease. Fox River Harley-Davidson, 131 Randall Road, St. Charles. Preregistration, $25 per rider, $25 per passenger, $25 party only. T-shirt included (first 200). 10:15 a.m. bike blessing; 10:30 a.m. kickstands up. Ride to party at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Schaumburg. Live music by Mellencougar. BBQ. Details at www.rideforhopeil.org.
Motorcycle clubs
American Legion riders of American Legion Post 57, Elgin, are always accepting new qualified members. For information, contact Elgin ALR President Bill Lowe at (847) 812-7677 or email billlowe00@gmail.com. You can also visit the Post 57 website at www.alelginpost57.com.
The Back Road Riders motorcycle club meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at Garibaldi's Italian Eatery, 2346 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. Rides are 9 a.m. the second and fourth Sundays of the month, April through November, beginning at Jo Jo's Restaurant on Golf Road in Schaumburg, east of Barrington Road on the corner of North Walnut Lane. For details, visit brrmc.com.
The Chicago Cruisers are a motorcycle social club that is open to all types of motorcycles. Meetings are 9 a.m. on the first Sunday of the month at Denny's Restaurant, 1086 Lake St., Hanover Park. We schedule a ride almost every weekend (mostly Sundays) throughout the riding season. For more information and list of activities, visit www.chicagocruiser.com or our Facebook page, email president@chicagocruisers.com or membership@chicagocruisers.com.
Chicagoland Wings, Chapter IL-Z2 of the Goldwing Road Riders Association, meets the second Sunday of each month at Denny's restaurant, 17W660 22nd St., Oakbrook Terrace. Breakfast at 8 a.m. followed by meeting at 9 a.m. All bikes welcome. Rides following meeting, weather permitting. Visit www.gwrra-il-z2.com for more information or our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ilz2wings. Email info@gwrra-ilz2.com.
The Jerseypine Cruisers Motorcycle Touring Club meets at 7:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at Elks Lodge, 495 Lee St., Des Plaines. Breakfast rides, May through October, leave at 9 a.m. on the first and third Sundays from McDonald's on Route 72, east of Barrington Road, Hoffman Estates. All remaining Sunday breakfast rides leave at 9 a.m. from McDonald's, Lee and Oakton streets, Des Plaines. For details and event calendar, visit www.jerseypinecruisers.org.
Rolling Thunder Inc., Illinois Chapter 2, meets at 7:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Wauconda American Legion Post 911, 515 S. Main Street, Wauconda. While we are riders, our mission is to keep public awareness on the 82,531 POW/MIA veterans still unaccountable from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War and the Iraq Theater. For details, visit www.rollingthunderIL2.org.
Star Touring and Riding, Elgin Chapter 488, meets at BBK Motorsports, 227 DuPage St., Elgin, on the first Saturday of every month at 9 a.m. There is a ride after every meeting in April through November, with additional rides scheduled on non-meeting days. The group welcomes new members. Any type of bike is welcome.