Join Bike Palatine Club's CycleFest Aug. 25

CycleFest, The Tour of Palatine, kicks off Saturday, Aug. 25, from Towne Square at Smith and Slade streets.

Sponsored by the Bike Palatine Club, this bicycling event is geared for all ages and features three routes of 9, 15, 23 and 33 miles for individuals of various skill levels.

Part of the village's StreetFest celebration, CycleFest treats riders to scenic streets and bike paths in the Palatine area. Trained leaders accompany each group of riders to ensure that all cyclists and their bikes can complete the course. Route markings, route maps and bike shop assistance are provided for all three routes. Cyclists must wear helmets, and those younger than 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration is online at www.bikepalatine.com and can also be found at Mikes Bike Shop. All preregistered riders receive a free performance fabric T-shirt. Cyclists can also register the day of the event starting at 8:30 a.m. at Towne Square. Members of the not-for-profit Bike Palatine Club receive a $5 discount on the $25 registration fee.

For information, visit http://bikepalatine.com/content.aspx?page_id=22 & club_id=280102 & module_id=251222 or www.facebook.com/events/146118859386954.

"This is the club's biggest event of the year," said former club treasurer Ralph Banasiak. "Proceeds from this event enable the Bike Palatine Club to host events throughout the year, most of them free, that focus on safety and fun for riders at all levels."

Besides CycleFest, the club hosts the upcoming Octoberfest Ride on Sept. 15, and jointly sponsors the Full Moon Ride with the Palatine Park District on Sept. 21.

The club, an affiliate of the Palatine Park District, runs weekly casual rides on Tuesday at Birchwood Recreation Center and Thursday at Mikes Bike Shop, both at 6:30 p.m., through the summer.

In addition, Bike Palatine Club hosted Traffic Skills 101 this past spring, sponsored Bike to School Day in May and provided free bike valet service for the Fourth of July fireworks. Together with the Palatine Park District, the club also staffed a Safety Rodeo for 5- to 10-year-old future cycling supporters earlier this year.

Formed in 2009, the Bike Palatine Club is a bike club for the whole family bringing casual riding and cycling-related events to Palatine and the surrounding area.

Originally a task force of volunteers, the club's mission is to make the community more bike-friendly by offering educational and outreach programs to encourage cycling, and to make cycling safer and more enjoyable by recommending infrastructure improvements as well as integration with neighboring communities.

The Bike Palatine Club is now a membership organization that offers discounts on club events, rides and gear, as well as a discount at Mikes Bike Shop on accessories. An annual membership fee of $15 covers all riders in the same household.

For information, check the club's website at www.bikepalatine.com.

• Submit 'Your News' at www.dailyherald.com/share.