Bike Palatine Club hosts CycleFest Aug. 27 in Palatine
As the Bike Palatine Club's major fundraiser, CycleFest is part of Palatine's weekend StreetFest bash.
With three routes of varying lengths - 15, 23 and 30 miles - CycleFest offers riders of all skill levels plenty of choices. Trained ride leaders accompany cyclists on the two shorter routes, while 30-mile riders can take their time with cue sheets provided.
Registration starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Towne Square, Smith and Slade streets in Palatine, for $20 (cash only) for any riders. Cyclists must wear helmets and adults must accompany anyone younger than 14. Preregistration is not required. Rides leave promptly at 9 a.m.
20,000 miles of free rides
"CycleFest is our only major fundraiser of the year," said Tom Lucas, event organizer and former club treasurer.
"For the past 10 years, the club has taken proceeds from this event and put them back into the community through plenty of free events. That includes community rides, bike workshops and library presentations on bike-related topics.
"At our recent June bike workshop for underserved Palatine families, we gave away four bikes, 16 helmets and other related bike gear," Lucas said. "We've hired certified trainers for our Smart Cycling classes, organized spring trail cleanups on the Paul Douglas Trail and sponsored Bike to School Day every May for Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Inverness students."
For the last eight or nine summers alone, the club's 30 free, casual rides have covered about 20,000 miles. On Oktoberfest Family Day, the Bike Palatine Club leads a free community ride to help justify a lengthy beverage stop at the Palatine Rotary Club Oktoberfest beer tent. This year's ride is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 17.
Participating CycleFest riders will get their choice of free technical fabric T-shirts from the club's past collection.
In cooperation with Palatine's Rush Physical Therapy clinic, licensed therapists will be available after the ride with stretching demos, pneumatic compression boots, rolling pins, foam rollers and complimentary injury screening for post-ride aches and soreness.
Circle Aug. 27 on your calendar for CycleFest Tour of Palatine and join in the Bike Palatine Club's 10th anniversary celebration.
The Bike Palatine Club is a nonprofit organization with a mission to make the community more bicycle-friendly. For information, visit www.bikepalatine.com.