See the countryside on Swedish Days Ride

St. Charles resident Tom Szafraniec remembers the first Swedish Days Ride he and his wife, Julie, participated in.

"We moved to St. Charles in 1995 and were just casual riders," said Szafraniec. "That first original ride we went on, we did 50 miles. I thought I was going to die."

Szafraniec survived his first long cycling haul and has gone on to be a key figure in both the Fox Valley Bicycle and Ski Club and the Swedish Days Ride, which will celebrate its 39th birthday Sunday on Father's Day in Burlington.

This year's Swedish Days Ride will offer cyclists six different routes (25, 45, 62, 75, 100 or 124 miles) on paved country roads (mostly flat with an occasional hill) west of Illinois 47 in Kane County. The rides will all emanate from and conclude at Burlington Central High School (44W575 Plato Road).

Last year's Swedish Days Ride attracted 850 riders.

"People come from all over," said Swedish Days Ride coordinator and Fox Valley Bicycle and Ski Club past president Michele Kinzler. "You see families doing it with Father's Day. We're seeing younger and younger cyclists coming out. You see little kids in team cycling jerseys, which is neat. It's a known ride."

And it's a ride that provides many different benefits.

"I think we're a healthier America," Szafraniec said. "Biking and walking is good exercise. It's a great way to get around. You can see so much more on a bike than in a car."

Szafraniec is one that puts his bike to good use whether it's in organized outings or during every day life.

"Last week my wife and I rode our bike from home out to dinner and then we rode to donate blood and then stopped off at the grocery store to pick up a couple of items," said Szafraniec, whose wife has also been a past president of the Fox Valley Bicycle and Ski Club.

Like Szafraniec's multi-stop jaunt, the Swedish Days routes also feature pit stops along the way (the number of stops increases with mileage). Oases will be set up in Hampshire, Virgil and Maple Park and feature bathroom facilities and a variety of refreshments.

Riders will also be treated to cold drinks, watermelon, ice cream and homemade cookies (the race's specialty says Kinzler) at the conclusion of the routes back at Central High School.

"A lot of people maybe want to bike ride, but they aren't sure where to go or what to do if they break down or get tired," Szafraniec said. "This is an organized ride with six routes that are laid out. There are bathrooms and water and snacks are all taken care of."

Sag wagons will patrol all routes from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., to assist with any riders in need of assistance. Mechanics will also be available at the starting point for minor adjustments. Riders are encouraged to carry a pump, patch kit and/or extra tube.

And for those riders interested in the whopper 124-mile trek, there are a total of five rest stops with the Hampshire and Maple Park locations covered twice on the route. Additionally, the 124-mile route (known as the "Double Metric") provides for ultra-smooth sailing with only 1 stoplight (County Line Road and Illinois 38 in Maple Park) along the way.

"Believe it or not, there are people that do that one," Kinzler said. "They are the first ones on the road."

Szafraniec feels one other major benefit of both the Swedish Days Race and the Fox Valley Bicycle and Ski Club (celebrating its 40th anniversary this year) is the socializing aspect.

"I've met some of my best friends the last 10 or 15 years here," Szafraniec said. "There have been a few weddings out of the bike club over the years. You gain friendships and camaraderie. We all recently went to a (Kane County) Cougars (minor league baseball) game together."

Kinzler stressed an undertaking of this magnitude would not be possible without the hard work of many volunteers.

"We're coordinating 75 volunteers," Kinzler said. "It's a very labor intensive event."

But even the workers get to hit the open road. A worker's ride was held last Sunday.

"I did 100 miles and got a little wet a couple of times," said Szafraniec last Sunday night.

Proceeds from the ride are donated by the Fox Valley Bicycle and Ski Club to a variety of trail and cycling-related causes each year.

"We're giving back to the community and a lot of bicycle-related things," Szafraniec said.

Kinzler said walk-up registration will be accepted on Sunday morning. Check-in is open from 6 to 9:30 a.m. at Howard B. Thomas Grade School (across from the high school). The fee is $25 for a single rider and $45 for a family (2 adults and children under 16). The race will be held rain or shine.

For information on the Swedish Days Ride and the Fox Valley Bicycle and Ski Club, visit www.fvbsc.org.

Swedish Days Ride

Where: All routes start and end at Burlington Central High School, 44W575 Plato Road. Check in at Howard B. Thomas Grade School, across from high school.

When: Check-in is from 6 to 9:30 a.m. Sunday

Fee: $25 single rider, $45 family (2 adults and children under 16)

Info: www.fvbsc.org