Bike Palatine Club's CycleFest offers four different routes
Bike riders of all ages and skill levels are invited to join CycleFest Tour of Palatine, which kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, from Towne Square at Smith and Slade streets.
Sponsored by the Bike Palatine Club, CycleFest offers four routes of 9, 15, 23 and 33 miles.
Part of Downtown Palatine Street Fest, CycleFest rolls along 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 mechanical assistance are provided for all four routes. Cyclists must wear helmets, and those younger than 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration forms are available at www.bikepalatine.com and can also be found at Mikes Bike Shop, 155 N. Northwest Hwy., in Palatine. Cyclists can also register the day of the event starting 8:30 a.m. at Towne Square. The registration fee is $15.
"CycleFest is our biggest event of the year," club board member Tom Lucas said. "We plow any proceeds from this event back into the community, running events throughout the year, most of them free, that focus on safety, fun and fellowship for riders at all levels."
Besides CycleFest, the club hosts the upcoming Oktoberfest Ride on Sept. 18 (starting at Towne Square) and jointly sponsors the Full Moon Ride with the Palatine Park District on Sept. 24 (starting at Palatine Hills Golf Course).
An affiliate of the park district, Bike Palatine Club runs weekly casual rides at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays from the Birchwood Recreation Center and Thursdays from Mikes Bike Shop.
In addition, the club organized Bike to School Days in May, with 11 schools and 1,300 children riding their bikes to school.
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 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, visit www.bikepalatine.com.