Saturday Social Ride: Stars & Stripes Edition!

Celebrate our Country's Declaration of Independence with a Bicycle Decoration Contest and Ride! Afterward, socialize at the bike shop with food and beverages.

Dress up your bike, and yourself, with streamers, flags, costumes, etc., prizes will be awarded for the three (3) most creative/patriotic bike decorations and/or costumes sans political bias, commentary or partisanship (1st, 2nd & 3rd places - and maybe a runner-up or two!). Judging and award of prizes will take place in the parking lot before we ride. Choose from one, or more, of three types of rides listed below. Prizes to be donated by Crank Revolution Bike Shop.

This series of rides will be "show and go" events. This means there may not be an organizer from Let's Ride in attendance but the ride will roll as long as the weather permits. This means, you may be on your own to navigate the route. There are links below to each of the rides. Open a route in the Ride With GPS app (ridewithgps.com) on your phone and you can self-navigate each of the routes.

This ride offers it all. Choose from a 7.7 mile, no-drop, beginner ride on the paved Paul Douglas Trail (Crank Revolution Group Rides). Afterward, a 20-some mile "intermediate ride" out on the road. Or, bring your mountain bike and catch the Mountain Bike Basics Clinic and then ride single track trails in Paul Douglas Forest Prerserve.

Bring a chair and maybe something to pass afterward, chips, dip, salad, fruit, etc, and beverage of your choice.

Following, the usual content about this ride:

9:00 a.m.: 7.7 Mile Beginner Ride

9:15 a.m.: Mountain Bike Basics Clinic & 8 Mile Ride

10:00 a.m.: 20ish Mile Intermediate Ride

Every Saturday during outdoor riding season Crank Revolution Bike Shop hosts two social rides. The first, a beginner ride at 9:00 am (7.7 miles) around the Paul Douglas Forest Preserve. The second is a more intermediate ride (20 - 30 miles) out on the roads of South Barrington and Barrington Hills. We've added the option to come out and ride the trails at Paul Douglas Forest Preserve. The west side is an easy, beginner level, fast and flowy trail network. The east side offers more climbing and off camber traverses. Beginners can join us for a group photo at the "Photo-Op Tree".

Link to the CAMBr (Chicago Area Mountain Bikers) page with trail map for the single track: Paul Douglas MTB Trail Map

One "loop" of the paved trail takes about 40-45 minutes.
Plan for at least 1.5 to 2 hours to ride the single track.
Intermediate will take at least 1.5 hours to complete the 20ish miles at 14-15 mph average pace.

The intermediate route will change depending on who is leading and who attends the ride. The average pace of the intermediate ride is, typically, 14-16 mph.

A HELMET IS MANDATORY for all Let's Ride bicycle rides. Also required, a working and properly maintained bicycle that will allow you to travel the distance and pace you have elected to ride.

As 'situational awareness' is critical to safe bicycling, EARBUDS, EARPHONES and LOUDSPEAKERS will NOT be ALLOWED on this ride.

You should also bring the normal accoutrement (ID with Emergency Contact and Insurance cards, spare inner tube, pump, etc.), proper attire based on the weather forecast, water, sunscreen, sunglasses, money for food and/or beverage, a bicycle lock (to secure your bike afterward) and a good attitude!

Feel free to contact me with any questions. Please make certain you have "email communication turned on" in your meetup account settings.

NOTE: All riders participate and ride at their own risk. Meetup.com, Let's Ride and/or its organizers, Crank Revolution Bike Shop and its employees are not responsible for your safety or well being.