THE NEWSLETTER OF THE CYCLING CLUB ERAILLEUR June 2010 MAILLEUR beautiful folks in spandex. Shifts We'll have more articles this summer D run from 8 a.m. - noon, so you can on getting involved with the rides work a shift once you're done biking committee. down Lake Shore. To volunteer, s e n d a n e m a i l t o If there is enough interest, I may have [email protected] a meeting later this year to talk about the process and talk to anyone who is interested. For more details, please c o n t a c t m e a t [email protected]

The Rides Committee Wants You! By Jim Adgate

Are you interested in meeting or Bike To Work and Win getting to know more CCC Join in the fun and register for this Bike The Drive with the CCC members and learning about new places to ride in Chicagoland? Not year's Bike to Work Week. Sunday, May 30 is the only day of sure you are ready to lead a ride but The Active Transportation Alliance's the year that you can (legally) bike still want to be involved in the club? annual Bike to Work Week, June 12- on . Come Want to have a positive impact and 18, puts companies in a wheel-to- represent the Chicago Cycling Club influence on the club? wheel competition to see who can by riding with us and volunteering cross the finish line as the greenest at our club tent. Ride registration is Well, consider helping the club plan and healthiest company in Chicago. required and includes a 1-year and get rides on our calendar. The m e m b e r s h i p t o A c t i v e club will be looking to fill Companies compete with other Transportation Alliance. position(s) on the rides committee later this year and early next year to companies of similar size to see which can have the highest percent Brian Bird leads “Bike the Drive handle the rides calendar next year. of employees bike all or part of their Twice,” a faster-paced expedition. The club could use 2-3 people to commute at least once during the It's the ride so nice, he's doing it schedule rides on the calendar, week. The company with the highest twice. That means he's sticking to a which would require very little time percentage of participation wins! 16-18 mph pace with only two 10- and effort for each person. 15 minute rest stops. Meet at 6 a.m. Registration is easy. All you have to in at Columbus and This club exists to ride and we have do is pick a team leader who registers Jackson. Look for the friendly dude a wide variety of ride types, so this the team online at in the club jersey. is a key part of the club. And as an additional benefit, most of the http://www.activetrans.org/ commuterchallenge/ The Club still needs volunteers for planning and filling out the ride and then keeps track of participation it’s Post-Ride Festival tent. Reach calendar can also be done in winter during the week. Whether it's a 20 the thousands of cyclists who are and early spring, so you will be able mile ride or a ¼ mile ride, every trip discovering or remembering how to ride during the warmer months, counts. excellent biking in Chicago can be. as we all want to do. Finally, you All you need to do is sit at the club can have a big impact on the club by Get your office to start the day out tent in Grant Park for an hour or helping to plan the mix of scheduled right while enjoying a little healthy two, passing out materials and touring, training, and social-paced competition, bike to work! promoting our rides to all those rides. 1 PREZ SEZ Drivers are liable if they hit cyclists We'll be staying in local motels and By Anne Alt with car doors. Whether you drive or hotels for the weekend. Arranging not, it is useful to be familiar with lodging will be the responsibility of these laws. Responsibility goes both the rider, but I will provide names of ways. those looking for roommates and some options on places to stay. What do you do to keep yourself safe RSVP is required by Thursday, July when you're not riding with the club? 1. RSVP to Take Yamamoto at It's something for all of us to consider [email protected] or throughout the year. Many riders (773) 528-7812. Please provide Bike safety is an integral part of the recently participated in the Ride of your name, phone number and e- Chicago Cycling Club's mission. Our Silence, a remembrance of fallen mail so I can respond with a trip aim is to promote safe group riding. cyclists. letter with details. If you are looking We encourage all members and guests ( h t t p : / / w w w . r i d e o f s i l e n c e . o r g ) On for a roommate, specify whether to ride safely when they are not on this ride and others, we have you are male or female and how you club rides. Stopping at all red lights is observed Ghost Bikes throughout the want to be contacted, either e-mail a must when riding with the club. city. or phone. You will be provided with Being visible and predictable can ( h t t p : / / w w w . g h o s t b i k e s . o rg / C h i c a g o ) a list of others looking for a make the difference between a Imagine a year when no cyclists have roommate and their contact pleasant ride and an unforgettably lost their lives on Chicago streets and information. Note that the chance of traumatic day. no new ghost bike memorials need to finding a roommate are greater, the be installed. Let's all strive to make earlier you RSVP. Also, let me law has a few requirements for this a reality. know if you would like to ride visibility at night: a headlight (white longer routes on Saturday or light visible at least 500 feet to the See you on the road! Sunday. front) and rear reflector or light (red, visible at least 100-600 feet to the rear). New bikes are required to be sold with side reflectors, which are worth keeping for their value in A Blast on the 4th of July Weekend making you visible to traffic while June Club Meeting crossing intersections. Those of us By Take Yamamoto who both ride and drive have Bring your “A” game and join your undoubtedly had experiences that Get away for the July 4th weekend CCC friends on Tuesday, June 8 at 7 illustrated the difference these safety with the CCC and enjoy 3 days of p.m. at Guthrie's Tavern, 1300 West measures can make in helping to challenging cycling on the hills Addison, Chicago. Share your avoid collisions. More visibility can around Madison, Wisconsin. summer riding stories, meet only keep you and others safer. Advanced cyclists will enjoy the 50 CCC'ers, and challenge them to Creative use of lights and reflective mile rides on Saturday and Sunday Connect Four, Apples to Apples or materials can be a fun, artistic and a shorter ride of 30 miles on any of the dozens of board games challenge, if you're so inclined. Monday. Don't expect it to be an easy stocked at this casual Wrigleyville Monday though, as it is hilly. All rides bar. A selection of delivery menus Please take a few minutes to review are rated as “Moderately Hilly” by is on hand in case we get hungry. the Chicago and Illinois bike laws at the local cycling club, a step below the links on this web site: the highest ranking of “Hilly”. Upon request, longer routes will be Although the Cubs are away that http://www.chicagobikes.org/ night, street parking is a challenge. bikelaws/index.php available for Saturday and Sunday. During the evenings, enjoy group Bike parking is available and the red get-togethers for dinner and other and brown line CTA stations are in Those links include information for walking distance. drivers on their obligations to cyclists. entertainment. We'll definitely see Cars must allow three feet when what is billed as the largest fireworks passing. display in the Midwest in Madison.

2 About the Club Ride Safety Reminder By Anne Alt Mission I've been hearing that some riders To facilitate recreational bicycling in a non-competitive environment in and on recent club rides have treated around the Chicago area; to promote safe stopping at red lights as optional. bicycling habits and proper bicycling Our club's policy is that ALL riders etiquette; to provide bicyclists an MUST stop at red lights and wait opportunity to network with other for green before proceeding. If an bicyclists; to encourage bicycling as a safe and viable alternative to other modes accident occurs because you run a of transportation. red light, club insurance will NOT cover you, as you will be JERSEYS Sleeveless ...... $50 Contact considered negligent. If you run a (Men: S - XL)(Women: S - 2X) Snailmail: P O Box 1178, Chicago, red light and cause an accident that Shortsleeves ...... $55 IL 60690-1178 causes significant injury and/or (Men: S - 3X)(Women: S - 2X) Website: Longsleeves ...... $60 property damage, YOU are liable. (Men: M - 3X)(Women: www.chicagocyclingclub.org Ride safety is everyone's M - XL) General: responsibility. WINDBREAKER - $60 [email protected] (Men: M - 3X)(Women: Newsletter: S - 2X) [email protected] GLOVES - $10 (XS-2X) Rides: SOCKS - $6 [email protected] (S-XL) Telephone: 773.509.8093 CCC Financial Report - BOTTLE - $3 Officers 4/16/2010 through 5/15/2010 CLUB MEMBERS ONLY President: Anne Alt Balance as of 04/16/2010: may purchase these items by Vice President: Julie Sherman contacting Duane O’Laughlin Treasurer: Brian Bird $9,448.73 merchandise@chicagocyclingclub. Secretary: Jim Adgate Total Income: $670.00 org Member at Large: Justin Sondak, Total Expenses: $37.89 773-612-8157 Julie Hochstadter Balance as May not be shipped Education: TBD of 05/15/2010: $10,080.84 We will meet you at a club event Newsletter: Justin Sondak, or ride or you may pick up items Tom Grose by making arrangements to do so Rides: Jim Adgate in advance.

BECOME A MEMBER FILL OUT THE FORM AND MAIL IT WITH YOUR CHECK TO CHICAGO CYCLING CLUB I, for myself and for any other minor on whose behalf I sign this membership application, agree that 1) bicycling is a potentially hazardous activity and that accidents can occur from negligence or carelessness; 2) ride leaders’ maps and/or written directions are provided for my convenience only and not to guarantee a safe route or trip; and 3) I voluntarily participate in club events and assume all risks associated with participation therein, including but not limited to injury, falls, contact with other participants, weather, traffic, and road conditions, all such risks being known and appreciated by me. Name(s)______Birthdate(s)______Name(s)______Birthdate(s)______Address______City ______State ______Zip______Primary phone______Secondary phone ______E-mail ______Emergency contact/phone ______I obtained this membership application from______I want to receive a paper copy of the members’ directory Yes No the club newsletter Yes No I would like to help with the following: ride planning newsletter publicity meetings social events Annual dues: Individual ($20) Family (multiple individuals at one address $25) Do not share my contact information: within the Chicago Cycling Club with other bike-related organizations

Signature______Date______

MAIL FORM TO: CHICAGO CYCLING CLUB, PO BOX 1178 CHICAGO, IL 60690-1178 3 b u l t n C o r

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June 2010

P. O. Box 1178 Chicago, IL 60690 - 1178