Join us for Last Friday Brompton Rides throughout the season.

On the last Friday of each month, we’ll gather at Cosmic Bikes at 4:30pm for a 5pm departure to a nearby brewery or watering hole.

On April 25 we’ll ride to Sketchbook Brewing in Skokie following the Valley Line Trail and local streets.

• Approximate one-way distance 7 miles

• End time approximate

• You may ride with us back to the shop, or head home on your own

• What to bring:

  • Helmet

  • Lights

  • $ for beverages and food

No Brompton? No problem! Join us with the bike you have, o text us to to check loaner Brompton availability (min 48 hour notice required).

REGISTRATION IS RECOMMENDED FOR THIS EVENT

We’ll ride the Pennsy Greenway starting in Calumet City, IL to Schererville, IN. This is a linear rail-to-trail with generally excellent surface conditions passing through a mix of suburbia, parkland and greenspace.

Details:

• Sunday, April 13 meet at 9:45am for 10am departure. We’ll gather at the north end of the trail at the parking area in Green Lake Woods parking lot by the Aquatic Center (1100 River Oaks Dr, Calumet City).

• Riding distance about 28 miles

• Facilities available trailside

• End time approximate

• Ride at your own risk

What to bring:

• Your recumbent bike or trike
  A limited number of DEMO TRIKES may be available to rent from us by prior arrangement. Please call/text 773-930-4076.

• Helmet

• Snack/Water

Weather:

• We’ll ride in any weather, except steady downpour or dangerous snowy/icy conditions. Notification, if necessary, will be sent by 6pm Saturday, April 12.

REGISTRATION IS RECOMMENDED FOR THIS EVENT:

We’re kicking off the 2025 season with Coffee Outside, followed by a casual recumbent group ride at Busse Woods Trail. We’ll cover about 10 miles of paved trails wind through woodland, meadows and around serene lakes in a beautiful Cook County forest preserve in a convenient loop. Opportunities for wildlife viewing, including an elk pasture.

Details:

• Sunday, April 6 we’ll meet at Busse Forest South (entrance at Higgins Rd. west of Arlington Hts. Rd. just past the bike/ped overpass — see map & screenshot). We’ll congregate at a picnic grove #5 and start with freshly brewed coffee before the ride, meet and greet any new riders and catch up on what we’ve been doing. We’ll bring everything needed to make coffee including our camp coffee making paraphernalia (you can bring yours too if you’d like). So bring your mug, and perhaps something edible to share if you’d like.
  (NOTE: I did not reserve the picnic grove, and I am banking on it being available this early in the season. If not, there are other groves available off the same parking area. We’ll be flexible 😃.)

• Ride will start at 10am. End time approximate.

• Riding distance about 10 miles

• We’re keeping fingers crossed that trailside facilities will be available. I will try to post an update.

• The official website does not mention any restroom closures at this parking area.

• Ride at your own risk

What to bring:

• Your recumbent bike or trike
  A limited number of DEMO TRIKES may be available to rent from us by prior arrangement. Please call/text 773-930-4076.

• Helmet

• Snack/Water

Weather:

• We’ll ride in any weather, except steady downpour or dangerous snowy/icy conditions. Notification, if necessary, will be sent by 6pm Saturday, April 5. Backup date is April 13.

REGISTRATION IS RECOMMENDED FOR THIS EVENT:

Now that the crowds may have lessened, we’ll enjoy riding on the Chicago Lakefront Trail. We’ll meet in Jackson Park at the parking lot at 1971 E. Hayes Dr. on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 9:45 for a 10am departure. It is metered parking, $7 for 4 hours or $13 for up to 9 hours.

We’ll head north to Solidarity Drive, and make a loop around Northerly Island before heading back south to the starting point.

Highlights:

The whole lakefront is a highlight, but viewing the Chicago skyline from this perspective, and riding through the beautifully naturalized sections of the trail is a real treat.

Details:

• Sunday, October 27 we’ll meet at the south end of Jackson Park (exact meatup spot TBD) at 9:45 am for a 10 am departure. We’ll make rest stops as needed.

• Riding distance just under 20 miles. End time approximate.

• Facilities available trailside.

• Ride at your own risk.

What to bring:

• Your recumbent bike or trike
  A limited number of DEMO TRIKES may be available to rent from us by prior arrangement. Please call/text 773-930-4076.

• Snack/Water

Weather:

• We’ll ride in any weather, except steady downpour. Notification, if necessary, will be sent by 6pm Saturday, Oct. 26.

Registration is recommended for this event:

This week we’ll ride on the Old Plank Road Trail from Matteson (see REVISED parking info below) to New Lenox and back, for a total of about 25 miles.

OPR Trail ins a linear rail-to-trail and offers views of oak trees and sugar maples, prairie grasses, and wildflowers, as well as opprtunities to view wildlife (including bald eagles!) while passing through nature preserves adjacent to the trail.

Highlights:

The trail passes over an award-winning, arrowhead-shaped suspension bridge, which takes trail users over US 45. Frankfort, the trail's physical and spiritual center greets riders with an archway overhead emblazoned with the trail's name.

Details:

• Sunday, October 13 we’ll meet in Matteson at old Target lot on Cicero at Gateway Drive by the Pep Boys at 9:45 am for a 10 am departure. We’ll make rest stops as needed (see screenshot).

• Riding distance about 25 miles. End time approximate.

• Facilities available trailside.

• Ride at your own risk.

What to bring:

• Your recumbent bike or trike
  A limited number of DEMO TRIKES may be available to rent from us by prior arrangement. Please call/text 773-930-4076.

• Snack/Water

Weather:

• We’ll ride in any weather, except steady downpour. Notification, if necessary, will be sent by 6pm Saturday, Oct. 12.

Registration is recommended for this event:

This week, we’ll ride on the iconic North Branch Trail from the parking lot at Linne Woods in Morton Grove (off Dempster) to the trail end at Dundee Road at Skokie Lagoons, and back for a total of about 24 miles.

Highlights:

The North Branch Trail is surely a gem among Chicagoland's network of bicycle trails. It has everything a great bike trail should have: distance, scenery, variety, along with excellent pavement conditions and generally well-designed street crossings. The NBT will take you through woodland and prairie, along the river and its adjacent wetlands, ending at the Skokie Lagoons (before we double back for the return trip), which can almost make you forget that you are still in the big city.

Details:

• Sunday, September 29 we’ll meet at the Linne Woods parking area off Dempster in Morton Grove (see map) at 9:45 am for a 10 am departure. We’ll makestops for refreshments trailside (BYO, but we will have some to share!).

• On the day of the ride, I will provide you with wait stops where we will pause to allow everyone to catch up. This is a no-drop ride, and we have riders of various abilities, riding with or without e-assist. If you prefer to ride faster, or are under time constraints, please let us know at the start of the ride that you will be moving ahead of the group.

• Riding distance about 24 miles. End time approximate.

• Facilities available trailside.

• Ride at your own risk.

What to bring:

• Your recumbent bike or trike
  A limited number of DEMO TRIKES may be available to rent from us by prior arrangement. Please call/text 773-930-4076.

• Snack/Water

Weather:

• We’ll ride in any weather, except steady downpour. Notification, if necessary, will be sent by 6pm Saturday, Sept. 28.

Registration is recommended for this event:

MONDAY, MONDAY, MONDAY!!! Another longer ride again this week! We’ll ride all the loops of Tinley Creek Trail in starting from the parking lot at Turtlehead Lake in Orland Park, IL. The trail crosses the creek multiple times, winds around several small picturesque lakes and passes through various habitats, including woodlands and grasslands.

Total distance about 24 miles.

Logistics:

We’ll head left on the main trail from the parking lot spur, riding in a generally counter-clockwise direction. However, this trail has many turns, so we’ll need to take extra care to keep the group together. On the day of the ride, I will provide you with wait stops where we will pause to allow everyone to catch up.

This is a no-drop ride, and we have riders of various abilities, riding with or without e-assist. If you prefer to ride faster, or are under time constraints, please let us know at the start of the ride that you will be moving ahead of the group.

Details:

• Monday, Sept. 9 we’ll meet at the Turtlehead Lake parking area off 135th St. west of Harlem (see map) at 9:45 am for a 10 am departure. We’ll make stops for refreshments trailside, and to allow everyone to catch up.

• Riding distance about 24 miles. End time approximate.

• Facilities available trailside.

• Ride at your own risk.

What to bring:

• Your recumbent bike or trike
  A limited number of DEMO TRIKES may be available to rent from us by prior arrangement. Please call/text 773-930-4076.

• Snack/Water

Weather:

• We’ll ride in any weather, except steady downpour. Notification, if necessary, will be sent by 6pm Sunday, Sept. 8.

Registration is recommended for this event:

A bit of a longer ride this time around! We’ll ride round trip on the Centennial Trail from Columbia Woods FP the historic swing bridge in Romeoville. The trail occupies a thin strip of land between the Des Plaines River and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, and courses primarily through forested areas, and several forest preserves in Cook, DuPage and Will counties. Total distance about 26 miles.

Highlights:

A level trail with beautiful river scenery, historic swing bride, and opprotunities for wildlife viewing.

Details:

• Sunday, August 18 we’ll meet at the Columbia Woods parking area off Willow Springs Road & Crocoran Rd. (see map) at 9:45 am for a 10 am departure. We’ll makestops for refreshments trailside (BYO, but we will have some to share!).

• Riding distance about 26 miles. End time approximate.

• Facilities available trailside.

• Ride at your own risk.

What to bring:

• Your recumbent bike or trike
  A limited number of DEMO TRIKES may be available to rent from us by prior arrangement. Please call/text 773-930-4076.

• Snack/Water

Weather:

• We’ll ride in any weather, except steady downpour. Notification, if necessary, will be sent by 6pm Saturday, Aug. 17.

Registration is recommended for this event:

Casual recumbent group ride at Busse Woods Trail. About 12 miles of paved trails wind through woodland, meadows and around serene lakes in a beautiful Cook County forest preserve in a convenient loop. Opportunities for wildlife viewing, including an elk pasture.

Details:

• Sunday, August 4 we’ll meet at the Ned Brown Meadow parking area off Golf Road (see map) at 10 am for a 10:15 departure. Approximately half-way through the ride, we’ll make a stop for refreshments trailside (BYO, but we will have some to share!). End time approximately 1:30.

• Riding distance about 12 miles

• Facilities available trailside.

• Ride at your own risk

What to bring:

• Your recumbent bike or trike
  A limited number of DEMO TRIKES may be available to rent from us by prior arrangement. Please call/text 773-930-4076.

• Helmet

• Snack/Water

Weather:

• We’ll ride in any weather, except steady downpour. Notification, if necessary, will be sent by 6pm Saturday, Aug. 3.

Registration is recommended for this event:

Join us for an easy-pace, easy-distance meet & greet ride at Wolf Lake. This will be a 12-15 mile ride on paved trails around Wolf Lake and the Whiting, IN lakefront with possible smaller detours and places to stop for photos, meet other recumbent riders, chat about the season ahead, and maybe share some treats.

Highlights:

Paved trail winds around Wolf Lake in the Illinois/Indiana border, with a section of trail making a bridge over the lake. Adjacent loop will take us along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Opprotunities for bird and wildlife viewing.

Details:

• Sunday, July 21 we’ll meet at parking area at the Wolf Lake Pavilion at 9:45 for a 10am departure. Approximately half-way through the ride, we’ll make a stop for refreshments trailside (BYO, but we will have some to share!).

• Riding distance about 12-15 miles. End time approximate.

• Facilities available trailside.

• Ride at your own risk.

What to bring:

• Your recumbent bike or trike
  A limited number of DEMO TrIKES may be available to rent from us by prior arrangement. Please call/text 773-930-4076.

• Snack/Water

Weather:

• We’ll ride in any weather, except steady downpour. Notification, if necessary, will be sent by 6pm Saturday, July 20th.

Registration is recommended for this event:

Breakfast Outside is a fantastic way to get a tiny dose of camping life on a regular weekday before work. We’ve been cooking our morning meal outside whenever we get a chance, and this season we invite you to join us!

Breakfast outside is an informal monthly gathering with others who enjoy cooking food and coffee outdoors. It’s also a great opportunity to see different types of cooking gear, swap camping recipes and meet like-minded outdoor enthusiasts.

Plus, it feels like a mini-vacation!

You do not need to be a seasoned outdoorsman (or even a biker!) to participate. You can make an elaborate omelette with all the trimmings if you like, or go minimal with instant oats —your call! There will be plenty of hot water for coffee and usually some goodies to share.

BYO cooking gear, a mug and utensils. You can also bring a ready-made breakfast, but we think it’s more fun to cook it up right on the spot.

We’ll meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 8am at the pond near North Park Village Nature Center. Directions: On your bike, enter NPV at Pulaski & Ardmore, and follow the main drive until you get to the park fieldhouse (past Gymnastics center and admin buildings). At the fieldhouse, make a sharp left. You’ll see the pond about a quarter block down on your right.

Breakfast Outside is a fantastic way to get a tiny dose of camping life on a regular weekday before work. We’ve been cooking our morning meal outside whenever we get a chance, and this season we invite you to join us!

Breakfast outside is an informal monthly gathering with others who enjoy cooking food and coffee outdoors. It’s also a great opportunity to see different types of cooking gear, swap camping recipes and meet like-minded outdoor enthusiasts.

Plus, it feels like a mini-vacation!

You do not need to be a seasoned outdoorsman (or even a biker!) to participate. You can make an elaborate omelette with all the trimmings if you like, or go minimal with instant oats —your call! There will be plenty of hot water for coffee and usually some goodies to share.

BYO cooking gear, a mug and utensils. You can also bring a ready-made breakfast, but we think it’s more fun to cook it up right on the spot.

We’ll meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 8am at the pond near North Park Village Nature Center. Directions: On your bike, enter NPV at Pulaski & Ardmore, and follow the main drive until you get to the park fieldhouse (past Gymnastics center and admin buildings). At the fieldhouse, make a sharp left. You’ll see the pond about a quarter block down on your right.

Breakfast Outside is a fantastic way to get a tiny dose of camping life on a regular weekday before work. We’ve been cooking our morning meal outside whenever we get a chance, and this season we invite you to join us!

Breakfast outside is an informal monthly gathering with others who enjoy cooking food and coffee outdoors. It’s also a great opportunity to see different types of cooking gear, swap camping recipes and meet like-minded outdoor enthusiasts.

Plus, it feels like a mini-vacation!

You do not need to be a seasoned outdoorsman (or even a biker!) to participate. You can make an elaborate omelette with all the trimmings if you like, or go minimal with instant oats —your call! There will be plenty of hot water for coffee and usually some goodies to share.

BYO cooking gear, a mug and utensils. You can also bring a ready-made breakfast, but we think it’s more fun to cook it up right on the spot.

We’ll meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 8am at the pond near North Park Village Nature Center. Directions: On your bike, enter NPV at Pulaski & Ardmore, and follow the main drive until you get to the park fieldhouse (past Gymnastics center and admin buildings). At the fieldhouse, make a sharp left. You’ll see the pond about a quarter block down on your right.

Celebrate the beginning of Spring with BREAKFAST OUTSIDE!!

Breakfast Outside is a fantastic way to get a tiny dose of camping life on a regular weekday before work. We’ve been cooking our morning meal outside whenever we get a chance, and this season we invite you to join us!

Breakfast outside is an informal gathering with others who enjoy cooking food and coffee outdoors. It’s also a great opportunity to see different types of cooking gear, swap camping recipes and meet like-minded outdoor enthusiasts.

Plus, it feels like a mini-vacation!

You do not need to be a seasoned outdoorsman (or even a biker!) to participate. You can make an elaborate omelette with all the trimmings if you like, or go minimal with instant oats —your call! There will be plenty of hot water for coffee and usually some goodies to share.

BYO cooking gear, a mug and utensils. You can also bring a ready-made breakfast, but we think it’s more fun to cook it up right on the spot.

We’ll meet on Tuesday, March 19 at 8am at the pond near North Park Village Nature Center. Directions: On your bike, enter NPV at Pulaski & Ardmore, and follow the main drive until you get to the park fieldhouse (past Gymnastics center and admin buildings). At the fieldhouse, make a sharp left. You’ll see the pond about a quarter block down on your right.

LOCATION: