Friday, September 7, 2012
Don't forget to sign up for two of Winnetka's most popular events to cap off your summer: Bike Winnetka and the Wiffle Ball Challenge.
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Friday, September 7, 2012
Registration is looming for the 2nd Annual Bike Winnetka event, a leisurely ride that takes bicyclists of all ages through scenic Winnetka on Saturday, Sept. 22 in a group ride format. The ride begins at 1 p.m. from the Skokie Playfield, and lead rider for this year’s event is Mark Stephan. The ride offers the traditional 7.9-mile option and the new 2-mile option. Also, thanks to the generosity of the community partners, the cost of this event is only $5 per person. Registration deadline is September 15 with the ride limited to 300 participants. For additional Bike Winnetka information and to register for the event visit the Winnetka Parks website, click on Recreation, Recreation Programs, Bike Winnetka. Registration is also accepted at …
Friday, August 31, 2012
Going fast is great, but not at the expense of safety.
The other day, I had a nice reminder about the importance of riding safely and wisely. I saw a cyclist almost get hit by a car. I was running with a friend on the trail where it intersects with a busy road. The traffic signal started flashing “Don't Walk” as we crossed, but we made it to the other side with plenty of time. We continued running up the trail, and then, from the opposite direction, a cyclist came speeding around the corner. He showed no signs of slowing down. “He's not going to make it,” I said to my running companion. I turned around to see the guy riding into the intersection just as the traffic signal gave drivers the green light. He kept going, forcing the motorists on the far side of the road to jam on their brakes to …
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
The ride raised nearly $1 million for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
In 2007, Winnetka resident Mark Stephan was thrown from his bike when its front wheel came off. The accident broke his neck and doctors said he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Stephan disagreed. He got back on the bike in a big way, and on July 1 he completed a 75-day, 3,129-mile bike ride across the southern United States. His efforts also raised nearly $1 million for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) through his website StephanChallenge.com. “One of my dreams had always been to ride my bike across country,” Stephan said. “I wanted to do something for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago as a way to give back and I thought I could combine a challenging bike trip with a fundraising effort.” Striving for …
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Tips to get the kids active this summer with a fun family bike ride
Whether you are tackling a new trail or just heading out for ice cream, a family bike ride is the perfect way to get exercise and spend time together. Biking is a great alternative to the pool on those super hot days, too. But, what I love most about a family bike ride is that you can plan an outing with kids of any age. With teens you can plan some long trail rides to discover new places and explore some great nature trails. They can handle overnight biking trips or enter week-long biking events like Ragbrai, in Iowa. My brother-in-law and nephew really look forward to this biking event and their time bonding together every year. With kids ages 6-10, make your outings really enjoyable like heading to the park for a picnic or some fun …
Saturday, April 21, 2012
If you're not a runner or cyclist, you may have questions about those crazy people you see on the road. Why all the bright shirts and the goofy shoes?
Go out on a sunny Saturday morning, and you'll find the roads clogged with cyclists, runners, walkers and others getting in their daily workouts. But have you ever wondered why runners wear those funny looking shoes, or why cyclists yell at each other? Here are answers to some of your burning questions. Why do runners run on the street instead of the sidewalk? There are definitely the sidewalk people and the street people. I'm a street person, for several reasons. In the winter, the streets are always less icy than the sidewalks, since they get treated in addition to getting plowed. The rest of the year, I choose the street because the pavement is smooth. The sidewalks are too uneven, causing klutzy people like me to trip. Also, the …
Monday, April 9, 2012
From running races to bike rides and triathlons, the next few months are chock full of events.
While the skeptics still live in fear of one last cold blast, it looks like warm spring weather is here to stay. That means there's no excuse to stay indoors. It's time to get outside for golf, tennis, or a long walk in the woods. However, if you're looking for something a little more challenging than a stroll on the beach, you're in luck. This time of year there are dozens of organized athletic events nearby. Whether you want to run your first 5k or try a two-day, 200 mile bike ride, there's something for everyone. Thanks to the web, finding an event has never been easier. Check out sites such as Chicago Athlete, the Chicago Area Runners Association, Running in the USA, BikeRide.com and TriFind for comprehensive listings. To get you …
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Velosmith Bicycle Studio hosts weekly rides, plus lectures, film screenings and yoga. The owner follows his father, who led Alberto's Cycles in Hubbard Woods.
Evanston resident Tony Bustamante grew up in a bike shop. As a little kid, he would go to work with his father, Alberto Bustamante, at Alberto’s Cycles in Hubbard Woods. RELATED: Business Owners Debate Future of Hubbard Woods Alberto owned the Winnetka shop for 30 years, and Tony worked with him throughout high school and college, before moving to Santa Monica to work at bike shops there. After considering it for a decade, Tony and his wife Julia Bustamante used that lifetime of experience to open Velosmith Bicycle Studio in Wilmette in April. Velosmith is not your typical retail shop. Business is mostly done by appointment and the shop primarily deals in custom bikes. “It's a passion-based industry that we're in,” Julia said. “When you …
RMGreen
9:17 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
And, it also sets a terrible experience for my three sons who ride their bikes to school each day, stop at stop signs and obey most biking safety rules for children, and then watch adult "competitive cyclists" ignore all rules of the road. This may not seem like a big deal, but it teaches a terrible lesson that cyclists are above the law...at least in the eyes of the children watching. more ›