Get geeked out —Naperville bike season is here

The following article appeared in the Naperville Sun, Tuesday, June 9, 2009. The electronic version did not have the picture so I added it back in to give my fellow tweetriders a little love.

Here is a bit more of the backstory on what turned out to be #TweetRide3. I met Tim McDonald (picture taker) aka @tamcdonald, thru Twitter and several Social Media/Networking conferences in the Chicagoland area. We both enjoyed biking and, long story short, tweeted back and forth about it setting times and places etc on Twitter. The tweets were picked up on by several other riders (see picture caption and @williger who could not jpoin us that day) soon a series of rides started to happen in various places with varying numbers of people. On May 9, five of us met at Navy Pier and headed south on the Lake Shore Trail. Rides are still being arranged and you can usually find out about them by just asking on Twitter about the next Tweetride. It’s a great way to meet folks and get a little exercise too. #lbstolose.

June 9, 2009, Naperville Sun, By Heather Pfundstein, hpfundstein@scn1.com

Can you feel it? The wind blowing the sweat off your arms faster than you can produce it. The handlebars lightly yielding to your requests. The Spandex shorts clinging to the thighs that you kept in excellent condition over the long winter. The helmet that you longed to get out of storage. The sunglasses that keep the bugs from your eyes. The feeling of pavement under your tire.

If you’re like me, riding your bicycle is almost spiritual. It’s not something you do; it’s part of who you are. You’ve longed for this moment all winter long — warmer weather so you can mount your favorite two-wheeler and power it with your own energy. Sure, you ride with others, but ultimately, on your bicycle you are in control — of course, until you hit that rock you didn’t see. Ah the exhilaration.

There are others of you out there, too. Some much more committed than I am. A little thing like pregnancy wouldn’t keep you off your bike. (I, on the other hand, am taking this season off — yes, I’m six months pregnant. Don’t want to chance hitting that rock.)

Others bicycle for the fun of it, for the fitness routine, or to commute to work — all noble causes. Any reason to bicycle is a good one to me.

Here’s what says on his blog about what bicycling means to him:

“Road biking is one of the activities I most enjoy. There is nothing quite like the feel of riding down the road, a slight tailwind, big ring, just being in the zone.”

Riders (left to right), Ken Green, Tony Lazzari, Tom Besore, Leah Jones - all riders from Twitter - in early May in chicago at 71st and Lake Shore Drive on Tweetride3. (picture taken by Tim McDonald aka @tamcdonald).

I know what he means — when an hour goes by without much thought, except the road, your water bottle and your pedal stroke. You get in that groove and you think you could ride forever.

The city thinks bicycling is a good idea, too. This summer a major renovation project on 75th and Washington streets includes an extension of the DuPage River Trail. And other projects around town will extend trails and join up with others that lead to other trails.

The city also wants to make sure bicyclists are riding safely. From May through November, patrolling Naperville police officers will reward young bicyclists who practice good bike safety with a “coupon citation” for a free doughnut from Dunkin’ Donuts redeemable at participating Naperville locations. (So if you ride enough, you won’t feel guilty about eating that tasty treat.

The program focuses on getting all bicyclists to wear a helmet, obey all traffic laws, lock bicycles, and stay “visible and predictable while riding.”

National Bike Month is June, which makes sense since it’s the first good month to get rolling. The city is celebrating it, too, by encouraging residents to ride bicycles for trips less than two miles.

It also is promoting events throughout the month.

 Naperville Bike Day on June 15 — Challenge: ride your bike all day for your errands and whatever else you’re up to.

 Bike to Metra on June 15 — Commuters who bike to the downtown Naperville and Route 59 Metra Stations will receive a gift bag, coupons, biking information and an opportunity to register their bike on site. DuPage County is sponsoring this event between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m., too.

 Bike Month Proclamation on June 16 — Mayor A. George Pradel will proclaim June as Bike Month and the city of Naperville will receive the bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community Award.

 Also, visitors who bike to Naper Settlement and show their bike helmets to staff get $5 off general admission during Bike Month — excluding special events.

Yes, the helmet. I know it can be uncomfortable, mess up your hair, impede your sight line and overall look uncool, but if you’re serious about bicycling and planning to ride faster, farther and stronger, then you need to wear one, your child in the safety seat needs to wear one, and anyone riding with you needs to wear one. Demand it! All it takes is one spill, and you’ll know what I mean.

Happy riding — hopefully, I’ll get a few rides in. So, see you in September!

Contact readers’ editor Heather Pfundstein at hpfundstein@scn1.com or call 630-416-5237.