Overview
This is a family friendly party. It includes a catered dinner, live music at the campsite, and so much more!
We will have a variety of start points around the city with mileage options from 20-65 miles. And for folks that roll from the shortest distance, Southside startpoint, you’ll have the option to put your gear in a truck to be hauled to camp.
$100 for adults. $50 for kids.
Start Points and Mileage
South Side: Wild Blossom Meadery (9030 S Hermitage Ave) - 21 miles
This is the main start point. We will have about 50+ folks starting the ride here at 10am. Neighborhood street parking available overnight. The truck will be here in the morning if you want it to haul your gear and you didn’t drop it off the night before.
This is the only start point for families and only start point where gear transport will be available.
We will be rolling out in groups of 20 or so riders, with most of the families rolling as their own guided group.
Riding pace will be 12 mph for the adult group and 7-10 mph for the family group.
Central: Patagonia Mag Mile (48 E. Walton) - 42 miles
Gotta have a start point over with our great friends and partners at Patagonia Mag Mile. There are 28 spots available for adult riders to start here at 8am.
Riding pace will be 12-15 mph.
West Side: Pedal to the People (2030 W Hubbard St) - 59 miles
Such a great bike shop. This is for the slightly more ambitious folks that want some extra miles. There will be 30 spots available for adult riders to start here at 7am. And this route will ride over to the lake and then cut through some south suburbs before picking up the Cal Sag Trail towards camp.
Riding pace will be 12-15 mph.
North Side: Mack's Bike and Goods (2948 Central St, Evanston, IL ) - 65ish mile ride
Another great bike shop hosting us. We are slimming this route down a bit from last year's 100 miles so these riders have more time to enjoy the party at camp. There will be 22 spots available for adult riders to start here at 730am.
Riding pace will be 12-15 mph.
Gear Transport
We will have a truck only to haul the camping gear of those that choose the South Start Point. Folks starting at the North, West, and Central start points, you will need to haul your own gear to camp on your bike.
For those starting on the Southside and that are putting gear in the truck, please be sure to pack it tightly in a bag or bin. Please avoid any loose items such as shoes, pillows, etc. And be sure to label your bag/bin with your name and cell phone number.
Gear will be brought back to Wild Blossom Meadery on Sunday for riders to pick-up.
Saturday Activities
Each specific starting point will stop along the way to eat lunch at a local restaurant.
Once we get to camp, there will be lots of fun and exploring to be had. The Wild Scallions, an acoustic bluegrass band of Hootenanny fame, will be playing at camp. We'll have dinner catered and will have options to meet all dietary restrictions. Our incredible sponsor, Sketchbook Brewery, will be providing delicious beer and there will be NA options as well.
There will be kid friendly games and options to hike or bike around the trails of the forest preserves. And of course some cool educational activities such as a nature scavenger hunt and a “how to build a fire” clinic.
Sunday Options
Wake up easy. Enjoy a morning campfire. OOFD will provide a basic breakfast of oatmeal, fruit, coffee, and tea.
We will roll out in a variety of groups with different pace options so as to avoid being a huge mass on the streets/trails. The first group will head out around 10am.
If you're not feeling like riding home from the campground, you can ride the 4 miles to the Oak Forest Rock Island Metra Train which can get you back to Wild Blossom Meadery or even all the way to downtown Chicago. The 91st Street Metra Rock Island train station is less than a block from the meadery end point and the 95th Street Redline is only a few miles away as well.
Campsites and Cabins
BRING YOUR OWN TENT: We have a number of tent pads (two tents each) rented in the campground plus two very large group sites in addition to the pavilion where the live music and meals will be happening.
CABINS: We also have 80 spots available across 9 cabins. The cabins are very simple rooms with 4-8 bunk beds in a single room. These cabins are available for the same price as a campsite, so feel free to indicate you want a cabin spot and then you can ride with a much lighter load!
FREE CAMPING GEAR RENTAL: Finally, for those that want to camp but don’t have camp gear, thanks to our CLIC partners at The Cook County Forest Preserve, we have access to a limited amount of tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. If you are interested in using this gear, it is important that you indicate this on your registration form.
Families that are camping will set up at the group site which is a bit tucked away from the main pavilion and thus will be able to leave the festivities and put the kids to bed or have a more chill campfire at the family site away from the big bonfire/main gathering area.
The Campground
The facilities at Camp Sullivan are excellent. Campground features a fire pit, picnic tables, full-service bathrooms with showers, dining pavilions with electrical outlets for device charging, and a camp store as well as access to hiking and biking trails in the surrounding forest preserves.
Partners
We are so honored to be partnering with one of the most supportive and premier outdoor gear in the city on this one - Patagonia. They have provided support paying for the band as well as hosting a start point. Also, major thanks to our partner bike shops: Mack’s Bikes and Goods and Pedal to the People as well as Wild Blossom Meadery
Free Tickets Available for People with Disabilities
We are offering a couple of free spots for adults with adaptive needs. So if you or someone you know has a disability and would be interested in this ride but the price is a barrier, please get in touch with us. We also have a fleet of adaptive tandem bikes with trained guides that would be able to ride along with the rider with a disability.
For any adaptive riders that are interested in joining us, please email our volunteer Adaptive Program Director, Bradley Fisher - bradley@oofd.org, and he will help coordinate anything you may need regarding bikes or questions you may have.
And of course, we are providing one free spot for an employee from each of our partners on this event including Patagonia, Mack’s Bike Shop, Pedal to the People, and Wild Blossom Meadery.
