‍Welcome

Greetings y’all,

Things are thriving and vibing over here at OOFD. Goodness is summer so dang fun! We've had so many rides in the last month which means a lot of folks out in nature on bike adventures, learning about our home and celebrating the heck out of our natural spaces.

And even though its already August, we still have heaps of rides coming up, including our big Flock Off the Block Bike Camping Party at the end of August. So read on for some info on what we have been up to, what rides you can still join, as well as other ways you can consider supporting your favorite local bike camping non-profit.

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Family Program is Rocking so far in 2026

We have had 3 Family Overnights so far this year, with a 4th one canceled due to smoke (read more about this at the end of this newsletter), as well as our first Family Day Ride. Most of those rides have nearly filled up with 30+ participants each. These rides are so magical as we get to see the kids enjoy a full weekend of playing outside, in nature, having fun on bikes, and making new friends. And the adults get a chance to meet other cools parents/families that are adventurous enough to load up their family and all their gear onto their bikes for a weekend outdoors.

The community that is built is something profound, with some families attending a few rides a year and some newbies that are taking the leap and are welcomed in. A group of strangers slowly becomes a beautiful community over a weekend of riding, eating, sitting around the campfire together, and persevering through the challenges that any adventure may bring (including some serious rain this past weekend).

This program so brightly shines as a way for OOFD to execute our mission and really play a part in building up the love of nature and adventure in the next generation, all with an inclusive and welcoming attitude. We have had many adaptive riders with disabilities join us on our Family Overnights this year keeping this program especially aligned with our values of Radical Inclusivity.

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Upcoming OOFD Events

1. Monthly Hang: Rainbow Beach

August 4 - TONIGHT!

A reason to go to the lake on this beautiful Tuesday evening. Get out and ride yer bike! See you there tonight at 730pm. Deets and sign-up here.

2. Family Overnight: Blackwell

August 14-16

This ride still has a few spots left on it, and its one of our most beloved Family Overnights, as well as one of the longest. Enjoy riding a chill pace along the Prairie Path with plenty of breaks out to the gorgeous Blackwell Family Campground in DuPage County. The off day includes a waterpark! Deets and sign-up here.

3. Adult Overnight: Waterways to the West (Starved Rock)

August 21-23

There is magically still like 8 spots still open on this ride which sells out every year! The most ambitious single day we do as an org, 110 miles in one day from Bridgeport to Starved Rock along one of the best trails in our region, the I&M Canal Trail. Off day to explore the State Park, then ride back to Joliet on Sunday for Metra (or if yer feeling a little wild, ride all the way home on Sunday).  We even have a special Camp Chef to take the meals to the next level on this one. Deets and sign-up here.

4. Overnight for Everyone: Flock Off the Block

August 29-30

The biggest bike camping party of the year! We'll have 80+ folks riding from 4 different start points around the city to Camp Sullivan for a night of community and fun. Live jazz trio at camp and catered dinner. Families welcome. Folks with disabilities welcome. Camping gear available to borrow for free and cabin options available for no extra charge. Mileage options 20, 40, 60, and 65. Truck to haul yer gear from Southside Start point. Deets and sign-up here.

5. Adult Overnight: Monday Funday (Big Marsh)

August 31 - September 1

This will be a sub-24 hour ride. We'll leave in the evening, get a little bit of night riding in, and then arrive to a very unique campsite, that is not open to the public, at Big Marsh. We made this ride, Monday Funday, with our service industry folks in mind who often have to work weekends so they can't ride most of our rides. So you bike shop workers, waiters, performance industry folks, etc, get yerself a Monday night adventure in, sleep outside, and be home on Tuesday by lunchtime. Deets and sign-up here.

6. Monthly Hang: Horner Park

September 1

This one is always a blast with a big turnout. Come say hey to yer OOFD friends, old and new, at this gem of a park in the Irving Park area. Deets and sign-up here.

7. MI Lag(r)o Circle Tour

September 7-26

We are in year 1 of our 5 Year Plan that is focused on Reciprocity, giving back to nature, our volunteers, participants, and partners. And this ride is a big way to give back to our volunteers. So many of us dream of riding around Lake Michigan, and we're making that happen for any of our volunteers that can come. We have 13 of us riding the full 1100 miles around our beloved lake and a handful more joining for a week or two throughout. My lake, Michigan Lake (MI Lago) is a freaking miracle, MI Lag(r)o, and we get to spend 20 days bike camping around her while celebrating 10 years of leading bike camping adventures along her shores.

8. Adult Overnight: The Drumlins of WisKohler - Kettle Moraine and Kohler Andrae

September 11-14

This is our next big thing! Most of our rides are 1 or 2 nighters. This is a 3 nigher exploring so much of the beauty, rolling hills, epic state parks, small towns, and beautiful lakefront of SE Wisconsin. We roll out of Milwaukee Friday afternoon, right near the Amtrak station, and ride up to Kettle Moraine for a night. Then, we spend 2 nights at the beautiful Kohler-Andrae State Park, with a free day to explore the park and Sheboygan. Finally, we ride back along the lake to Milwaukee in time to catch the train/drive home on Monday evening. Deets and sign-up here.

9. Where the Wild Things Grow: Patagonia to Bill Jarvis

September 12

Our 6th annual Where the Wild Things Grow ride in partnership with our great friends at Patagonia Mag Mile and the awesome site stewards at Bill Jarvis Migratory Bird Sanctuary (near Addison on the lakefront). Its a chill handful of mile ride out to do 3 hours of environmental service, with an optional hang afterwards. Deets and sign-up coming soon here.

10. Tabling: Fall Nature Fest at La Bagh Woods

September 12

This is a really cool event that brings together all kinds of outdoor orgs. We'll be tabling, helping get the word out about all the cool things we do, and you'll be able to meet a ton of other like-minded, nature focused orgs. Family friendly. No registration necessary. Deets here.

*Please note that we do have scholarships available for any BIPOC riders with financial restriction as well as Adaptive Riders with financial restrictions. And honestly, if the price of our rides is a barrier to you, regardless of who you are, just reply to this email, and we’ll figure out something to get you riding with us!

Volunteer Gratitude  - Gabriel Echeverria

Gabriel joined his first OOFD ride on a snowy, frigid Southside Irish Parade and Campout in March 2025 and has become an incredible part of the OOFD community ever since. He exemplifies a spirit of service, inside and outside of OOFD, and he has such a welcoming, chill, friendly vibe that anyone can pick-up on right away. He has been huge in volunteering across so many programs this season, including this past weekend, helping not just guide but with tons of logistics for the Family Bike Camping in the City (all with a cast on his wrist - it was healed, just waiting to get it cut off). He is guiding 4 OOFD overnights in 5 weeks before joining the MI Lag(r)o crew for the 3 week ride around the lake. Dang are we lucky to have such stellar humans like Gabe giving so much of their time, energy, and great vibes to the OOFD community.

In his own words, Gabriel is a lifelong Illinois resident, and Chicagoan of 14+ years, currently residing in Albany Park.  When he’s not spending his days working in the tech and payments industries, he’s in the garden tending a variety of plants, socializing with friends, or organizing community members in support of the unhoused. An experienced camper and hiker of the Great Lakes region and native plant enthusiast, you can find him in the woods or a prairie savannah whenever he has the time for it.

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Recent Events We've Done

1. Family Day Ride and BBQ: North Branch

Saturday, June 20

This was a very exciting new thing this year. We rode 7 miles up the North Branch Trail to Harms Woods where we had a BBQ and hang out session. We had two families with a child with a disability join us.

2. Adult Overnight: DIY - Dan Beard

June 20-21

This is a unique Adult Overnight.  We had about a dozen folks leave from wherever they wanted and met the OOFD crew of guides at camp for dinner, and a night camping and then rode back to Chi the next morning together.

3. Adult Day Ride: Morton Arboretum

Saturday, June 20

All of our Adult Day Rides have sold out this year, and this one in particular has sold out all 3 years we have done it. Why? Cuz its such a lovely ride and our partners at the Morton Arb are so dang top notch with the tour they give to our riders.

4. Adaptive Adult Day Ride with Shirley Ryan Ability Lab: Pedal and Paddle

Friday, June 26

We got to partner with the incredible folks at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab for this cool event at the Skokie Lagoons. There was kayaking as well as cycling on our adaptive Pino tandems as well as SRAB's adaptive bikes.

5. Adult Overnight: Train O' Lakes - Chain O' Lakes

June 27-28

This multi-modal adventure covered approximately 100 miles on the first day. The following morning the riders rode a few short miles into Fox Lake to load up a Metra bike car and ride the rails back into Chicago.

6. Family Overnight: Camp Dan Beard

June 27-28

Such a pleasant roll up to Camp Dan Beard in Northbrook, IL. These families got to explore a portion of the Des Plaines River Trail and enjoy the beauty of our extensive forest preserves in the Northwest Burbs.

7. Where the Wild Things Grow: Calumet Park Beach Clean-up with Shedd Aquarium

June 27

We had a solid crew ride down to clean up this awesome beach on the far SE side of Chicago in partnership with the Shedd Aquarium.

8. Monthly Hang at McKinley Park

Tuesday, July 7

Usually our Southside hangs have a smaller turnout, but we had about 25 folks come to hang in the delightfully popping prairie on the Eastside of McKinley Park.

9. Adult Overnight: SWMI - Southwest Michigan

July 9-13

I say this every year, but holy moly! One of the best things OOFD has ever done. 5 magical days with 17 participants and 7 guides. Riding along the shores of our beloved lake, middle of sunny summer - just riding and hopping in the lake. Epic sunsets, beautiful community, living outside for 5 days straight! One of our most diverse set of participants with a wide range of ages, races, and abilities. We even had an adaptive rider complete the 5 day, 220+ mile ride on one of our adaptive Pinos tandem with OOFD guides piloting the bike with him.

10. Family Overnight: Shabbona

July 17-19

Was so hard to do, but we had to cancel this 30 person overnight one due to wildfire smoke. You can read more about our 3 canceled overnights in the closing of this newsletter.

11. Adaptive Overnight with KEEN Chicago at Camp Sullivan

July 18-19

We had been working for months with KEEN Chicago to get this ride all set to go. It was going to be our biggest, most ambitious Adaptive Overnight ever with 10 OOFD guides and up to 70 participants including over 20 adaptive riders coming out for a day and night of biking, playing, eating, and camping in the preserves. It was so hard to do, but we had to cancel this event last minute due to wildfire smoke. We are working to hopefully get this rescheduled in October.

12. Adult Overnight: Sandy Shores

July 18-19

This is one of our most popular rides as its a classic Chicago bike camping trip. It had been sold out for months.  Was so hard to do, but we had to cancel this 25 person overnight due to wildfire smoke. We are scheming to figure out a way to get a crew up to IL Beach State Park, possibly on Friday, September 25 to join the last night of MI Lag(r)o, so stay tuned. . .

13. Partner Ride: Sips and Cycles with Patagonia Mag Mile

June 24

We got to help lead this morning ride with our friends at Patagonia Mag Mile up to Heritage Coffee in Uptown with a stop for some Chinese buns at Chiu Quon. A great way to start a Friday morning, riding with about 15 other cyclists along the lakefront and enjoying some good coffee/food together.

14. Tabling: The Salt Shed Bike Racks for Jack White Show

June 24

Our friends at Working Bikes have such a cool partnership with The Salt Shed, where we can table at the bike racks, pass out flyers about OOFD and Working Bikes, help cyclists with some minor mechanical, and then we get to go in and see the show!

15. Adult Day Ride: Nature of the Northwest

June 25

Very cool new Adult Day ride along some great NW trails including the incredible Fox River Trail. This ride was a major hit.

16. Tabling: We Keep You Rollin'

June 25

We finally made it down to this annual events on the far Southeast Side. Deloris and her crew have been doing this for years, and it was awesome to be there in support of the event.

17. Tabling: Dovetail Brewery Radler Party

June 26

Back by popular demand, Dovetail Brewery had another Radler Party which brought together a bunch of bike orgs for a resource fair alongside Dovetail's excellent beer with lotsa special radler beers available.

18. Family Overnight: Bike Camping in the City

July 31-August 2

The weather forecast was looking rough, but we still had 4 families, 2 with a child with adaptive needs, come out to this very unique bike camping weekend. We partnered with our friends at the Chicago Park District (Gompers Park) as well as at Emily Oaks to be able to camp right here in the city and in Skokie. This crew persevered through 12+ hours of rain on Friday night and rallied to turn the weekend into something so beautiful. Type 2 fun at its finest.

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Other Awesome Upcoming Events

Southside Critical Mass

Friday, August 7

Southside Critical Mass ride is 1st Fridays at 5:45pm. Come join the ride from Nichols Park, 55th & Kimbark. The ride is free. Deets and sign-up here.

Bike Sox

Tuesday, August 25

Such a fun bike ride from downtown to Sox Park to tailgate at the bike racks and then head in to catch some baseball on $5 Tuesday. If you haven't been to one of these, don't let this season end without getting one in! Deets here.

Critical Mass

Friday, August 28

Join one of the most fun group rides each month on the last Friday. Meet at Daley Plaza round 6pm. Happy Friday.

Bridgeport Kidical Mass

Saturday, August 29

Last Saturday of the month, meet at McGuane Park and this month ride to 31st Street Beach.  Square Playground. Meet up at 930 am. Deets and sign-up here.

Major Taylor Trail Keepers

Saturday, August 29

Late Summer clean-up at Whistler Woods from 9am-12pm. Deets here. Also, save the date for their Annual Celebration Ride on September 12th.

Bike the Drive

Sunday, September 6

A day of bike utopia along Lakeshore Drive, put on by the amazing folks at Active Transportation Alliance. Deets and sign-up here.

I Can Du It! - Adaptive Duathlon

September 13, 2026

An adaptive duathlon (a modified run-bike-run race) for children and young adults ages 4-30 with developmental disabilities and special needs. This event is hosted by BDI Playhouse - Children’s Therapy. It sounds like a lot of fun and will take place at Lincolnway Special Recreation Association (LWSRA), 1900 Heather Glen Drive, New Lenox, IL. Deets and sign-up here.

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3 Canceled Overnights Due to Wildfire Smoke

Thanks as always for reading these newsletters. They are a beast, especially in the heart of summer when we have so much going on. And even with all that we have done, you may have noticed we had to cancel 3 overnights on the weekend of July 17-19 (Adult - Sandy Shores, Family - Shabbona, and Adaptive Overnight with KEEN Chicago - Sullivan). We have a goal to get close to 600 folks bike camping this year and that weekend alone we would have had close to 100 folks bike camping.

It was such a tough and painful call to make. In our ten seasons of leading bike camping trips, we had only ever canceled one overnight ride due to weather, and now we just canceled three in the same weekend. At the end of the day, we believe in adventure, and we prefer to push ahead with an adventure whenever we can, even if there are some heightened risks, but this time, the risks were too much.

Definitely a daunting new reality and challenge that we face as an org. At the same time, I know with the awesome folks that make up OOFD, we'll continue to adapt and get creative with ways to still get folks, including ourselves, outside on bike adventures. It will take a team effort, good communication, and flexibility which I feel like the OOFD crew has in abundance. Huge thanks to the guide crews for the thoughtful and candid discussions to help us get to this decision for each ride that we had to cancel.

"Stitching together our lives through the landscape, we generate - bring into being - the textures and stories of a place." Gavin Van Horn in The Way of Coyote

How will we bring into being the textures and stories of our place, of our landscape, in the face of this daunting, and oftentimes depressing, climate future? Not exactly sure, but no doubt we will keep adapting, making sure to find ways to welcome our fellow Chicagolanders out on bike adventures into our local natural spaces, so that we can all build our relationships and reverence for our non-human neighbors and natural spaces. While our Earth sometime howls with pain, we will try to stay connected to and care for her through leading ourselves and others on bike adventures.

Much love,

Glenn and the whole OOFD crew

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