Out Our Front Door Newsletter - May

Welcome

Greetings y’all,

Well, we are officially in it! We rocked that Hootenanny like never before, and the season is off to a roaring start with over twelve events over the last few weeks. And I personally get to kick off my bike camping season this weekend as a guide on The Good Land up to MKE.

There is so much to catch you up on. So read on to hear a bit about the events we’ve been putting on and attending as well as what we have coming up.

This is a very big time for our Adaptive Programs which officially had its first ride of the year on Friday. Huge thanks to Thumbbuddy Special who gave us a $5000 grant to support this program this year and has supported our Adaptive Program from the very start (and even are working to get us an Urban Arrow!) There is some gratitude, of course. Oh yeah, and tomorrow is our freaking 10 year anniversary!! You'll find a poem I wrote in reflection on the occasion.

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The Hootenanny Vol. 6 Fundraiser Recap

Goodness did that Hootenanny rock! It truly means the world to us to see so many folks in our community come together at the beginning of our season to support our efforts: with your donations and your presence. We surpassed all of our goals!

1. Sell more tickets than last year (165) - We sold it out with 182 tickets sold.

2. Bring in $17,500 in revenue - We brought in $18,000!

3. Have a blast with a bunch of bike friends, old and new - surely checked this box:)

The energy in the room was incredible. So many smiles, hugs, and all around great vibes. It was the biggest event in OOFD history, and the smoothest and most fun Hoot ever.

Heaps and heaps of gratitude to everyone that came out and that supported from afar and to our sponsors, volunteers, and partners who helped make that event as stellar as it was! That is the kinda energy and momentum we like to have as we blast off into a great year of bike adventures. You made this event a success, and we so dearly appreciate you for that.

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Upcoming OOFD Events

1. Adult Overnight: The Good Land to Milwaukee

May 15-17

This one sold out! Such a beloved ride and a big one so early in the season. Day 1 - 70 miles to Racine. Day 2 - 50 mile day trip to MKE before camping a second night in Racine. Day 3 - Ride back or train to Chicago.

2. Adaptive Event: End of School year BBQ - CITE and Opportunity Knocks

May 15

Thanks to OOFD volunteer extraordinaire and Adaptive Program Director, Daniel S-E, we have a blossoming partnership with CITE and Opportunity Knocks, a school and a non-profit that serve people with disabilities. We’ll have a few of our adaptive Pino tandems at the event to give rides to folks at the event.

3. Bike Camping 101: An Intro Clinic to Bikepacking at Specialized Fulton Market

May 18

Ever wondered what it would take to load up your bike and sleep somewhere other than your own bed? This free clinic is your on-ramp. Join Jack Peck of Midwest Ultra Cycling and the team from Out Our Front Door for a hands-on evening all about bikepacking — what gear you actually need, how to pack your bike, and how to plan your first overnight. No experience required, no special bike needed. Deets and sign-up here.

4. Tabling at the 47th Ward Ecofest at Welles Park

May 30

EcoFest is the 47th Ward’s annual, free environmental festival where people come together to take action, reduce waste and celebrate our planet. We’ll be tabling so be sure to come by. Deets here.

5. Adaptive Day Ride with Keen Chicago on The North Branch Trail

May 30

One of our favorite adaptive rides of the year with one of our favorite adaptive partners. We’ll be riding with 8-9 young people with disabilities and their families on the North Branch Trail. We even got some grant money to buy a few standard bikes that the family members will be able to ride during the event.

6. Adaptive Day Ride with North Side Learning Center Day Ride

June 1st

Another beloved, annual adaptive event where we bring all 9 of our adaptive Pino tandem bikes out to this CPS School’s Field Day to give rides in Peterson Park to the students with disabilities.

7. Monthly Hang/Bonfire at Meditation Point (Edgewater)

June 2

One of the best hangs of the year! Bonfire, the lake, great folks. Come on out and see old and new bike friends. Deets and sign-up here.

8. Adult Overnight:Battle to the Dunes - Indiana Dunes National Park

June 6-7

This is the next Adult Overnight trip that isn’t sold out yet. Always one of the highlights of the year! Don’t snooze on getting your spot. Deets and sign-up here.

9. Adaptive Day Ride: KEEN Chicago Field Day

June 7

We’ll keep the fun rolling with KEEN Chicago when we bring out our adaptive Pino tandem bikes to ride with their athletes with disabilities at the Horwich JCC in Rogers Park.

10. Family Overnight: Camp Sullivan

June 13-14

Our first family overnight of the year. Camping gear available. A great, chill way to break into family bike camping with this lovely one nighter through the neighborhoods and trails of the SW side. Deets and sign-up here.

11. Adult Overnight: DIY - Dan Beard

June 20-21

This is a unique and our most affordable Adult Overnight.  For this one, you can leave from wherever you want, whenever you want, with any other friends that have registered. You can ride as fast or slow as you would like,and create any route you want to get there. This is truly a choose your own adventure.

We have booked enough camp spots and will have some guides there serving up a dinner at 7pm. The guides will have the fire going, and you’ll arrive to a community of welcoming folks. We’ll hang around and share stories of our day's adventures. Deets and sign-up here.

12. Adult Day Ride: Morton Arboretum

June 20

Join us for a day trip to the Morton Arboretum in Lisle. If you haven’t visited the Arboretum, it is a true gem in our local region. We are thrilled to be partnering with arboretum docents on a private tour and nature-based activity. The ride will roll about 20 miles from Oak Park to The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. After our tour and activity at The Morton Arboretum, participants can either bike back to Oak Park or take the Metra train from Glen Ellyn to Ogilvie Station. Deets and sign-up here.

13. Family Day Ride and BBQ: North Branch

June 20

This is a very exciting new thing this year! A family day ride:) We will meet at the Whealon Aquatic Center near Caldwell Woods and ride about 7 miles up the North Branch Trail to Harms Woods where we will have a BBQ and hang out session. We will have adaptive bikes available to use as well as a couple of family cargo bikes and standard single person bikes to lend! More details and registration to come soon, but save this date!

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

June 26

We’re honored to be partnering with the incredible folks at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab for this super fun event at the Skokie Lagoons. There will be kayaking as well as cycling and we will have a number of our adaptive and standard bikes for folks to ride. Deets and sign-up here.

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

June 27-28

All aboard the Out Our Front Door Express as we trace the historic route of the grand old Roarin’ Elgin - the once-mighty interurban railway that soared along the banks of the Fox River. Setting out from Chicago, we first roll onto the Illinois Prairie Path. The very first Rails to Trails path, this route connects many scenic suburban towns and villages through its over 61 miles of pavement and gravel.

This multi-modal adventure will cover approximately 100 miles on the first day. The following morning we ride a few short miles into Fox Lake to load up a Metra bike car and ride the rails back into Chicago to rest and recover. Deets and sign-up here.

16. Family Overnight: Camp Dan Beard

June 27-28

Join us for a pleasant roll up to Camp Dan Beard in Northbrook, IL, one of Cook County Forest Preserve's 5 campgrounds. We will be exploring a portion of the Des Plaines River Trail and enjoying the beauty of our extensive forest preserves in the Northwest Burbs. Along the route, we will take plenty of breaks and will even have a picnic before arriving to Camp Dan Beard. Deets and sign-up here.

17. Monthly Hang at McKinley Park

July 7

Come hang with us at one of the finest parks on the Southside. Deets and sign-up coming soon.

18. Adult Overnight: SWMI - Southwest Michigan

July 9-13

This ride is an ecstatic celebration of Lake Michigan and all that it coast has to offer. This is going down in the heart of the summer and there will be plenty of chances to go swimming in our gem of a lake. Hence the name, the SWMI, "swimmy", ride. Roll with some of the best guides OOFD has to offer as we spend 5 days, biking and living outdoors! Learn about the ecology of the lake and the lake shore while also exploring some of its hidden gems and excellent local spots. Deets and sign-up 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 us, just reply to this email, and we’ll figure out something to get you riding with us!

Volunteer Gratitude  - Sarah Anderson

Sarah has been with OOFD since 2019! Her and her family have been both participants and guides on a number of Family Overnights. And she has consistently showed up as an OOFD volunteer. She is such a reliable and positive force on any event she is a part of. She has been helping with tabling quite a bit this year, and continues to hype up her friends and neighbors to get on their bikes and come camping with us. We are so lucky to have Sarah and her fun, supportive, welcoming spirit as a part of the OOFD crew.

In her own words, Sarah (she/her) has been riding and guiding with OOFD since 2019, bringing curiosity, joy, and a deep love for the outdoors to every trip. A lifelong nature enthusiast and adventure seeker, she immediately found a home in the OOFD community. On any ride, you’ll likely find Sarah pointing out blooming native plants, spotting birds overhead, or swapping stories about favorite Chicago green spaces. Sarah grew up on a 5th generation family farm in central IL and appreciates being connected to both rural and urban life. Sarah has called Lincoln Square home since 2014, where she lives with her husband, Nick, and their daughter, Olivia.

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Recent Events We've Done

OOFD Monthly Hang at The Beetle Bar

Tuesday, April 7 from 730-10pm

Moved inside because it was just a bit too chilly out to hang outside, at night, without a fire pit. Had about 30+ folks out for this classic April Hang.

The Hootenanny Fundraiser at Midwest Coast Brewery

Thursday, April 16

You probably heard about this one and chances are you were even there. See above for the deets but we sold it out, had about 200 folks in the place, and surpassed our fundraising goals bringing in $18,000!

Tabling at Spring Reset at Steelworkers Park

Saturday, April 18

Always a fun, community day as the Chicago Park District resets the climbing wall at this gem of a park. Lots of great orgs were there. Big props to Chuck and the team at Chi Parks for putting on such a stellar event.

Bikepacking Clinic at Patagonia Mag Mile

Sunday, April 19

These things are always a hit. Had 20+ folks out as we got to reciprocate with our beloved partners at Patagonia Mag Mile, and co-led this bikepacking clinic in their space.

Where the Wild Things Grow - Earth Day Trail Clean-up on Major Taylor Trail

Saturday, April 25

This was I think our 9th year doing this ride. We had over ten folks ride down from Bridgeport to the trail and clean up trash along the trail near 115th St. The Major Tayler Trail Keepers are simply the best and that trail is amazing. Always a great time and great hoagies provided too;) We wrapped it up with a beverage at Wild Blossom Meadery then rode back north.

Tabling at One Earth Film Festival at Chicago Cultural Center

Sunday, April 26

This was such a great film and event. Got to table in one of the epic domes of the Cultural Center downtown!  

Adult Day Ride: Shakedown Ride

Saturday, May 2

This ride was a hit! It had around 15 folks out, practicing doing a longer ride fully loaded for bike camping as they rode on some great trails in the north burbs with a stop off at our great partners at Sketchbook Brewery in Skokie.

Adult Overnight: What Lies West to Blackwell

May 2-3

Our first bike camping trip of the year! This is why we do what we do. The ride was sold out at 25 folks and was a raging success. Such a great way to kick off the year.

Tabling at The Volunteer Fair at Burning Bush Brewery

Sunday, May 3

Was one of our first ever tabling events back in 2016 when this was at the Nature Museum. It is now being organized by Trash People and was an awesome event.

OOFD Monthly Hang at Ping Tom Park (Chinatown)

Tuesday, May 5 from 730-10pm

Such a picturesque park to hang at with old and new bike adventure friends. Had about 15 folks out for a lovely hang and an even lovelier sunset.

LADSE School Adaptive Day Ride

Friday, May 8

The kick off to our Adaptive Ride Season! This was our 3rd year in a row riding with these grade school students with disabilities, about 30 in total. They remember us and get so hyped for “bike day.” It is always a day of utter glee as the kids get out, into the sunshine and feel the wind in their face as they ride around their school on our adaptive Pino bikes.

Where the Wild Things Grow: Whistler Woods for Chicago River Day

Saturday, May 9

Such a great idea! 90+ sites around the city where volunteers where cleaning up and caring for the watershed. We led a group from Afro Joe’s Cafe in Beverly down the Major Taylor Trail to do service at Whistler Woods.

Speaking/Tabling at Burrito Brigade volunteer event

Sunday, May 10

These folks do super cool work. They get a bunch of volunteers to together to prepare up to 500 burritos and then distribute them to unhoused folks around the city. Many of those burritos are delivered by cyclists! Glenn got to go out and volunteer with them, chopping veggies and rolling burritos and provided a presentation to them about OOFD during a break in the action.

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Other Awesome Upcoming Events

Bike to Work Week Morning Ride with Patagonia Mag Mile

Friday, May 15

Morning ride from their Mag Mile location to The Spoke & Bird in the South Loop (about 5 miles/30 minutes of riding). Once we get there, your first coffee is on Patagonia!

We'll hang out for around 45 minutes (15 to get coffees, 30 to enjoy the sun and chat) before making our way back to the store (or go to work if you need). See below for more info on the route and guides! Deets and sign-up here.

Chicago Randonneurs to Milwaukee and back

Saturday, May 16

Chicago-Milwaukee-Chicago 300K ACP Brevet .The Chicago–Milwaukee–Chicago 300K is one of our flagship rides and marks our first ACP 300K of the year—a true gateway to the longer distances that experienced randonneurs never stop talking about. Think double century effort, elevated by views, vibes, and the kind of food stops that make a long day on the bike unforgettable. The route heads north from Chicago to Milwaukee and back in a single day, blending trail miles with safe, low-traffic roads. Deets and sign-up here.

Ride of Silence with Skokie Bike Network and Evanston Bike Club

May 20, 2026

An annual ride as part of the world wide ride of silence to commemorate those killed or injured on the roads.  In collaboration with the Evanston Bike Club and the Evanston Transit Alliance, this ride starts at the Wheel and Sprocket on Davis Street and proceeds through Evanston and Skokie before returning to the bike shop. Deets and sign-up here.

LaBagh Woods - Stewardship Volunteer Days

Sunday, May 24

These folks are the best and their services days rock. They have them going year round. You can learn more and register to volunteer here.

The North Lawndale Ride: Exploring Equiticity’s Neighborhood Mobility Models

Saturday, May 30

Join Equiticity for an immersive ride in the North Lawndale neighborhood on the Westside of Chicago, exploring Equiticity’s Neighborhood Mobility Models within the deep contours of neighborhood assets. Meet at Green Tomato Cafe on 3750 West Ogden Avenue. Deets and sign-up here.

Critical Mass Chicago

Friday, May 29th

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

Southside Critical Mass

Friday, June 5

Southside Critical Mass' ride is 1st Fridays at 5:45pm. Come join the ride from Nichols Park, 55th & Kimbark.The ride is free.

Major Taylors Trail Keepers Juneteenth Spring Fundraiser at Wild Blossom Meadery

Friday, June 19

Your ticket helps this awesome crew maintain the trail, refresh amenities, and keep this Chicago corridor welcoming for neighbors and cyclists. Deets and sign-up here.

We Keep You Rollin' 11th Annual Wellness Pop Up & Community Bike Ride

Sat. July 25, 2026

This is always a great event down in the Riverdale Community at Golden Gate Park. Its a full day with a Community Mural Tour, Wellness Pop Up from 12 noon - 2pm, bday celebration, food trucks, new bikes raffle, and a night ride.

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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Ok y’all. As you can see, we are really getting into the heart of it. Not sure about you, but goodness am I freaking ready to be outside, riding bikes, and adventuring all over our beautiful region!

There is some poetic magic happening tomorrow too. It is our 10 Year Anniversary! We did our first ever ride up to Chain O’ Lakes State Park on May 14-15, 2016. And tomorrow, we are rolling out on a bike camping adventure up to Cliffside Campground in Racine with some fun in Milwaukee mixed in. So much to reflect on. I think reading our Origins page as well as our Vision Statement really says a lot about where we come from and how we got here.

But I couldn’t help myself from jotting down some lines as I reflected on this huge milestone for the org. Ran out of time to really edit it down, and I'm bout to run out the door to go bike camp. Either way, here is the, albeit lengthy, fairly unedited full poem and here's a small piece of it:

We are celebrating 10 years.

Of bust ass work.

The unsexy moments of unpacking wet gear at the storage

After a long weekend of bike camping.

Of encouraging a struggling cyclist to get up that hill with their fully loaded bike.

Of celebrating that same cyclist at their arrival to camp.

Of figuring out mechanicals that are over our heads

While we are broke down on the side of the trail.

Of stopping to help when we see a biker in need.

Of sharing.

Our snacks, our stories, our hopes, dreams, deep questions, simple laughs,

Our whys,

While pleasantly pedaling past our present moment.

Through the trees.

Celebrating ourselves, our lives, our aliveness.

Celebrating each other.

Celebrating our region, our home.

And all its creatures.

Cheers to 10 years of welcoming Chicagoland bike adventures and here’s to many more ahead:)

Much love,

Glenn and the whole OOFD crew

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