"Your Story" by Anna H

Riding close to 200 miles in one weekend may sound like torture to some, but to me it has always sounded like a dream. One I never thought I could accomplish until my weekend with Out Our Front Door. I have loved bikes for as long as I can remember but have often been intimidated by the idea of camping by bike. I had the perfect opportunity to face this fear when I signed up for The North Loop Ride....

"While everyone was there for their own purpose, we were all there to experience something new..."
Going the Distance: A Your story by Anna H.

We met on a unseasonably cool and windy May Saturday and headed north. I was instantly skeptical of my ability to ride as far as we had planned but our fearless group leaders encouraged me, and the rest of our group, the whole way. As we made our way closer to the Illinois/Wisconsin state line I had hit my stride (and checked crossing state lines on a bike off my bucket list!) I began asking the other riders how they first fell in love with biking and the answers were amazing. Our group ranged from childhood daredevils to college adventurers and from those who had completed month long trips to those who had never ridden more than 40 miles!

Cycling is often an exclusive and intimidating community and I cannot overstate how great it felt to be surrounded by a supportive and excited group of people. There was no pressure to be the fastest, have the nicest gear, or know all the lingo.

​ While everyone was there for their own purpose, we were all there to experience something new and get outside. When we rolled in to our campsite at night it was clear on the faces of the entire group that we had just completed something big. Sunday morning we all awoke bright and early and were happy to see the sun shining. As we rode back in to the city on Sunday evening I couldn't help but reflect on how much ground (literally & figuratively) I had covered over the last 2 days. I started off the journey worried I wouldn't be able to finish and I ended it knowing I would never be able to stop.

~​Written by Anna H.

She's the one with the biggest smile in the picture -aka the woman in red. (photo taken at the state line)

> The North Loop Ride <

 A two day weekend bike adventure around Chicagoland. Go on your own, or join us on this ride or one of our other tours.

Go Farther | See More | And Dream Big
-Thanks for the write up Anna

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