Beautiful weather
September-November usually offers some of the best riding weather of the year. Make sure to get involved early to be able to fully enjoy all the sunshine and warmth available during the beginning of the quarter! Still, Chicago weather is always erratic so stock up on arm warmers, gloves, and leg warmers from our online store or Higher Gear, our favorite bike shop, just in case.
Pancake rides
In the fall, the Walker Bros ride tradition is always in full-swing. Every Sunday at 11am the team meets in front of Kellogg (at the intersection of Foster and Sheridan) for a 30ish mile ride to Fort Sheridan. This ride is completely “no-drop” and riders of all skill levels are invited to join! On the way back, we all stop at the famous Walker Bros pancake house for a delicious team breakfast.This is about as close to a full team practice as we get, so make sure to come along and get to know the team.
Homecoming Parade
If you´ve spent a fall quarter at Northwestern, you have undoubtedly heard of the Homecoming Parade. Every year, the team participates by riding in the parade wearing our kits and lots of flashing lights. We pre-celebrate the parade with a team pot-luck dinner and follow this event with a pretty great party. We like to have a lot of people, so even if you haven´t ridden with us ever, please please join us.
Tuesday and Friday INTRO rides
At 4pm every Tuesday and Friday, team members meet in front of Kellogg for slow pace rides. Whether you´re an advanced athlete looking for a recovery ride or are on a road bike for the first time, this ride is for you. We go as fast as the slowest rider and welcome people of all abilities. If you are not sure you want to join just yet or have never done a group ride, this ride series is an excellent opportunity to ease into the sport.
Local fast rides
The north shore has some pretty quick riders, and some of our more trained cyclists usually participate in local-area rides. Some are sponsored by bike shops while others are just universally known. If you´re looking for a challenge, one of these could be a good place to start. Almost all of these rides stay above 20mph and have anywhere from 15-50 participants. If you´re not experienced, it might be safe to skip these until you´re more comfortable on the roads.
WEDNESDAY
- Turin Ride, 6pm, leaves from Turin Bike Shop on Davis in Evanston, approx. 40miles, 22-32 mph, usually about 50 participants
THURSDAY
- Higher Gear Ride, 5:30pm, leaves from the Higher Gear shop in Wilmette, approx. 32miles, 20-28 mph, usually about 20 participants.
SATURDAY
- xXx Ride, passes the arch at around 7:45am, technically “no-drop,” anywhere from 30-70 miles (depending on the group you choose to ride with), 18-25mph, approx. 50 participants
- Judson: passes the arch at around 7:30am, 50-70 miles, 22-32mph, 50 participants
Note: this information varies depending on the season, so ask the Listserv if you´re not sure about the details.
Skills workshops
Every Fall, the team hosts a series of rides that work on building skills. We work on riding in groups, pace-lining, race etiquette, etc. Some concentrate on sprinting or cornering, while others involve practicing low-impact crashes in slow motion in a patch of grass. If you´re new to the sport, please consider coming to these sessions.
Trail Rides
If you´re not too interested in intense road biking and just want to go for some nice local rides, join us for our monthly trail ride. This is simply a safe, easy, slow, no pressure group ride that takes you through the Greenbay Trail. Bring your commuter bike, mountain bike, or whatever else you have on two wheels. Remember to always wear a helmet!
Activities Fairs
Come by one of our booths at either the ASG Activities Fair, Fall Fitness Fair, or Graduate Student Resource Fair! This is a great chance to meet some people on the team (without having to be in full spandex), ask questions, and learn what we´re all about.
RACE: Fall Fling
On the weekend of October 1st, the team participates in a race sponsored by ABD. If you like group riding but have never raced, this is a great chance to jump in to the bike racing scene. If you are curious about racing but have never even seen a real race, come along as a spectator! Everyone is welcome.
Cyclocross
Fall is the season for this crazy sport that combines road racing and mountain biking. If you´ve never heard of ´cross, dont worry, neither have most people when they first join. A few NU Cyclists have always participated in cyclocross which is a great way to improve bike handling skills and have fun. Spectating and heckling ´cross races is one of the most entertaining ways to get involved, so look out for invites to downtown Chicago races on the weekends.
DUES Meeting
In mid-October, the team will hold a meeting to collect dues (usually around $150 for the year). This covers the team kit, all lodging expenses during the race season, and includes you in all the hefty team discounts. You can also order other team merchandise, including T-shirts and cycling accessories. Alumni sometimes attend this meeting to give a brief background on the team history and we unvail the official kit design. This is mandatory, so don´t miss out!
Social Events
Whether we´re sitting in someone´s apartment watching TV or at our favorite team bar (Hopleaf), you will always find team members hanging out together. Expect big parties and also chill get-togethers this fall. Most events are not advertised on the Listserv though, so make sure to come out on a few rides to get in touch!
Questions? Don´t hesistate to contact us!
Can´t wait to get started? Check out our Summer Cycling activities.
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