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Spokin' Word, April 2019

FOLKS ON SPOKES BICYCLE CLUB

Serving Chicago’s Southland

Fos Welcomes New and Renewed Members

MAREK BIZUB
Frank Coddington
William Cruikshank
Warren Fellingham
JoAnn Franczek
Diana Hill
Richard Hill
Gail James
Adam Kassem
Scott Kohler
Tom Kohler
Lynda Lain
Edgar Lay
Kristen Lay
Debra j Mercado
Patrick Mercado
Jim O'Connell
John Palanchar
Tina Palanchar
GEORGE SARGEANT
Kay Sarti
Pam Van Rennes
Dina Zegar

Hickory Hills
N/A
Tinley Park
Golf
HIGHLAND, IN
Hammond, IN
Hammond, IN
Streamwood
Orland Park
Frankfort
Park Ridge
Lowell
N/A
Park Ridge
Hoffman Estates
Hoffman Estates
Riverside
Manhattan
N/A
PARK RIDGE
Dyer, IN
St. John, IN
Orland Park

Folks on Spokes Club Meeting

Jim Tomaszewski on bike trails in the Chicagoland and outlying regions

April 25th

7:30 PM
LIFE TIME Fitness

Easter Ride Wrap

We had a plan, volunteers and the FOS spirit, we just didn’t get catch a decent day. Thank you FOS leaders and their crews. Thank you Village of Frankfort, and all of the vendors who took part with the best of intentions. We made a gallant effort, but the weather was practically as bad as it could be.

This was my third straight year as chair or co-chair to the Easter Ride. The FOS participation has been superb, but the weather was cold & raining 2017, very cold 2018, and sleeting and snowing 2019. What I learned is no matter how hard you try to make this ride a successful event, it largely comes down to the weather.

I will not be chair of the ride next year. But I would recommend that the ride be planned for warmer time of year with a rainy day option.

Best intentions,
Chris Oldanie
Easter Ride Chairmen

April Program

Our very own FOS member, Jim Tomaszewski will give a presentation of bike trails in the Chicagoland and outlying regions. Jim has led rides and has done overnight trips to other towns using a system of bike trails that are available to everyone.

Find out where the trails are and where the trails will take you.

Folks on Spokes Club Meeting

April 25th @ 7:30 pm
Life Time Fitness
Educational Center
16333 South La Grange Road
Orland Park, IL 60467

Upcoming Socials for 2019

July 21, Sunday, Annual ICE CREAM SOCIAL-Gazebo in Praire Park in Frankfort

September 22, Sunday-Annual PICNIC-Hickory Creek Presserves LaPorte Road Access, Mokena, catered picnic-food at 1pm

October 27, Sunday-Annual END OF SEASON BIKE HIKE and POTLUCK, Goodenow Grove, Beecher. Family welcome plus some other bike clubs.

Bring a dish to share, paper goods and drinks provided-eat at 1pm.

November 21-Annual PIZZA PARTY, Aurellios in Frankfort=6:30, pizza at 7 pm with a short meeting

Questions call Fern 708 747 7557 or e mail fernjmb@aol.com

Chicago Outerbelt presentation with our very own Jay Ready!

Pictured, left to right: Fern B., Jay R
.
23 members gathered to hear about a non-profit agency built around one man’s vision; to be able to hike all the way via natural spaces and pedestrian infrastructure from the South Suburbs of Chicago to Lake Michigan. Months back, Fern talked to that man, Jay R., about his vision and suggested it would make a great presentation for a FOS’s club meeting! Now Jay admits that yes, he is a club member, but he doesn’t get to go to many of the club’s functions….But his passion for hiking and sharing it with others helped him squeeze in some time to come to this month’s meeting and present the progress of his non-profit, www.outerbelt.org,
Now Jay didn’t have much time, he had to catch a flight the same night he presented, but he covered so much on how the Outer Belt is coming along! One of the first areas he worked on was the North Thorn Creek trail; Jay has a fondness for primitive/rustic urban woods trails (some are old deer paths!), and as a result those trails are still in existence. Supporting Jay’s view was Al Sturges. He recalled when he hiked through there with Thorn Creek planning administrators, including one from the Sierra Club, to work on development of the layout of the trail. All of them agreed not to disturb the rustic trails when planning the trail’s route. Jay then told us a little about himself and what influenced his pursuit of hiking. Initially, he was more of a bicyclist, but his mother enjoyed hiking and sometimes he would hike with her. Soon, he was hooked on hiking, the peace of the forest flora & fauna, seeing the wildlife and enjoying the exercise of hiking itself. Jay left his old job, and began working for himself. Over the years, his Dad’s health declined, and he became disabled. Then one day, while he was riding his bike on the outer loop, he got a call from his Dad that his Mom had taken a bad fall, a really bad fall. Jay jumped on his bike and rode for about 15 minutes just trying to clear his head of the enormity of the situation. His Mom did not survive that fall… Knowing that his Mom had a big influence on him, Jay committed himself to creating the Outerbelt, an interconnective collection of Forest Preserves, pathways, bikeways, rails to trails and rustic paths that allow you to hike 210 miles around Greater Chicago.

Towards the end of his presentation, Jay told us many things; he recommends the REI-Hiking Project app for the serious and the casual hiker. He touched upon the fact there are Airbnb’s for those who want to camp during a multi-day hike; sometimes it meant pitching a tent in someone’s backyard! And finally, he said, don’t forget, there is actual camping in the Forest Preserves, Camp Sullivan and Camp Bullfrog, just to name a couple!
Well, then Jay had to leave to catch his plane. Past Prez Dan quickly spoke; he has raised $1,700 so far in sponsorships, WTG!! Dan is pleased with the progress that’s been made with the ER, and he said Mayor Holland of Frankfort is definitely behind the ER. Dan has been spreading the word about the ER in the smaller communities so our presence won’t be a surprise to them. He commended ER chairman Chris on an incredible job, and the audience applauded his work on this year’s ride. Chris distributed a picture-framed, full sized map of the 3 rides that go through Monee to Fern for display; He also made a smaller one for the shorter trail ride that goes thru Hickory Creek Barrens to Sally, thanks Chris! Chris wants involved and interested parties to meet at Old Plank Road cyclery on the Saturday before the ER @ 3pm to start setting up. Joan D. brought up the subject of parking availability; discussion ensued. Chris also brought up the ER pre-ride; mark your calendars for this annual ride, the pre-curser to the ride itself! It will be Sunday, April 7 @ 9am!
Many thanks to Fern B. for the delicious snacks, from fresh Irish soda bread, a fresh veggie platter, fancy mini-cheese cakes, and much more! Finally, Lee C. ran a raffle for 2 $20 gift certificates to Glenwood Oaks, the winners are pictured below:

Lois J. Fern B.

Note From The Editor

Thank you everyone for sending so many wondering pictures. Sadly I can only include a few in the newsletter to keep it small enough to email.