Chicago Bike Week kicks off today, and several events will take place over the next seven days to encourage and bring attention to urban cycling in Chicago. Whether you plan to commute, explore or enjoy bike-related programming, area groups and organizations have something scheduled likely to fit your interests.
Ongoing, June 12-19
– Bike Commuter Challenge
Compete against other Chicagoland employees in the Active Transportation Alliance’s annual Bike Commuter Challenge. Any ride, even a one-way ride to or from a train or bus, counts, and this year participants can log their rides using the new trip tracking app. Official and pop-up pit stops around the area throughout the challenge will feature coffee, snacks and bike-related giveaways.
Friday, June 12
– Kickstart by Mountain Dew Bike Valet at the Chicago Blues Festival, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Take your bike to the Chicago Blues Festival and allow a free bike valet, located at Butler Field, to handle parking for you.
Saturday, June 13
– Kickstart by Mountain Dew Bike Valet at the Chicago Blues Festival, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 14
– Kickstart by Mountain Dew Bike Valet at the Chicago Blues Festival, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Monday, June 15
– Bike Commuter Challenge Pit Stops at Village Cycle Center (1337 N. Wells), Ancien Cycles and SRAM (688 N. Milwaukee) and the Lakefront Trail at Fullerton, 6:30 a.m.-9 a.m.
– Bike Commuter Challenge Pop Up Pit Stops at Albany Park Bike’s N’ Roses (3448 W. Lawrence), On the Route Cycles (northwest corner of Lincoln/Barry/Greenview) and Big Shoulders Coffee (1105 W. Chicago), 6:30 a.m.-9 a.m.
– South Loop Bike Tour led by Chicago Neighborhood Bike Tours, 6 p.m.
Meet at Grant Park for a free, two-hour tour of the South Loop, including the Museum Campus. Riders must pre-register online.
Tuesday, June 16
– Bike Commuter Challenge Pit Stops at Ogilvie Transportation Center (500 W. Madison) and Heritage Bicycles (2946 N. Lincoln), 6:30 a.m.-9 a.m.
– Bike Commuter Challenge Pop Up Pit Stop at Chainlinks Loyola (1118 W. Thorndale) 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
– Bike Commuter Challenge Pop Up Pit Stop at Spoke and Bird (205 E. 18th St.), 5 p.m.-7p.m.
– Bike Chicago Film in Millennium Park featuring Napoleon Dynamite, 6:30 p.m.
Set up camp on the lawn at Pritzker Pavilion for a free showing of the 2004 movie Napoleon Dynamite.
Wednesday, June 17
– Bike Commuter Challenge Pit Stops at REI (1466 N. Halsted) and the Polish Triangle (Milwaukee/Divison/Ashland), 6:30 a.m.-9a.m.
– Bike Commuter Challenge Pop Up Pit Stop at Buckingham Fountain, 6:30 a.m.-9 a.m.
– Two Wheels, One City Ride: Celebrating Chicago’s Diversity on Bicycles, 6 p.m.
Join the Active Transportation Alliance, Slow Roll Chicago and the Chicago Cycling Club on this free ride through the Loop, Pilsen and surrounding areas. Riders can meet at Daley Plaza at 5:30 for the 6:00 ride, which will end at Daley Plaza at 8:30.
Thursday, June 18
– Bike Commuter Challenge Official Pit Stops at Kozy’s (2540 S. Wabash) and the Museum Campus (Field Museum), 6:30 a.m.-9 a.m.
– Bike Fashion Show, 12 p.m., and Pop-Up Shops, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Find new gear to wear on your next ride at pop-up shops in Daley Plaza, and swing by during your lunch hour for a fashion show highlighting the latest trends.
– Chicago Triathlon Checkpoint Challenge, 6 p.m.
Take part in Chicago’s first bike-centric adventure race. Riders will meet at the Bean and use clues from a smartphone app to bike around the city to multiple checkpoints to take photos and complete challenges. The event is timed, and the top 10 finishers will receive prizes. All participants receive a goodie bag. While the event is free, riders must pre-register online.
Friday, June 19
– Rolling Spokes Bicycle Ride, various early morning times
Meet up with your fellow cyclists for this ride, presented by Slow Roll Chicago in partnership with Active Trans and the Chicago Cycling Club. Rides will leave from locations around the city, including The Recyclery Collective (7628 N. Paulina) at 6 a.m., West Town Bikes (2459 W. Division) at 7 a.m. and the South Shore Cultural Center (7059 South Shore Drive) at 6:30 a.m. and will arrive at Daley Plaza at the same time for the Bike to Work Rally.
– Bike to Work Rally, 7 a.m.-9 a.m.
Join your fellow cyclists to celebrate seven days of cycling at the annual Bike to Work Rally at Daley Plaza. The event features a free continental breakfast, free t-shirts for cyclists and free valet bike parking.
– Bike Commuter Challenge Pit Stop at Daley Plaza (Bike to Work Week Rally), 7 a.m-9 a.m.