Rain-soaked riders complete Phase 1
by Melanie Jongsma
by Melanie Jongsma
LANSING, Ill. (July 20, 2018) – Most of Friday, the weather couldn’t make up its mind about what it wanted to do. At 5:00pm, during a steady rain, the Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce was using social media to assure Lansing that the LOOP bike ride would proceed as planned. More than 150 people had pre-registered for the annual event. In addition, the ride involves the Lansing Police Department, airport personnel, and dozens of volunteers, so rescheduling it is not possible.
The fickleness of the day’s weather kept some registrants from showing up, yet there were also some “walk-ins” who decided at 6:30pm to take a risk and sign up. At 6:45pm, patches of blue sky looked encouraging.
But at 7:00pm—go time—the rains began again.
Undaunted, the pack of riders set out from Park Plaza, heading toward the forest preserve bike path. The steady rain grew steadier, and eventually became a downpour—a downpour that did not let up for the full hour.
Finally, Chamber Board President Susan Thompson announced that Phase 2 of the LOOP was being cancelled. The heavy rains had caused minor flooding in areas along the LOOP route, presenting potential hazards. Pedals and puddles are not a good combination in a group biking event.
