By Josh Bootsma
LANSING, Ill. (August 26, 2022) – Lansing Out On Pedals, otherwise known as LOOP, will return to Lansing’s paths, streets, and runways on Saturday, September 17, and registration is now open for participants.
Organized by the Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce, LOOP gives local bikers of all skill levels the chance to see Lansing from a new perspective as participants start from Fox Pointe and bike in downtown Lansing, on the Pennsy Greenway, and travel through Lansing forest preserves. After the first 12 miles, riders will return to Fox Pointe for a barbecue dinner before traveling to the Lansing Municipal Airport and biking along the apron of the airport runway.
“It’s a blast. It really is a lot of fun for the whole family,” said Maureen Grady-Perovich, chair of the LOOP Committee at the Chamber.
LOOPing back ten years
LOOP first stood for “Lansing Overnight on Pedals,” as riders travelled the Village during the night, and ended their ride at around 2 a.m. in 2013. To make the event more accessible for everyone, the Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce changed the event to run in the early evening.
Proceeds from the event continue to support the Chamber’s Family Giving Fund, which benefits local families during the back-to-school and holiday seasons. LOOP is one of the Chamber’s signature events to raise money for Lansing families.
“It’s wholesome family fun. It’s exercise. You can meet new community members. See Fox Pointe. Know that we have an Area Chamber of Commerce. … It’s just another way Lansing is trying to be there for our residents and do different things,” Grady-Perovich said.
Airport changes
A longtime feature of the event is the opportunity for riders to ride on runways at the Lansing Municipal Airport. This year, in a nod to safety and not disrupting operations at the airport, bikers will not run ride on the runway, but instead on the apron of the airport.
“We still want to ride adjacent with the lights,” said Grady-Perovich. “We’ll be on the area where planes park, not where they land or take off.”
Another change for this year is there will be no official bike decorating contest, though riders are still invited to express themselves creatively.
Greenway Bikehouse, a several-months-old bike repair shop operating out of Visible Music College, will be present at LOOP as well.
Registration
Riders who sign up by Friday, September 2 at 5 p.m. will be charged $20 for their registration, which includes food and a T-shirt. Registrations after that date will cost $40, and a shirt is not guaranteed. Registrations are also available the day of the event for $40.
To register, visit chamberoflansing.com.
Related
- 8th annual LOOP bike ride successfully navigates pandemic precautions (September 24, 2022)
- More than a bike shop – Greenway Bikehouse aspires to be a Lansing destination (May 28, 2022)
- LOOP Bicycle Ride moves from summer to fall (June 5, 2019)
