LANSING, Ill. (September 17, 2023) – A few sprinkles of afternoon rain threatened Saturday’s tenth annual LOOP Bike Ride, but serious showers never materialized, and dozens of registered cyclists enjoyed 15 miles of fresh air and fellowship. The event, organized by the Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce, brings biking enthusiasts from throughout the area for a scenic ride around Lansing.
Participants met at Fox Pointe to check in and pick up their LOOP t-shirts before lining up along Randolph behind Lansing Police Chief Al Phillips. Phillips led the bikers in the Lansing Police Department’s ATV, pacing the ride at about 12 mph most of the way.
The LOOP Bike Ride is divided into two segments. The first is a 12-mile journey along Ridge Road, Burnham Avenue, and 186th Street to the North Creek Trail through Lansing Woods and all the way to Sweet Woods, returning to Fox Pointe for a light meal. After nightfall, around 7 p.m., bikers lined up again to follow their police escort a mile and a half down Wentworth Avenue to the Lansing Municipal Airport. Cyclists were granted access to the airport’s taxiway, providing a unique opportunity to view an active airport up close.
This year’s participants also made a stop at the historic Ford Hangar, where Ken Reynolds, Director of Venue Operations for the Village of Lansing, shared insights about Lansing’s use of the hangar as a unique destination venue.
LOOP cyclists then pedaled back to the starting point, arriving before 9 p.m. In a Facebook album of LOOP Bike Ride photos, the Chamber posted:
“What a fun time we had at our tenth anniversary LOOP ~ Lansing Out On Pedals bike ride! 15 miles and everyone biked it like a pro! …It was so nice to see everyone come together as a community to do this and have such a good time. …Special thanks to our Lansing Illinois Police Department, …the crossing guards, our sponsors, Fox Pointe Lansing, …Lansing Municipal Airport, …Greenway Bikehouse, and last but not least ALL of the volunteers that helped before, during, and after the event. …Looking forward to next year!”
