Experimental Station

ENGLISH

Ever since I moved to Chicago, I have wanted to cycle around Lake Michigan. This summer I am finally doing it. The plan is to leave on July 6 and complete the 1,000 miles (1,600km) in about a week.

I would like to use the opportunity to raise money for West Town Bikes (WTB), a non-profit in Chicago. The idea of WTB is to use a bicycle to build community. They offer a range of youth programs, bicycle mechanic classes, workshops, and events. I think this is an awesome project and I hope you will consider supporting them! You can learn more about WTB here and here . All donations go directly to WTB.

The day before I leave, I will post a link here where you can track my route. I might even create an Instagram account and post the occasional picture from the ride.

 
DEUTSCH

Chicago liegt an einem der fünf Großen Seen in Nordamerika, dem Lake Michigan. Seitdem ich vor 6 Jahren in Chicago angekommen bin, habe ich vor, mit dem Fahrrad um den See zu fahren. Dieses Jahr ist es endlich soweit. Am 6. Juli geht es los und ich werde versuchen, die 1000 Meilen (1600 km) in etwa einer Woche zu fahren.

Ich möchte diese Gelegenheit gern nutzen, um Spenden für West Town Bikes (WTB) zu sammeln. WTB ist eine Nonprofit-Organisation in Chicago. Die Kernidee ist es, Fahrräder zu nutzen um Gemeinschaft aufzubauen. WTB bietet eine Reihe von Jugendprogrammen, Fahrradreparaturkursen und Workshops an. Wenn ihr ein paar Euro übrig habt, würde ich mich sehr freuen, wenn ihr WTB unterstützt. Hier und hier könnt ihr mehr über das Projekt erfahren. Alle Spenden gehen direkt an WTB.

Bevor ich losfahre, werde ich hier einen Link posten, über den ihr meine Tour verfolgen könnt. Vielleicht lege ich mir sogar Instagram zu und mache ein paar Fotos.

Blackstone Bicycle Works  is a community bike shop and youth education program of the Experimental Station. The mission of Blackstone is to provide educational and vocational opportunities to youth from some of Chicago's most underserved neighborhoods Kenwood, Hyde Park, South Shore, Woodlawn and Englewood. The organization is based in Hyde Park in Chicago, which also happens to be home to many historically significant landmarks in the ongoing the fight against racial inequality.

Blackstone is structured as a retail, full-service bike shop that offers an "earn and learn," hands-on bicycle mechanics curriculum to its participants. Kids can earn bikes by apprenticing as mechanics. Approximately 175 youths work at Blackstone Bicycle Works each year, with over one third of participants having been in the program for three to seven years. In addition to the freedom and mobility that cycling affords, kids can learn hard skills to apply when they are ready to enter the workforce.

Join this Challenge - 
Next weekend - June 20 - 21st - we will ride to raise awareness for Blackstone Bicycle Works. If you are interested in joining this challenge, we ask you to pledge to contribute or raise at least $1 for every mile ridden between Saturday June 20th and Sunday June 21st. 

Oh, hi there.

Thanks for chipping in to this fundraising initiative by Craig Bryant, Beth Christiansen and the Union Cycling Team in Chicago. Each year we pull together support for local orgs like Blackstone Bicycle Works, so this year Craig and Beth are going to ride bikes from sunrise until sunset on Monday December 21st to do just that: turn sore thighs into little green guys for BBW.

There are two ways to contribute: 
1. Make a lump sum donation today
-and/or-
2. Pay per mile! I'll update this page after sunset on Monday December 21st with the number of miles we each rode and you can match us w/ a dollar per mile or whatever feels right for you.

Either way, you're contributing to a great program that, year after year, has helped kids stay safe and healthy, while picking up some skills along the way.   

About Blackstone Bicycle Works (via https://experimentalstation.org/blackstone):

"Blackstone Bicycle Works (BBW) is an educational youth program and community bike shop of Experimental Station that thrives to serve as a community resource. Our mission is to provide educational and vocational opportunities to youth from some of Chicago's most underserved neighborhoods.

Our full-service bike shop specializes in quality, affordable repairs and tune up services.  All profits from sales and services, along with tax-deductible donations, support the BBW youth program. 

Our youth program uses bicycle advocacy, mechanics, cycling, and business operations to create an inclusive community centering Black youth from Woodlawn and surrounding neighborhoods on Chicago's South Side."