https://www.facebook.com/events/1449149841891747/Biking with Beanzie is a popular ride in DeKalb this Sunday. Flat, fast and great support. Routes from 20 to 100 miles.

Tour de North End is my favorite Rockford social event all year. It’s just a casual, all-day block party where you get around on bikes. Join a thousand of your closest friends to completely take over North Main Street for year #9 of TDNE hosted by Olympic Tavern.

What did I get myself in to?? Normally the newsletter is for, uh, news, but I gotta vent here a little bit.

I went up to watch Ironman Wisconsin last September since I knew a handful of people racing and wanted to see them finish. Brennan decided to be funny and finish well before I got there, but I was still able to see many other RRM members and friends finish. There was something magical about being on State Street surrounded by thousands of people cheering and watching athletes either setting off for their first or second 13.1 mile loop or possibly finishing out their final loop and being just a block or two from the finish.

After enough hanging out, you recognized strangers from heading out and saw them coming back in. You were following friends on the athlete tracker and crazy excited when you saw them round the corner and go past you. I got to watch a few people cross the finish line. Shane, Andy, Rob and a handful of others I got to see on the run. I even, uh, spectated-while-moving to watch RRM President Mike Wright cross the finish line and become an Ironman. So many people crushing miles and chasing dreams.

That night I decided I wanted to do Ironman Wisconsin.

Then I woke up after very little sleep, had those beers out of my system and went to work. I promptly forgot about signing up for Ironman.

Here and there, somebody would mention they signed up. Kevin (you know him from Kegels Bikes, the YMCA, or possibly your wildest dreams) was one of the first to tell me. He had some unfinished business to attend to and was going to smash 2019. Then he told me not to tell anybody yet. Well Kevin, I can’t be trusted. Everybody knows that.

I think Will signed up when crossing the finish line last year. I couldn’t see through all of the people, but I believe they put the medal over his neck and he handed them his credit card. I was mostly shocked since his suit didn’t have pockets. He’s probably been the driving force (incessant prodding) in keeping it on my radar. Part of me felt that if I couldn’t go all-in on training or go up and magically put down a really great time, then it wouldn’t be worth it.  Part of me didn’t want to give another dollar to WTC because I think they are a crappy organization. My time in Madison as a spectator convinced me that it wasn’t necessarily about WTC though. I’m hoping that I gained a little perspective on the other stuff and can just go do it to enjoy the experience, other athletes and volunteers. I’m super lucky to be healthy enough to do something like that and have a wife supportive of the time and (too much) money for it. My work schedule clears up a ton Memorial Day through Labor Day, so there’s more time as well. There’s no great reason not to, other than a long day of exercise and not eating solids.

Hopefully you will follow me and the other RRM athletes on September 8th. If you haven’t been up there to spectate, it’s quite the scene. If you find yourself a couple beers in at Buck and Badger (freaking Aaron Rodgers and that comeback against the Bears) late in the day and screaming at adults in bright colored spandex finishing a long day of exercise, just be careful. You might find yourself wanting to be doing the same thing next year.

If you want to do some group rides now, here’s what I can think of off of the top of my head. The Beloit Stateline Spinners have already started up their Tuesday groups. They do a great job of splitting into several groups all the way from very beginner to fairly experienced. You will find a welcoming crowd matched to your ability there. Their motto is “No rider left behind” and I have never heard anybody suggest they act otherwise. If gravel is your interest, keep an eye on Freeport Bicycle Company. They host a Tuesday evening ride on gravel at 6p (plus their road ride Saturday’s at 8a). If you want to go really fast  on road bikes in a paceline, be ready to leave from Baumann Park at 6p Wednesday nights or the UIC College of Medicine at 8a on a Saturday. That same group has an easier pace ride leaving from UIC College of Medicine at 5:30p on Mondays. A different person hosts a gathering afterwards to drink beers and socialize. It’s completely open invite, even if you have never been before or haven’t ever hosted. It’s a good group.

The team store is closing on July 12th (not the 10th) at 5p, so if you plan to purchase team gear, now is the time. Click the link of  https://teamstore.pactimo.com/stores/rock_river_multisport/show. All items are at cost and shipped to your door. Delivery by August 10th.

If you are interested in a XL or L one-piece men’s tri suit, L or M men’s bike shorts or XL, L or M unisex/men’s sizing running T shirt, we have them available NOW and we’ll cut you a huge deal. Just email me. They are all new with tags since we had to hit a ‘minimum’ order previously. The tri suits are pretty sweet. I heard the male winner of the Northpointe Triathlon was wearing one and scored a top ten at an Xterra the next day. You want this suit.

Have a great week!

Patrick McIntyre
Rock River Multisport

Email him at rsatterleeniu@gmail.com if you have any additions. Pretty cool resource!

Join us poolside at Peak Sports Club for quintessential summer fun with food, beverages, and NEW club T-shirts being served up! This event is FREE to all members and families. The party is planned for Sunday, July 28th, 3-6 p.m., with a rain date scheduled for August 4th at the same time. (See notifications here if inclement weather rears its ugly face and the decision is made to reschedule.)

https://www.facebook.com/events/1449149841891747/

Tour de North End

Saturday, July 20th
11a-6p
The Olympic Tavern
2327 N. Main St.
Rockford, IL
https://www.facebook.com/events/the-olympic-tavern/tour-de-north-end-2019/335428103775128/
Tickets at https://tdne19.bpt.me/
This is the 9th year for #TDNE, Rockford’s original neighborhood bike festival, The Tour de North End.  Almost 1,000 cyclists are expected to turn out for an afternoon of fun & bike riding.  One lucky person will win a Fat Tire Cruiser Bike, and others will win prizes, but everyone will have fun.

TDNE SCHEDULE:
11A-1P: REGISTRATION
12A – 1PM – DJ SET, MINI GAMES (TRACKSTAND, SLOW RIDE, PIE JOUST, ETC), CASH DRAWING
1-5P: RIDE OUT & COLLECT PASSPORT STAMPS
430-6P: REDEEM PASSPORTS AT REGISTRATION TENT + LIVE MUSIC FROM ROCK N ROLL INSTITUTE & TUNDRAS
630P: GRAND PRIZE DRAWINGS

Participating locations:
The Olympic Tavern
The North Main Bar
The Bicycle Connection
The Norwegian
Cherry Blossom Florist
Pinnon’s Meats
Rockford Family Dental
Der Rathskeller Rockford
Rockford Billiard Cafe
Latham Tap
Mulligan’s Pub & Grill
Whiskeys Roadhouse
Nickelworld
Rockford Country Club
Stockyard Rock Burger Bar
Deli Italia – Trinacria Lounge and Pizzeria
Kegel’s Bicycle Store Pop Up Tent
New Belgium Brewing Pop Up Tent

Goals:
Raise awareness and encourage safe cycling habits throughout the whole city,
Get people outside, active, and patronizing North End businesses,
Show off the North End as a great place to live, work and play,
Have a lot of fun in the process.

Make sure to tag your photos on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #TDNE19 – We’ll pick the best tagged picture a week after the festival to win a $50 Olympic gift certificate!

UNDER 21 ENCOURAGED TO RIDE, BUT PER STATE LAW MAY NOT WIN PRIZES.

RIDE BIKES – BE SAFE – HAVE FUN