April 27, 2012: Help Us Solve This Vintage Photo Mystery!

This Week On The Chainlink - the update from thechainlink.org.

General Announcements

• PSA Video Contest: Submissions now being accepted so spread the word! In celebration of Bike Chicago 2012 and Bike To Work Week, The City of Chicago is hosting a public service announcement (PSA) video contest on The Chainlink to help spread the message that bicycling is a fun, healthy, and environmentally-friendly form of transportation. Video finalists will be screened at the Bike Chicago Movie in Millennium Park on Tuesday, June 12 and the winning video will be announced at the City of Chicago's Bike Rally on Friday, June 15.  Tons of bike-related prizes will be awarded including a Trek Earl, a pair of Four Star registrations and a pair of Chicago Bicycle Film Festival passes!  This contest, brought to you by the Bike Chicago program presented by Goose Island, is in conjunction with the Chicago Bicycle Film Festival, The Chainlink and Active Transportation Alliance. Click Here for more details and how to enter.   We are looking forward to seeing everyone's awesome bike film creations!   A big thank you to Joe Sak, who helped us launch this video contest with his amazing technical skills! 

Featured Events This Week   (check out the calendar for a full list of events) 

Save The Date(s)

•  Wednesday May 16th, 2012 - Chicago's Ride of Silence Details 

On the Forum 

• Help Us Solve This Photo Mystery! - Based on a photo, can you supply the year and location of the race?
• Bringing Bikes Into Retail Stores - What have been your results with this?
• Bike Commuter Challenge Is Live! - Celebrate Chicago Bike to Work Week by signing up for the Bike Commuter Challenge June 9-15! It's free for you and your company, and the Active Transportation Alliance will give you all the tools you need to get your office going on two wheels. 
• Celebs On Bikes - An oldie but goodie. Just for fun, pics of celebs and their bikes!
• Folding Bike Without A Bag Allowed on Metra?  - Yet another question about our multi-modal routes. 
• Get More Mileage Out of Used Bikes - Thanks Gene for alerting us to a Chicago Tribune article today mentioning Chainlinker Adam Clark and his mobile bike company, Pedal To The People!  
• An interesting article from Gizmodo: "Why You Should Be On A Cargo Bike" - Great discussion about the plethora of bike types we use on a daily basis and why.  

Events This Week (Detailed)

• Chicago Critical Mass - THE monthly gathering of bicyclists making their presence known downtown since 1997. Slowly winds a dozen miles or more. Radically inclusive!
• 33rd Annual Arlington Heights Bike Swap - The Arlington Heights Bike Swap is an annual community event featuring hundreds of bicycles.  The swap is held at Centennial Park, 1209 Burr Oak Drive, Arlington Heights, IL.  Centennial Park is located adjacent to Riley School.
• Half Acre Cycling Women/Trans Road Clinic - With over 7 BIG wins to her name including the Illinois State Road Race Championship, The Alexian Brothers' Tour of Elk Grove and the National Criterium Championships, Pascale Petro has come and conquered the sport of cycling. Ms. Petro will be sharing her experience from years of successful racing to help women new to the sport. All levels welcome.
• Mark Johnson Book Signing at Garmin Store -Mark Johnson, author and photographer, followed Team Garmin during the 2011 season to provide an insider's perspective of a professional cycling team.  Q&A takes place from 11 - 11:30 a.m. and the book signing from 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.  Those in attendance could win a signed team jersey, team hats, team socks, team water bottles and even an official team beanie!
• Folks on Spokes Easter Ride - Since 1982 the Easter Ride has continually grown in popularity. It was listed as the Best Biking in America in Bicycling Magazine's April 1999 issue, and it has just gotten better each year. Drawing hundreds of riders each year, the ride is large enough to seem professionally run, yet small enough to really enjoy.  Pick one of five routes through pastoral farmlands, wildflower filled woods, and friendly towns. Route choices are: an 17 mile short route plus 28, 33, 50 and 62-mile longer routes (actual distances may vary slightly). Each route follows lightly traveled paved roads and a few miles of paved trail. All routes are fully marked.This year's bicycle tour has a new starting location at the Park Forest Village Hall.  
• Ghost Bike Build Day - We're getting together to prepare ghost bikes in advance of the May 16 Ride of Silence. Feel free to bring paint and material for signs, including white spray paint, black paint/brushes or stencils and black spray paint, coat hangers, any sturdy chains you're willing to donate, and/or whole non-working bicycles which do not have reasonable potential to be fixed or ridden.   

Save The Date (Detailed)

• Ride Of Silence - Honor fallen cyclists on May 16th and raise awareness at this annual procession visiting ghost bikes. The 12-mile route is set to pass the sites of crash victims. Many of the sites are marked by Ghost Bikes, which are powerful memorials to fallen cyclists created by painting a bicycle white and placing it at or near the site of the cyclist's death.   Jerseys, shirts and calendars are available for purchase to help support this important cause.

If you would like to sponsor The Chainlink and support our community, email sponsorship@thechainlink.org

The Chainlink is a proud member of Local First Chicago, The Alliance For Biking and Walking, League of Illinois Bicyclists, Active Transportation Alliance and the Chicago Cycling Club

Current Chainlink Member Count: 6968

Thanks for being a part of The Chainlink!  Have a great week!