For the fourth consecutive year, I’m skipping the St. Louis World Naked Bike Ride. I have to work Saturday night and besides, I’m not comfortable enough with my body image to do this ride.
Instead, I’m going to Trailnet’s Bicycle Fun Club’s Get Your Kicks on Route 66 Bicycle Ride in Edwardsville, Ill.
Registration is from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Cassens Transport Co., 145 N. Kansas St. in downtown Edwardsville. Routes of 9, 25, 38 and 69 miles will be available. After the ride, cyclists can take part in Edwardsville’s annual Route 66 Festival in nearby City Park.
For those of you doing the longer routes, there a good chance you’ll see folks from the Staunton, Ill.-based ITS Trail Committee picking up litter along the Madison County Transit Quercus Grove Trail. As part of the group’s Second Saturday Ride, participants will clean the trail.
That group’s ride begins at 9 a.m. at Duda Gardens on North Union Street in Staunton and ride down the trail to Worden or Hamel.
“We have a valuable asset in the Quercus Grove Trail, which is enjoyed by many walkers and riders every day and we encourage everyone to take advantage of it.,” ITS Trail Committee Executive Director Jarid Ott said in a recent email. “While the goal of the ITS Trail Committee was to extend the trail from Staunton to Benld, that effort has encountered some obstacles, and is at a bit of a standstill. However, the committee continues to support bike and health related activities including the Tour de Donut, Tour de Coal, Get Healthier Macoupin activities and sponsors the annual Bike Safety Clinic.”
