Ride IllinoisRide Illinois

Webinars

Ride Illinois is excited to offer free, informative, collaborative webinars to share information with our members and supporters. The webinars focus on topics such as safe cycling, infrastructure, laws, maintenance and more! See below for details about past and upcoming webinars.

Visit the Ride Illinois YouTube channel to view past webinars and lots more!

Upcoming Webinars

Past Webinars

4th annual International Women’s Day Together We Ride

  • Learn about the 4th annual International Women’s Day Together We Ride! This year’s event was from Wednesday, March 8th through Sunday, March 12th, 2023. Together We Ride is to celebrate the achievements, persistence and future of women and girls all around the world by doing a bike ride in honor of International Women’s Day.
  • Hosted by Dawn Piech, who created and organized the International Women’s Day Together We Ride bike event in 2020 to elevate diversity in cycling.
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube.
  • View the presentation here

Adventure Cycling Tours – Biketropolis

  • Biketropolis curates day-long adventure cycling tours. Adventures include cycling through historical neighborhoods, searching for urban archeological ruins, street art, and visiting exciting destinations.
  • Hosted by Tom Limon
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube

Adventures of the Polish Bikepacker

  • Jerry Ciosek, known as the Polish Bikepacker, shares his stories and photos from his bicycle trips as well as useful tips which might help you prepare for your own cycling adventures.
  • Hosted by Jerry Ciosek
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube

Basic Bike Maintenance

  • Topics include: ABC Quick Check, proper tire inflation, brake adjustment, gear adjustment, lubing a chain, fix-a-flat, and more!
  • Hosted by Mike Geigel from Never Ending Cycles in Streamwood, IL
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube

Becoming a Bicycle Friendly Business

  • Is your business supportive of employees and customers biking for transportation? Hear how to become recognized nationally as a Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) through the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly Business program. Learn about the benefits of being a BFB and how it can benefit your business, your employees and customers, and your community.
  • Hosted by Ride Illinois Board Vice President Cynthia Hoyle
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube.

Bicycle-Friendly Driver: Sharing the Road with Cyclists

  • Topics include: why sharing the road is the safest alternative for both motorists and bicyclists, what’s legal and what’s not legal, common crashes and how to avoid them, and why bicyclists “take the lane”.
  • Hosted by Dave Simmons
  • CLICK HERE to view recording

Bike Law

  • Topics include: the law and how it applies to cyclists in Illinois. What to do if you’re involved in a crash while cycling.
  • Hosted by Brendan Kevenides from Freeman Kevenides Law Firm LLC
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube

Biking for Transportation in Winter

  • Do you stop biking for transportation or recreation once the weather turns colder? Are you seeking tips to continue biking from point A to B this winter…and drive less? Attend our Biking for Transportation in Winter webinar to learn how to stay warm, safe and upright! Several seasoned winter bicyclists will share their tips to keep you rolling this winter!
  • Panelists:
    • Brendan Kevenides is a lawyer and bicycle advocate. He is a partner with Freeman Kevenides Law Firm which focuses exclusively on bicycle and vulnerable road user injury cases. He is a Chicago resident who has commuted by bike from his home in Logan Square to the Loop year round for many years.
    • Maciej Ostrowski is a product designer currently residing in the northwest suburbs who uses cycling as his main mode of transportation year round.
    • Rich Gordon is known as an avid, but slow and steady long distance cyclist. An SR Randonneur and a Who’s Who Ultracyclist, Rich has ridden 301 centuries over the past 18 years. He achieved 60 consecutive months with a century including winters here in the Midwest. Past board member, former Ramble co-chair and ride leader for Bicycle Club of Lake County.
  • CLICK HERE to view recording
  • Biking for Transportation in Winter Tips

Boxing (and Biking) Out Negativity

  • Derek and Julie discuss the history of Boxing Out Negativity, their Friday evening rides and the Street Love Ride.
  • Hosted by Derek Brown and Julie Globokar
  • CLICK HERE to view recording

Chicago Transit Hikes: a Discussion with the Author

  • Lindsay will discuss her book, ‘Chicago Transit Hikes‘, share some tips for those interested in taking transit to visit green spaces, and field questions for attendees.
  • Hosted by Lindsay Welbers
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube

Cold Weather Cycling

  • Topics include: How to stay warm and dry from head to toe and more!
  • Hosted by Sheri Rosenbaum, cycling industry writer/advocate
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube

Cycling Education for Kids Through Fun & Games


Cycling for Transportation: Using Your Bike for Everyday Trips

  • Topics include: the benefits of using your bike for transportation, safety, bike-friendly destinations, shopping by bike, and barriers to biking for transportation in some communities.
  • Hosted by Dave Simmons and Gina Kenny
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube

Exploring Southern Illinois by Bike

  • Topics include: organized rides in the area, informal routes that only locals know, and cycling infrastructure in Carbondale.
  • Hosted by Katie Ancell and Molly Maxwell
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube
  • CLICK HERE to download presentation

Exploring Springfield by Bike

  • Springfield Bicycle Club president Troy Gilmore presented about biking in Springfield and the surrounding area, as well as interesting places to visit by bike.
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube

Get Back on Your Bike!

  • Topics include: the benefits of cycling, safety and the laws, comfort, choosing a route, riding for recreation and transportation, and more!
  • Hosted by Dave Simmons and Gina Kenny
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube

Hiking (and Biking) with Shawn

  • Topics include: Hiking and biking in the Shawnee National Forest and will encourage you to hop off your bike and enjoy hiking in beautiful southern Illinois.
  • Hosted by Shawn Gossman, founder and creator of Hiking with Shawn, will be our special guest for this discussion.
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube.
  • You can view the presentation slides here.

Intro to Mountain Biking

  • Topics include: info on how to get into mountain biking, including gear, key skills, and how to find mountain bike trails.
  • Hosted by Gina Kenny at Richard’s Bicycles in Palos Heights, IL
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube

Kids on Bikes: Raising a Generation of Cyclists!

  • Topics include: tips for adults when cycling with kids, ways to encourage kids to ride their bikes, and cycling as a life-long activity.
  • Hosted by Rebecca Resman and Liz Durham
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube

Public Art Improving Cyclist & Pedestrian Safety

  • Mary Fedorowski shares ways in which public art can improve cyclist and pedestrian safety and grow community engagement. Mary is an artist and muralist, based in Chicago, who focuses on the beauty of modern cityscapes and how light and color fundamentally bring shapes to life.
  • Hosted by Mary Fedorowski
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube

Ride of Silence

  • Topics include: the history of this somber event across the country and in Illinois, info about RoS events that are planned for 2020, and how you can get involved and plan a RoS in your community.
  • Hosted by Elizabeth Adamczyk
  • CLICK HERE to view recording

Route Planning for Cyclists

  • Want to learn tips and tricks to planning your next cycling adventure be it local or afar? Sheri Rosenbaum, cycling industry influencer, writer, and advocate, was the presenter for this informative webinar. In this webinar, you will discover resources, ideas, and ways to plan an exciting 2021 season filled with new routes and locations. Sheri will cover road, gravel, and trail route planning, so there is something for every type of rider.
  • CLICK HERE to view recording
  • CLICK HERE to view a PDF of the presentation

What You Need to Know About Ebikes

  • Electric assist bicycles, or ebikes, are growing in popularity because it makes it easier to ride farther and faster with less effort. Battery and motor technology are rapidly evolving and versions have been introduced into bike share systems like Divvy and more and more people are purchasing their own ebikes as a way to get around. We will learn what is an ebike, the various classes, legal status, technologies, the advantages and disadvantages, and if it is, as some cyclists think, cheating. Our guest speaker is Sharon Kaminecki who is an ebike enthusiast and bike retailer.
  • CLICK HERE to view recording

Bike Infrastructure – Session #1

  • Topics include: various types of off-road and on-road bikeways, with practical tips on determining the appropriate treatment.
  • Hosted by Ed Barsotti
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube
  • CLICK HERE to download presentation

Bike Infrastructure – Session #2

  • Topics include: advocating for better road design, examples of real-life improvements, and how to determine road usage by cyclists.
  • Hosted by Ed Barsotti
  • CLICK HERE to view recording on YouTube
  • CLICK HERE to download presentation

Bike Infrastructure – Session #3

  • Topics include: local bike plans, implementation, and grants
  • Hosted by Ed Barsotti
  • CLICK HERE to request recording on YouTube
  • CLICK HERE to download presentation