Out Our Front Door

Out Our Front Door A nonprofit that leads bike adventures to immerse and educate in local history & nature. Est. 2015

Today is the last day that you can sign-up for this weekend's big Battle to the Dunes ride to The Indiana Dunes National...
06/04/2026

Today is the last day that you can sign-up for this weekend's big Battle to the Dunes ride to The Indiana Dunes National Park. Learn about the fight between industrialists and conservationists that shaped this super unique bit of land. The last few tickets are available in our bio, on our website and here - https://www.oofd.org/event-info/battle-to-the-dunes

Join us for a bonfire on the lake tonight!Memorial Day has come and gone and Chicago summer is officially in full swing....
06/02/2026

Join us for a bonfire on the lake tonight!

Memorial Day has come and gone and Chicago summer is officially in full swing. That means it’s time for one of our favorite hangs of the year — a cozy bonfire by the lake! 🔥🌊

We’ll be just south of Foster Beach, soaking in the good vibes, great company, and the start of summer.

Bring your favorite beverage or snack, and come chill with us! 🍻🍿

✨ Details + registration at OOFD.org
Can’t wait to see you there!

Doesn't this weather just make you want to be outside, on a bike, and camping?! Join us for one of our biggest and most ...
05/30/2026

Doesn't this weather just make you want to be outside, on a bike, and camping?! Join us for one of our biggest and most fun bike camping trips of the year, The Battle to the Dunes. It is next weekend (June 6-7). There are only about 15 of the 80 spots left.

Don't miss yer chance to ride and camp with a herd of super welcoming, adventurous bikers out to one of our most beautiful nearby parks, Indiana Dunes National Park.

Deets and sign-up in our bio, on website, and here - https://www.oofd.org/event-info/battle-to-the-dunes.

Stop by the 47th Ward Eco Fest today at Welles Park (Montrose and Lincoln) from 10am-2pm and say to us at the OOFD table...
05/30/2026

Stop by the 47th Ward Eco Fest today at Welles Park (Montrose and Lincoln) from 10am-2pm and say to us at the OOFD table and meet a bunch of other eco-focused orgs/resources.

Some more updates about all the awesome events we've been a part of and put on in the last month or so.LADSE School Adap...
05/29/2026

Some more updates about all the awesome events we've been a part of and put on in the last month or so.

LADSE School Adaptive Day Ride
Friday, May 8
The kick off to our Adaptive Ride Season! This was our 3rd year in a row riding with these grade school students with disabilities, about 30 in total. They remember us and get so hyped for “bike day.” It is always a day of utter glee as the kids get out, into the sunshine and feel the wind in their face as they ride around their school on our adaptive Pino bikes.

Scouting Ride - Lowden State Park
May 8-10
We had a crew ride out from the Metra to scout this route out near Oregon, IL for a possible future OOFD ride.

Where the Wild Things Grow: Whistler Woods for Chicago River Day
Saturday, May 9
90+ sites around the city where volunteers were cleaning up the watershed. We led a group from Afro Joe’s Cafe in Beverly down the Major Taylor Trail to do service at Whistler Woods.

Speaking/Tabling at Burrito Brigade volunteer event
Sunday, May 10
These folks get a bunch of volunteers together to prepare up to 500 burritos and then distribute them to unhoused folks around the city. Many of those burritos are delivered by cyclists! Glenn got to go out and volunteer and provided a presentation to them about OOFD.

Adult Overnight: The Good Land to Milwaukee
May 15-17
About 30 of us rode this beloved ride. Day 1 - 70 miles to Racine. Day 2 - 50 mile day trip to MKE before camping a second night in Racine. Day 3 - Ride back or train to Chicago.

Adaptive Event: End of School year BBQ - CITE and Opportunity Knocks
May 15
Thanks to OOFD volunteer extraordinaire and Adaptive Program Director, Daniel S-E, we have a blossoming partnership with CITE and Opportunity Knocks, a school and a non-profit that serve people with disabilities. We had a few of our adaptive Pino tandems at the event to give rides to folks at the event.

Bike Camping 101: An Intro Clinic to Bikepacking at Specialized Fulton Market
May 18
Glenn hosted this free clinic along with Jack Peck of Midwest Ultra Cycling. It was a night of all about bikepacking — what gear you actually need, how to pack your bike, and how to plan your first overnight.

Been tough to keep up the updates on all the events we've been up to! Here's a smattering of some of the 13 or so events...
05/28/2026

Been tough to keep up the updates on all the events we've been up to! Here's a smattering of some of the 13 or so events we have hosted or been a part of since the Hootenanny which was just over a month ago.

Tabling at Spring Reset at Steelworkers Park
Saturday, April 18
Always a fun, community day as the Chicago Park District resets the climbing wall at this gem of a park. Big props to Chuck and the team at Chi Parks for putting on such a stellar event.

Bikepacking Clinic at Patagonia Mag Mile
Sunday, April 19
Had 20+ folks out as we got to reciprocate with our beloved partners at Patagonia Mag Mile, and co-led this bikepacking clinic in their space.

Where the Wild Things Grow - Earth Day Trail Clean-up on Major Taylor Trail
Saturday, April 25
This was I think our 9th year doing this ride. We had over ten folks ride down from Bridgeport to the trail and clean up trash along the trail near 115th St. The Major Tayler Trail Keepers are simply the best and that trail is amazing. We wrapped it up with a beverage at Wild Blossom Meadery then rode back north.

Tabling at One Earth Film Festival at Chicago Cultural Center
Sunday, April 26
This was such a great film and event. Got to table in one of the epic domes of the Cultural Center downtown.

Adult Day Ride: Shakedown Ride
Saturday, May 2
This ride was a hit! It had 15 folks out, practicing doing a longer ride fully loaded for bike camping as they rode on some great trails in the north burbs with a stop off at our great partners at Sketchbook Brewery.

Adult Overnight: What Lies West to Blackwell
May 2-3
Our first bike camping trip of the year! This is why we do what we do. The ride was sold out at 25 folks and was a raging success. Great way to kick off the year.

Tabling at The Volunteer Fair at Burning Bush Brewery
Sunday, May 3
Was one of our first ever tabling events back in 2016 when this was at the Nature Museum. Awesome event which is now organized by Trash People.

OOFD Monthly Hang at Ping Tom Park (Chinatown)
Tuesday, May 5 from 730-10pm
Such a picturesque park to hang at with old and new bike adventure friends. Had about 15 folks out for a lovely hang and an even lovelier sunset.

🌳 Day trip alert! We’re heading to Morton Arboretum in Lisle — one of the true gems of our region. We’ll be riding out f...
05/27/2026

🌳 Day trip alert! We’re heading to Morton Arboretum in Lisle — one of the true gems of our region. We’ll be riding out from Oak Park at 7:30am (~20 miles with a breakfast pitstop along the way), then joining arboretum docents for a private tour and nature-based activity. After, ride back or hop the Metra home. Your call!

A $5 ticket fee goes directly to The Morton Arboretum to support their staff and programming. 🚲🌿

Drop a 🌳 in the comments if you’re in!

Happy long weekend y'all! Hope its filled with lots of good time outdoors. We've been busy adventuring all over Chicagol...
05/22/2026

Happy long weekend y'all! Hope its filled with lots of good time outdoors.

We've been busy adventuring all over Chicagoland. I count 15+ events in the last month and a half or so, including 2 bike camping trips, our first 2 Adaptive ride of the year, a couple bikepacking clinics, some rides to environmental service days, and even some day rides. Oh yeah, and our 10 year anniversary just happened last Friday as we were riding bikes up to MKE for The Good Land!

You can check out our newsletter to see what we've been up to and get an idea of the heaps of events we have coming up in the next month or two. Plus some gratitude and even a poem celebrating our 10 year anniversary.

Newsletter available in your inbox (if you signed up), in our bio, our blog, and here - https://www.oofd.org/blog/out-our-front-door-newsletter---may

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