G.O.A.T.S. Cycling

08/31/2025

Some of you may know Leanne Grahame of Freeport. She is a riding companion of GOATS member Karla Nicholas and loves riding out in beautiful Jo Daviess County. She wants to organize a bike ride on Saturday, Sept. 6 out of Woodbine in honor of her friend Dave Fonda, who loved to ride out here in the Driftless, and who died from cancer in 2018.

Here are details: In late June every year, the FHN Foundation sponsors a bike ride, the Gran Fonda Tour Against Cancer, as a fundraiser and to draw attention to cancer. Leanne was not able to ride in the event in late June so now she wants to organize a ride in her friend's honor in a place he loved to ride and on a route he helped create. The plan is to meet just before 9:30 am in the auxiliary parking lot at Woodbine Bend and head out on the ride at 9:30 a.m. This will be a 26-mile hilly route and will be no-drop. At the finish, we can saunter over to the Woodbine Bend clubhouse for socializing, beverages and/or food if you so want. You also have the option of fundraising for a cancer cause or not.

Also, don't forget about the slow roll ride on The Galena River Trail which Ryan Birckicht is helping organize on Sunday, Sept. 7. This ride starts at 9 am. It's important that we have a large attendance.

In review, here are the rides for the coming week:
1) Monday, Sept. 1: 9 am ride. Meet house of Carter Newton, corner of South High and Washington streets, in Galena. Coffee at my house afterward.
2) Thursday, Sept. 4: 2 p.m. ride from Woodbine Bend. This will be a pre-ride of Saturday's route.
3) Saturday, Sept. 6: 9:30 am, Dave Fonda memorial ride. Meet at Woodbine Bend.
4) Sunday, Sept. 7: 9 am. Galena biking event on the Galena River Trail.

Send a message to learn more

08/26/2025

Join Galena GOATS Cycling Club on September 7 for a Galena River Trail Adventure ride. This free, family-friendly ride is part of Let's Ride, Illinois! statewide celebration of biking and community. Whether you ride every day or just hop on a bike occasionally, this ride is for you! Learn more about 2025 Let’s Ride, Illinois https://rideillinois.org/events/lets-ride-illinois-2025/

06/19/2025

This just in from ChainLink Cyclists in Freeport:

Fellow Cyclists,

2 weeks from tomorrow is the Gran Fonda Tour Against Cancer (rain date is the following day) and we really hope you can be there to support the very worthy benefit to support the FHN Cancer Center. Some of us have been directly affected by cancer, and many more of us will be. Our Cancer Center is a tremendous asset and this is your chance to help.

Another reason to take part in this is when the community sees a large group of cyclists, they will know it’s a benefit to the area, not just for fundraising, but as a sport that attracts people to a community bringing tourism and is something that attracts people to move to a community with great cycling roads. When people understand that it will result in more respect on the roads from motorists and helps justify new/improved bike lanes and paths. It also shows cycling is also a great way to promote great health benefits and to create great friendships.

We have routes to satisfy every cyclist, regardless of ability and experience: Most of the rides start at 8AM at Tutty’s Crossing in Freeport.

· 30-mile ride to the Orangeville rest stop, and back. This is all paved, however you can ride back on the Jane Adams Trail if you prefer. If 30 miles is too long, you can cut it short.
· 50-mile road ride. Stops at the Orangeville rest stop, then continues to Winslow, Red Oak rest stop, and back to Freeport.
· 50-mile gravel ride – makes a loop going through Eleroy, McConnel, Winslow, to the Orangeville rest stop, then back to Freeport.
· 75-mile road ride – Stops at the Orangeville rest stop, goes to Warren, Stockton, Pearl City, and back to Freeport.

Starting at 10 AM at Tutty’s Crossing:

· 40-mile Gravel Growler. (AKA The 3 Brewery Tour) – Goes west out of Freeport, then north to Lena Brewing for a rest stop. Then east to Wishful Acres for a rest stop. Then we head to Generations Brewery in Freeport for a rest stop, and then we end up at Tutty’s Crossing.

We are really hoping to have a large turnout for this and would appreciate your support in attending as well as inviting others. Click this link to register:

Dave Fonda, the founder of and inspiration for this event, loved cycling and his community. He started this fundraiser in 2007, dedicated to parlaying his passion into a cause that could help those fighting cancer. Although Dave lost his own battle in 2018, we keep him a part of this event by renami...

05/21/2025

Memorial weekend Galena area no-drop bike rides on offer:

9 am Saturday. Meet near Galena Gazette office on South Man Street.

9 am Sunday. Meet at the far General golf course parking lot at the entrance to The Galena Territory.

9 am Monday. Meet near Galena Gazette office on South Man Street.

If weather is iffy, the ride may be cancelled. Route will be determined at start of ride.

Send a message to learn more

04/30/2025

Only 2 days away!!

Take a look at all that is planned for Spring Fling next Saturday!🌷

04/11/2025

Let all enjoy one last PBR for Allen! 🍺🍻

Send a message to learn more

04/09/2025

Looking forward to the ride.

Less than a month until Ride the Ups and Downs on May 3. Make sure your spring bike maintenance is complete.

03/13/2025

A Great ride for a great cause

Everybody Rides is an annual bike ride fundraiser to benefit Project Mobility and their mission of providing adaptive bikes to those with disabilities. All inclusive all abilities all welcome!

03/03/2025

A great ride and an oppotunity to visit Paul's Bicycle Museum

Not only can you enjoy a ride along the beautiful countryside of Jo
Daviess County you can also visit Paul’s Bicycle Museum downtown
Elizabeth after the ride on May 3, 2025. https://www.bikereg.com/ride-the-ups-and-downs

02/14/2025

Happy Valentine's Day!!

BikeReg - online cycling event registration

12/11/2024

11/23/2024

Interested in joining Chestnut Mt Ski Patrol, send an email to [email protected]
Classes are starting Saturday, December 7! ❄️⛷🏂❄️