DuSable Museum Day Ride | 2024

EVENT DETAILS

A 15-mile Recreational Bike Ride to tour the DuSable Black History Museum.

Pace: Casual, ride together as a group. 10-12mph. Beginner level.

Trail Conditions: Asphalt.

Itinerary

Miles from Start to End Point: 15 miles

Start Point: Milton Lee Olive Park (E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611)

Destination: DuSable Museum (740 E 56th Pl, Chicago, IL 60637)

End Point: Margaret T. Burroughs Beach (3100 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60616)

Optional Post-ride Beach Hang

Transportation to Start Point

Milton Lee Olive Park is very accessible via bike and CTA:

1. By bike -- Ride the Lakefront Trail, exiting at Ohio St. Beach
2. By CTA -- Take your bike on a train or bus that nears Navy Pier (such as the #29, #65, #66, or the Red Line)

At the start of the ride, our friendly volunteer guides will review the route, share riding etiquette, and demonstrate common hand signaling, so everyone has a safe and fun group ride.

TRIP DESCRIPTION

Do you love the Lakefront Trail, the harbors, our beaches, and our boulevards? Have you been eager to check out the more than 15,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, and historical pieces at the DuSable Black History Museum? Join us on this real-life adult field trip: the DuSable Day Ride!

We'll start by taking in the beautiful skyline at Milton Lee Olive Park, which is named in honor of the first African American recipient of the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War. We'll cruise down the Lakefront Trail, and we'll share local history about sites we pass, such as the McCormick Bird Sanctuary and the Ida B. Wells-Barnett House.

Once we arrive at the DuSable Museum ("The Du"), participants will purchase their entrance (or enjoy the generous free or discounted tickets The Du offers!) and then a knowledgeable tour guide will lead our group through the museum's exhibits, diving deep into the pieces and exhibits that intrigue you.

After touring the museum, we'll head north to our end point at Burroughs Beach (formerly 31st Street Beach), which is named after the co-founder of the DuSable Museum: Margaret T. Burroughs! If you aren't familiar with her important work, don't worry -- you'll learn more about this artist, educator, writer, civic leader, and activist during our ride!

WHAT TO BRING

• Required Items:

• Your bike!
• Helmet
• Lock for your bike
• Sunscreen
• At least 2 full water bottles and snacks
• Two spare inner tubes and tools to replace a flat (guides will be able to assist)
• Cash/Debit/Credit Card
• Any identification cards necessary to take advantage of The Du's generous free and discounted tickets (such as active military, park district employees, UChicago staff, and library pass holders). For a list of eligibility, see this link.
• Emergency Contact Info
• Welcoming, adventurous, can-do attitude!

Museum Bag Policy: backpacks and large bags are not permitted within the museum exhibits (exceptions made for medical reasons). So we encourage you to either bring a small bag or take advantage of the museum's storage room where they will hold our bags during our visit.

Optional Items: The ride ends at Burroughs Beach, and you are welcome to post up with us for an optional beach hang after the ride ends! If you plan to join us on the beach, bring any items that will make your time at the beach enjoyable, such as a hat, swimsuit, towel, and snacks.

WHAT IS INCLUDED

Supportive guides leading you from the start to the end point

Education about our local history and nature

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

Transportation to the start point.

Food and drinks

Entrance to the DuSable Museum (Each individual purchases their museum entrance on site)

ABOUT THE GUIDES

Our guides are part of a community of volunteers that believe in adventure and helping others find adventure right out our front door. They exude a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive spirit which are foundational values at Out Our Front Door. They have love and appreciation for their home and like sharing knowledge about that home with others, thus helping the riders to develop a stronger sense of gratitude for our local history and nature.

The guides will be set with the route and a spiel about the area you’ll be riding through (history that they may have researched, written, and developed themselves)! They have set up breakpoints along the way to ensure you can go the distance. So if this is your first time out on a longer ride, you’ll be surprised by how far you can actually go. They will stick with you and if for any reason you must end the ride early, they will help direct you to the nearest train/bus and way to return to your neighborhood.

Guides will have the tools necessary for most simple maintenance issues that might arise. *If you have your own tools or supplies, especially any that are very unique to your bike, please bring them along.* Though guides may have extra tubes and patches, you most definitely should bring at least 2 extra tubes for your bike. If a roadside repair is not possible, then a trek to the nearest CTA/Metra Station or best mode of public transportation may be the best option.

TIPS FOR THE RIDE

Keep it light!

We encourage you to utilize a back rack/front basket/milk crate or panniers to keep weight off of your body, which will ultimately enhance your comfort. However, don’t fret if you don’t have any of those--a light backpack will do just fine! As you pack for the ride, make sure the things most important for your comfort are easily accessible. Backpacks are not allowed in the museum, but there is a storage room available for our use.

Clothing

Dress for the season and in layers. Outside temperatures at times may be great to wear a T-shirt but when biking, the wind can make your chest, hands, and fingers cold and the weather may change without notice. If a little rain is in the forecast, bring a rain jacket. Don’t be afraid of the rain! Some of the best views are when a storm is on the horizon. If it gets intense, there are shelters along the way to wait it out.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What kind of bike do I need? All bikes are welcome!

Do you rent bicycles out to the public? We do not.

What if I get tired? We champion perseverance. Our guides will support and encourage you to push on because the reward of completion is great. In the event of injury, major bike failure or just not being able to push on, the guides will help direct you to the easiest way to return home (usually via Metra or other forms of public transportation).

What happens if it rains? Is the event cancelled? No, we ride rain or shine. Some of the best views are after a rainstorm. Your safety is our top priority, so if there is severe weather we will break and seek appropriate shelter along the route, then continue on to our destination.

How fast do you ride? General rule of thumb is a steady 10-12 miles per hour.

What happens if I'm too slow or too fast? On most rides, we do our best to ride together as a group. Separation in the group can occur, but we do not leave anybody behind. A guide will always be riding at the back and at the front (and usually at least one floating in the middle). This is not a race, so everyone will do their best to keep the pace of the lead guide and should not plan to ride faster than the lead guide.

Cancellation Policy

Please contact the ride organizer if you are no longer able to attend, so we can offer your spot to another cyclist on the wait list.

Inclusivity and Non-Discrimination Statement

We at Out Our Front Door believe in the radical inclusion of all people on our bike camping trips. Regardless of your race, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic status, or even the types of bikes you ride, we want you rollin’ with us. We want everyone to feel welcome. As a participant of an Out Our Front Door event, you are inherently agreeing to Ride and Let Ride.

If you exhibit any micro-aggressions observed by leaders, such as being judgmental of another’s bike, touring experience/skill, mansplaining, or generally being unfriendly you will be politely yet firmly corrected by OOFD leaders. If you commit any serious offense such as repeated unwanted flirtation, sexual harassment, overt racism, etc., you will be asked to leave the tour without a refund and will no longer be welcomed on future rides.

If you feel you are a victim of any of the above or have observed it, please raise the issue with one of our ride leaders, and they will handle the issue accordingly and with appropriate discretion.

We have this policy in place because we want everyone to feel safe and welcome. Out Our Front Door is an open community of bike campers, and we will forever work to bring all sorts of folks into the fold. Thank you for being a positive contributor to that community.

ABOUT US

We're the Out Our Front Door Organization. A bike camping community for Chicagoland.

See Our Full Schedule Of Events Here.

As a community organization, Out Our Front Door’s mission is to immerse, educate, and preserve the history, culture, trails, and native habitats of the Lower Lake Michigan Basin Area through exploratory adventures. Established in 2015 with the North Loop Ride, we now have many different resources, events, and programs ​we offer the public.

Drop us a friendly visit at: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | https://www.oofd.org/