Flock off the Block | Sullivan Woods Party 2025 - Overnight
Huge 2-Day Bike Camping trip, from Chicago to Camp Sullivan Woods across varying routes and adventures. 150 people total. Kids welcome.
Date and time
Location
TBD multiple starting points
100 S Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60608Refund Policy
About this event
Ride Specifics
Trip Description
Come Flock Off the Block with us! This is one of OOFD's biggest rides ever. We rented much of Camp Sullivan in Oak Forest, IL including campsites and cabins.
This is a family friendly party. It includes a catered dinner, live music at the campsite, and so much more!
We will have a variety of start points around the city with very short to longer mileage options. And we’ll be providing a truck to haul your gear if you prefer not to ride with it on your bikes.
$100 for adults. $50 for kids.
Starting Points and Mileage
South Side: TBD - 20ish mile ride
This is the main start point. We will have about 80 folks starting the ride here at 10am. Neighborhood street parking available overnight. The truck will be here in the morning if you want it to haul your gear and you didn’t drop it off the night before.
This is the only start point for families. We will be rolling out in groups of 20 or so riders, with the families leaving together with plans for a more chill pace and more stops.
Riding pace will be 10-12 mph though certainly will roll at a slower pace for those with families.
Saturday in route activities: Saturday in route activities: Folks leaving from here will have a nice long lunch break with a variety of restaurants to choose from in Palos Heights. Bringing a picnic lunch with an option as there is Palmer Park less than a block away from the restaurant options.
Central: TBD - 40ish mile ride
Gotta have a start point over downtown. There are 20 spots available for adult riders to start here at 830am.
Riding pace will be the usual OOFD overnight pace of 12-15 mph.
Saturday in route activities: Folks leaving from here will have a nice long lunch break with a variety of restaurants to choose from in Palos Heights. Bringing a picnic lunch with an option as there is Palmer Park less than a block away from the restaurant options.
West Side: TBD - 60ish mile ride
This is for the slightly more ambitious folks that want some extra miles. There will be 30 spots available for adult riders to start here at 7am. And this route will ride over to the lake and then cut through some south suburbs before picking up the Cal Sag Trail towards camp.
Riding pace will be the usual OOFD overnight pace of 12-15 mph.
Saturday in route activities: A throw back to last year’s Flock Off the Block with a visit Whihala beach.
North Side: TBD - 100ish mile ride
Going big! Ready to rock a mid-August century? Starting at the northside, there will be 20 spots available for adult riders to start here at 630am.
Riding pace will be the usual OOFD overnight pace of 12-15 mph though may be a bit quicker at points as well.
Saturday in route activities/stops: Lots of riding. Optional dip in the lake at Whihala beach.
Gear Transport
We will have a truck that can haul your camping gear. We'll be at a desginated location the night before (Friday, August 8th) from 5pm-8pm so you can stop by and drop your gear off. You certainly are welcome to haul your own gear on your bike as well.
If you are putting your gear in the truck, please be sure to pack it tightly in a bag or bin. Please avoid any loose items such as shoes, pillows, etc. And be sure to label your bag/bin with your name and cell phone number.
Gear will brought back to a centrally located return location on Sunday.
Saturday Activities
Each specific starting point will offer a variety of in route activities. Once we get to camp, there will be lots of fun and exploring to be had. We are still working out all of the details but there will be LIVE MUSIC and dinner provided. There will be kid friendly games and options to hike or bike around the trails of the forest preserves. And of course some cool educational activities such as a nature scavenger hunt and a “how to build a fire” clinic.
Sunday Options
Wake up easy. Enjoy a morning campfire. OOFD will provide a basic breakfast of oatmeal, fruit, coffee, and tea.
We will roll out in a variety of groups so as to avoid being a huge mass on the streets/trails. The first group will head out around 10am.
If you're not feeling like riding home from the campground, you can ride the 4 miles to the Oak Forest Rock Island Metra Train which can get you back to Beverly or even downtown Chicago. The 91st Street Metra Rock Island train station is less than a block from the meadery end point and the 95th Street Redline is only a few miles away as well.
Campsites and Cabins
We have a number of tent pads (two tents each) rented in the campground plus two very large group sites in addition to the pavilion where the live music and meals will be happening.
We also have 100 spots available across 9 cabins. The cabins are very simple rooms with 4-8 bunk beds in a single room. These cabins are available for the same price as a campsite, so feel free to indicate you want a cabin spot and then you can ride with a much lighter load!
Finally, for those that want to camp but don’t have camp gear, thanks to our CLIC partners at The Cook County Forest Preserve, we have access to a limited amount of tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. If you are interested in using this gear, it is crucial that you indicate this on your registration form.
Families that are camping will set up at the group site which is a bit tucked away from the main pavilion and thus will be able to leave the festivities and put the kids to bed or have a more chill campfire at the family site away from the big bonfire/main gathering area.
*Any gear we haul for you in the van will be returned to you on Sunday at a designated drop-off location.
The Campground
The facilities at Camp Sullivan are excellent. They are a part of the Cook County Forest Preserves. Campground features a fire pit, picnic tables, full-service bathrooms with showers, dining pavilions with electrical outlets for device charging, and camp store as well as access to hiking and biking trails in the surrounding forest preserves.
What's Included
- Campground fees
- Food for Day 1 dinner and Day 2 breakfast
- Education about our local history and nature
- Really nice and supportive guides
What's Not Included
- Food for Day 1 lunch
- Food for Day 2 lunch
- Snacks
- *We will stop at designated restaurants where you can buy your lunch
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 OOFD. 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 an extensive script about the area you’ll be riding through with intentionally chosen breakpoints along the way.
They are more than someone to follow on the ride. They are trained and will be there to encourage and support you as well as support with mechanicals that may arise.
Transfer/Refund/Cancelation Policy
Participant Cancellation: No Refunds. By registering, you acknowledge and agree there will not be a refund if you cancel or do not show up for the event. Tickets cannot be resold.
Transfers permitted before the event and to an event in the same calendar year. Check out this Transfer Policy flowsheet to determine what next steps you need to take. Contact us if you have any issues.
Organizer Cancellation: Full Refund | Nobody wants an event to be canceled. In the rare circumstance the organizer cancels the event at their discretion, registered participants will receive a full refund.To date, this organization has canceled minimal events; primarily in response to the Covid19 pandemic.
Weather and Rain: We do not cancel an event for rain, storm, or any other weather. We ride rain or shine. Chicago weather is typically passing, if the weather requires, we will pause the ride and wait in a sheltered space then continue biking. Some of the best views of the lake and greenery on the trails are after a rainstorm.
Radical Inclusivity and Non-Discrimination Agreement Here
This is included in your registration form. Showing up with a welcoming and inclusive spirit is crucial and expected of everyon that rides with us.
Bike Camping Packing Checklist and Tips here
Learn More About Us
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Frequently asked questions
All bikes are welcome! On most rides, the routes are mixed terrain ranging from paved road to limestone and gravel; super skinny tires aren’t ideal but we’ve seen them work. We've even had an adult trike complete one of our rides. There will be zero judgement of your bike. Just props for showing up.
Yes! We have a ton of blogs with advice on how and what to pack. Check them out on our blog or we have a list of them linked here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G3yX8w8vq8n8Z8yhMAYlLCjMYBDSqpOY8cXf5iqWo_c/edit?tab=t.0
We do not have a waitlist anymore. Our events often do sell out so its a good idea to get your tickets a fair bit in advance. That said, there are usually a couple of folks that drop out last minute, so if you keep an eye out, you might be able to snag a spot a few days before the event.
A bike rack or other systems to keep your gear off of your back/shoulder is a great idea, though if that is how you roll, no worries. We strongly advocate riding without a backpack, at least on our longer rides. Milk crate set-ups are a good starting point. Check out our website for more suggestions
Very few of our rides provide van support, and if the ride does provide it, it will be explicitly mentioned in the ride description. However, this vehicle should not be relied upon to pick up riders. It is mainly to haul gear.
General rule of thumb is a steady 12 miles per hour, though some of our advanced longer distance rides the pace will vary from 12 to 18 mph. On shorter beginner rides, as well as Family and Youth rides, the pace can be as low as 8-10 mph.
On most rides, we do our best to ride together. Separation in the group can occur.A guide will always be riding at the back and at the front. So no one will be left behind. Everyone will do their best to keep the pace of the lead guide and should not plan to ride faster than the lead guide.
No, we ride rain or shine. Some of the best views are after a rainstorm. So if there is severe weather, we will break and seek appropriate shelter along the route, then continue on to our destination.
In the case that a rider is consistently falling significantly behind the rest of the group, a guide may consult with that participant and advise on an alternate method to reach camp or home. This is always a last resort, and almost never happens.
Bring two spare inner tubes and consider getting your bike checked out beforehand. Our guides are ready to help with emergency repairs. We are usually too far from a bike shop in case anything major happens. If a roadside repair is not possible, then you may need to get to get the nearest train.
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 back (usually via Metra or other train).
We do not. You can check out Bobby's Bike and Hike which does multiple day rentals.