People of all cycling abilities were invited to try out a fleet of bikes, using the historic Ed Rudolph Velodrome for their rides during a Saturday midday free event on Aug. 19 in Northbrook.
The four-hour Cycle the Track event was made possible by Envision Unlimited, a 501c3 organization that, for more than 70 years, has served people with disabilities across all ages, abilities and backgrounds, according to https://www.envisionunlimited.org/about-us.
The community was invited to cycle the renowned velodrome at 1479 Maple Ave. at Meadowhill Park. Participants could ride their own bikes or use Envision Unlimited’s singles, tandems, tricycles and duet bikes via Envision’s adaptive cycling program commitment.
More than 100 people took part, including 35 volunteers and 75 participants. A box lunch was provided, building fellowship as attendees shared a meal and conversation between morning and afternoon cycling opportunities.
Mark McHugh of Broadview, president and CEO of Envision Unlimited, based in Chicago, thanked the volunteers.
“This whole event is about inclusivity and helping people with disabilities to have the ability to ride a bike,” McHugh said. “Biking is fun, it’s great exercise, it makes us feel better.
“And one thing that Envision Unlimited is about is helping people with disabilities to live inclusive, self directed lives,” McHugh added. “We have bikes for everyone.”
Participant Anthony Berrafato of Chicago said of the velodrome experience, “I love it.”
According to the Northbrook Park District (https://www.nbparks.org/facilities_parks/ed-rudolph-velodrome/), the velodrome has accommodated cycle racing plus training and as an entertainment venue. The facility is named after late cyclist and speed skater Ed Rudolph who served on the Park District Board of Commissioners for almost three decades.
Rudolph helped design and build the bicycle track in 1960 with a perimeter for track cycling and a grassy infield for soccer games.
The velodrome was also flooded purposefully to create a winter speed skating ice rink where U.S. Winter Olympics team athletes practiced.
Nowadays, Thursday night cycling via the Northbrook Cycle Committee has been popular with spectators, competitors and enthusiasts. The season lasts into early September.
With the Aug. 19 Cycle the Track event, Karen Kring of Evanston, marketing and communications manager for Envision Unlimited, said, “I find it really cool that we are expanding the use of this velodrome and to be more inclusive.
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“It’s (the velodrome) usually for elite riders and now it is for a different kind of rider and we’re expanding its use.”
Hearing that from Kring, McHugh said, “It’s now for all riders.”
Kring agreed, echoing by saying, “It’s now for all riders … exactly.”
Cole Jackson, 17, from Oak Park was among event volunteers.
“It’s really just beautiful out here,” Cole said about the velodrome which is surrounded by aromatic evergreens and tall mature trees. It’s nice to help out people and be a part and do things like this, it just makes you feel good.”
Mark Jackson, Cole’s parent, was proud of Cole for volunteering.
“I’m just glad that he’s (Cole) willing to come out and enjoy it and be a participant,” Mark Jackson said.
Chloe Coughlan of Norwood Park was among participants and said the experience was, “Good.” Coughlan’s parent Mary Parrilli, also of Norwood Park, walked the track as her adult child circled the velodrome as a cyclist.
“It’s very enriching and we feel like we’re not so excluded from so many things,” Parrilli said. “It’s a very inclusive experience.”
The velodrome opportunity for Chloe Coughlan showed, “that she’s accepted and she’s not different,” Parrilli said.
Northbrook resident Debbie De Palma attended the event to learn about options for cyclists of all abilities and how to bring regular adaptive biking to Northbrook.
“It’s for everybody,” De Palma said about Northbrook’s velodrome. “But we need adaptive bikes because not everybody can ride a regular bike.
“People need access to adaptive bikes, they need access to training … how to use them, how to transport them, all of that.”
De Palma added, “I’m shocked that it’s taken so long to discover there’s a need for this, and that it’s available, and here we’ve got this great resource (velodrome).
“There are lots of people in our community and surrounding communities,” De Palma said, who would, “love to be able to ride a bike.
“But look,” De Palma said, “We’re a community that has a biking history, a cycling history.
“So how come this took so long?”
Founded in Chicago in 1948, Envision Unlimited has provided throughout Illinois offerings such as day programs, community living options, employment programs, respite for families, behavioral health services and foster care for children with disabilities. Visit www.envisionunlimited.org.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.