Dates: April 7 through September 22
Time: 6:15 p.m.
Features: A slow-paced, out-and-back ride for beginning cyclists.
Route: 10 miles
Terrain: Flat
Start location: Grant’s Trail Western Trailhead (intersection of Holmes and Leffingwell)
Bike shop sponsor and ride leader:
Alpine Shop 314.962.7715
440 N Kirkwood Rd, St. Louis, MO 63122
Dates: April 7 through September 22
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Features: A lively group ride with several pace groups.
Route: 28 miles
Terrain: Moderately hilly
Start location, bike shop sponsor, and ride leader:
Alpine Shop 314.962.7715
440 N Kirkwood Rd, St. Louis, MO 63122
Dates: April 7 through September 22
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Features: This is a strictly recreational “no drop” ride with no pace-line. All routes take place on the Madison County Transit Trails system and are all very flat, mostly shaded, and well maintained. Go to The Bike Factory FB Page for updates.
Routes: 30, 20, 10 miles
Terrain: Paved trails and a few roads
Start location, bike shop sponsor, and ride leader:
The Bike Factory 618.659.8706
1530 Troy Rd., Edwardsville, IL 62025
Dates: Year-round
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Features: The difficulty levels for this weather-dependent ride vary based on the ride leader. Check with the Bike Surgeon FB page for ride information. Mountain bikes are ideal but cross bikes will work.
Routes: 3 to 12 miles
Terrain: Mostly flat windy single track
Start: SIUE Cross-Country Course
N University Dr, Edwardsville, IL 62025
Bike shop sponsor and ride leader:
Bike Surgeon 618.622.1693
3348 Green Mount Crossing Dr., Shiloh IL 62269
Dates: March 10 through October 27
Time: 5:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Features: Three separate pace groups meet up for this ride: group A rides at 20+ mph, group B rides at 15-17 mph, group C rides at around 12 mph. A road bike is recommended. See Bike Surgeon FB page for announcements and updates.
Routes: 12 to 25 miles, depending on daylight
Terrain: Flat to rolling, some hills
Start location, bike shop sponsor, and ride leader:
Bike Surgeon 618.622.1693
3348 Green Mount Crossing Dr., Shiloh IL 62269
Dates: April 18 through September 26
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Features: Beginner to intermediate level ride. Weather dependent. Go to Momentum FB Page for updates.
Routes: 22-26 miles; average pace 13-16 mph
Terrain: Moderately hilly; road bike necessary
Start location, bike shop sponsor, and ride leader:
Momentum Cycles 636.240.9232
8640 Mexico Rd., O’Fallon, MO
Help make sure that Congress doesn’t cut the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding in the next transportation bill. TAP helps local communities build sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, trails and more. TAP funding supports Safe Routes to School initiatives throughout St. Louis City and County.
Without TAP, hundreds of millions of dollars used to improve streets for walking and biking would evaporate. Some of these funds have been used to support youth programs like Trailnet’s “Steps in the Right Direction” at Froebel Literacy Academy to help make walking and biking a way of life in St. Louis.
Please follow the link below to ask Senators Roy Blunt and Senator Claire McCaskill to support bill S. 705, the Transportation Alternatives Program Improvement Act. Thank you for supporting legislation that will keep our youth walking and biking safely.
Bicycle Fun Club (BFC) Rides and Events: great volunteers assist before each ride by helping staff set up tables and tents, sell tickets, work registration, sell memberships, hand out maps and refreshments, answer general questions, and clean up. BFC volunteers ride free at the close of registration AND receive a free ride voucher for a regularly priced BFC ride of their choice!
To sign up for individual rides, click here.
Trailnet introduced their new business membership program at an event on Tuesday, February 24 at the Venture Cafe on the Cortex campus. This invitation-only event served as a great opportunity to share Trailnet’s 2015 plans, to launch Trailnet’s Business Membership Program, and to meet Trailnet’s new executive director, Ralph Pfremmer.
The attendees were board members, community partners, donors, and prospective business members who spent most of the evening networking and enjoying food and drinks. The room was abuzz with the latest in transportation news and Trailnet’s vision to make walking and biking a way of life in St. Louis.
As part of the event, Ralph Pfremmer and Jennifer Allen, Director of Strategic Initiatives, presented research on the economic impact protected bikeways and improved walking infrastructure can have on a community. They connected this data to the introduction of Trailnet’s Business Membership Program and how, in becoming a member, businesses can invest in Trailnet’s vision for better walking and biking infrastructure that supports a prosperous, healthy region.
Executive Director Ralph Pfremmer summed up the evening this way: “In a perfect world, collaboration is abundant, everyone is included, and transparency is the standard. The Trailnet business member understands that together we can foster a quality of life that supports a prosperous, healthy region.”
Special thanks to our charter business members:
Pedestal Foods, Britt Hunt, CEO
XLR8, Rick Duree, CEO
Duree Center for Entrepreneurship, Rick Duree, Founder
Retro Image Apparel, Michele and Jim Sherman, owners
Confluence Business Advisors, Ron Tanner and Dave Fingerhut, partners
Collaborate with us
As we work to make walking and biking a way of life in our region, it is critical that we have the resources and support to bring about innovative and positive change in our community. Your business membership provides for us the support we need to be visionary and collaborative leaders for progress. Click here for business membership levels and benefits. For more information contact Kay Barnes, Director of Development – kbarnes@trailnet.org, 314.436.1324 x 104
Thanks to everyone who made the event a success:
Kaori Yazawa and the Venture Cafe team, Dennis Lower and the Cortex Innovation Community, and Pedestal Foods.
Visit our Facebook page to view more photos from the event.
Special thanks to our photographer, Kelly Sleeper.
Stay tuned for our next Business Membership Event – coming this Summer!
In April, Trailnet will start sending membership renewal reminders by email instead of snail mail. For those members who have shared their email with Trailnet, the first reminder will be sent to you just prior to the month of expiration. The notification will include a link to Trailnet’s renewal webpage for easy payment. Second reminders will also be sent via e-mail.
“This new procedure is in response to requests from our members to make it easier and quicker to renew,” says Carol Schmidt, Membership Manager. “It will save paper, postage, and renewal processing time. This procedure is in line with the national trend of online membership donations to nonprofits.”
For members who have not provided an email address or have opted out of Trailnet’s email system, renewal letters will be mailed. Trailnet uses the secure PayPal website to process online donations. A PayPal account is not required to make a membership payment., Members can also mail in checks or call Carol directly to pay via credit card.
Ralph Pfremmer, Executive Director, adds: “ We believe this new system will streamline the process. Membership donations provide vital funds to enhance our vision to make walking and biking a way of life in St. Louis.”
If you have any questions, comments, or need to update your email address contact Carol at 314.436.1324 x103 or carol@trailnet.org.