Oak Park Cycle Club

THE WRIGHT RIDE: SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2023

The annual Wright Ride is not a race. It's a leisurely jaunt through Chicago's western suburbs, starting and ending in Oak Park.

Distances from 10-72 miles are available, with the shortest route being a family-friendly ride through Oak Park with Frank Lloyd Wright Trust Interpreters at multiple locations. The longer routes pass through Berwyn, Riverside, Brookfield, La Grange, Western Springs, Argonne and the surrounding area.

Rest stops every 12-15 miles offer fresh fruit, snacks, home-baked treats (as permitted), water, Gatorade, and ice tea as well as full SAG support.

Each rider receives a commemorative patch. After the ride, stick around downtown Oak Park to dine or have post-ride drinks at one of our local restaurants, bars or craft breweries.

This event occurs rain or shine.

Choose your distance

10-mile route

This is an architecturally oriented route
Casual family friendly with dedicated rest stop at Taylor Park
Never leaves Oak Park
Docents along this route are provided by the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust.
Last riders must depart by 10 a.m.
SAG support ends at 3:00 p.m.

33-mile route

10-mile route

Out to Western Springs via Berwyn, Riverside, Brookfield, La Grange.
Three rest stops
Over a dozen buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Last riders must depart by 10 a.m.
Riverside rest stop closes at 2:30 p.m
SAG support ends at 3:00 p.m.

53-mile route

Continues from Western Springs through Hinsdale, Burr Ridge out to Argonne Park
Four rest stops
Last riders must depart by 9 a.m.
Spring Rock rest stop closes at 2 p.m
SAG support ends at 3:00 p.m.

72-mile route

53-mile route

Adds an approximately 18-mile loop west from the Argonne Rest stop
Route includes some hills
Last riders must depart by 8 a.m.
Argonne rest stop closes at 1:30 p.m.
SAG support ends at 3:00 p.m.

WHO WAS FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT?

Frank Lloyd Wright was an architect, designer, and pioneer of the Prairie Style school of architecture. He lived and worked in Oak Park from 1889-1909, building numerous homes that still stand in the community including his own. He remains one of Oak Park's most famous residents.

Oak Park boasts many examples of the very first Prairie Style houses, as well as Wright's world-renowned Unity Temple, which was built between 1905-1908. Richard Bock, William Eugene Drummond, Marion Mahony Griffin, and Walter Burley Griffin are a few of the many well-known architects and artists who contributed to designs that came out of Wright's Oak Park Studio. Innumerable buildings in Oak Park were built by other Prairie School architects such as Tallmadge and Watson, George W. Maher, Robert C. Spencer, John Van Bergen, and E.E. Roberts.

The Wright Ride provides the opportunity to see a dozen Frank Lloyd Wright homes in Oak Park and neighboring communities as well as various architectural styles of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Net proceeds from the Wright Ride go towards supporting local non-profits. Organizations that have benefitted from proceeds in the past include: Active Transportation Alliance, Amling's Cycle Annual Holiday Toy Ride, Bike Illinois, Bikes N' Roses, Oak Park Regional Housing Center, Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, West Town Bikes.

The Wright Ride is thankful for many generous sponsors.

Photo gallery

Registration area for a bike ride. Rest Stop signs in the foreground.

The Wright Ride draws hundreds of riders each year, and we love welcoming back returning riders as well as meeting those who are joining us for the first time. We recommend you secure your registration online ahead of time, but you can always register the day of the ride.

Two women and one man standing under a tent in the rain, smiling.

Oak Park Cycle Club members work hard for several months to make the Wright Ride a fun and safe event. You will be greeted with smiles and home-baked goods at the multiple rest stops along the route.

Two male cyclists wearing cycling attire, helmets and sunglasses getting ready to ride bikes.

These hearty souls took advantage of the 72-mile route to Argonne. Not for the faint of heart, the Wright Ride's longest mileage option provides a lovely surprise of a little hilly terrain and beautiful wooded scenery.

Our volunteers don't grow watermelon but they sure know how to cut 'em!

Father and daughter getting ready to ride a tandem bike.

Wright Ride volunteers can also be found riding the route. Oak Park Cycle Club members serve as Ride Marshals and are easily identified by their bright safety vests. They are happy to assist if you need help, are lost, need a SAG wagon (yes, we have those too!) or just want to say hello.

Man and two children riding a tandem bike pulling a 3rd wheel.

This Oak Park Cycle Club family brings out the triple rig to serve as Ride Marshals for the family-friendly route. They also serve as Wright Ride photographers.

See you in 2025!

WRIGHT RIDE SPONSORS

THE WRIGHT RIDE: SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2023

Choose your distance

10-mile route

10-mile route

10-mile route

33-mile route

10-mile route

10-mile route

53-mile route

53-mile route

53-mile route

72-mile route

53-mile route

53-mile route

WHO WAS FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT?

Photo gallery

See you in 2025!

WRIGHT RIDE SPONSORS

THE WRIGHT RIDE: SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2023

Choose your distance

10-mile route

10-mile route

10-mile route

33-mile route

10-mile route

10-mile route

53-mile route

53-mile route

53-mile route

72-mile route

53-mile route

53-mile route

WHO WAS FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT?

Photo gallery

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