Celebrate Cycling This July With 'Tour De Skokie' Downtown Tour

SKOKIE, IL — Coinciding with the biggest event on the global cycling calendar and the 80th anniversary of a local bike shop, Skokie village and public library officials have organized the first-ever "Tour de Skokie" event.

The self-guided downtown storefront storybook tour features pages from "Ride Beside Me" by Lucy Knisley in the windows of more than two dozen local businesses during the month of July.

As part of the celebration of Al's Cycle Shop's more than seven decades in the village, decorated bikes are on display at several village businesses.

Plus, the Skokie Bike Network and the village's Fine Arts Commission are hosting a free "Tales from the Trails" storytelling event from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at Sketchbook Brewing, 4901 Main St.

The children's book "Ride Beside Me" celebrates the joys of biking and exploring the world around you, encouraging young readers to enjoy the simple pleasures of a bike ride.

---

Participating in the Tour de Skokie counts toward the Skokie Public Library's summer reading program.

The Tour de France, with its 111th edition now underway, includes 21 stages of bike racing, mostly in France.

This year's race concludes July 21 in Nice, with the Paris Olympics forcing organizers to reschedule its traditional Champs-Élysées finish.

---

And starting on July 19, nine Chicago suburbs host stages of the 10-day race series formerly known as the Intelligentsia Cup and now dubbed Chicago Grit, the road racing series in the United States and the sixth event of USA Cycling's American Criterium Cup.

Currently, there are bikes decorated by Skokie Public Library, Village Inn Pizzeria, Take Flight Spirits and Kneads & Wants Bakery.

Bikes were provided by Al's Cycle Shop and decorated by local businesses and organizations, with more bikes expected to be decorated and displayed by businesses over the course of the month.

---

Here are the participating Skokie businesses:

• Skokie Public Library - 5215 Oakton St. (Decorated bike)
• Skokie Theatre - 7924 Lincoln Ave.
• Don Julio Cafe - 8300 Lincoln Ave.
• Will’s Place - 7927 Lincoln Ave.
• Skokie Paint - 7947 Lincoln Ave.
• Libertad - 7931 Lincoln Ave.
• Who Modern - 8016 Lincoln Ave.
• Edward Jones - 4843 Oakton St.
• The Pilates Experience - 8000 Lincoln Ave.
• Ace Hardware - 5035 Oakton St.
• Alexander’s - 5025 Oakton St.
• Up, Pup, and Away - 4812 Oakton St.
• Happy Paws - 4955 Oakton St.
• Law Offices of Naheed A. Amdani, PC - 8301 Lincoln Ave.
• Blue Kale - 8000 Lincoln Ave.
• De Colores, A Sip and Paint Experience - 8038 Lincoln Ave.
• Sunberry Orchard Farms - 8042 Lincoln Ave.
• The Hijab Vault - 8046 Lincoln Ave.
• Skokie Chamber of Commerce - 5002 Oakton St.
• Highpoint at 8000 North - 8000 Lincoln Ave.
• RJ Breaks - 8020 Lincoln Ave.
• Kneads & Wants Artisan Bakery and Cafe - 8042 Lincoln Ave. (Decorated bike)
• Village Inn Pizzeria and Sports Bar - 8050 Lincoln Ave. (Decorated bike)
• See Jane Sparkle - 514 Main St.
• VRC Massage and Wellness - 8052 Lincoln Ave.
• Al’s Cycles - 8118 Lincoln Ave.