Where to Bike Chicago author predicts spring is just around the corner

From the Shore Inbox—The Shore editors will keep you in the loop about the latest news, events and recommendations in the Lake Michigan area. Today's news to know comes from Big Splash Public Relations:

Where to Bike Chicago author Greg Borzo's newest book, will launch on Tuesday, February 1 at 10 a.m.at Rapid Transit Cycleshop (1900 West North Avenue, Chicago) one day before Punxsutawney Phil, the nation's most talked about ground hog, wakes up from his long winter's nap.

With spring just around the corner, it's the perfect time for cyclists to dust off their bikes and get ready to explore city and suburban bike trails with the help of this new user-friendly guidebook. Where to Bike Chicago offers a range of riding options for both novice and seasoned riders. The rides (45 for adults and 27 for kids) take cyclists through Chicago's parks, streets and paths as well as through suburban forest preserves and trails. It will help riders discover the natural wonders, historical treasures and vibrant communities of Chicago and the suburbs that can only be found while biking.

Where to Bike Chicago is the first in a new series of guidebooks being launched in the United States by BA Press. Books are near completion in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and San Francisco. "The fact that BA Press chose Chicago to launch its new series is evidence that Chicago is, indeed, the United States' most bike friendly major city," said author Greg Borzo. "And since spring has nearly sprung, now is the time to get ready to explore the city and suburbs by bike."

The hardcover, spiral-bound book features spectacular color images of the city and suburbs and easy-to- use maps generated by the author using precise, up-to-date GPS mapping techniques. It also includes the author's recommendations for exploring the city and suburbs by bike, along with a special section on the best rides for kids. Readers can make a quick decision about a particular ride by following advice in the At a Glance section which breaks down the distance, terrain and traffic patterns as well as the best way to get to the starting point by car or public transportation. "The Ride Log" guides the cyclist on how to navigate with ease what could otherwise be a difficult path. Other sections, such as "Before You Go", "What to Take" and "How to Ride", offer practical suggestions. And, a richly illustrated chapter on the "History, Culture and Leaders" of biking in Chicago give readers a better understanding of the city's century-long love affair with biking. Meanwhile, the book's compact size (6 ½" wide x 8¼" long) is designed to fit snugly into a backpack.

According to J. Harry Wray, author of Pedal Power, The Quiet Rise of the Bicycle in American Public Life, "Use this guide a little and it will increase your fun. Use it a lot and you will develop a more nuanced and complex view of Chicagoland. This guide will do something else for its user. It will increase one's awareness of the possibilities of the bike and expand its use. That is a good thing, for there is no bad in biking. Pedal on!"

Ron Burke, Executive Director of the Active Transportation Alliance (formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation), the region's premier bicycle, walking and transit advocacy organization, says: "Where to Bike Chicago is a fantastic guide and a great resource for pedaling around the city and suburbs - north, south and west. Whether you'd like to check out the scenery in a new part of the region or take a ride right outside your front door, Where to Bike Chicago has you covered!"

The 280 page book Where to Bike Chicago costs $24.95 and is available in all major bookstores, through online book sellers such as Amazon.com and most Chicago and suburban bike shops.

The book is published by BA Press. Founded 21 years ago by Phil and Catie Latz, Lake Wangary Publishing Company began with a single black and white road cycling magazine. It now publishes four cycling magazines as well as the growing series of Where to Ride guides in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and now the Where to Bike series in the United States.

A portion of every sale of Where to Bike Chicago will be donated to World Bicycle Relief. Founded by SRAM Corporation in 2005 and based in Chicago, World Bicycle Relief specializes in large-scale, comprehensive bicycle programs supporting poverty relief and disaster recovery initiatives. To date, World Bicycle Relief has provided over 70,000 bicycles to seven countries, including Sri Lanka, Zambia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.