About
Founded in 1968 and based in St. Charles, Illinois, the Fox Valley Bicycle & Ski Club is a recreational and social club that offers group bicycle rides and winter sporting activities throughout the greater Fox River Valley area. Now it is 56th year, the club is governed by a Board of Directors and its membership is approximately 350 people aged 18 and older from beginners to advanced cyclists. The club offers approximately 13 rides per week at various skill levels that are led by volunteer ride leaders and focuses education, safety, rules of the road, bike maintenance and etiquette. The club also partners with various local bicycle shops, including The Bike Rack, Mill Race Cyclery, Pedal & Spoke and Spin Doctor Cyclewerks for sales, service and support. The Swedish Days Ride is the club’s annual fundraiser. The Fox Valley Bicycle & Ski Club is an Illinois not for profit 501(c)7 organization.
History
FVBSC was started in 1968 and was originally known as the "St. Charles Bicycle Club." For a few years, the club was called the "Self Propelled Fox Valley Bicycle Club." Then in January 1998 it merged with the "Aurora Bicycle Club" (founded in 1973) under the combined name, The Fox Valley Bicycle & Ski Club. We are governed by a Board of Directors and Club Bylaws and we are fully insured for General, Club Member Accident, and D&O/Entity & Employment Practices Liability. Our leadership is 100% volunteer based.
Throughout the years, our philosophy has always remained the same: To encourage, educate and promote safe recreation, fitness and alternative transportation.
Membership
We draw a membership primarily from the greater Fox Valley Area. Today, the FVBSC has over 350 members who live in St. Charles (23%), Batavia (13%), Geneva (13%), Aurora (6%), Elgin (6%), over 50 other towns across Illinois, and several out-of-state members. The club focuses on diversity and inclusion with members ranging in age from 18 to 70s. Younger members can ride with the club with guardian consent.
Philosophy
We strive to promote the general interest of recreational cycling and skiing, educate and inform the community about safety, rules of the road, maintenance, etiquette and more.
We work with governmental and cycling organizations to defend the rights of cyclists, promote bike trails and lanes, help formulate bicycle legislation and support infrastructure development.
We give back to the community through volunteerism/donations/fellowship, funded through our annual Swedish Days Ride and other special events. In 1970, the club hosted its first invitational Swedish Days Ride (an easy 25 mile ride attended by 60 cyclists). Now the ride is the club’s biggest and best known event, has several routes, and drew over 500 riders in 2021. Proceeds from this event are donated to organizations that promote safe cycling, education, advocacy, infrastructure development and cycling for people with disabilities, such as the League of American Bicyclists, Ride Illinois, Active Transportation Alliance, Rails-To-Trails Conservancy, Illinois Prairie Path and Project Mobility. Our event has no affiliation with the Geneva Chamber of Commerce’s Swedish Days Festival.
We provide activities during all seasons of the year. All of our activities are posted on the RIDE AND EVENT CALENDAR. Bookmark that page for events, starting locations and times. We are a recreational club. Our rides and winter sports are geared for all ages and abilities; we offer something for everyone and consider SAFETY our primary concern.
Dues
Membership in the club is $30 per individual or $45 per family (which includes parents and children). Membership runs on a calendar year, so join early in the year to get the full-year benefit!
Be safe and we hope to see you soon.
FVBSC Board of Directors