To the Editor:

In the early hours of Sunday, Aug. 5, 141 bicycle riders participated in the McHenry County Bicycle Advocates’ inaugural Crystal Lake Night Owl Bike Ride. The purpose of the ride was to raise awareness of the Advocates, help promote Crystal Lake as a bicycle-friendly community, and raise funds for The Land Conservancy of McHenry County.

Hoping for 100 riders, we surpassed our target by 41 riders and were pleasantly surprised by the turnout. With a little luck, we showed some Crystal Lakers that they can commute by bicycle and leave the car at home. While most came from the immediate area, the registration roster was filled with the names of suburbs throughout the Chicago area.