Staff Report
Team Fur Bandit, North America’s premiere professional fur-covered bicycling team, will host its Third Annual Tour de Frost Dec. 1.
Tour de Frost, a 20-mile bicycle ride to benefit the Rockford Rescue Mission, kicks off outside Hancock Fabrics at 5836 E. State St., will run from noon to 4 p.m., and a rest stop at the Burpee Museum to help promote Rockford tourism.
Pre-registration for the ride is $35 on active.com. Registration the day of is $40. Options to sponsor riders or participate solely in the warm clothing drive are available.
“We want to bring people to the area from Chicago to Madison,” said DJ Wilson, founder of Team Fur Bandit. “We want people to have awareness about the effects of our cold climate on people who are less fortunate. We will endure any weather conditions that are possible in December for this cause.”
The team has partnered with the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau to highlight the event throughout the region and push for local attendees and those from other cities to appreciate the finer things Rockford has to offer, while raising dollars for those in need. Kryptonite Bar and Oscar’s Pub & Grill are also sponsoring activities coordinated with Tour de Frost.
Out-of-town riders are encouraged to contact the Lexington Hotel at Cliffbreakers for a discounted rate. Reservations can be made at (815) 282-3033. For more about the event, visit www.teamfurbandit.org or the team’s Facebook page.
Coinciding with the event is the team’s release of their 2013 Team Fur Bandit community calendar, the first project of its kind for the team, with a portion of proceeds to be donated to Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful. The calendar focuses on area landmarks, tourist locations and the beauty of the northern Illinois region with shots including areas in Boone County, downtown Rockford and surrounding communities.
Team Fur Bandit steals the attention away from the negativity in the world and renews the interest in fun, fur and philanthropy. The group is about good deeds, a good time and creating a connected cycling community.
From the Nov. 21-27, 2012, issue