A local group of bicyclists will be presenting on bike safety and the different biking opportunities around Charleston Tuesday at the Charleston Carnegie Public Library.

Judy Looby, a member of Team High Maintenance, said she will be talking about bike maintenance, safety, community and touring.

While she only bikes about twice a week, Looby said she bikes for exercise and the social interaction.

“My husband was riding with a group of people for a while and was just having way too much fun without me so I said, ‘I want to do this too,’” she said laughing.

Looby has been riding with the group for three years and they have 21 members.

Sheila Simons, a professor in the health studies department and a member of the group, said in an email that she also began cycling for exercise.

“Previously, I had been walking but found that it was taxing my Achilles tendon so I choose something less stressful on my body,” she said.

Simons said she instantly loved riding her bike and lost 100 pounds as a result.

She said she became friends with Keith Cox, the former manager of Bike & Hike, because they both loved cycling and food.

“Our unofficial motto is ‘Ride. Eat. Repeat,” Looby said. “We’re all about having fun and we like to go places where we can get a good meal.”

She said the group has ridden up to 70 miles on one ride.

“(It) depends on the weather and the winds and what everybody’s schedules are,” Looby said. “There’s some of them, they’ll get out no matter what the weather’s doing.”

Simons said the longest distance she has ridden in one has been 160 miles.

“Myself and many team members participated in Ride Across Indiana,” she said. “Last summer I rode with four other team members across Iowa.”

During The Register’s Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, Simons said she and her teammates rode a total of 471 miles in seven days.

Looby said she has not gotten to that point in riding yet.

“It’s not for me but for those who want to do it, I’m all for supporting them,” she said.

While cycling, Simons said she encounters many challenges.

“The biggest challenge is hostile drivers,” she said. “Everyone in our group has had a close call with an automobile.”

Simons said it can either the cyclists or the drivers fault for not following the law when cyclists have a right to be on the road.

“Most of the time, it is someone that doesn’t feel we should be on the road,” she said. “Some drivers have verbally assaulted us.”

Looby said cars are a big challenge when they do not give cyclists the space they are allowed to have.

“Cars are supposed to give bicycles three feet. Some do and some don’t,” she said.

Looby said also watching out for squirrels, deer and loose dogs can be a challenge.

Simons said it is also important for a cyclist to wear a helmet no matter the distance.

“Know that under Illinois law, you are a vehicle entitled to, and bound by all the rules of the road,” she said.

Those of which, Simons said, are having a front and rear taillight, not riding on a sidewalk and not wearing ear buds.

Looby said she wants to inform people that cyclists and drivers must share the road.

“We try to educate people that bicyclists have to follow the same laws that drivers do,” she said.

Simons said there is a lot of camaraderie when cycling with others.

“But there is something about being able to appreciate your surroundings, pedaling distances that you had no idea that you were capable of and finding within yourself a certain peace,” she said.

Looby said she also enjoys riding because she is able to view her surroundings more closely.

“There’s something just freeing about being out on your bike,” she said. “You’re just out in the fresh air and the sunshine.”

The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Rotary Room of the library.

Amanda Wilkinson can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].