Geoffrey Harding is a husband, father, engineer, and year round cyclist from Chicago. He races for The Chainlink and loves traveling around the city with his family by bicycle. His preferred time to start a ride is 5am but that’s negotiable if it means riding with friends.

First bike?
Department Store Huffy BMX

Photo by Snowy Mountain Photography

What inspires you to ride?
A love of the outdoors mainly. It is wonderful to quietly experience nature, trails, the road, the city, speed, and explore new places. It is my favorite way to test myself mentally and physically.

Photo by Marcelo Marcos

Any advice for people who are just getting started commuting and/or riding?
Just ride. Once you commit to doing it you will naturally want to do more and become more involved. Then all you need to do is start looking for events, group rides, and local bike shops. Anything to find people that enjoy the aspects of cycling that you enjoy. The Chicago cycling community is large and welcoming, you just need to meet some of them.

Do you have a cycling bucket list? What’s on the list?
I’d like to make it to Cat 4 for road someday and I would like to ride RAGBRAI at least once.

Favorite places to bike to for a snack, drinks, coffee, or food (please include location)
Valois for breakfast, Hopleaf and Revolution Tap Room for beer, The Coffee Studio after a long ride is great for coffee and donuts, Empirical Brewery has snacks…and while you’re there you can drink their wonderful beer!

How many bikes do you own?
4 – (2002 Cannondale R900 Si, 2002 Cannondale Jekyll 1000, 2015 Specialized Crux Sport E5, Gitane All City Single Speed Commuter)

Photo by Yasmeen Schuller