The group also is involved in bicycle advocacy and cycling education events, and has regular social events, too.

Plus, during the winter, the WCCC organizes outdoor and indoor recreational activities, such as skiing, tobogganing, ice skating, bowling and more.

"At first, the WCCC mainly was just a social outlet for those looking to meet others in a non-bar setting. The group offered a safe environment, people with a common interest," said Jefferson Rogers, 55, who lives in Wilmette, works as a financial advisor and has been a WCCC member for 11 years. He was elected as the group's president for 2012.

"Over the years, the club has become more of a biking club than [early years]."

Rogers said the WCCC membership is wide-ranging and diverse, with members in their 20s and some even in their 70s. Mostly, though, it's riders 30-60 years of age.

The club is predominantly male, although the most growth it has seen in recent years has been through outreach to women, Rogers said.

About 90 percent of its members are LGBT.

"We probably can toot our horn a bit that we have been around for 20 years because we have had to adapt through a number of changes," over the years, Rogers said. "The biggest change has been the cultural shift and greater acceptance of the LGBT community.

"I think [LGBT] groups such as ours, and other gay sports groups, have been challenged in attracting new members [in recent years among younger LGBT]; their generation is generally more accepting, whereas, when the club started, it was needed a lot more than it is today."

Rogers, who grew up in the St. Louis area and has lived in Chicagoland for the past 16 years, was new to riding when he joined the club. He's since become a better rider and met plenty of new friends who also share an interest in riding."

The WCCC has about 100 active members.

"Our ride calendar has gotten fuller every year," Rogers said. "Last year, for instance, we added a Wednesday night ride which proved to be a very popular ride."

The WCCC also has regular Saturday rides, and monthly rides to Hyde Park, and weekly rides on the North Shore.

The club is an important social outlet for a lot of the members, Rogers said. In addition, the WCCC has had members participate in the annual Ride For AIDS Chicago.

For more information on the Windy City Cycling Club, visit www.windycitycyclingclub.com .