For seven years, Tom Frazel has helped gather his coworkers at S&C Electric to participate in Bike the Drive.
The morning of the event, the team meets up on at the company’s campus on the far North Side at 6601 N. Ridge Blvd. in Rogers Park. Then they bike 2.5 miles to the Bryn Mawr entrance to DuSable Lake Shore Drive together.
“Our team members love the event, with many of them attending year after year,” said Frazel, who works as a software engineer at the company. “They love the camaraderie of riding to the event early as a team, the unmatched views of the lake and skyline, and the opportunity to connect with one another and the city.”
Some team members, he said, attempt to bike the entirety of the course, while others like to ride more casually together. In a typical year, 15-20 staff members participate.
“This year, we will be providing our team members with tickets to the event, an S&C team tee shirt for the event, and a team brunch after the event—all for $35,” he said.
The 2025 edition of Bike the Drive will be held on Sunday, August 31.
S&C Electric, founded in 1911 and headquartered in Chicago, is an employee-owned company that provides equipment and services for electric power systems. With a global footprint that includes operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, China, and the UK, S&C employs over 4,100 people.
DOES YOUR EMPLOYER WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN BIKE THE DRIVE?
If your company wants to organize a group to participate in Bike the Drive, Frazel recommends finding some like-minded staff who are willing to volunteer their time and talents. He also recommends reaching out to your HR leadership for support.
Frazel said the process of planning and organizing the Bike the Drive staff event has been facilitated through an affinity group at S&C Electric. S&C Connects, the affinity group he helps lead, works to develop the next generation of employees.
Frazel said the company has seen firsthand how their affinity group events contribute to employee satisfaction and help build a company culture that is rooted in connection and hard work.
“As for organizing a team for Bike the Drive, the Active Transportation Alliance has been extremely helpful in providing tools to facilitate sign-ups and payment,” he said. “Reach out to them a few months before the event with your company’s needs, and they will gladly provide all the support you need!”
“We love events that connect our team members with the community and city,” he said. “Bike the Drive is a one-of-a-kind way to see Chicago, and we look forward to it every year!”
Photos of S&C employees courtesy of Tom Frazel and S&C Electric Company.