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I was alerted by Cindy Martin that Bill Rizek, who was active in EBC for many years, passed away on January 12 this year, at age 82. Here’s a link to his obituary.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/william-bill-rizek-obituary?id=60539969

I have attached my entry in the guest book below. Bill stopped responding to phone call or email, and sort of disappeared from the club for a number of years now, I often wondered what happened to him. I’m sure many of the old timers in the club remember Bill well.

This is very sad news, indeed. Bill was a quiet gentle soul, always a good guy to ride with. He quietly stopped riding with us many years ago. 

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My guess as to how far north Bill went, the day Neal spotted him in Racine, would be Milwaukee as well.  We used to do a South Milwaukee ride, 147 miles from Chandler and back.

Indeed he was - and a very skilled rider too. He used to put his half consumed to-go coffee cup from Bluffington’s in his water bottle cage and finish it by the time we got south to Ft Sheridan. Always cracked me up - and impressed me as well. 

I was really sad when I saw this in my Google Alerts. He was very helpful to me as a newbie club member 20+ years ago as I transitioned from a step-through hybrid to my first road bike. Quiet demeanor, but very knowledgeable. I also remember hearing something about him riding to/from EBC rides, even though he lived in the far northwest part of Chicago -- near Oak Park as I recall.

I only did a couple of rides with Bill because he was a much faster rider than I was, but he joined a small group of EBCers who played Mexican Train way back when. I always enjoyed his company. He will be missed.

Jo

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Bill was active with EBC in 1993 when I joined, he was a very frequent rider who knew how to bundle up so he could ride year round.  I rode with him frequently. Very quiet, kind of a loner.  I used to see him riding on his own, clearly cycling is what kept him going.  I think EBC was welcoming to him but I am guessing he was a lonely person, maybe that was his preference?

I am sad to hear of Bill's passing. He was a very skilled rider and would participate in whatever crazy rides I would lead. He rode on my Dunkin Donuts Century and even the January Century of the Month Ride in 1995. He was a quiet person who didn't speak about his military service that I can remember.

I am so sorry to hear about Bill's passing. I have a few fond memories I'd like to share.

Earlier in my EBC days of riding, Bill and I happened to be the only ones at Panera for a ride- must have been the winter. We departed and within one block of the Wilmette Metra stop Bill had a flat tire. He directed us over to the warmth of the Metra station and I asked him if he had a spare tube. "No" was his answer, so I proceeded to remove a brand new tube from my flat kit as I wanted to be helpful in the repair operation. By the time I had it unzipped, Bill had the wheel off and was extracting the tube and Imagine my surprise when I noticed a "patchwork" quilt-like array of numerous (practically confluent) arrangement of patches! Bill did the repair faster than a NASCAR tire change and off we went......He gentlemanly lead me at my slow pace and shared his knowledge of a number of routes throughout the north shore.

Another time, as it happened, it was just the two of us on a partly rainy day up in Highland Park. All of a sudden a downpour started and Bill headed us to the McDonalds (by the rail tracks). "Oh good" I thought, we'll seek shelter... We go in briefly and Bill grabs a stash of community newspapers- you know the ones that in the olden days would be stacked on stands by the entrances. Bill demonstrates how to pad one's shoulders, back, wrap neck and head etc to act as a rain barrier. Then off we went- almost dry as a bone.

Yep- he was instrumental in my bike education, and an example in being kind, patient, thoughtful, creative, and generous in spirit.

With admiration and love,

Joanne