VELOSOPHIE

Velosophie is a week-long humanities reading and discussion program created by the Illinois Humanities Council and designed to supplement the annual Grand Illinois Trail and Parks bicycle ride, sponsored by the League of Illinois Bicyclists and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This IHC pilot-program combines humanistic inquiry with athletic/fitness/recreational activity in order to consider the connections between the active body and the engaged mind.

Through moderated, nightly discussions, participants will have the opportunity to reflect upon thematic readings as they pertain to the rider's daily experience of being "on tour." We will consider these readings as we seek to explore the physical, emotional, and intellectual spaces that parallel long hours spent on a bicycle, venturing through Illinois country at a human scale and at human-powered pace. Through encounters with readings like Thoreau's "Walking," Willa Cather's O, Pioneers!, Mary Oliver's "The Journey," and Wallace Stevens' "The Place of the Solitaires," riders will be inspired to reflect, alone and with fellow riders, on the possible meanings of their activity and on the relation of this activity to other endeavors. The readings have been selected more due to their thematic resonance than to their geographical or historical fit.

Velosophie is an experimental program. In order to best evaluate its benefit and format, our expectations are high. Participation and materials are free, but pre-registration is required. Space is limited, so interested individuals should pre-register early. Participants are expected to commit to five nightly discussions. These discussions will take place after the evening meal & GITAP nightly meetings and run roughly from 7:00pm - 8:30pm. Readings will be sent well in advance of the ride, and participants are expected to have read them before the ride due to time and space constraints during the ride. At the conclusion of the program, participants will be asked to evaluate the program's objectives and effectiveness.

For more information about Velosophie, or to pre-register, contact Ryan Lewis at the Illinois Humanities Council at 312.422.5585 x231 or via email at rml@prairie.org.

Velosophie schedule of readings as of 1.24.05

Night 1 Thoreau, "Walking"

Night 2 Cather, O Pioneers!

Night 3 Heidegger, "The Question Concerning Technology"

Night 4 Break - Guys and Dolls

Night 5 Poetry: Wallace Stevens, "The Place of the Solitaires"

Philip Larkin, "Poetry of Departures"; Mary Oliver, "The Journey"; Michael Donaghy, "Machines"

Czeslaw Milosz, "Encounter"; Jorie Graham?; Wordsworth?

Night 6 Sillitoe, "Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner"