THE WILMETTE BEACON

August 31, 2011 . Vol 1 No. 52

 

RAHSAAN BAHATI gets a radar machine on Greenleaf Avenue blinking 34 mph as a local Cub Scout looks on during Cub Scout meeting.

 

COVER STORY

Pro Cyclists visit Wilmette Cub Scouts

 

Scouts learn safey, witness high-speed exhibition

JOE COUGHLIN, Editor

 

Rahsaan Bahati was caught speeding, but don't expect Wilmette Police to pursue the man.The professional cyclist forced a Wilmette Police Deparment radar machiei nto a frenzy after a speed demonstration on Greenleaf Avenue Aug. 22.

 

After visiting with Cub Scout Pack 5 of Wilmette, Bahati showed what he could do on the road, racing his bike down the Wilmette street and makng the radar all read  34 mph ln a 25mph zone.

 

Bahati, a seven-time national champion, and Mike Sherer, a local professional cyclist originally from Winnetka, were the guests of honor in a special August meeting for the scout troop.

 

The meeting was meant to teach the pack, which features about 100 chidren,about bicycle safety and introduce them to two successful cyclists at the First Presbyterian Church of Wilmette.

 

Local amateur racer Dan Rudrd passed the idea for the meeting to Stan Figura,the pack's scoutmaster, who ian with it.

 

"Dan suggested the meetting and was friends with Rashaan from the racing in a circle," Figura said. "It wasactually an easy thing to put on. I thought it was a wonderful idea and exposes the kids to cycling and safety."

 

Rudrd kicked off the meeting with a short safety seminar, and 11 introduced some racing bikes.

 

He then flipped on a videoabout Bahati, who, now 29, turned professional at 18 and has not only raced all over the globe, but stared the Bahati Foundation, whichcontributes high-end bikes to underprivileged kids.

 

Bahati was staying withRudrd in Wilmette whie in the Chcago area, which hevisits a lot, accordig to Marco Colbert, assistant manager with Bahati Racing.

 

Sherer, 23, turned pro Justone year ago and it's been an interesting journey.

 

The current Glencoe resi-dent broke his collar bonein May and missed seven weeks, but that hasn'tstopped him from enjoyingthe ride.

 

"It's been absolutely un-believable," Sherer said of his professional career. "I'veleared a ton of great thingsand met great people I'm

just enjoying it."

 

Cub Scouts and their parents asked the duo questions about diets, training and recent races - Bahati won the90-mile Race the Lake at Lake Winnebego, Wisc. on Aug. 20.

 

But they were all waitingfor the grand finale featuringBahati on his bike having his speed clocked.

 

The Wilmette Police agreed to let Pack 5 block 8th, 9th and 10th, streets at

Greenleaf for the short demonstration.

 

Bahati practiced with a trip aroudnd the block before setting up a handful of blocks away. As he literally whizzed past the wide-eyedscouts, the generated breeze blew hai back and the radar machine showed 33 mph.

 

He Gave it another go and got the machine blinking red at 34, nine mph over the posted speed limt of 25. A second gun held by a volunteer

had Bahati clocked at 36mph, however.

 

After a victory lap and high-fives and photos with the scouts, Bahati and

Sherer, both graduates of Indiana University, signed posters for every scout.

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