Bike Rides Around Chicago

Since I have recognized the lack of wisdom of spending 8 hours baking in direct sun coated in baby oil; we have began to take more bike trips around Chicago.

I try to drag Lane along as often as possible, but play practice, homework, and plan with friends, results in him making about half of the trips.

The distance traveled is dictated in large part by the amount of available time; so our rides can rang from 10 to 30 miles.

This sounds more ambitious than is the case.  I'm not sure what the conversion is, between biking and running, but one trains for a year to run 26 miles, to do that on a bike, you just get on and ride. It is worth mentioning that we are not challenging any of Lance Armstrong's times. We ride a while then stop for a late breakfast. between all the stops and eating, I'm not sure if I consume more calories than I burn off.

We have a few different routes, but we really should add a few for to our repertoire. I see pictures of people, far more adventurous than us, that are riding down mountain paths, one turn away from a 1,000 foot drop. Our ride are far more tame, which is not to say that moving through Chicago does not have it's owe level of risk.

First you have the bike path along the lake-front. This is the most scenic route, and there in lies it's danger. It's popularity guarantees every conceivable mean of conveyance moving at a similar diverse set of speeds. As a result you have "Clipped in" riders flying by at sports car speeds, passing woman pushing baby strollers. Roller blader's side by side trying to get around a kid on his tricycle, joggers following behind some guy on a unicycle as it seems everyone is simultaneously calling out "On your left."

If we choose the streets, we are in constant threat of being hit by a car. The city's definition of a bike path, is to paint a white line on to a busy street. In Chicago it is common to find a car double parked and therby blocking the path, as well as the constant dange of someone opening their car door just as your bike is a few feet away.. The risk is bought home in a sad way when you come accross a "Ghost Bike." marking someone who was killed on that very spot while riding.

Needless to say we do use care when out on our bikes, and yes we do wear helmets.