Photo TR: Bike The Drive..

[Cameron]

Hey Guys,

 

I did Bike The Drive this morning, and it was just brilliant! This is a 30 mile bike ride along Lake Shore Drive in Chicago (it's closed to traffic from 5:30am - 9:30am). The ride starts in Grant Park (downtown), and riders can choose the northern leg (16 miles), the southern leg (14 miles), or both! I did both, for a total of 30 miles. Now I know riding 30 miles is nothing too special, but it's just such an amazing feeling to have done it by 8:30am!

 

I did this for the first time last year, and enjoyed it so much that I declared to make it a yearly tradition - even if it meant missing Holiwood Nights. Well turns out I did have to miss Holiwood Nights this year; but Holiday World will be there all year, Bike The Drive only happened today. And what a day! I was riding by 6am, and done at about 8:15am. The weather was amazing (probably best weather we've had all year), and the ride was just a joy. When I was done I met up with some friends of mine (who only did the northern leg), for a walk through downtown and some breakfast.

 

Enjoy!

Cameron.

My friends and I had a delicious breakfast, but then it was time to head home. By this time The Drive was once again open to traffic, and it was quite cool to drive where I'd been riding just hours before.

And I'm done! I had to wait about 10 minutes for my friends to finish, so I could not resist laying down and enjoying the beautiful sunshine.

Fantastic!

Notice how much more crowded it is now then when I was at the northern end. It's about 7:45 now, and there are a lot of people out. Still, there was plenty of room to ride.

The southern leg ends at the Museum Of Science And Industry. I haven't been inside there for probably close to 10 years, but I have now ridden down here twice!

Almost at the very southern end now, and I'm looking north towards Downtown. The Sears Tower stands tall over the landscape, it's almost 7 miles away.

Midway along the southern leg now. I actually really like it down here because there are almost no yuppies, and the road is in such fantastic condition. Plus I don't even drive this section of LSD, so it's a novelty just being there.

Always wear your helmet kids, and you too can be as cool as this!

On the southern leg now, but looking north back towards Downtown. The skyline is just spectacular, I never get tired of it.

Looking west now along the Chicago River (The Lake is behind me). The building under construction is the new Trump Tower.

Looking down Michigan Ave - this is known as the Magnificent Mile and is full of super-insane-expensive shops for tourists. I've lived in Chicago for over 12 years, yet I've gone down Michigan Ave maybe 4 times!

Heading south now (still on the northern leg), and Downtown is looming. The tall/black building is the Hanckock building, which was the tallest in the world until Sears Tower opened in 1973.

The northern end of the drive at Bryn Mawr ave. They had muffins, cookies, bananas, and little cups of Poweraide - all free! The snacks are awesome and give a huge energy boost.

Just in case you forgot where you are..

Looking north along the northern leg. The event is open to 25,000 people, but it's still pretty quiet. It's enjoyable like this as I was able to really crank.

Oak Street Beach is a ghost town right now, but in a few hours it will be *packed*.

The sun rises over Navy Pier, which is apparently the biggest tourist attract in Illinois. It's nice, and a wonderful place to be on a warm, summer evening; however that ferris wheel sucks.

The buildings of of southern Downtown are bathed in the early morning light. It's just after 6am.

The boats of Munroe Harbor.

At the start you must choose to do the northern leg, or the southern. Since I started with the southern leg last year, I decided to start with the northern leg today.

[65skylark]

Great pictures, Cam! That looks like a blast. Of all the cities I have never been to, Chicago is way up there on my list of must sees. Probably just behind NY.

[CreativeForce]

That looks like so much fun. If I were closer to Chicago I would totally join you.

[socalMAN123]

That looks awesome Cam! I wish my bike was good enough to do 30 mile rides, too bad it isn't. The views look simply spectacular that early in the morning. Great pictures!

---Brent

[mcjaco]

How did I miss this?

 

We used to do the LATE Ride, but it's way too crowded, and people get nuts towards the end due to lack of sleep. Abra and I have been thinking about this one for a couple of years. We need to join you next year!

 

Speaking of great rides (ha, ha), there's a really nice one that begins/ends in Evanston at the end of September. It's nice and leisurely.

[odene497]

This looks relaxing. I'm surprised how many people come out for it. I did a 33ish mile ride once, all downhill though.

 

I'm surprised they only do it once a year, I wish I lived near someplace that did it!

[mr_teisco_delrey]

Don't forget the bike paths that starts at Devon and Caldwell and runs up to Botanical Gardens. That is a great ride. I used to do that about one or twice a month before I left Chicago.