I missed the past couple of Critical Lass rides, so I was happy to catch up with the group for May's ride. Coolest bicycling group in Chicago, for sure, including a couple of baby-bicyclists. We started in Roscoe Village and enjoyed a leisurely ride through Lakeview and Lincoln Park, ending at a Mexican restaurant for margaritas.
Many thanks to our fearless leader Ash, pictured first below.
We got rained on a little during the ride, but hail and lightening waited until we were safely...
read more
Chicago's monthly Critical Lass ride continues on, even in the dark cold!
Usually I avoid winter group rides because biking for a long time at slow speeds in freezing temps is a great way to freeze my extremities off.
The ladies behind Critical Lass understand these problems and have adjusted the winter rides accordingly. For the next few months, the ride will be short (3-4 miles) and end at neighborhood bars that are close to home for as many of the lasses as possible.
This plan worked perfectly for ...
read more
On Sunday, Chicago's lovely bike ladies got together for the final brunch of 2011. The weather in Chicago is unseasonably mild and I was able to get by without a coat, wearing a sweater dress ($2 from Salvation Army!) and glittery Cynthia Rowley tights (a gift from Trisha last Christmas).
About 15 of us met at The Southern in Bucktown and boy was it good!
I had to get the fried chicken, biscuits and gravy (hey, I'm from North Carolina!). There was enough left over for yummy dinners on Sunday and Monda...
read more
The Women-Who-Bike group has been coming together for brunch every month for over a year now. November's brunch was number 13. There were 20 of us, a great mix of regulars and new faces, plus Trisha. I was especially excited to have a group of teenage girls and their mentors from West Town Bike's Girls Bike Club. (Much more about them in a future post!)
I was so busy eating and gabbing, I managed to take pictures of only a few of the women, so this is merely a sampling of the awesomeness. :)
...
read more
Those of us who were not out of town for the Labor Day weekend met up for our monthly brunch on September 4. We enjoyed the back patio at bike-friendly Handlebar Bar & Grill, a group favorite. The weather was perfect and we savored what may have been our last outdoor brunch for 7 or 8 months.
I love hanging out with this cool group of women! We meet for brunch the first Sunday of the month and for happy hour whenever. If you'd like to join us, email me at LGRAB@letsgorideabike.c...
read more
Tonight is the first Cargo Bike Roll Call in Chicago.
What is a cargo bike roll call? I like this description from Steve Vance: "Think of the Cargo Bike Roll Call as a lowrider or antique car show. Those with cargo bikes and cargo-carrying schemes will “pop the hood” and show it off. Everyone else can gawk and chat!"
All are welcome, with or without a cargo bike. Bring yourself, your bike, your friends and family, to West Town Bikes from 6-9 PM for cargo bike gawking, socializing, and drinks and snack...
read more
Last Sunday I rode the Four Star Bike Tour, a massive group ride organized by and benefitting the Active Transportation Alliance. I chose the 35-mile route through the west and south sides of Chicago and my total mileage for the day was a little over 50.
I enjoyed the ride a lot. The crowd was too packed together at the beginning and after rest stops, but most of the time I was alone or with a small group. Sunday morning traffic was light and we had the roads mostly to ourselves. The route was pretty easy to...
read more
On Saturday, I went to New Belgium's Tour de Fat festival during its one-day stop in Chicago. For those who are not familiar with the Tour, it's basically a gloriously goofy celebration of bike culture and craft beer. It also raises money for bike non-profits local to each city - the highly deserving West Town Bikes for Chicago.
My festival story must begin with this sneaker bike. Yup, sneaker bike, a beautifully grotesque creature. Too much fun, right? Yeah, because after doing one lap around the ...
read more
July's women-who-bike brunch in Chicago on Sunday was a lovely little affair. (I believe most of our ladies were resting up after the annual overnight L.A.T.E. Ride.) We set up a picnic on the banks of a river just off a recreational bike path. Everyone brought a little something to share and there were lots of fresh berries, homemade pastries, and refreshing spiked drinks.
The weather was a bit hot and there was a flat tire at the end, but n...
read more
Ride to eat cupcakes, eat cupcakes to ride.
On Saturday, that's exactly what a celebratory group of 18 bicyclists did, navigating 8 miles to visit 3 bakeries and consume countless cupcakes. All in the best summer finery, of course.
After setting off from Wicker Park, we stopped first at Alliance Bakery, my personal favorite of the day. Such delicious and beautiful confections!
The group got a little sidetracked by a very pink sidewalk sale at a boutique next door...
But...
read more
