9th Annual Bike the Drive

Chicagoans are a blessed group, living in a city where the lakefront is lined with miles of recreational lanes, often crowed by bikers, marathon trainers, rollerbladers, walkers, pets and people crossing in bikini's who don't realize that serious athletes are about to run them over.

Yet in 2002 a new bike path was created, or rather, redesigned for a day. I am proud to say I was among the first to "take over" Lake Shore Drive on a bicycle amongst a large crowd of cyclists. And I've done it every single year since then in a variety of different weather conditions.

That first year was a bit tough. The route started at Buckingham Fountain and every rider was directed north towards Hollywood and then back south towards 57th Street. It was crowded and as memory serves, around 70 degrees. I biked with a contingent of 20somethings from Park Community Church. We had walkie talkies and although we got separated into a few groups, had a blast.

In the years since I have gained a biking partner in my Dad and his friend Ron. Over the last few years we've not only had bikes stolen (that were locked up) but had a particularly unpleasant ride the pouring rain for the better part of 2 hours. Imagine being in jeans in the rain for two hours. Now add sitting on a bike seat and pedaling. Thankfully, that doesn't describe my situation that year but it certainly happened to someone in our trio. We were so wet biking the 5 miles to the starting line and to meet up with Ron that I thought about turning back before beginning the 30 mile trek through the city. But we saw Ron, standing in his poncho and decided we couldn't get wetter and to just do it. It makes for a good story and carries with it fond memories. Every year BtD gets better. And this was perhaps the best yet!

I wake up around 5am on BtD morning. Partially to see Lake Shore Drive completely empty with not a car in sight but also to catch a glimpse of the first bikers heading towards the Loop from our windows at 2800. This morning almost always guarantees a brilliant sunrise and 2010 was no exception.

Dad and I left the house around 5:30 and met up with my dance friend, Kathryn, who was joining us this year for her inaugural ride. There was no wind to speak of, a rarity in the Windy City, and even fewer bikers as we headed to Fullerton to get on Lake Shore. The organizers created two check points this year, Fullerton being one of them, the other being on the south end near 31st street. There were men dressed in black suits who looked more like secret service than volunteers. Obama was in town (he and I arrived to Lake Shore Drive at the same time the previous day - needless to say he got the right of way in his helicopter and motorcade while I sat in traffic which was finally diverted to MLK Drive). Anyway, we conquered the hill near Lake Point Tower and reached our meeting point at the Arch outside the Modern Wing of the Art Institute on Columbus Blvd.

Around 6am, later than usual, we began our ride heading back north towards Bryn Mawr. The sun was still rising and glinted off the buildings in the loop. I'm enough of a pro at this ride to know where the photographers are located along the route. The first is always right near the Lake Point Tower hill. I seem to never get in a shot with Dad but I think we were successful this year at this very spot, both waving with ridiculous, happy smiles and sunglasses on. The bike north was full of conversation and talk of changing gears as we hit the multitude of small hills heading north. Lake Shore Drive south of Irving Park is still in need of paving and there were gaping potholes in places. So long as you didn't change lanes you could stay on the bike without trouble.



We sat at the Bryn Mawr turnabout a bit longer than usual, taking in the weather and resting our legs. This year there would be no wind at our backs to blast us through the 15 miles south towards the Museum of Science & Industry. We got back on the bikes and made our way south. Trump Tower is now complete and I got a gorgeous shot looking west over the River. I try this shot every year but there is always a bike or two in the way. This time, still pedaling, this may be one of my favorite Chicago photos ever taken.

Just before the southern checkpoint we saw an Ambulance departing the northbound lanes. The entire traffic of bicycles heading north had been stopped. (Turns out the biker than was taken away died 30 minutes later, apparently of a heart attack.) We see an incident every year, although this year was mostly blown tires or families trying to wrangle their younger members back into the fold. The lawn outside the Museum of S&I is a great resting place. We tend to spend most of our break time down here in the sun, whether we need a break or not. There was food available here unlike last year. Let's just say the handicapped biker table was laden with foodstuffs while the main bike refreshment stands were empty. People tend to head south first anyway, it has less hills and much nicer city views and food tends to disappear quicker down here. Apples and water were in full supply though and we sprawled on the great lawn chatting away as we had the whole ride.


It turns out our long delays cost us a bit on our final 7.5 miles. Had we been just 5 minutes earlier we could have completed the course on Lake Shore Drive. Yet the volunteers stationed down at Museum of S&I started yelling on bullhorns to get back on and ride or we'd have to finish the course on the Lakefront path. They were right. We were just minutes from the cut off. Traffic on southbound Lake Shore was already being opened to vehicles, squad cars leading the procession. That was our 2nd sign. We are usually up near McCormick Place when the Vehicle parade begins. We had barely gotten to 35th street this time around. At 31st they diverted us onto the Lakefront Path. I was disappointed. I always finish on the Drive. But it worked out just fine. Ron and Kathyrn had never seen the Path this far south. And my favorite bike spot in all of Chicago is down here. If you haven't seen it, there is a waterfall off the back side of McCormick Place near the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Garden. Boats pass by going and in and out of Burnham Harbor and back in the day, before Mayor Daley carved it up, planes would fly in and out of Meigs Field. It is still a great sitting spot, and perhaps nicer now that former Meigs Field (now Northerly Island) is a nature preserve AND concert venue which supplies me with work on occasion.

Just north of McCormick is Museum Campus, home to the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. The best view of the city is from the Shedd. In the summer you will see newly married couples and bridal party's out for photo op's. On a crystal clear day like this past weekend, it was just another chance for a great photo of my hometown. Again, I'm a biker in motion, but the angle makes it sort of artistic. Not bad when on a moving 2-wheeled object you take a photo that has Willis (Sears) Tower, Aon (Amaco) Center and Trump all in one shot!

We reached the finish line in about 2 hours 50 minutes of biking, over 3.5 hours in total. We chose not to eat at The Gage, our traditional spot and also avoided all the SWAG at the celebration in Grant Park. We caught a few bars of American English who were playing at the finish line and headed to Michigan Ave. to lock up the bikes. With the famous Lions standing guard, they'd be fine, right? Especially when decked out in Hawks helmets. (I love Chicago and its random "fandomizing" of famous statues). Outside the Art Institute we found a perfectly, safe, empty set of bike stands to lock up our bikes. After a short tour of the new Modern Wing at the Art Institute (waiting for the cafeteria inside to open at 11am) we ate lunch in the courtyard inside the Art Institute next to a fountain with a single duck getting lots of handouts. Sadly, upon gathering the bikes, we found Kathryn's conspicuously missing. She handled the loss with grace and composure. I'm not sure I could have done it nearly as well.

All in all, a great extended weekend in Chicago. It felt like a mini vacation! And of course, I left to head back to Champaign at the same time Obama left to go home. Figures we'd be on the same schedule! Next year I'll do the 10th Annual Bike the Drive. I think I'm going to also march in the Memorial Day Parade with my fellow DAR ladies. One year at a time...