Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on December 25, 2009 at 6:37am

First of all Happy Holidays everyone.

Thanks also to Aaron Bussey for the unauthrorized use of some of his ride pics in this report. Now for the ride report:

The Hyde Park winter ride took place on Saturday December 19, held earlier in the month than our typical rides to avoid Christmas conflicts. Laura, Brian and Aaron flew down from the North Side meet-up to join us all at the start of the ride at Washington Park. As many commented, I was not just on time, but early for the ride. Amazing.

Anyway, there's a first time for everything.

After suiting up our ride-less riders with his loaner bike, I pumped some tires, oiled some chains and had riders sign their waivers as Santa Willow passed out fleece balaclavas, gaiters and scarves. Numbering only a couple of dozen, it struck me that once this would have seemed a sizeable ride, but these days it seemed smallish for our tours. For the first half-dozen tours I organized, our largest group was only about a dozen, and these days we often number ten times that, but the actual winter weather that we had that Saturday kept our numbers to exactly 26, but rider enthusiasm was high, and I am always excited to bike and show off bits of Chicago to those that want to listen.

Beginning with a ride through the northern section of Washington Park, around the Armory, and down to the Fountain of Time, many riders were seeing Lorado Taft's masterwork for the very first time. For those that haven't seen it before, it is a stunning piece.

A quick visit to Midway Studios and the southern wall of UofChicago buildings on the southern side of the Midway Plaissance followed before we hit the Rosalie Villas.

Following the spectacular array of Victorian homes in the Rosalie Villas, the exploration of the university really began in earnest. Highlights of the university are many, but some of the discussions and stops focused on the Rockefeller Chapel, the Nuclear Energy monument, the International House, Ida Noyes Hall, Snell-Hitchcock and the buildings of the main Quadrangles.

Other highlights of the tour included two Frank Lloyd Wright homes, his Prairie masterpiece the Robie House, and an earlier home, the Heller House.

A few twists and turns aside, the tour brought us next to the lakefront, where we had an excellent view of the beachfront hotels, and face full of the icy rain and lake spray along the lakefront path, past the Museum of Science and Industry, before ducking through the underpass at Hayes drive out to the Statue of the Republic, or Big Mary as she was referred to by the attendees of the World's Fair over 100 years ago.

Cruising north through Jackson Park to the Japanese Isle, many riders could already taste the sweet suds waiting for us at Jimmy's Woodlawn Tap. A quick cruise up the Midway Plaissance allowed the thirstiest to veer off towards the bar while I lead the group back to the start point for those retrieving their cars.

I was only able to join the riders for a couple of quick drinks and the obligatory Jimmy's grilled cheese before cruising back home. All in all, it was a truly lovely winter afternoon. Thanks all for coming and especially to Willow for her awesome Santaness, Lowell for the several pairs of goggles he brought for others, Brian for sweeping, Aaron for documenting, Mike for organizing and pre-ridin and everyone for a fun time.

Next up is Lincoln Square on January 30. See you then!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on January 1, 2010 at 1:01pm

I love the Kennedyfilm logo at the start.

I still say you should have listed yourself in the credits! Humble to a fault.

Still love the video sir. Cheers - Lee

Brian Kennedy said:

There, thanks to Aaron's Vimeo tip, I was able to upload and embed the Hyde Park Tour Video I made. This is the last time I will mess with it...I swear...maybe...

Brian Kennedy said:

Here's a little video of the Winter Hyde Park Tour. If you were there, you are in the video, so watch it!!! Proper credit given in the...credits. Go figure. Song: "Redneck Stomp" by Obituary. You have to love death metal instrumentals. I attached it as a wmv zip file, which may exclude some from being able to view it but I can't embed it because YouTube keeps catching the audio track as unauthorized!!!!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on January 29, 2010 at 8:44am

Well my friends, we won't have snow, but it sounds like we will have a lovely, crisp and cold winter day to ride in. I hope to see some of you out there.

After the ride, I am thinking we will probably hit Bad Dog Tavern at 4535 North Lincoln Avenue as we did for the first Tour of Lincoln Square.

There are some pics of the first ride posted on the original tour discussion page right here:

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/lincoln-square-tour-planning

Attached is the route map with turn by turn directions. Hope to see some of you out there.


Cheers! - Lee Diamond

Attachments:

• Tour of Lincoln Square Handout.pdf, 198 KB

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on January 30, 2010 at 3:17am

Actually, predictions call for a bit of snow! Yay! I love a snow ride!

Lee Diamond said:

Well my friends, we won't have snow, but it sounds like we will have a lovely, crisp and cold winter day to ride in. I hope to see some of you out there.

After the ride, I am thinking we will probably hit Bad Dog Tavern at 4535 North Lincoln Avenue as we did for the first Tour of Lincoln Square.

There are some pics of the first ride posted on the original tour discussion page right here:

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/lincoln-square-tour-planning

Attached is the route map with turn by turn directions. Hope to see some of you out there.


Cheers! - Lee Diamond

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on February 23, 2010 at 3:33pm

We have one more ride in the Big Shoulders Big City Bike Winter Classic, coming up this Saturday, February 27, 2010 at Humboldt Park, at the intersection of California and Division. The ride is about 17 miles long. West Town is a community area that encompasses its namesake neighborhood along with the majority of the Humboldt Park neighborhood, Wicker Park, Noble Square, Ukrainian Village, East Village and River West. It is not merely large, it is densely packed. It seems to possess more unique and architecturally wondrous buildings and homes than it seems possible to cover, but we will give it our best shot.

We’ll end up at West Town Bikes/Ciclo Urbano, where you can join in on Open Shop Saturdays, get that fender set that the ride proved you need, or schedule that tune-up, or tune-up class. After that, we’ll be figuring out a nice place for a bite and a beer, which we should have figured out by the time you show up. Free fleecie goodness courtesy of Bike Winter available to all that attend.

I hope to see some of you there. Here are the details:

Tour of West Town
Humboldt Park at intersection of Division and California
1:00 PM on Saturday February 27, 2010
Free

Chainlink Page
Route
Starting Spot
Ross Felten’s Poster Art

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on February 24, 2010 at 2:58am

Here are some spots and listings in the press:

Daily Peloton

Metromix

Chicago Architecture Today


Cheers all - See you Saturday!

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page