The Chainlink

Bike Facilities Downtown?

Fellow riders,

I've recently moved to Chicago and work downtown near the corner of N Wacker and Madison. I'd love to start riding to work every morning, but unfortunately my workplace is not really bike friendly aka no secure racks, change facilities etc. 

Does anyone know somewhere downtown that is open to the public (I don't mind paying), and would have these facilities?

I'd love to just harden up and ride in regardless, but unfortunately I sweat at the thought of sweating, making it impractical without a change room...

Cheers,

Tom

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Permalink Reply by Jared on February 25, 2013 at 10:49am

There is the McDonald's Cycle Center near Randolph and Michigan, but that looks to be a mile from your office.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on February 25, 2013 at 10:51am

Tom,

Welcome to Chicago and to the Chainlink.  Unfortunately, the only actual facility is this:

http://www.chicagobikestation.com/

which is a good walk from your office location. 

Here is a fairly recent thread discussing it.  http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/do-you-use-the-mcdonald-s-...

Permalink Reply by WillG on February 25, 2013 at 10:52am

Hey Tom. I am like you and I sweat at the thought of sweating. I am usually OK in the winter time but come summer, I also need a dedicated shower area post-ride/pre-office.

I have used the McDonald's Cycle Center at Millennium park. 

http://www.chicagobikestation.com/memberships.htm

It is the only place of it's type, to my knowledge, in the city. It is a little inconveniently placed and is a 12 minute walk or so through the park to my office, but it's still well worth it. It would be a longer walk for you. For $30/month you get access to a decent locker room with showers (I would give it a 7/10), semi-secure bike parking, and a locker during the day to keep your clothes in. It's makes most sense to get the annual membership ($14.17/month for 12 months) if you're going to be winter commuting too. I think that the annual memberships also get a permanent locker (overnight so you can keep your soap and stuff there all the time instead of lugging it back and forth with you) too, but I can't quite remember.

I just moved back to the area and writing this has made me unsure why I haven't signed back up. Doing the babywipe & change dance in the bathroom at work everyday gets really old. 

Permalink Reply by blair on February 25, 2013 at 11:18am

I'm an annual member there.  It's about $250/year for both membership and a full-sized locker to keep your towel, toiletries, etc. in.  So about $20/month.  Well worth it in my opinion, but a decent walk from you.

I consider the bike parking secure.  I park in the atrium every day right in front of a camera.

Permalink Reply by dan brown on February 25, 2013 at 11:28am

Hi Tom - I work at that corner (Wacker and Madison). as far as secure racks; check out behind the CME building : there are racks (with security cameras I believe) just south of the madison street bridge adjacent to the river. I work in that building and have never heard of a problem (for me I lock my bike inside one of our other buildings on Washington and Clinton).

 

As far as changing facilities, etc. since the City bike station (McDonald's cycling center) is far away; look into private health clubs, gyms. I know there is one on the lower level of the building (SW Corner) at Monroe and wacker; and I know the (Civic) Opera House used to have a gym (NW corner of Madison and Wacker).

 

good luck and welcome to chicago

 

DB 

Permalink Reply by WillG on February 25, 2013 at 11:40am

There were a number of bikes stolen from the atrium in the middle of the day back in the summer of 2010. Has any of that been happening recently?

122782_ said:

I'm an annual member there.  It's about $250/year for both membership and a full-sized locker to keep your towel, toiletries, etc. in.  So about $20/month.  Well worth it in my opinion, but a decent walk from you.

I consider the bike parking secure.  I park in the atrium every day right in front of a camera.

Permalink Reply by blair on February 25, 2013 at 11:43am

Will - had no idea!  I've been an annual member since the beginning of 2011 and only used it every once in a while summer of 2010.

Maybe the camera was installed after that?  I've never heard of any type of theft there.  Most people even leave all of their gear (clothes, towels, shoes, helmet) on top of their bike without anything being stolen.

Permalink Reply by Tom Sorrell on February 25, 2013 at 11:45am

Thanks for all your help everyone - I'll look into McDonald's and potentially some of the racks closer to work 

Permalink Reply by WillG on February 25, 2013 at 12:05pm

That may have been pre camera, I can't remember when they installed that. They changed up some stuff as a result of those thefts, like a new key type or something, I can't really remember. I started parking as close to the little desk/office as possible after that.

Can you elaborate on the bigger lockers for the extra cash? When I was there all the lockers were the same size which was a typical half height locker that would easily fit your riding clothes, bag, and toiletries while you were at work.

122782_ said:

Will - had no idea!  I've been an annual member since the beginning of 2011 and only used it every once in a while summer of 2010.

Maybe the camera was installed after that?  I've never heard of any type of theft there.  Most people even leave all of their gear (clothes, towels, shoes, helmet) on top of their bike without anything being stolen.

Permalink Reply by blair on February 25, 2013 at 12:11pm

Yes - those are the lockers that you pay for.  When you just buy a one-day "pass" or buy a membership only, I believe you're supposed to use the small, square lockers that are outside of the locker rooms that take quarters. 

Annual membership is about $150 then another $100 if you want a permanent locker in the locker room.

Permalink Reply by WillG on February 25, 2013 at 12:14pm

OK interesting, those small lockers are new. Thanks for the heads up. How crowded is it in there these days? Sometimes it got a little awkwardly crowded in the mornings. There used to be a waiting list for the annual membership. I should give them a call, it always opened up in the winter.

122782_ said:

Yes - those are the lockers that you pay for.  When you just buy a one-day "pass" or buy a membership only, I believe you're supposed to use the small, square lockers that are outside of the locker rooms that take quarters. 

Annual membership is about $150 then another $100 if you want a permanent locker in the locker room.

Permalink Reply by blair on February 25, 2013 at 12:17pm

There is definitely a waiting list in the summer months.  Right now, I'd say it's usually just me, one other girl and 5-10 guys using it.  Usually have the women's locker room all to myself in the mornings.

Much busier in the summer - this would probably be a good time to sign back up.  I know they have a limited # of annual memberships.

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