Dark Lord Day (and Fifth Step) Ride

No, this isn't about making a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

It's about riding to Three Floyds and boosting our cognitive function every month this year! There's a somewhat consistent schedule -- usually the 4th Saturday of the month -- and you can qualify for the F-12 Award.

Dark Lord is a gargantuan Russian Style Imperial Stout, with a reverse cascading head that starts out billowing the color of burnt oil like the Dark Lord rising from the black primordial beginnings. Its resonant vinous aroma has been described as cherries, sweet malt, molasses, burnt currants, plums with a port wine alcohol undertow. Mochachino notes buried within. Motor oil consistency, hellishly smooth yet divinely burnt and vinous. The first sip coats your palate with a palatial charred fruit and chocolate blanket. Alcohol burn wiggles its way down your throat with a thick body.

Dark Lord Day is a festival where participants can meet other beer enthusiasts, sample beers from all over the world, enjoy good food, listen to live music, and generally have a great time. It's also the only day of the year you can buy Dark Lord. The festival requires a ticket (but the ride doesn't). The name on the ticket must match the government issued ID of the ticket holder.

The ride takes the lakefront trail south from the Clock Tower. You can join up anywhere along the trail. Just let the group know where so they can look for you.

42 miles total if to return you ride to Hammond and take the South Shore Line, 45 if you ride to Flossmoor Station and take the Metra, 50 if you ride to 93rd and take the Metra or to 100th and take the J14, 55 if you ride to 71st and take the J14, 70 if you ride all the way. 16-19 mph. Bring money, government-issued ID, a lock, lights if you might stay late, water and snacks to have en route, and panniers for your Dark Lord and rare Dark Lord variant.

Online resources: Google map, cue sheet, South Shore Line Bikes on Trains schedule, Metra Electric train schedules, Jeffrey Jump (J14) bus schedule,
Bikes on the South Shore Line, Bikes on the Metra, Bikes on the Bus, and, to save a minute at the start, the nifty online CCC waiver.