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Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on June 15, 2011 at 2:05pm

Here's my blurb about Critical Lass in this week's Time Out Chicago.

Have a great ride!

 

Get Out: Critical Lass

This ride's for the ladies

By John Greenfield

 

“No egos and no testosterone,” is one of the cool aspects of Critical Lass, a new monthly 5-8 mile bicycle ride exclusively for women and transgender cyclists, says participant Vanessa Mathai. "Chicago has a great bike community but, like most cities, it's very male-dominant,” adds rider Megan Kearney. “Critical Lass is a great alternative, full of likeminded women sharing stories, encouragement and a beer without any judgment or machismo. Sometimes it's just nice to go on a relaxing ride with just the girls.”

 

Ash Lottes, a young mom and cofounder of Chicago’s family-friendly Kidical Mass parade, dreamed up this ladies-only social ride as yet another alternative to our city’s huge, rowdy Critical Mass. She got the idea after reading about North America’s first-ever Critical Lass, held last year in Edmonton, Alberta. “It was really inspiring to see all these women come together for an afternoon of leisurely riding together,” she says. “I immediately knew I wanted to do something like this in Chicago.”

 

Last month’s maiden voyage drew 25 women ranging from their twenties to fifties for a cocktail cruise to Simone’s tavern in Pilsen. In addition to road, mountain and cargo bicycles, many rode comfy city bikes with step-through frames, baskets, fenders and chainguards, which made it easy to ride in colorful dresses and knee-high boots.

 

This month the ride tours Ukrainian Village and Humboldt Park, ending at Marble, 3251 W. Armitage, a new bar offering craft brews on tap and an unladylike special of twenty chicken wings for $2. “Join us,” urges rider Cassie Cresswell. “It’s the best way to spend a summer evening.”

 

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