Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on September 23, 2014 at 5:24am

Thanx David!

I've loaded it into MassUp.us

Text MAP to u@massup.us gets you a graphic.

(if anything changes later, I'll update no prob)

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Permalink Reply by Steven Lane on September 23, 2014 at 5:29am

Nice long route, you should consider Mass Up points after some of the long stretches (Damen&Clybourn, North&Kedzie).

Thanks for ending at Kedzie & Carrol, we have a green light for gathering there for a bonfire, and Nate Carter has agreed to set up sound and DJ.

The ride stopped in this location around a year ago. It worked out well. The police were cool with everyone hanging out as long as we stayed off the train tracks, which just makes sense, right? ;-p

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on September 23, 2014 at 5:55am

Quick overlay of route versus historic fire map: 

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Hazzard on September 23, 2014 at 6:21am

Whoops! Oh crap, I missed a lot of the historic fire, obviously. Some places those are tiny narrow streets, but I could have done better than I did. Should I fix the route or let it go this time, and try to make a better one next year?? 

Yes, need to  Mass- up several times.  Looks like the actual fire perimeter would be roughly 10 miles.

Jeff

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Hazzard on September 24, 2014 at 5:09am

OK,

   I've looked at the "real" Great Fire Perimeter, and it would be hard to follow.  Seems the river and railroad tracks stopped the fire and that would be hard to follow on bicycles.  Plus, a lot of the streets that parallel the real route are one way the wrong way (like Kingsbury) or narrow residential streets. 

SO.....I am not going to change the route and I am going to get this one printed up.  Thanks for your help.  See you Friday. 

Jeff

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Permalink Reply by Davo on September 24, 2014 at 9:29am

I like the route and hope it works out well. My only critique is that there seems to be some long straight runs. I have found that this can sometimes stretch out the mass especially if the cowboys show up. (i haven't seen them lately but also have missed a few masses) Sometimes this can become dangerous as cars will try to cut through the not so massy parts. Otherwise great route.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Hazzard on September 24, 2014 at 12:10pm

Thanks Davo.  By hopefully holding the speed to about 12 mph and stopping to mass at some red lights, I am hopeful to avoid those problems.  Last time we actually had CTA busses on the #9 line breaking through our riders on S Ashland Avenue and that was quite exciting to watch!  Last September we rode from Near Cicero to Clark on North Avenue and we stretched out far too thin and long.  I'm hopeful we can mass up better with a little cooperation.  I hope the cowboys either show and zoom ahead or have gotten bored of the friendly pace that keeps the CCM ride more fun and safe.

Weather should be perfect and I hope that brings out a crowd.

Jeff

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on September 24, 2014 at 4:42pm

Weather this Friday night will be perfect, and this should be a huge Critical Mass turnout ! 4000 ?!
Friday's weather:6-9pm,65' clear, light n.e. wind, 0% chance of rain!

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on September 24, 2014 at 6:10pm

"The Great Chicago Woodstock Fire, Critical Mass", Far Out Man ! ! Peace ! Let's do this! No Hell's Angels man ! Not cool!

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Hazzard on September 25, 2014 at 1:23am

I think one time we went north in 2013, to Clark, and across Belmont, we must have had 4000+ riders. Maybe even 5000. It took well over ten minutes for them to pass an intersection when riding 8-10 abreast. I corked an intersection and people in cars and on the sidewalk openly expressed amazement at the number. I'd like to see 10,000 some month!

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on September 25, 2014 at 6:21am

~3300-4300+ massers has happened in the past. Estimating crowds is a tricky science. When you eyeball and guess, you
can skew it in your favor depending on how you do it and who is doing it. Many people decide whether to attend an event
based on their interests and whether there is a expected large turnout. People want to be at a popular event and be a part
of it.
The Great Chicago Fire Perimeter Critical Mass Ride should be huge. Hopefully, by the time the mass reaches Hubbard st., and latecomers joining in by using massusup.org, we should have our biggest turnout of the year. Let's do it for Mrs. O'Leary & her cow & in memory of Chicagoans lost in this tragedy of our great city!

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Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on September 25, 2014 at 11:50am

It seems every year I am sharing the road with many more bicyclists, as I have been coming across more that a few at intersections lately. The weather looks good for Friday...

h' 1.0 said:

Not sure why this is degenerating into an argument about whether the September mass will be huge.  It's always the biggest mass of the year with July a close second, and as long as the weather doesn't work against us I'm sure it will be this year too. Most likely mid to upper 2000s.

Anything above about 700 looks unfathomably huge when you're on the ride.
 
Tom A.K. said:

~3300-4300+ massers has happened in the past. Estimating crowds is a tricky science. When you eyeball and guess, you
can skew it in your favor depending on how you do it and who is doing it. Many people decide whether to attend an event
based on their interests and whether there is a expected large turnout. People want to be at a popular event and be a part
of it.
The Great Chicago Fire Perimeter Critical Mass Ride should be huge. Hopefully, by the time the mass reaches Hubbard st., and latecomers joining in by using massusup.org, we should have our biggest turnout of the year. Let's do it for Mrs. O'Leary & her cow & in memory of Chicagoans lost in this tragedy of our great city!No

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