After being in June for some years, this year's massive L.A.T.E. (Long After Twilight Ends) ride is Saturday August 13th 20th (through early Sunday). They announced in December but I only just noticed, figured it might be news to others.
That also happens to be Air&Water Show weekend, which typically blocks portions of the lakefront trail that the ride usually uses, and there may be Metra bike bans? But I presume they'll figure things out. That also happens to fall on a Midnight Marauders 3rd Saturday.
As per http://facebook.com/LATERide
Mark you calendars - Friends of the Parks' 2016 LATE Ride will be held on August 20-21st!
Unfortunately, our date is subject to the availability of the Chicago Park District. LATE Ride will be August 20-21 this year.
Our parent organization, Friends of the Parks, has been through transition and has a new executive director as of September 2015. We have been reviewing all the feedback from the last few years, are bringing on a new contractor to support the event, and look forward to a much improved experience for all this year. Please feel free to message us with any other feedback.
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Interesting information. It'll be interesting to see how the ride changes with the new leadership - hopefully the changes with the new contractor will bring about some good changes.
The LATE ride's been a cluster f*** for the past few years after a change in management. I've given up on it.
I was trying to be purely informational, but yeah, seemed largely unstaffed. I remember loving 2008+- when there were bands and McD served thousands of sunrise breakfasts. I and just a few others have inline skated it.
I wouldn't be surprised if as the date approaches they decide to skip a year. It's gotta be a beast to produce. Maybe ATA could help.
I worked as a ride marshal this past year and it was really embarrassing when I ran out of tubes/ CO2 (that were my own stash, not provided by Friends of the Park) to help those with flats and when I called the contact number I was told : "there is no SAG/support..."
I also saw so many close calls of bikes vs cars at busy intersections-- I know they handed out info saying we had to obey stop lights, etc, but most riders either didn't care, didn't know, or expected that after paying a ride fee we would have a safe course.
I know this isn't "Bike the Drive" but if they're going to charge $50-70, it can't just be a night ride on Chicago streets that we're just given a bib for. Needs to be something resembling a "race" (ie road closures, mobile medics, support, repair, etc...)
Confirming Tom's post, LATE ride this year is Saturday August 13th (-early Sunday the 14th).
Announced at Facebook.com/LATERide/posts/556188561228842
Hello LATE Riders. So our last tentative date got bumped as well by the city. We are now officially set for August 13/14, 2016 for LATE Ride. Stay tuned, we'll get registration up and running soon. In the meantime, dust off your bikes and get out and enjoy your parks!
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