New commute. Logan Square to Rolling Meadows... Ideas? Motivate me.

So... due to a promotion with work, I will now be working out in Rolling Meadows. Great for the career but potentially bad for my love of riding my bike everyday to/from work (which I have been doing for the past 4 years). I know my route via Blue Line to 606 Pace bus, but I'm just not looking forward to it.

With that being said, I need some ideas and motivation. I looked at Google maps and it looks like I'll be able to utilize a few forest preserve trails, but I wonder what else you guys can recommend.

I am also hung up on the fact that the 24 miles will leave me awfully sweaty when I show up to work (I don't get bad on a 3 mile commute now), and I do not have a shower handy at the new office.

Bike-wise, I currently use a single speed and unless you can convince me otherwise, I don't know if this will be the way to go on a longer ride (24 miles one way). I do though, have an 18 speed 80's Raleigh Technium, that needs a little love. Perhaps a commuter makeover??

Give me your advice guys!

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on July 20, 2012 at 12:29am

Is it possible to ride part of the way and carry the bike on the public transportation of choice for the rest?

Permalink Reply by Lanterne Rouge on July 20, 2012 at 4:00am

That's a monster commute. I'd think long and hard about doing a half-century every day.

 

For one, you're going to be tired as hell for a little while. My every day commute is 20 miles round trip, and I remember the first month I did it, I was beat. Now, it's cake.

 

Daniel is pretty right, though. If your only other option is to slog it on the highway, I'd be more inclined to ride. The only thing that might suck is figuring out a safe route...that and dealing with really bad weather days. In case of snowstorms or torrential downpours, what would your backup plan be?

Permalink Reply by Lanterne Rouge on July 20, 2012 at 4:03am

Bingo, Lisa.

 

google maps tells me that he could ride from Logan Square to the UP-NW Metra station in Irving Park and then get off at the Arlington Park stop, right in Arlington Heights/Rolling Meadows.

 

The only worry is bike restrictions during commute times.
 
Lisa Curcio said:

Is it possible to ride part of the way and carry the bike on the public transportation of choice for the rest?

Permalink Reply by Lanterne Rouge on July 20, 2012 at 4:07am

Ok CJ, Metra says this about bikes :

 

Metra Bicycle Policy 2012                For 2012, bicycles are permitted on all weekday trains arriving in Chicago after 9:30 A.M. and leaving Chicago before 3:00 P.M. and after 7:00 P.M., and on all weekend trains, with the following exceptions:   

  • All days during Taste of Chicago - July 11, 2012 to July 15, 2012
  • Lollapalooza - August 3, 2012 to August 5, 2012
  • Air & Water Show - August 18, 2012 & August 19, 2012

 

 

So, since you do the opposite (leave chicago in the morning, come back at night) of everyone else, it looks like you're in the clear.

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on July 20, 2012 at 4:11am

yeah a lot of peeps do the reverse commute thing out to the burbs for work everyday.  In summer they will ride one way all the way back or even there.  CJ, you probably could find some riding buddies on here for those who ride one or both ways.



Jim S said:

Ok CJ, Metra says this about bikes :

 

Metra Bicycle Policy 2012                For 2012, bicycles are permitted on all weekday trains arriving in Chicago after 9:30 A.M. and leaving Chicago before 3:00 P.M. and after 7:00 P.M., and on all weekend trains, with the following exceptions:   

  • All days during Taste of Chicago - July 11, 2012 to July 15, 2012
  • Lollapalooza - August 3, 2012 to August 5, 2012
  • Air & Water Show - August 18, 2012 & August 19, 2012

 

 

So, since you do the opposite (leave chicago in the morning, come back at night) of everyone else, it looks like you're in the clear.

Permalink Reply by igz on July 20, 2012 at 4:13am

aaron bussey does that commute from andersonville.  northwest highway most of the way i believe

Permalink Reply by CjBad on July 20, 2012 at 4:46am

Thanks everyone, great advice so far.

I like the idea of taking the Metra. I get a few miles in before and after the train ride, and it also leaves me the option of riding all the way home if I desired (which may lead to getting comfortable riding both ways once I learn the ropes of the commute).

I am quite familiar with taking the Blue Line and transferring to a Pace bus but I'd have to leave my bike at the Logan train station, which doesn't sit well with me since I've had my bike stripped of all components last summer while at the Damen Blue Line station (it was there a few hours, during the day, on a f'ing holiday. Grrr....). Also, the Metra would cost me a few bucks less with the monthly pass (78.50 compared to roughly 80 with CTA/Pace).

Jim S said:

Ok CJ, Metra says this about bikes :

 

Metra Bicycle Policy 2012                For 2012, bicycles are permitted on all weekday trains arriving in Chicago after 9:30 A.M. and leaving Chicago before 3:00 P.M. and after 7:00 P.M., and on all weekend trains, with the following exceptions:   

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