Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Help Miss Bumble ride her bike near Chicago

OK _ I have a few more weeks in Choicago and Sunday Aug2 I figured I woudo take my bike to an ATL Bike shop and have them ship it to a bike shop in Chciago... I plan on staying in Chicago Aug 3 - Aug 16 and working and riding on the weekends...so here's where you help. )I am contemlating moving to chicago and thought I would explore what biking in Chciago and surrpunding areas was like)


1) So what just drop off my bike and they ship it?? Is there a tirck??
2) Know nay nice organied rides during that time or groups I could ride with??? I am about 15 mph avg alone (on a good day) and a bit highher if in a pace line... can ride up to 100 miles on a good day -so just point me in the right direction... Thoughts? I have emailed someone in the Chicago Cycling Club but thought I would ask my peeps here.

Thanks Guys!

Sue

Kozy's Bike Shop in the LOOP always helped us out a lot. I would contact them for what you are looking for.

Don't move to Chicago, Miss B. Come to Santa Fe instead. It's the greatest!!

Chicago? Why would a proper southern girl want to move to yankee land where they have snow in winter and riding your bike won't be anywhere near as pleasant?

I say don't do it unless your boss is willing to drive a snow plow in front of you when you ride your bike. Said snowplow must also have a flamethrower to instantly melt ice and a way to dry up the resulting water so you have as near perfect cycling conditions as possible in that winter hell hole (perhaps a protective fairing for you mounted on back of the snow plow with sun lamps inside so you can draft the plow inside the fairing).

Chicago? Why would a proper southern girl want to move to yankee land where they have snow in winter and riding your bike won't be anywhere near as pleasant?

I say don't do it unless your boss is willing to drive a snow plow in front of you when you ride your bike. Said snowplow must also have a flamethrower to instantly melt ice and a way to dry up the resulting water so you have as near perfect cycling conditions as possible in that winter hell hole (perhaps a protective fairing for you mounted on back of the snow plow with sun lamps inside so you can draft the plow inside the fairing).

Considering there are winter riders in Alaska and Finland, both places that get serious winter weather, riding in the winter is actually not difficult. I don't because the city here puts about 1kg of salt per square centimetre of road as soon as the first flake falls, and that's not good for metal bike parts.:cry:

The real answer for ice and snow snow, slap a couple of these babies on the bike: http://www.icebike.org/images/Nokia296.jpg A couple of pairs of heavy weight tights, a nice all weather jacket, your good to go, need to block the helmet vents, or add a hat under/over the helmet, maybe a set of ear warmers, your good to go.

what are those monster tires? I may need them if I ever start commuting to work. It snows here.

You might check out the Des Plaines river trail. It is a pretty nice ride through the woods and the south part of it (from Libertyville south) used to be smooth enough for road bikes. I haven't lived there in ten years, so the condition may have changed.

what are those monster tires? I may need them if I ever start commuting to work. It snows here.

Nokian 296's I think, I don't think you get enough snow for them there, heck I don't often get enough snow for them here, and between the snow ploughs and salter/sanders they can clear a road to bare pavement pretty quick. I wish they didn't use the salt though, it's expensive, it rots out anything metal, and the environmental impact is horrific. However if car drivers with summer tires can't drive at*20 over the speed limit, between block apart stop signs, it's the end of the world, so they use the salt.

As for the OP...

You're shipping from Atlanta to Chicago, correct? You'll want to ask your shipping questions at the LBS in Atlanta. They can ship anywhere UPS/FedEx go. But you may want to ship to a Chicago LBS so they can re-assemble your bike. If this is the case, you'll want to make prior arrangements with said Chicago LBS. To find one, look in the Midwest Regional subforum.

Regarding your club ride question...I hear that there are alot of clubs in Chicago, although I have no personal experience. Of course, with the size of their population, it makes sense. Again, ask this question in the MidWest Regional subforum.

But I'm with Tex: Chicago's cold and windy from November-->April. Come to Los Angeles, instead :D Warm year-'round. Lots of clubs with a wide variety of speeds and abilities. Lots of racing as well ;), time-trials of course.

My son commutes all wintere on Nokian studded tires. We have very lttle snow on the roads in the winter, but those tires are needed when the snow beside the road melts during the day leaving a puddle that freezes during the night. It doesnt blow in Chicago, its just that Illinois sucks.

Thansk Guys - I iwll check out the Mid west forum... also I am leaningtowards satying in ATlanta. Just got back from our bike group's bar b que- and they are such great peope. The best time I have with them is riding in the winter when the A group rides with the slowpokes. (OK going on BRAG was cool too!)

So net net tomorrow I will look for condo/house here in ATL - and maybe just ship bike to Chicago for 2 week to just ride and have fun as I round out htis assignment in chciago! Atlanta is pretty cool place to live as a consultant - so I may stay.


Once i get my nw assignment I will look for a 2nd hand bike to have with me- as I need to start riding more - and seeing the sites in thetowns I am working in.

Thansk Guys - I iwll check out the Mid west forum... also I am leaningtowards satying in ATlanta. Just got back from our bike group's bar b que- and they are such great peope. The best time I have with them is riding in the winter when the A group rides with the slowpokes. (OK going on BRAG was cool too!)

So net net tomorrow I will look for condo/house here in ATL - and maybe just ship bike to Chicago for 2 week to just ride and have fun as I round out htis assignment in chciago! Atlanta is pretty cool place to live as a consultant - so I may stay.


Once i get my nw assignment I will look for a 2nd hand bike to have with me- as I need to start riding more - and seeing the sites in thetowns I am working in.

If your going to be travelling a lot, then maybe look for a folding bicycle, just fold it up, put it in a folder bag and check it with your luggage. When you get where your going, you take it out, unfold it, and your ready to go.:D

OK _ I have a few more weeks in Choicago and Sunday Aug2 I figured I woudo take my bike to an ATL Bike shop and have them ship it to a bike shop in Chciago... I plan on staying in Chicago Aug 3 - Aug 16 and working and riding on the weekends...so here's where you help. )I am contemlating moving to chicago and thought I would explore what biking in Chciago and surrpunding areas was like)...

If you are going to be in Chicago for just two weeks, why not rent a bike? I went there for a five day conference (in September :)) and had a great time. See for example:

http://www.bikechicago.com/

http://www.rentabikenow.com/

They are not the best bikes, but in my experience rental bikes conveniently provide the mobility and excercise that make a trip to somewhere else so enjoyable. When I do so, I bring my own helmet, though not necessary; appropriate cycling clothes, including gloves and an eyeglass mirror; a mini-pump and tire levers; and I buy a tube of appropriate size for the rental. BTW, I don't travel by plane, so I am less luggage-limited. ;)

If you are going to be in Chicago for just two weeks, why not rent a bike? I went there for a five day conference (in September :)) and had a great time. See for example:

http://www.bikechicago.com/

http://www.rentabikenow.com/

They are not the best bikes, but in my experience rental bikes conveniently provide the mobility and excercise that make a trip to somewhere else so enjoyable. When I do so, I bring my own helmet, though not necessary; appropriate cycling clothes, including gloves and an eyeglass mirror; a mini-pump and tire levers; and I buy a tube of appropriate size for the rental. BTW, I don't travel by plane, so I am less luggage-limited. ;)

Greta idea - but $55/day for a road bike...

Regarding shipping, This may be an option. http://www.shipbikes.com/
Minimal diassembly required (remove the front tire and lower or remove the seatpost -- that's it!)
The box is reuseable. It may be the quickest and simplest option.
It may also make financial sense, but you'd have to do the math. After paying:
1) LBS to disassemble & pack
2) Shipping to Chicago
3) Reassemble in Chicago
4) LBS to disassemble & pack in Chicago
2) Shipping to ATL
3) Reassemble in ATL
My bro-in-law uses the "Aircaddy.com" method to ship his bike (MI to VA and return) for our annual Tour de Cure. FedEx Ground shipped it with at home pickup. Shipping took approx 2 days.

OR N+1 may apply.
From previous posts, it seems as if you spend quite a bit of time there. You have a good excuse to buy another bike in Chicago, keep it there for use when you're in town!! :innocent: :D

Greta idea - but $55/day for a road bike...

I checked with my LBS and that is about the going rate for a road bike. On rentabikenow I saw hybrid and mountain bikes for about $30-35 per day with mountain bikes for $165 per week. In my own particular situation when I visit a city for a conference, I usually can only ride in early AM. I would be satisfied with a hybrid or mountain bike for those short rides. In the case of rain, or extreme hassle to rent, I probably would do a one day gym membership and ride an excercise bike :p.

I learned my shop does rent high end bikes, costing greater than about $2000, for $80 per day; that might be a treat I will try someday.