Classic & Vintage - Chicago area CVers Meetup and Ride!

Several of us CVers have met in person or traded gear or emails and some are already friends. All of us seem to be nice folks.

So wouldn't it be nice to have a meetup and ride? Admittedly the weather is not in our favor so if it waits until the spring so be it.

Anyone else up for this? Where and when would be good for a fun but casual ride, perhaps one with a venue for refreshment at the end? If we really get energized we could go heckle 'Ross' from CL.

I've met Bibliobob and Night Tiger in person, as well as cb400Bill in Michigan, and have traded emails with Jasmijo, Primitive Don, DCV45, Big Chainring, Ivandarken, Anthony691, and that Angus guy who keeps wanting to buy broken-down bikes. I'm sure there are plenty of others scattered around the area, and both Slushlover in Iowa and cb400Bill have said they might come for such an event.

I will start this thread and then step back because I am the least qualified to set up any kind of ride, being paradoxically at the bottom of the group in riding experience ;) and the top in age :50:. (Hey, that smilie does not look like me at all.)

Oh, no Alan. You can't start this and then step back. Besides, it is to be a ride, not a race. :)

This late in the riding season will make it hard to plan a good ride. We may get a nice day yet this year, but odds are against it.

Anyway, springtime in the NW suburbs sounds good. :thumb:

I'd be interested. I've never met any of you, but it would be nice to have local contacts for C&V stuff.

Okay, well I'd try to coordinate things and it doesn't seem like a big deal...but I know very little about riding routes around here (or anywhere else for that matter).

Spring would be fine too. We may get a few more nice days but it'd be hard to plan on one.

I'll come out & ride. Pick a day & location.

I'd be interested as well.........I have become a bit of a Sunday morning armchair rider as of late and need an excuse to get out and ride.

I don't really know any routes near or within the city but could recommend the Fox River Trail. Starts/Ends in Oswego Il. and runs north along the river all the way to Wisc. I'm told. Plenty of good places to stop between Oswego and Algonquin. Most of the route is down along the river bed, keeping you out of the wind.

As long as its not 65deg and below, I might show up. :)

As long as its not 65deg and below, I might show up. :)

Well that kind of limits things! I was going to suggest this week as we'll have a few sunny days, but I'd be shocked if we even hit 55°!

I'm starting to think I rode more miles in October than what some of you guys ride in a year.

(yes, that's a challange to get you to ride)!

About 10 years ago Me and another guy started a monthly c/v ride in Atlanta. It was somewhat successful for a couple of years. My wife was pregnant at the time & I had know idea what was ahead :) Needless to say i made it to only a hand full of rides. I felt somewhat guilty for leaving the thing hanging after getting it going. I would love to help with a vintage group & monthly rides in Atlanta again. Anyone interested?

I'm in. I also would like to try the Fox River Trail. The weather doesn't bother me, we did 50 miles this morning @45 degrees.

I'm starting to think I rode more miles in October than what some of you guys ride in a year.

That's probably true for me. I'm a city rider, I don't have a car or a bus pass. I probably only ride 4-10 miles every day.

I ride the North Branch path up to the Botanic Gardens often. Its an easy ride, no traffic worries, and you can get a snack at the Gardens. If you start in Glenview its about 16 miles round trip.

That's probably true for me. I'm a city rider, I don't have a car or a bus pass. I probably only ride 4-10 miles every day.

4-10 miles a day does add up. :thumb:

I'm in. It's generally best to pick a day and see who shows. You will never get a consensus.

I also organize a BF ride every spring, usually about the last weekend in April. This spring will be the 4th ride.

Thanks, Barrettscv...I'll take all the encouragement I can get, and this was a beautiful day for a ride! :thumb:

10-day forecast looks dry the rest of the week into next weekend, so who would be up for a ride along that North Branch path Big Chainring mentioned?

That would be my own first choice as it's close. Fox River sounds nice too but would be a bit of a hike for those of us from the city.

Would Saturday or Sunday be better? I think I could make either work. Actually, as I work freelance, planning to do it on either day is a virtual guarantee that a job will come up. And not a great job either, one just barely good enough to make me break my personal plans.

I can do Saturday or Sunday as long as it is in before 2 or 3pm.

I'll do my best to be in (work duty schedule permitting), and would be up for a fall ride.

Being a City dweller, I'd vote for either the lakefront path (nice and quiet in fall) or North Branch.

Either day works for me. I'd like to start no sooner than 9:00 to allow for my 3 hour drive.
Are there other entertainment/shopping venues in the area? My wife may join me,but she won,t ride.

I can't make Saturday and I don't have my work schedule for Sunday yet.

I'd be more able to come on a Saturday, but I don't know if I could make either day this weekend. I'll try.

Could someone inform me about parking in that area? Is it parking garages or what? As I am relatively new to this area, I've never been there.

As another option for a ride, we could ride the Illinois Prairie Path. Looking online at maps, it runs up a little past Elmhurst which seems pretty close to Chicago.

http://www.dupageco.org/bikeways/trailGuide.pdf

count me in also!

Would traffic be more manageable on Sunday morning???

Would traffic be more manageable on Sunday morning???

This is a little bit of my reasoning to use a trail like the Prairie Path or Fox River Trail.

Count me in.

I'll have to prep my Paramount...

Michael

Why don't we plan one ride along the Fox River (or at Polar Creek: http://www.fpdcc.com/downloads/pc_trailmap.pdf ) and another along the North Branch: http://www.fpdcc.com/tier3.php?content_id=68&file=map_68e

Participants could do one or both rides.

Michael

This is a little bit of my reasoning to use a trail like the Prairie Path or Fox River Trail.

That too, but I meant vehicle traffic driving to the start:lol:

Sounds like a good idea to me. I'd do my best to make both rides.

As it is, I'd be up for the North Branch (or lakefront) option this weekend. Saturday or Sunday would work, though Sunday would be slightly better.

Any takers for that, or are people more inclined to do the Fox River? I'd do that another time, but couldn't this weekend (I'm able to get someone to cover being "on call" for a few hours, but not much longer).


Why don't we plan one ride along the Fox River (or at Polar Creek: http://www.fpdcc.com/downloads/pc_trailmap.pdf ) and another along the North Branch: http://www.fpdcc.com/tier3.php?content_id=68&file=map_68e

Participants could do one or both rides.

Michael

I'd be more likely to make a Fox River or Prairie Path Ride. I would agree that two rides might be a good idea. Sundays are best but I could make a Saturday work as well.

Hey all,

Sorry to chime in so late, and to confuse things with a 3rd option, but if anyone's game, I'd be into a ride on the Chicago lakefront path on Sunday morning. Path traffic should be pretty minimal now that summer's gone.

Fox River works best for me, but I'm open for any location. Someone needs to make the call on time and location.

Fox River could work for me on Saturday in between 8am - 4pm. Can anybody who rides there regularly chime in on construction? I've only been there a few times before they started construction on the trails. Is it done?

I'd be happy to go for more rides closer to Chicago early next year.

To pull a trigger on this, how about 10 am Fox River at the North River Street Park?

How about the Fox River on Saturday @ 10am. Where is the North River Street park?

and...

The Chicago Lakefront @ 9am on Sunday. We could meet at the Belmont Harbor car park east of LSD.

Michael

No interesting story on why I used this address. I just noticed it when I went there the first time.

Aurora police dept
350 N River St, Aurora, IL

It is just North of East New York St, also known as Aurora Ave.

Edit: There is a parking lot for the park across the street from the police dept.

How about the Fox River on Saturday @ 10am. Where is the North River Street park?

and...

The Chicago Lakefront @ 9am on Sunday. We could meet at the Belmont Harbor car park east of LSD.

Michael

Sounds like a plan. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make the Saturday ride. But, I'll be there on Sunday. Having friends over for dinner on Saturday night, but I'll try not to drink too much wine:)

Belmont at 0900 sounds good. I assume that this will be a nice, leisurely social ride? DT shifters, rather than brifters? I'll be riding in from the Evanston/Chicago border, if anyone is coming in from that direction and wants to meet up.

From Belmont, we can head south and see how we feel?

"How about the Fox River on Saturday @ 10am. Where is the North River Street park?"

Gonna try and make this one....I am familiar with the area........not sure about any recent construction though. I have some riding buddies that went through that area a couple weeks ago and said it was clear sailing.

Sounds like a plan. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make the Saturday ride. But, I'll be there on Sunday. Having friends over for dinner on Saturday night, but I'll try not to drink too much wine:)

Belmont at 0900 sounds good. I assume that this will be a nice, leisurely social ride? DT shifters, rather than brifters? I'll be riding in from the Evanston/Chicago border, if anyone is coming in from that direction and wants to meet up.

From Belmont, we can head south and see how we feel?

I can meet you at Ardmore & Sheridan where the lakefront path begins at 8:40am. It should take about 20 minutes to get to Belmont. Anyone else who lives up north is welcome to meet us at this location.


Michael

I can meet you at Ardmore & Sheridan where the lakefront path begins at 8:40am. It should take about 20 minutes to get to Belmont.


Michael

Done deal. What do you plan on riding (Not that I expect there to be a ton of people with vintage rides hanging around the top of the path)? Night Tiger, my wife, and perhaps another person or two may be coming as well.

I'll be on this;

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll210/wildcat-bucket/IMG_1414.jpg

I'll either be riding one of these (though not the Cilo, which now belongs to Night Tiger)..


http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OEfl3HWM9ac/SLma651gMFI/AAAAAAAAATg/mcT85FYmUts/s800/IMG_7759.jpg

or this, which has since been finished. This reminds me that I REALLY need to take newer and better photos of the stable.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_OEfl3HWM9ac/SmM8jPOU4-I/AAAAAAAAAs8/sDnVUH2fHxg/s800/DSC00207.JPG

I know that it is still 5 days out, but Weather.com has a pretty nice forecast for Chicago this weekend, especially for Sunday.

I know that it is still 5 days out, but Weather.com has a pretty nice forecast for Chicago this weekend, especially for Sunday.

Indeed. Think you'll be able to make it in? If it helps, I'm sure that we could bump the start time to 1000?

I just found out that I have this Sunday off, so I will try and make it.

I have a GPS to help me with the directions. What is the address of the Sunday ride starting point?

http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n354/WOODRACER25/DSCF41521.jpg

I'll prep the Power Climber. Does that count as C&V?

Nice bikes Bobby! Love the Butler and Merckx!

I'd be all over this if I were here on weekends.

I am in for Sunday for sure, maybe Saturday as well though I don't want to over-train.:roflmao2:I have to admit I have not yet ridden this path and am looking forward to it.

Leisurely is good! I may be able to meet up with Bibliobob & Co. at the N end of the path; he and I have met so will likely recognize each other. In case of anyone else, I'll be the guy on a light blue Miyata touring, wearing incorrect shoes and clothing.

Hope you can make it in, Bill!

Still working on trying to make it, and if I do, I'll be on this.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/cb400bill/ViscountAerospacePro007.jpg

Count me in for Saturday. I think I will bring the '80 Gitane Criterium I got from 23Skidoo.

I posted a notice at the Great Lakes Regional forum http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=9974225#post9974225

It sound like we will have a Saturday ride. If I put the Aurora address in my GPS, will I be able to find the start of the ride? I am driving about 125 miles so I don't want to miss the start. I will be riding either a Saroni red Colnago or a chrome Paramount, depending on whether we race or tour.LOL!!!

I just found out that I have this Sunday off, so I will try and make it.

I have a GPS to help me with the directions. What is the address of the Sunday ride starting point?


Nice! 3200 N. Lake Shore Dr. should work for the Belmont address (Belmont is 3200 north on our grid).

If parking is too tough there (not sure what it's like on a Sunday morning, but that's a VERY congested neighborhood), we could also pick people up at Foster beach house (5200 N. Lake Shore Dr.), which has plenty of parking.

If you want to meet us at the top of the path at Ardmore, use 5800 N. Sheridan Rd. (Ardmore is 5800 north) as an address.

Let me know what you end up doing, and I'll pm you my cell number so that we can be sure to meet up.