Guest

I was sitting here thinking about my recent thread and my invitation to anyone out there coming to Chicago being welcome at my house- a bit extreme if I suddenly got a whole bunch of people coming in at the same time, then I thought about a better idea- a Bikeforums gathering.

The only reason why I suggest Chicago is because I live here. I love my town and would love to host a picnic, sometime in May. So, what I would like to do is get an idea of who would show, then go down to the city hall and apply for a permit for a beachside BBQ... I can buy and make as much food as possible, but donations would certainly be appreciated.

So how about a general shoutout so I can figure out if it's worth going for the permit? I'd like to plan for something like the second Saturday in May- meet in the early morning for a long ride, ending along the lakefront for a big ole BBQ and fun frolicking in the sun- provided we have some sun by then! Let's keep the thread alive as long as possible.... I know I should be putting this with the big rides topics, but since there's going to be a big picnic and party thing going on, I figured I'd put it here.

Side note- if I can't get a permit for the day, I plan to rent out a room for the day in my building. It overlooks the lake, and we'd be more flexible with the meeting times, and I could schedule the BBQ for early evening so we can party and drink it up after a hard day's ride, and then watch the fireworks at 9:30pm from the room. We could still do the ride in the day and the beach after the ride before going for the food in the room. Hmmmmm.... actually, that may be better than getting the beach permit, since we'd all have access to showers, bathrooms, and an indoor place to rest, plus no worries about what to do if it's raining. What do you guys think? Morning ride, beach and volleyball in the afternoon, and drinks and BBQ and food in the evening ending with fireworks display (maybe music and dancing too?) at night....

How does it sound? I'm motivated and basically unemployed so I could pull it off....

Let me know!


Koffee

ridermark

I'm a definite "maybe"

Guest

P.S. In addition, if you're coming from a far distance, I'll also go out on a limb and offer up my place for a place to stay. It's only a studio, and I have 1 double bed and one hideaway double bed, but if we need to, we can get more in if they bring a sleeping bag too....

My way of helping to bring it all about and bring in more people (come on over, all you wayward Canadians! )

Koffee

threadend

I'm not totally opposed to this idea, it has merit.

Mockpo

Just a thought, Sunday June 15th is Bike the Drive in Chicago. Lake Shore Drive is closed down to traffic and only cycles are allowed. A fun ride and a great chance to not only get people together but to ride as well.

My .02 cents worth.

RiPHRaPH

i am north of the city. can come down and/or help with some planning or input some ideas. i definitely still know all my older city rides.

Guest

I plan on being out of the country if all goes well in June for the month, so June wouldn't work for me. BUT if the majority of the people want June, I say go for it.

I'm kinda stuck on May myself. RiPHRaPH, why don't you send me a PM or an email, and we could hook up sometime via phone or whatever to make some preliminary plans.

mike

I'll go. Anytime is OK with me, but I have to remind everybody that June is usually pretty rainy and often cold in the midwest.

MKRG

Damn, if only I still lived up there! Ikea used to be my neighbor! Anyhow I'm still close enough to be a maybe. I do kinda miss Chicago. (I moved back to Cincy a year ago.) Maybe i can get a free tune up from the shop I bought my bike at while I'm up there?

Inkwolf

I'm halfway up Wisconsin and I work weekends, but possibly I could get Sunday off and spend Saturday night with my sister in Milwaukee....

Guest

Ok, here's an update for the offer of digs-

Again, if people are coming from out of town, I can fit some in my condo. You just need to let me know. I can comfortably fit 7 in my studio- with 3 of the people sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag. Uncomfortably (if no one minds, and I don't mind at all), I could fit about 11. I'm serious. Don't hesitate to come if you're in Wisconsin or Ohio or whatever. I'm happy to have visitors over. And if there are any other fellow Chicagoans that can open their doors for a night, post and let us know. If we get a running count of everyone, we can work on getting you room.

If you can't get a room, there's a youth hostel down here too- right downtown, a mere 6 minute ride from my condo for $28 bucks a night. I can talk to my bosses over there and see if we can get a group discount if enough people want to stay there too.

Let's brainstorm over this one and see if we can't do something fun out here. Chicago is great, even if the weather's not the best sometimes. But it's always good cycling, unless it's less than 10 degrees F!

Koffee

MKRG

I have a good friend that works for a hotel chain. She used to get my friends cheap rates when they would come up there to visit. I'll talk to her and see if she can do anything.

bfong

Count me in. This sounds fun.


Bill F.

Dougmt

What if one of us shows up and likes your place so much we don't want to leave? I'm thinking couch, free cable, lots of free beer in the fridge... you know, Kramer style
Just kiddin'
The get together sounds awesome, but alas, I'll be back in Montana by then. Who wants to meet in West Glacier Montana? Cheap beer, food, awesome scenery, awesome riding, grizzly bears....

Doug

bikeman

Koffee,
That sounds like a blast. If you remember I was the guy that "almost" met you in person in Rome last June. I still wish I'd gotten up from my seat and chased you down. Oh well.

What a great invitation! I'll definately have to consider it. I'm in Ohio and it would be a bit of a drive but worth it. Chicago is a great city and the weather can be pretty darn nice. At least better than the last three weeks. Keep me posted.

naisme

Could be a fun time. Keep us posted. I work on the weekends, but can manage for time off. Maybe a few of us in MN could do a carpool/road trip to Go.

juciluci

that is mothers day weekend..... ratz.. and i am doing a marathon in Ottawa(where my mom lives)
any other weekend and i will just trot on down.. its not that far from Toronto
enough notice and we can take over a small hotel or motel nearby.. sorry not familiar with chicago.. but i am willing to help out from my end.

threadend

Oooh, good call jl, Mother's Day Weekend would be a tough sell.

Koffee, appreciate you taking the lead in this, perhaps a poll of alternate dates is in order?

Guest

Oops... I got a reminder from another fellow forum member via telephone on Saturday about mother's day. So we're now planning it for either on May 3rd, or May 17th.

As soon as we get some details, we'll pass it on to you. I want to get some firm dates in there ASAP so people will be able to plan for it. I'm more partial to dates towards the end of the month myself, since it'll definitely be warmer (or at least, we hope so!).

On a side note, I'm also working with one of my clubs to allow them to let me bring in people to run a 2X20 anaerobic threshold test on the spin bikes for anyone who is interested in doing one but hasn't had the opportunity. The test will probably run on Friday night for early comers, and early Sat morning for the latecomers at one of my downtown clubs. See these threads for more details about that:

https://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20602
https://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20353


Come on down!

Koffee

juciluci

end of the month is better for me also.. i fear i will be drained from the marathon and you may have to draft a cradle for me lol
.. we are bringing our bikes? or no?

WorldIRC

HEHE, the music department at my school is doing a trip to Chicago from the 30th of April to like the 5th of May. I may be able to sneak away.

Guest

Well World-

If we end up not doing it on the 3rd, and you still want to hang in Chicago, you're more than welcome to stop by for a visit in downtown Chicago. The crib's always open to wandering souls... send me a PM if you're interested in hooking up.

Take care,

Koffee

P.S. If you want to ride, bring your bikes. But we'll plan for alternative events for people who cannot get their bikes over here. Thanks for bringing that point up.

RunYun

That would be a good time. I'll just visit the family in LaPorte, IN for a long weekend. They would rather see their grandson and the daughter in-law anyways. LOL

RunYun

Guest

Funny coincidence... my parents live in LePorte too.

Come on over! Maybe you can bike in from LePorte?



K

Paco

Sounds great. I would love to attend! Keep us posted, Koffee. As the time gets closer, message me and let me know specifics and let me know if there is any way I can help. Perhaps any other Texans who want to go can catch a ride with me.