Originally Posted by
destro713
much to my chagrin, Wells is a one-way street in the wrong direction at Adams. I doubled back
(...)
•I really need a rack ASAP. My lower back was very upset.
(...)
And a question for the Chicagoans: at what intersection does Wells become a 2-way street?
Nice to see that you didn't go down Wells the wrong way. My number one pet peeve is cyclists ignoring traffic laws.
I obviously forgot to mention that Wells is a one-way street. It turns two-way north of Erie. I wouldn't take Lasalle (for all the reasons you describe). Better alternatives maybe Dearborn or Franklin. But as other people have mentioned, in a week or so you will have found a better route. And while doing it, you learn to see your city in a whole new way
For a rack, look at Performance on Halsted and Diversey. They have a Transit rack. Currently sale for $19.99. They also tend to have a good selection of affordable gloves. Before you throw down any money, make sure your bike has eyelets on the frame near the rear hub as well as eyelets on the seatstay. That makes installation a breeze
Duppie