bibliobob

Hey all,

If you haven't done so already, it's time to dig out the wool riding gear! CR lister Mark B. and I have been talking about getting folks together for a Fall ride, and he has graciously offered to host a post-ride meal at his house. We look forward to seeing all of you locals, and definitely welcome any out of towners.

So, how about:

Ride start: 10:00 am, at his house (1459 W Cortez St, Chicago, IL 60642)

Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

Or, if you are coming in from the North, you can meet up with some of us at the top of the Lakefront path. So, 09:45 at the Foster Ave. Beach House:
Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

Either way, we can all then rendezvous (pun intended) at the North Ave Chess pavilion (10:30?), and make our way south to the bottom of the path (we usually turn around at 67th St.), and then make our way back north, and over to Mark's house for a post-ride meal and beverage.

All in all, it should be about a 30 mile ride for most folks, not including any riding that you do after Mark's house, or before the ride.

I figure that we should make it back to Mark's house around 1:00, by the time that we lollygag and shoot the breeze at the chess pavilion, turnaround, etc.

Fair warning: Mark is a bit of a gourmet, oenophile, and lover of the good life. So, I'm guessing that the post-ride board of fare will be pretty fantastic (no pressure, Mark). If you were coming to my house, you'd get a tasty burger, can of High Life, and plenty of shiraz from the Trader Joe's box of wine. I'm looking forward to Mark's spread

But, for food and beverage planning purposes, we are asking that folks rsvp, as we'll need to know how much to provide.

If the weather looks really horrible, we may pull the plug on the Friday night beforehand. After that, the food will have been purchased, and the ride will be on, rain or shine!

If the weather is nice, we'll eat outside at Mark's house afterward. If it's rough, we can all park our bikes in his garage, and he will host us indoors.

Here's a photo from last year's ride (sans iab, as he was tightening the bb on his old Bianchi):




Hope to see you there!
Bob

irwin7638

No reason not to. I assume the pace will be something like whogivesaratsassit's November. I may be able to bring a couple people from Michigan.

Marc

gioscinelli 

Wow, I'll be there at top of the Lakefront path. So, 09:45 at the Foster Ave. Beach House! What about the weather, rain, snow, is still a go! It's was great last year!

Steve Whitlatch 

I would love to do the ride. I will need to ask the wife if I already have plans that day.

b dub 

I'm in! Looking forward to the ride. As always the question is what bike to bring. Well, there is still time to figure it out.

Bernard

Vefer

I'm in! I LOVE this ride! Sometimes it's a little chilly, but if you ride fast enough it's just fine. Or maybe it's just the people. Don't miss this if you're anywhere near Chicago.

Chicago Al 

Steve Whitlatch 

The wife said I have no other plans that morning. I`m in.

crank_addict

Terrific! Will head north that weekend and gladly participate. Is there an RSVP? I also have a nephew in Chicago's Wicker Park and would like to ride.

bibliobob

Excellent! An RSVP here is sufficient. We may do another headcount when we get a couple days out, just so that we can ensure sufficient food and drink.

The 10 day forecast calls for 47 and cloudy on the day before. We'll keep an eye on things, but I think that anything dry and above 40 is definitely a go....

Barrettscv 

I'll be there, but Bob knows that already. I think I'll ride the Serotta.

jjhabbs 

I'll be there weather permitting... the problem is what bike do I ride/

Sedgemop 

I vote for the Paramount or the Superior. Not that I get a vote.

OldBikesRules

Can I come too? Thanks! Do we need to bring anything by way of libations and nourishment?

OldBikesRules

Just a heads up. The huge waves ripped up some sections of the trail. Here are some pictures (not mine).

https://i.imgur.com/VAZiLs1.jpg

Not sure if they will close off these sections for repair soon.

Vefer

The Tribune says that they are working on it. It might be a little slower ride in this section.

[h=1]Stretches of lakefront path closed because of storm damage[/h]
A bicyclist tries to maneuver through debris on Monday as workers remove damaged pavement from last Friday's storm along Chicago's lakefront between North Avenue and Oak Street beach. (Jose M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune)



By Rachel Cromidas, @Rachelcromidas,RedEye




Stretches of the lakefront path are closed, three days after a Halloween storm whipped up Lake Michigan and sent waves crashing across some beaches, exercise paths and Lake Shore Drive.
Workers were out repairing the path Monday, according to Chicago Park District spokeswoman Jessica Maxey-Faulkner.
lRelatedBREAKING NEWSSnowy, windy, scary HalloweenSEE ALL RELATED

8




The city closed the lakefront path between 47th Street and 51st Street on the South Side, where debris was blown onto the path by the high winds, and between North Avenue Beach and Oak Street Beach on the North Side, according to Rob Rejman, the director of planning and development for the park district.
He said Those parts of the path would likely not be repaired until early next week. He said the repairs could in total cost the city between $100,000 to $200,000.
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“The major damage was between North Avenue and Oak Street,” he said. “That area is usually hit the hardest in winter and during storms. Such high winds for such a sustained period of time actually rose the lake level and drove some of the enormous waves. The upward force with those waves tore up huge chunks of asphalt and tossed them all over the place.”
Crews started to lay new asphalt Monday, Rejman said, and could be finished by the end of this week unless projected rain stalls their progress.
The lakefront saw winds of up to 53 miles per hour Friday, according to Charles Mott, a National Weather Service meteorological technician. Chicago also experienced about one-tenth of inch of snowfall during the storm, he said—the second recorded instance of snow this season.


Cyclists who tried to use the north lakefront path Monday afternoon had to contend with "closed" signs, barricades, torn-up terrain and mounds of sand, according to several who attempted the ride.
"It made my whole ride take a little bit longer and it made it confusing," said Sarah Olson, 23, of Lakeview. She was bicycling—using a Divvy rental bike—from her home to Navy Pier, she said. Olson said destruction to the path slowed her down so much that she had to find a station to return her bike before her 30-minute time allotment was up (Divvy bike share users are allotted a half hour to use a bike before it must be docked at a station).
"The worst part was trying to ride over all the stuff that had been torn up," she said. "Especially on this type of bike. At one point I had to take it up onto the grass and walk around."
Tom Stokes, 67, of the Gold Coast, tried to ride north of Fullerton Avenue but couldn't.
"You can't get up that far because there's just mounds of sand, up to here," he said, gesturing at his waist.
He decided to take a southern route for his recreational bike ride.
"Mother Nature—it can't be helped," he said.
Rejman, with the park district, stressed that people should not use the lakefront path where it is barricaded, even if they think they can contend with the uneven ground.
“We’ve put up barriers and signs and we’re really asking people to respect that,” he said. “We’re going to have heavy equipment, and the faster we can work the faster we can get it done.”

Steve Whitlatch 

Maybe someone can ride the route on Saturday to see if there is a workable alternate route around the bad spots? I have been looking forward to this ride for a long time.

TallTravel

I don't think I have time to ride to Chicago in time for the party! Enjoy it!

gioscinelli 

Went out this morning to check the Lake Front path, and there's some progress. Maybe by Sunday it'll be ready for a cool ride. Here are some photo's:

irwin7638

Weather.com shows 40-47 10% chance of rain
Accuweather says 40-45 11%

Being conservative, I'll plan to drive down.

Marc

Chrome Molly

That's a ride I've wanted to do for some time, and certainly the company would be excellent. I am warming the seat of a deer stand this weekend, otherwise I'd have made the trip to join in. Please post pics of the ride.

bibliobob

Hi all,

Sorry for the delay in posting. I subscribed to the thread but didn't get any notifications that there were additional posts.

If you're planning on attending the ride this Sunday, could you respond back with an RSVP, so that we can get an accurate count? Can you also post your real name (first is fine)? We need to figure out how much food and drink to get. And, let us know if you plan on parking at Mark's house, so that he can make sure to have a temporary parking permit for you.

The most current forecast is calling for a high of 48 and cloudy on Sunday. At ride time, it's supposed to be about 41 degrees, with 18 mph winds from the south. So, although it may be a hard slog while we're heading south, it should still be manageable. And, with the water temperature around 50 degrees, being close to the water should help us a bit.

We will eat inside after the ride, and store our bikes in his garage. Also, if any of you want to park at my house and ride down together, please plan on arriving at my house by 0900. We'll want to leave by about 0915 or so, so that we can be sure and arrive at the Foster Beach House by 0945, and make it down to the North Ave. chess pavilion by 1030, to meet up with those who leave from Mark's house, as well as anyone else. Let me know, and I'll send you my address.


At this point, it looks like:

1) Irwin7638
2) Oldbikesrule
3) SteveWhitlach
4) crank_addict
5) Barrettscv
6) Chicago Al

Vefer? Gioscinelli? And, we have quite a few others coming that aren't on BF. RSVP soon, as we need to cap at 25 riders!

See you Sunday!

Steve Whitlatch 

I am bringing my friend Mike.

bibliobob

Come join us, Pete! There's plenty of hunting that goes on in the City of Chicago Feel free to wear your kevlar vest and bring firearms. You'll fit right in....

b dub 

You can add me to the list.
Bernard