I am down let me know when and where and I will gladly come out. Btw I only have a road bike as of now.

Recently moved to Niles as well, well Skokie. Would you mind showing me around? Got my first bike two days ago as well and I have no idea where to go for rides with low traffic haha

I am probably going to ride early on Saturday, around 6-630, possibly earlier. What speeds/tempos do either of you like to ride at? This is my workout so I try to keep a 18-20 mph moving pace with some sprints thrown in for good measure. And I know the decent roads and trails to ride on, but at that hour the trails are usually sparsely populated and pretty open.

I haven't had the chance to find a tempo or measure my speed, but 18-20mph seems fine. I'm somewhat of a beginner, I can ride a bike fine but haven't commuted or travelled much on roads yet. Though I plan to change that as soon as I can. Is that cool?

Yeah, I'll send a PM tomorrow at some point.

Alright, sounds good.

I live in Matteson (Southwest Suburbs where the Old Plank Road Trail runs through) but I go to school at Lane so I'm on the North Side around Roscoe Village/Wrigleyville Mon-Fri so lemme know if any of you ever wanna ride

I live in Elgin and bicycle commute to work in West Chicago 2-3 days a week, (12 miles) pretty much year round. I also was doing a saturday morning group ride on the local FP trails but they moved to indoor trainers a few weeks ago! :(

I've been repairing/restoring bikes for many years and have a small collection of cool rides. I would enjoy meeting up with others with similar interests. :beer: Lets get together and talk about our latest projects, repair/upgrade your bike, or go for a ride. :thumb:

I am interested in cycling holidays with group.

Hey, Mike here. I haven't been on the forum in ages. I had a nasty spill and knee injury in June 2013 and surgery later that December. Let's just say that healing proper isn't happening. The arthritis isn't helping, either. Anyway, after 54 years of bicycling, I think I'm done. It sucks, but Mother Nature and Old Age are tough old *****es.

I'm in Schaumburg. My wife works in WC. What road routes out your way do you ride? How about sharing that cool collection of rides!

Sorry to hear this, Mike. Maybe a different style bike could be an option for you?

No way in hell I'm quitting riding unless I'm dead. Even then maybe a quadricycle casket would keep me rolling!

Do you still have the bikes on your list? I'd love to see 'em.

Hi DF. Most of my riding is my work commute, and I have a couple options to mix it up. One cuts through the James Pate Philips State park, and rolls through the Prat Waynes woods forest preserve on Powis road. The other goes down Munger road, across the haunted rail road crossing. Yes, I've done this route at 11pm several times!

I'm also in the Performance Bike meet up group. We ride the local forest preserve trails. http://www.meetup.com/performancebike-schaumburg/ They are not riding outdoors until the weather warms up.

I recently sold two classic Schwinn Sting Rays to help fund my new commuter bike. The Rays were found in the trash many years ago and restored by me. They almost paid for the new Raleigh!

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...ueRaysrear.jpg

Here's a high performance single speed coaster brake bike I built on a Raleigh frame that I got for free:

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...yoSiderear.jpg
Lot's of fun around town, or even on the group FP rides.

Do you ride in the winter, DF?

I will send you a PM.

AlmostTrick, all three bikes are beautiful. You are gifted. Thank you for sharing.

You are very kind 3blue, bicycles are my passion.

Here's one I got at a garage sale for $10.
Before:
http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...tebefore-1.jpg

After:
http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...kol/RRrear.jpg

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...ol/RRfront.jpg

That's what I used say, AlmostTrick.

Not giving up just yet but I'm definitely curtailing my pedaling activities for a while. The removal of the bike bridge under the I90 bridge aided in that decision because that's how I got to work. I took out my Wally World fat bike last Saturday for a few miles(new tires). Felt okay until I'd hit an incline, then nails in the knees.

Once the weather nices up, I may drag the Miyata 600 GT from the rafters and get reacquainted. We survived PBP together almost 25 years ago. It was comfortable and forgiving back then.

And I still have all the bikes listed, plus a few more. N+1 still works.

Kid I grew up with had a green Sting-Ray like your 5 speed. Busted our nuts on that shifter several times.

What, you can't ride across I90? :lol:

Are they planning to replace the bike bridge? I hope so. I've been out there before, but not since it was removed.

Which WW fat bike do you have? If it's the single speed, the stock gearing is way too high! First thing that needs to be changed.

Post some pics! Oh, and when can I come see 'em?

The bike bridge is slated to be replaced with a nicer one in May, 2017. Which means more like mid 2018, when I should be retired and won't care anymore.:D

Some pics.

Fat A$$ Wally. Geared 32/20. Only steel left is the frame and the hubs.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psszwgxmmj.jpg

Raleigh Superbe. The sun shines down on three speeds.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psfb99e84a.jpg

1952-ish Monark with Bendix manual shift 2 speed. Heavier than FAW, but oh so comfy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps66f78dcd.jpg

1973 Raleigh SuperCourse 3 sp fixed gear. Not an S3X.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...r/P6100438.jpg

How I've been getting to work in Elgin since the wipeout and the bridge being gone. Two wheels move the soul and all that.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps6681c7be.jpg

That should wet your whistle. PM me regarding a playdate.

Thanks for posting pics, bikamper. Those are some mighty fine rides you have there.

I went overboard on a WallGoose myself:
http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps3a40b8c0.jpg

I never rode a kickback 2 speed, but have been considering building one with the newer SA hub.

Triple love for the Super Course with yellow fenders! I built a commuter bike up for a co worker with them... always thought it looked great:
http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...l/DSCN1255.jpg

Ya, we need to meet up.

Hey, Almost Trick, our fatties have the same rubber. I replaced the truck inner tubes with Surly 3". Lightened the wheels up just a teeny bit. The old tires and tubes went to Working Bikes Co-Operative, so my garage doesn't smell like Harbor Freight anymore. What did you use for a red rim strip?

Never rode a kickback, either. The Monark has a shifter that looks like a brake lever. Imagine not having ridden a coaster brake bike for over forty years and then taking that 75 lb tank down a steep hill. Grabbing a handful of shift lever will not slow you down in the slightest. The new Sram 2 speed is supposed to be pretty nice, too.

As far as the yellow fenders go, they were what was on the shelf and I bought 'em. The John Deere color scheme worked out well.

A few more. 1954 Robin Hood. 2 speed fixed gear Bendix hub
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...3-15080239.jpg

The Mighty Dunelt. 1964, 2 speed fixed AW, 26" mtb rims. A hoot.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...r/P4200014.jpg

Granddaughter on a 1961 Philips. 10" tires, cable operated rod brakes, and a Villers FW.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...4-17160331.jpg

Those certainly are some sweet classics you have there, BK. :thumb:

Yeah, I put the lighter tubes in the Goose also. As you know, changing out the tires and tubes gave a big reduction in weight. The red in the front rim cut outs is red duct tape. The back actually was never drilled. Upon close inspection, the spoke holes at the rim were slightly distorted from over tightening at the factory. This, combined with the fact that the rear wheel is subjected to much more stress than the front, made me decide to leave well enough alone. The "red" on the rear wheel is actually reflective tape, cut to exact size with a circle cutter for paper! Normally hard to tell in the day time, but you can see it well in this pic...

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...psb9347e3b.jpg

I can only imagine how cool it looks to drivers at night!

I also had Dexter Signs in Elgin make up custom vinyl decals... like I've done on several other projects.

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...pseb9f6674.jpg

AT, the reflective tape on the rear wheel is a great idea. I couldn't even tell from the first pic. What pedals are you running on the WalGoose?

70s Gitane. Alfine 8
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...r/PB240125.jpg

1970 Robin Hood. SA AM hub with triple cluster. Owned since new.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...0RobinHood.jpg

2007 Rivendell Bleriot. Sram 7speed hub
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...er/NYDFYA2.jpg

These last two are to remind everyone to be careful out there.

Early 70s Mercier. Before.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...g/tcorbust.jpg

After.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ing/busted.jpg

Laid up with torn rotator cuff. Surgery next month and then 3 mos off the bike. :( Mebbe see some of you when summer is in full swing.

Here's some of the kids' bikes (Seems like we got all French) Moto, Peugeot, gitane ,gitane

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...ust2012015.jpg

Youngest daughter's,now youngest son's tiny Gitane (450A)

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...newsony032.jpg

New guy from NW Indiana....Crown Point to be exact. Currently reacquainting myself with my Schwinn Madison and researching a new one. Working towards a CX/endurance style. Going to be riding the NWI trails this summer.

Also a new guy from NW Indiana, but hailing from Portage. Also ride a Schwinn; a 1980 three speed Collegiate. I've spent a few hours on the Porter County trails, as well as the trail in Hobart that connects to them (the Oak Savannah?) I think I go a bit too slow to meet up with anyone judging from what I've been reading in this thread. I average only about 10 mph and typically only ride around 10 to 15 miles tops.

If you aren't aware matchstick, the Portage Parks Dept. has a few offroad bicycle courses that tie into the Iron Horse Trail. I believe they can also be accessed from Imagination Glenn Park.

J White