Our intrepid reporter arrived in Chicago's Midway airport with the full intention of grabbing a cab, and heading downtown to Chicago's Hyatt Regency in Chicago's Loop. For our readers who have never been to Chicago, the Loop is sort of a confluence of New York's UN, Wall Street, Central Park South, and Chelsea Piers all rolled into one. It is also the concentrated location of Bikechicago.com. But I am ahead of myself here.
As our plane made its final approach at Midway, I noticed what looked like a light rail line, heading from the airport back to the city. When I got down to the baggage claim level, I saw the signs tucked away timidly for "Trains to the City" well our intro to the travel series says, "It is our intention to present an alternative look at the best ways to travel to these destinations in a less mainstream way..." so I said to myself, "What the heck" What's the worst that could happen." After Battling with three recalcitrant ticket machines that refused to take my money or regurgitate a ticket, with the aid of a selfless local, I managed to get a ticket and board the train.
A direct ride to the loop for a spanking $1.75. Detraining, as the LIRR likes to call it, I had a mere three block walk to the hotel, once I regained my bearings. I registered. While registering I thought, "Ok now for the hard part, ask them about storing the bike." Fully expecting to be directed to some dingy corner of the parking garage with a convenient girder to lock the bike to, I was surprised to hear, "Sure you're welcome to use the elevator and take the bike to your room!"
I went up changed into my bike togs and headed off to find bikechicago.com's Millenium Park facility. I had arranged to rent a road bike there and honestly that was really all I expected to accomplish. My preconception could not have been more wrong, or incomplete! A mere three blocks from the hotel, located on the edge of Bicyclist Heaven is the fast food Kiosk-esque storefront of BikeChicago.com's retail function.
I was directed "downstairs" to the area which housed, rental lockers, free bike rack public bike storage, towel rental, accessory sales, and even an on site, on demand bike mechanic.
The staff, Kristy and Maria could not have been more helpful. But here is the intriguing part, in the hour or so that i spent there, I actually met more serious concerned and politically active cyclists than I have all year in New York! Ok lemme list them, there was Stuart, a local road hammer, only too happy to talk bike, and help, more on him later. Then there was Daniel Korman, Director of Membership, and Communications for The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, Corina, a local group ride leader. I felt like I had died and gone to Bicyclist Heaven and it only got better!
Our intrepid reporter arrived in Chicago's Midway airport with the full intention of grabbing a cab, and heading downtown to Chicago's Hyatt Regency in Chicago's Loop. For our readers who have never been to Chicago, the Loop is sort of a confluence of New York's UN, Wall Street, Central Park South, and Chelsea Piers all rolled into one. It is also the concentrated location of Bikechicago.com. But I am ahead of myself here.
As our plane made its final approach at Midway, I noticed what looked like a light rail line, heading from the airport back to the city. When I got down to the baggage claim level, I saw the signs tucked away timidly for "Trains to the City" well our intro to the travel series says, "It is our intention to present an alternative look at the best ways to travel to these destinations in a less mainstream way..." so I said to myself, "What the heck" What's the worst that could happen." After Battling with three recalcitrant ticket machines that refused to take my money or regurgitate a ticket, with the aid of a selfless local, I managed to get a ticket and board the train.
A direct ride to the loop for a spanking $1.75. Detraining, as the LIRR likes to call it, I had a mere three block walk to the hotel, once I regained my bearings. I registered. While registering I thought, "Ok now for the hard part, ask them about storing the bike." Fully expecting to be directed to some dingy corner of the parking garage with a convenient girder to lock the bike to, I was surprised to hear, "Sure you're welcome to use the elevator and take the bike to your room!"
I went up changed into my bike togs and headed off to find bikechicago.com's Millenium Park facility. I had arranged to rent a road bike there and honestly that was really all I expected to accomplish. My preconception could not have been more wrong, or incomplete! A mere three blocks from the hotel, located on the edge of Bicyclist Heaven is the fast food Kiosk-esque storefront of BikeChicago.com's retail function.
I was directed "downstairs" to the area which housed, rental lockers, free bike rack public bike storage, towel rental, accessory sales, and even an on site, on demand bike mechanic.
The staff, Kristy and Maria could not have been more helpful. But here is the intriguing part, in the hour or so that i spent there, I actually met more serious concerned and politically active cyclists than I have all year in New York! Ok lemme list them, there was Stuart, a local road hammer, only too happy to talk bike, and help, more on him later. Then there was Daniel Korman, Director of Membership, and Communications for The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, Corina, a local group ride leader. I felt like I had died and gone to Bicyclist Heaven and it only got better!
