CHICAGO SUMMER RIDE/GATHERING ~ RIDING THE SCENIC CHICAGO LAKEFRONT



WHEN: SATURDAY JULY 10TH at 12:00 noon until whenever (Rain Date : Sunday the 11th)

THE PLAN:
We will all meet up in the huge parking lot near Montrose Beach at Noon, check out each other’s bikes, do some tricks and get ready to ride. Then we will take a ride along Chicago’s scenic lakefront. We’ll stop along the way for some tricks, snacks and photo ops. The end of our ride will return us to our meeting place, where we can hang out and BBQ. (I will also be looking into food and drink establishments in the area as an alternative.)

THE ROUTE:
We will start cruising on the bike path near Montrose beach and head south, passing by North Avenue Beach, Navy Pier, and ending up at Buckingham Fountain. We will then head back up the lakefront, ending up at the starting point.

YOUR BIKES:
Any BMX bike that you can ride is good for this gathering. Let‘s do our best to bring out as many old school bikes as possible! Keep in mind that we will be riding a good distance, so make sure your bike can handle it.

WHO:
Anyone is welcome. Bring your friends, significant others, families (just make sure kids are old enough to handle a long ride), etc. The more the merrier!

THE MEETING PLACE:
The Wilson Avenue parking lot (near Montrose Beach). This is a huge free parking lot. As you pull in off of Wilson Ave, the Skate Park will be immediately on your left. Drive past the Skate Park to the Northwest corner of the lot. (Yellow Circle at top of photo)



DIRECTIONS TO MEETING POINT:

I suggest you double check the directions from your specific starting point. NOTE: the meeting point does not have an address (since it is a parking lot) so when using Mapquest use the following address for the destination:
Weiss Memorial Hospital 4646 N. Marine Drive Chicago, IL 60640. The hospital is just on the other side of US-41, near the corner of Marine Drive & Wilson Ave. (The Yellow circle with the Star/B in it)

From the North (I-94)
Take I-94 E/ EDENS EXPY E toward Chicago
Take the EAST TOUHY AVE Exit (EXIT 39B)
Turn slight RIGHT onto TOUHY AVE.
Turn Slight RIGHT onto N. LINCOLN AVE/US-41
Turn LEFT onto W. FOSTER AVE/US-41
Merge onto US-41/N. LAKE SHORE DR.
Take the WILSON AVE EXIT
Turn LEFT onto WILSON AVE.
Turn LEFT into parking lot.

From the North (I-90)
Take I-90 E/Jane Addams Memorial Tollway toward Chicago
Keep RIGHT at the fork to go on I-90 E
Take the LAWRENCE AVE Exit (EXIT 84)
Turn slight LEFT onto W. LAWRENCE AVE.
Turn RIGHT onto N. MARINE DRIVE
Turn LEFT onto WILSON AVE.
Turn LEFT into parking lot.

From the West (I-290)
Take I-290E/Eisenhower EXPY E
Merge onto I-90W/I-94W KENNEDY EXPY W (Toward Wisconsin)
Take the EAST OHIO ST Exit, EXIT 50B
Stay STRAIGHT to go on to W. OHIO ST.
Turn LEFT onto N. MICHIGAN AVE.
Turn SLIGHT RIGHT to stay on N. MICHIGAN AVE.
Stay STRAIGHT to go on ramp
Merge onto US-41N/ N LAKE SHORE DRIVE
Take the WILSON AVE exit ramp
Turn RIGHT on WILSON AVE
Take immediate LEFT into parking lot.

From the South (I-55)
Take I-55N/STEVENSON EXPY N
Merge onto S. LAKE SHORE DR/US-41 N. via the exit on the LEFT
Take the WILSON AVE exit ramp
Turn RIGHT on WILSON AVE
Take immediate LEFT into parking lot.

From the South (I-57)
Take I-57N
Merge onto I-94W/DAN RYAN EXPY W. via exit on left toward Chicago loop
Keep LEFT to take DAN RYAN EXPRESS LN W/I-94 EXPRESS LN W (toward Pershing Rd.)
Take EXIT 53C toward I-55 N/STEVENSON EXPY/LAKE SHORE DRIVE/22nd ST.
Merge onto I-55 N/STEVENSON EXPY N. toward LAKE SHORE DRIVE
Merge onto S. LAKE SHORE DR/US-41 N. via the exit on the LEFT
Take the WILSON AVE exit ramp
Turn RIGHT on WILSON AVE
Take immediate LEFT into parking lot.

BY TRAIN:
Here's a map of the downtown Metra locations. Ride east to the lakefront path from your stop and then ride North. Stay on the bike path all the way up. It's about a six mile ride to the Wilson Ave lot.




This ride is just about meeting up with fellow members from the Museum, taking in some of the awesome Chicago scenery, and checking out each other’s bikes. If all goes well, we can expand on this for next year. So please tell all of your friends, and let me know if you can make it! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Neal

Neal, whats the total miles of the ride going to be? you have a phone number?

Although the original route is somewhere around 12 or 13 miles, we have been discussing kind of feeling it out when everyone is there. Since we'll probably want to stop for some tricks and photo ops, I figure we will likely end up covering less distance. If we scale it back to North Ave beach and back it's about seven miles. When I posted this event I wanted to have a route laid out, but I don't want it to be too exhausting so we can adjust the distance as needed.

There will be a grille at the meeting point and a bunch of supplies so people can hang out and eat too. I think a couple people might stay at the "base camp" while we're riding.

Hope to see you there,

Neal

Hi I really like the idea.I am planning to make it there.I do have one concern.The start time.That parking lot will be full within a half hour of opening.What time do you think most guys will be showing up?

Some of us will probably be there at least an hour before. I don't know if you've ever been to that lot before but it is huge. Last time I was there on a Sat it was not full. It's also not the only parking in that area, but it's the farthest from the lake. One of the reasons this location was chosen is because we will have the best chance at finding a spot there.

Hope you can make it out,

Neal

WOW 12-13 MILES ! !


I would think that most of these over weight senior citizens collecting vintage bmx bikes arent going to be able to ride that far , EAT then ride back...lol.. Im one of them for sure. I am trying to talk the whole family into going we may go for awhile and turn back. Im sure it would be good to meet you all. Keep us posted .
We were just over there by a skate park i think 31st street exit off lake shore drive. is that the same spot?

Al - 12 noon

dad...the 31st street skatepark is at the exact opposite end of where this meeting place is...you were down there by McCormic place...not too far from "the 'hood" if you catch my drift....the wilson park is on the north side of the city....ill be doing my damdest to come...i have a bike partially built...

I wouldn't let the original route/mileage scare you away. As I mentioned before, I wanted to have some structure to the event when I posted it, but most of us just want to hang out and do some riding. No real agenda for a specific # of miles. There will likely be a few people hanging out at the BBQ area so you can cut it short and hang out there when ever you want. The whole stretch by the lake is awesome so it really doesn't matter how far you ride.
So we now have a few people pitching in on food. alainmagana is bringing his grille, and so far we have enough basic supplies to feed 30-40. I'm doing a Roll Call this weekend to see if we need to bring more food & drinks. Feel free to bring some supplies.

Please let us know if you can make it out. Hope to see some of you there,
Neal

i am going to try and make it in the middle of planning for my event in august. I may bring a cooler with water and 1 with possibly lemonade

A big thanks to everyone who made it out on Saturday. It was nice to finally meet all of you, do some riding and talk bikes. The day went by so fast, I wish I had more time to talk with everyone.

Thanks to everyone for bringing food & drinks. A special thanks to alainmagana for bringing the grille and meats. I really appreciate it guys.


We'll have to do this again,

Neal

wow...looks like there was a decent turnout!! sorry i couldnt make it.

Thanks Neal for putting this ride together.You did a great job.I wish I had more time.I had to run but I am looking forward to doing it again before the summer is over.To everyone who thought about it,you need to make it out there next time well worth it.