Chicago
 

This may belong in another thread, but since I'm 24 years on the far side of 50, and most of the other sections don't seem to get much activity, and since I have learned to know and trust the people here, I thought I'd post it here.

I'd like to take a vacation with my bike to visit my relatives in Chicago. Although Amtrak, the South Shore, Metra and the CTA all say on their websites you can take bikes on their non rush hour trains, how realistic is it to take mine (complete with saddlebags) at Union Station from the California Zephyr to a Metra train to Joliet? Or to take Metra from Joliet to the Blue Line subway to pick up the Prairie Path? Or Metra to the Millenium Station and then the South Shore to South Bend?

My cousins and their millennial children think this is a nutty idea, but then they don't ride bikes. I think it might be fun.

Has anyone over 50 tried this? Any advice?

That right there would be all the encouragement I needed. I agree, sounds fun.