lowbike

Hello:
Here's your chance to to bike on Lakeshore Drive on Chicago's lakefront without the worrying about motor vehicles.
you can do 15 or 30 miles, or be a guru like me and go for 75mi +.
enjoy nice view of Chicago's great skyline and lakefront
starts at 5:30 am and shuts down at 10:00 am.

hope to see you there or be square.

Kimbercop

Me and the Mrs. will be there. Im in for the 30, she'll do 15 then sit in the flower garden I'm sure.

Psimet2001 

As mentioned in the BFNIC ride list the family and I are probably in for the ride.

Apnu

I'll be there. Look for me riding a black Dahon Jack with rear rack in a Black tee and helmet with gray shorts.

I'm pretty excited, this is my first year doing Bike the Drive, I missed last year because my son was born two weeks before the ride.

If you see me, say Hi!

straightedge

I'll be there, and I'm resisting the urge to pass the pace lines (Note to self: it's NOT a race). Just gonna enjoy the ride this time

axejeep

My wife and I had a GREAT time. This was our 2nd time out.

Kimbercop

Was very bummed. Weather was raining at 0400 when I got up. Checked the weather and it said 60% chance of t-storms, so the wife and I passed. Woke up at 0730 and it was perfect out. Too late to do anything about it tho. $$$ down the drain and an opportunity to enjoy a nice ride with the wife wasted. Spent the day doing yard work instead

pacent

A few buddies and I did this today. We all did 30. It was my first time doing it. Alot of fun despite the little bit of precipitation. Don't worry, if you missed this, theres always the LATE ride later on this year.

slim_77

Had a great time...I did the north course then met up with my Tour de Cure team and rode around nice and easy for the rest of the morning...our team (Kenwood Academty) raised nearly $2,800 for the ADA.

I got there early-early to pre-ride the Chicago Triathlon bike cource at a decent pace...ya know, so not to be a bother or risk to other slower riders later in the day...on the way back downtown after they directed everyone to the lakefront path (9:45ish) it never fails to have a few riders still try to eek out a workout on a crowded a$$ path and then yell "on your left" and expect a quick reaction from children and their parents.

...this irked me more than getting my cleats blocked up with mud after visiting the CBF registration tent at 5:30am.

...still, it is a great feeling to be on LSD that early with no cars in sight!

Pax

That was the part I found most fun! That and singing "headin' south on lakeshore drive, headin' into town" as we rolled along on the return portion of the north loop.

hyunelan2

Had a great time, even in the wetness. My wife, brother, and I rode the North course first, then the south. I was somewhat annoyed by the "look how fast I can go" guys on $3000 bikes at a recreational 'slow' event. They are more dangerous than the line of cruisers riding 6-wide at 6 mph. There weren't too many of them though.

Here're a couple of pictures from the ride.

wrafl

Sure missed the first opportunity for me to bike the drive. The weather was a hindrance. Maybe next year. And nice pic BTW, thanks for sharing and posting.

Pax

Thanks for sharing the pics! I left my camera in the truck since it was pouring when we started.

madopal

Dunno if anyone heard my system, but I was the one with the big speakers on my rack where the panniers should be. I cranked that tune, but I made the mistake of doing it while heading back North. Whoops!

Had a lot of fun even with the rain. Can't wait for next year.

Apnu

That was you? Those speakers were kick ass! I saw you twice and loved the tunes each time.

aaa

Just a few days after buying my first road bike, I hit this ride. I completed the 30 miles, then took the 'L' home. I think this year I'll be able to do better. No matter what I'm sure to have fun. (I just received 2008 registration notification from CBF.)

duppie

AAA,
You don't actually have to go downtown to start. You can jump on at the North end as well. We did it last year and started and finished at Bryn Mawr.
I was a lot of fun despite the rain
Duppie

aaa

Thanks! Yeah, I procrastinated and did not pickup my packet until the morning of the event. It was my first year, so I didn't know security would be lax.

The rain just made it more memorable. I'll never forget my first time, now, for sure!

Hope to see you out there this year!

Road Fan

I might come in from Ann Arbor to do this, being a Chicago expatriate but loyal, and especially if I pair it with a relatives visit. Is there pre-registration, and on what site?

What are the 30 and 75 mile routes?

Road Fan

youthcom

https://www.bikethedrive.org/

Save $5 if you register online by tomorrow.

ceiph

im just registed! see you guys there

Road Fan

Thanks for the info and the link, but there's no info out there about the longer route.

Does anyone have any info about the longer route, from maybe last year's event?

Road Fan

R900

It's a 15 mile straight run. 30 miles is a complete start to start loop, 60 miles x 2, 90 miles x 3, etc... They close Lake Shore Drive, and the north bound riders use the east lanes, south bound the west lanes. The start is sort of mid-way with the vendors, etc... I remember a break area on the south end, seems like the north end had at least water. Last year it rained in the morning, but was a beautiful day after the ride. We are hoping for a great day this year.

youthcom

A visual look at the route as I remember from 2006 (it should be the same every year). Like was mentioned the full loop course is only 30 miles. Of course you could repeat it to get more miles as time allows (4 hours that LSD is closed to traffic).

Road Fan

Thanks, Youthcom, I didn't realize they were just more "laps" to build up the bigger mileage. Thanks!