Let me play homer for just a second.
I promise CBA will not go on about “The world’s first…” “Chicago has the only…” “Chicago is the inventor of…” I’m not on the city payroll (not anymore at least)
It is my firm belief, as someone who fancies himself a traveler, that all places have value. I have to take what the place is offering not what I expect the place to be. Good life stories can always be found.
So what is Chicago offering the cyclo-gawker, hey?
- Flat City, USA – This place is a pancake. Overpasses are the biggest climbs you’ll have to deal with in the city limits. The Beverly neighborhood in the far south tops out at a less than Everest 670 ft above sea level. With most of Chicago at basically 600 ft you get the idea.
- Neighborhoods – Chicago loves its City of Neighborhoods mystique. Each has its own ever evolving story and architecture. The easiest way to hit a few in one go is to hop on a bike (and sign up for a guided tour with us)
- An increasing pro-cycling environment – Bicycling listed Chicago as the best bike city in the country. Dedicated bike lanes are increasing. The Divy bike rental stations are proliferating. Cycling is the state exercise as of 2018!
- The climate – When I first typed this (2/7/2018) it was a wind chilled 5 degrees F and snowing, so this one may sound crazy to some. The other 9 months are great. The only truly hot months are July and August. If you have gloves and a windbreaker layer, the air keeps you cooler as you generate heat.
A quick but honest sales pitch
A smart aleck might offer me a counter list “Why to not bike Chicago?” and no doubt crime would be on the list (if not the extent of the list). It is a real concern, for out-of-towners, for Chicagoans, and especially for the folks who live in the particularly hard hit areas. If you find that this is keeping you from getting out of the Loop of skyscrapers (which are awesome) and into this city’s neighborhoods (which are also awesome), I offer my experience as someone who has biked all of the city and who has worked a fair number of years in the neighborhoods. Come see what they have to offer.