Biking the Drive

I've always wanted to Bike the Drive, but I either didn't have a bike or didn't have someone to do it with. This year, I had the bike (and the will to get up at 4:30 in the morning), so I finally did it.

And though it was a little chilly, it was still an awesome day along the lakefront. And even though the bike path runs right alongside the drive, and is $42 cheaper, there's something about riding a bike on a car-less stretch of four-lane highway.

You really do get to see the city in a bit of a different way. Like this great big hole in the ground:

That's where, someday, the 2,000-foot Calatrava spire will go, economy willing. But most of the rest of the scenery was pretty inspiring. The skyline.

The lake.

Just being up at an hour when the sun's over on that side is an accomplishment and a reward.

But the ride itself was great. I couldn't help going superfast, as I just sort of always tend to do, whether walking or biking or rollerblading. I don't have a super-expensive road bike or toe clips or other fancy gear, but I will tell you this -- if there indeed were 20,000 riders out that morning, I passed at least 19,500 of them. I was like the "cutter" kid in Breaking Away, holding my own but occasionally being passed by the Italian national racing team.

I had to do all 30 miles (up and back) just ... well, because. It was a decent workout, especially heading north, into the wind. Today my calves are a little sore, but otherwise I'm feeling fine.

I would do it again -- maybe on a warmer morning. And with the right company.