Essence, N Hoyne & W Potomac, Chicago, IL

Essence rides a Yellow Collegiate Schwinn.  It was a birthday gift from her boyfriend.

What are you wearing?  I'm wearing a yellow shirt because it's my favorite color, and it matches the bike too which is cool. I wear my helmet for protection. You can never  be too safe on a bike.
Where are you going?  I'm just riding around. I typically ride from Wicker Park into Bucktown and just follow the wind. I don't really plan my routes. I just go off of my instincts. I quit when I feel like I've had enough.I try to ride for at least an hour a day..I think it's a nice way to entertain myself without spending money plus it's great exercise. 
Why ride?  Riding is a lot more exhilarating than walking or running. I feel free from my stress when I ride my bike. I guess it's an adrenaline rush...
Favorite ride?  My favorite ride is on the Lake Front... I love riding down to the lake and just riding along the beach. I usually take Division down because it's a lot safer than North.
While riding you …?  While riding I'm free from stress and I just turn my i pod down really low and let the music guide me.
Do you have any tips?  Practice makes perfect. The more you ride the better you become. So, don't get discouraged if you don't ride as fast or as skillfully as someone else. Biking is all about you. Your personal pace and having a good time.

Roxy, W Augusta Blvd & N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL

Roxy rides a a Yellow concord New Yorker she got it for sixty bucks a place on Riverside in Rockford IL

What are you wearing?  Boots i got at a thrift store in Oklahoma, my roomates clothes and some non-perscription  safety specs my friends got me

Where are you going?  to a metal smithing apprenticeship
Why ride? it makes my ass look tight!
Favorite ride? i like to ride in the country with the sun or moon shining
While riding you …?  check out all the hot boys and girls and hit on them or sing
How can Chicago improve bike infrastructure or make Chicago more bike friendly? Chicago could be more bike friendly if people in cars were more aware of bikers and didn't door them!

Amy, W Chicago Ave & N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL

Amy rides a robins egg blue Flandria road bike

Anami, W Armitage Ave & N Humboldt Blvd, Chicago, IL

N Wells St & W Erie St, Chicago, IL

 Love the purple handlebar tape!

Stephanie, 700 Block of W Adams, Chicago, IL

How about a little sunshine on this dreary day.

Stephanie rides a Fugi Track that she bought from Cycle Smithy and then repainted.

What are you wearing? A motley assortment of clothing, I'd say! I like to mix-and-match discount/vintage pieces of clothing when I go to work. That way, it doesn't bother me much if I spill coffee (which I always do) all over them. 
I love your paint job tell me about it? I repainted it black with glow-in-the-dark green and yellow splatters.
Where are you going? To sling coffee and pancakes at work in the South Loop.
Why ride? The elements in your face and the rush of speeding through cars and dodging buses. It makes you feel alive. It's also a great contrast - exercise wise - to the yoga I do.
Favorite ride? Down Milwaukee to the Loop from Logan Square in the very early morning of the weekends. It's like a ghost town in the Loop and nothing stops you.
While riding you …? Sing. It doesn't sound good, but it's pretty fun to sing with the wind blowing in your face.How can Chicago improve bike infrastructure or make Chicago more bike friendly? More bike lanes! Another lady biker said this on your site as well, but it is sad and scary when you turn down a street in Chicago and there isn't a bike lane.

Ride of Slience

Dear fellow cyclists,
As the Ride of Silence approaches — Wednesday night, May 18, 2011 for most communities — let’s take a moment now to reflect why we ride in silence and for whom. As someone commented on the Ride of Silence’s Facebook page – “the great thing about the Ride of SILENCE, it’s the same spoken in any language.” Silence is truly a universal and powerful language.

Below in the comments, please list the name of a bicyclist (could be yourself as a crash survivor) that you honor and wish to always be remembered.

Then please take a moment to also add this honoree info here (which will be collected by official ROS organizers for possible inclusion on the memorial page, which hopes to soon include injured cyclists). To see a list of all cyclists who have already been memorialized on the ROS site, visit the “In Memoriam” page.

Now – fellow bike bloggers… help us make another “silent” statement before the night of the ROS silent procession. Please re-post this exact post on your own blog asking the same of your readership (to comment with the names of bicyclists they honor and remember and to repost).

This is our “honor roll” for all bicyclists that the Ride of Silence (the global bike community) will never forget! We honor in this “silent” way all those who have been killed or injured by respectfully saying nothing at all… as we put a name to all cycling crash victims who we will never forget.

Please also add the names of cyclists we honor to the ROS Honor Roll database for statistical collection purposes –http://bit.ly/mnFne9

Let the Silence ROAR.

W Monroe St & S Desplaines St, Chicago, IL

So I stopped Jennifer (not sure that is her name) on the street and then completely lost her name and email.  Email me if you know her.  That said, Totally diggin' the sheer tights with motorcycle boots.

Nikki, W Grand Ave & N Ogden Ave, Chicago, IL

Hey Chicago, remember 3 hours ago when it was nice outside.  I think this photo proves, no one enjoys an 80˚ day like a Chicagoan during "Spring."

Nikki rides a Roadmaster Scorcher in red from Ciclo Urbano

What are you wearing? My new summer heels, finally!
Make/model color of your bike, and where you got it? Roadmaster Scorcher in red from Ciclo Urbano
Where are you going? Brunch with my boyfriend
Why ride? It's easier than walking in heels...
Favorite ride? Midnight Marauders
While riding you …? Keep an eye out for every car, door, pedestrian, and pothole.How can Chicago improve bike infrastructure or make Chicago more bike friendly? More bike lanes less potholes in the existing bike lanes.

Rose, 400 Block of W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL

Rose rides a Blue Motobecane Grand Touring Mixte that she got from a nice fella in her neighborhood via Craigslist.

 
What are you wearing?  My favorite Barney-colored hoodie.  It is like a second skin.
Where are you going?  I'm headed to Daley Plaza to run an errand before heading to work at UIC.  If I could only figure out how to get through these closed bridges!
Why ride?  Its cheaper, greener, great exercise, and on a good day is fun and exhilarating.
While riding you …?  ...Often have the theme to Taxi in my head - especially if its nighttime.
How can Chicago improve bike infrastructure or make Chicago more bike friendly?  Expand and respect bike lanes and repair more roads.

Mia, W Grand Ave & N Halsted St, Chicago, IL

Mia rides a a Gary Fisher Simple City 3 from Village Cycle Center in Old Town

Where are you going? To work - my office is across from the Merchandise Mart 
Why ride? Why not ride? Riding my bike to and from work automatically puts me in a better mood for the whole day. It just makes me really happy. Of course there are a ton of environmental and health benefits to biking, but I do it just because I love it.
Favorite ride? Oh that's a hard one because there are so many good ones in Chicago! I like riding around the industrial side of the West Loop late at night. And last year my boyfriend and I rode up the the Botanical Gardens from our apartment in Wicker Park, that was pretty amazing.
While riding you …? Smile.
How can Chicago improve bike infrastructure or make Chicago more bike friendly? Bike lanes bike lanes bike lanes! It's always such a bummer to turn on to a street just to realize there is no bike lane.

Pet Week Update!

My call out for a pet carrier was answered by Kathy and Yvonne, who had one that their dog never took a liking to.  With a little cash and trade, I was riding home with this very nice Burley Trailer. Thanks Kathy and Yvonne, Radar loves his new pet wagon! Now we can ride bikes to summer BBQs and still bring our dog. 

Lucia, 200 Block of W Monroe, Chicago, IL

Lucia rides a gold Schwinn Cruiser. 

Cassie, W Chicago Ave & N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL

Cassie rides a beat up Giant Cabriolet, road bike. 

Tell me more about your bike: It's a beat up, chewed on pink road bike that I got from my boyfriend when I first came to Chicago. My cat thinks it's his scratching/biting post.
Where are you going? Work! Work! All day long. 
Why ride? The thrill of the wind in my face, the sun on my back, and the sounds and smells outside. Plus, I like to pretend it's a pink motorcycle. 
Favorite ride? The way home from work, starting at Milwaukee and Augusta, but especially down Division Street!
While riding you listen to fast traveling songs like My Favorite Game by the Cardigans, or No Stress by A9D.
How can Chicago improve bike infrastructure or make Chicago more bike friendly? The city should enforce the bike lanes more, in regards to the cars who seem to all share an ignorance for the bikers and our lane. Other than that, the city is easy enough to get around.

Arit, 900 Block of South Halsted, Chicago, IL

Arit rides a Black Batavus BUB Step Through 3-Speed, from Copenhagen Cyclery

What are you wearing: black canvas lace-up sneakers, my favorite stretchy jeans and a bright green trench that I got on super clearance at an outlet mall. (My bike is wearing a yellow scarf I got as a gift from my aunt 2 years ago)
Where are you going? To meet my mom for brunch at the Sweet Maple Café in Tri-Taylor
Why I ride: It’s the best way to explore the city
Favorite ride: Going north on the Lakefront trail, I love it when you get to Edgewater and everything seems to quiet down

Chicago becoming more bike friendly? More people need to bike. That’s the only way Chicago will be come more bike friendly, drivers need to be more aware that we’re on the road and they can’t ignore us if we outnumber them.

Nastasia, W Pershing Rd & S Iron St, Chicago, IL

Nastasia rides a Red Schwinn from Working Bikes.

What are you wearing? The most comfortable pair of pants ever. Screw skinny jeans and steal your boyfriend's/brother's/father's/lover's/ex-lover's/platonic friend's jeans.  So much better to bike in.

Tell me more about your bike:  I got my bike from Working Bikes in October.  I love it because even though there are a lot of red Schwinns, but I can always pick her out because of her tires.

Where are you going?  Back to Hyde Park.

Why ride? There's something about riding a bike, especially in a city, that is empowering, liberating, and exhilarating all at the same time.  

How can Chicago improve bike infrastructure or make Chicago more bike friendly? I think bikers and drivers alike should work to improve our awareness and respect for each other.