Thirsty Thursday - LCCC Group Ride

Following the advice from the group at Tighthead Brewing and I found the information about the Lake County Cycling Collective's Thirsty Thursday ride from Meetup. The ride started at the Buffalo Creek Brewery in Long Grove.  

Tighthead Brewing Company

I didn't ride Tuesday because it rained again in the morning and I had dinner plans with my uncle and his family.  On Wednesday, after work, I headed out on the singlespeed to ride to the Tighthead Brewery.  It was pretty hot, nearing the 90s but again the slight breeze that seems to be always blowing and the lack of humidity made riding here very enjoyable - what can I say, I like the heat.

Whole Foods has a bar?

Up until this point I have basically just been riding solo but I had been continually keeping an eye out for a group to join. Through one of the cycling Meetups I found a post from a northern suburbs guy looking for others to ride with so I messaged Darren and said that I would love to ride with you since I am in the same vicinity.

Singlespeed Tour de Chicago - Bonked

I have always wanted to ride my singlespeed through a city and today I was going to ride through Chicago.  From her house and back it was around 65 miles and despite a little early unpleasantness it turned out to be a really nice day.

Beermiscuous

I found what I thought was another brewery to try, Beermiscuous, in Highwood, which is between Highland Park and Lake Forest. In fact, right across the street from the old Fort Sheridan. 

Cock Sizing

My front brake cable was acting funny on the Waltly so I rode the singlespeed this morning to the Northbrook Veldrome

Buffalo Creek Brewery Ride after Work

With the mercury into the 90s but very little humidity I headed out Tuesday, July 19th on route that would take me north to Libertyville and then head south with a brewery stop 3/4s of the way through the ride.

Singlespeeding the Des Plaines River Greenway Trail

 

After over two hundred miles of riding on the Waltly it was time to give JustGoodBeers some lovin. Afterall, why did I bring it in the first place if I wasn't going to ride it? 

Fred's

I dropped off my Aunt's dog, Lilly, with someone who would watch her for me from Saturday through Sunday so I could do my ride to Wisconsin. My Aunt told me about a famous burger joint in Burlington called Fred's and if I was in the area I had to stop.  My plan for this ride was to visit my family's ancestral farm and resort which was on Brown's Lake in Burlington.  The route that I planned out was 120 miles and figured with the flat terrain and the speeds I can achieve here that doing this distance in around 8 hours would be fine.

Beer Shopping

On Friday, it rained all day, so after dropping my Aunt off at the airport I went shopping for more food and of course I needed some more beer only to find out you can't buy beer before 9 AM in Chicago. Seriously?

North Chicago Bailout

My original intention on this ride this morning was to ride further north, to Lake Forest and then pick up Sheridan Road and ride back down to the Baha'i Temple and then loop back on Green Bay Road. 

Highland Park Strong

Got out a little earlier than yesterday and rode to Highland Park

Morning at Lake Michigan

 

My first ride this summer in Chicago took me to the shores of Lake Michigan down off of Sheridan Road, which is a major cycling route. One of the challenges of riding in the Northern Chicago Suburbs is trying to avoid the major thoroughfares, like Lake Cook Rd, Dundee Rd and Willow Rd, and then finding ways to get over to Highland Park to Green Bay Road.

Heading to Chicago

 

I drove to Chicago to live with my Aunt, who is like a big sister to me, and of course do some riding. I drove 7 hours to Youngstown, OH and we stayed over at a Comfort Suites. I drove the whole way and we talked the whole time.  I brought my singlespeed to ride the bike trails and Northbrook Velodrome and the Waltly Titanium, which I now consider my long distance bike.

Roxbury Dirt Thirty

Mike, Marshal, Scott and I went out on Sunday to ride a little gravel from Roxbury Town Hall. Afterwards, we would get Ferris Acres ice cream. I layed out a route inspired by my late friend and cycling colleague, Andy Engel. First dirt on this route is the second climb of the ride on Old Roxbury Road.

4th of July Century

I met Scott at the Newtown Flagpole on the Fourth of July for a ride down to the coast. We did the usual route by riding first down to Westport to Long Shore, then by the Minute Man and then to Compo Beach.

Heckled by a Rabbi on Segar Mountain

 

After spending a couple of days in NYC visiting with my best friend from High School I finally got out on the bike early Friday afternoon because we have half day Fridays at work during the summer. I drove over to Mike's house in Gaylordsville and we rode up South Kent Road to Segar Mountain Road or Route 341.