Tag: biking

Sunday

I will be honest, there are multiple stress factors in my life these days, and I am not always in my usual calm mode, so I can’t always enjoy my weekend mornings. On Sunday, I knew that there was no way for me to finish everything I planned, or rather, I wished I could accomplish (since I knew there was not enough time, those were wishes, not plans).

Still, the early morning sun was there, and this morning light is so perfect – it blows my mind eash and single time! Blessed mornings!

A new sculptural composition in place of the previous bronze horseman
As much as I love my Charmers Cafe, since I learned how to make cappuccino at home, more often than not, I have Sunday breakfast at home (partially because they are not open on Sundays until 8 AM, and I can’t wait that long!)

Biking In Helsinki In March

“Biking in Helsinki” is something I do regularly, but biking in March is unheard of. I can’t remember a March ever being so warm and sunny, and with all traces of snow gone. Since my flight was not until the afternoon, Boris and I went on a bike ride.

It was a very short ride by Boris’ standards, but a very nice one. Among other things, Boris showed me a bridge he was very excited about: it is open for every mode of transportation except cars :). Way to go, Helsinki!

Morning Biking, Season 6

This is going to be my sixth summer in Rogers Park. On May 9, it will be five years since I moved here, and six years since I discovered biking along Lake Michigan. That being said, even though it’s not even five years just yet, it’s definitely season six 🙂

Super-interesting Article About Biking In Chicago in the 1890s

Read how Chicago became the manufacturing hub of the nation’s bicycle industry — a city that produced a quarter of all U.S. bikes and claimed more than 200,000 riders at the height of the boom. It was also a place where women defied social expectations on two wheels, and where cycling clubs organized one of the country’s first powerful transportation lobbies.

Full article here.

A Couple Of Sunny Days, And Morning Biking

I know it’s not spring yet, just a couple of warm days in the middle of winter, but I am so thankful for them!

I got on the bike both Sunday and Monday, and saw the sunrise over the lake!

The Last Week Of Summer?

I think that the last week was truly the last week of summer, and that today was truly the last beach day. I was so nice and warm, all week long, and the weekend was as perfect as it could be.

I went for a long bike ride in the morning and to the beach in the early afternoon.

Each time I am at the beach, I think about how blessed I am to have this treasure so close to home. I am forever thankful for this gift from the universe, and I will never take it for granted!

Sunday Sunrise

More On Bike The Drive

I saw our pictures taken at three official locations, but I found only one on the website (well, two almost identical ones, at the same location), even though I had noted the picture-taking time precisely. I am happy to have that one, because I never had a picture on an actual ride.

This one was taken closer to the end, and something funny happened shortly after. We heard the sirens and the sounds of a helicopter; even though the Drive was closed, we could imagine that there could be some emergency that called for an exception. Everyone started to turn their heads around and moving to the right side, but there were no blue flashes coming. Only after the helicopter appeared right above us did we realize that the siren sound was coming from above! And the blue lights were flashing at the helicopter’s bottom!

I wonder who was supposed to move and let them fly 😂.

Bike the Drive 2025

I did Bike the Drive for the fourth time, and for the first time, Boris and I did it together. The total distance we covered was slightly shorter than our Friday ride (36 miles), but it felt much easier!

This year, we had helmet tags in addition to the loops on the handlebars
Two minutes before start
At the Museum of Science and Industry rest stop
Only after somebody complimented my “jersey” did I realize that Boris and I standing together represent the Ukrainian flag, in addition to the flags I attached to both of my tops. When I realized that, I asked one of the participants to take a picture of both of us.
We didn’t pick up our t-shirts at the start of the ride because they were not unpacked yet, and I decided we would be fine at the main entrance. There was a huge line, but it moved relatively fast, and while Boris stayed in the t-shirt line, I picked both our 30 -mile challenge medals.
The view from the bridge
Belive it or not, but this t-shirt is size youth medium! Now I know which size to choose 🙂
The third 30-mile challenge!

And one more thing! The apples that we had for snacks at the rest stops were provided by Michigan Apples, and I could tell the difference! I didn’t know until I saw their booth and stopped by, but I knew the apples were different this year!

Going (almost) All The Way South

Today, Boris and I did what I wanted to do for a very long time: biked from our house all the way south, almost to the end of the Lake Front Trail. “Almost” was because of imperfect planning and our local problem of the absence of public bathrooms everywhere, especially in city parks, and specifically on the Lake Front Trail. Moreover, there were several portables sitting around during summer, but someone decided that summer was already over 🤷🏻‍♀️.

We planned for the worst-case bathroom scenario, so it was not a complete showstopper, but another thing I didn’t know was how many interesting things we would discover along the way. We should have planned a day trip to have time to stop by each overpass and look down, or cross the Lake Shore Drive and look at the small pond with swans, or stop at the wildlife sanctuary.

Also, for some reason, I thought that the Lake Front Trail ends by the Museum of Science and Industry, but it turns out that it doesn’t. I was determined to reach the very end, but there was a big traffic crossing very close to the abovementioned end, and I knew it was just a mile and a half left, so I made an executive decision to turn back.

In total, we covered 39.6 miles, and I was planning for 41 miles, but I decided not to focus on these small details 🙂

I took way fewer pictures than I planned, but it is definitely not the last time. Next time, we will plan for at least six hours on the road.

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