Tour de Chicago

I've been told that Chicagoans loved their bikes, because they only get to ride it ~four months out of the year when it's nice outside. So much love that once a year, they've got this thing called L.A.T.E. Ride (Long After Twilight Ends). It starts at Buckingham fountain at 1:30 am, through some neighborhoods, down Lakeshore, and ends back at Buckingham fountain, 22 miles later.





Well, guess what folks, I biked 22 miles lastnight, or I should say, TOO early this morning. That was probably the most athletic thing I've done, ever. I mean, I've never done 22 miles of anything, except driving it in my car.

Don't know what possessed me to do it, probably my obsession with making sure that I do everything "Chicago," experience everything "Chicago." The weather lastnight was actually quite nice for a bike ride. There must have been thousands of people who came out from all over for this event. I got to see a lot of Chicago neighborhoods at night, and I got a lot of "me" time because I'm too slow to keep up with anyone else in our group. :) I'm not sure if I can say that I'm proud of myself, but I did feel a sense of accomplishment when I finally came back to the starting point, 30 minutes later than all my friends. The last time I was on a bike was with Cathy & Bry, riding around White Rock lake, a 9.33 mile trail, and it KICKED my butt. This was more than double that distance. But anyway, after one pole-hugging incident and one fall (someone hit my bike) later, I finished around 4:45-5am (I think), got in my shower at 5:30am, finally hit the sack at 5:40am, and got up at 9:30am to go to church. (Came home again at 12:30pm, napped until 5:30pm)

I'm in pain, everywhere.

Praise God I didn't die.

Thanks Michael for suggesting it and finding me a bike.

Thanks everyone else for waiting around for me.