Cycling Sisters

Join us for a cheery outing along the amazingly lovely Lakefront Bike Path as we mosey up to the Museum campus. After a short break for bathroom pit stops, we'll cruise over to Northerly Island to scope out the flora and fauna--as well as the new art installation. Then on to Chinatown for lunch at Evergreen Restaurant (S. end of the 'strip', on E. side). Return through the IIT campus (admiring the architecture) and Bronzeville (short stop at Stephen Douglas tomb and memorial). Ride length: about 20 miles, pace approx 10-12 mph.

Ride starts at the 63rd Street BEACH house (ample free parking). Meet southwest of the main building, on the sidewalk.

Come join us for an informal bike ride and dinner in historic Hyde Park. The ride will focus on cruising through the many large parks in the area (Washington, Jackson, the midway plaisance, etc) with a final jaunt along the lakefront bike path. Finish the outing with convivial conversation at Noodles Thai or Snail Thai (to be voted on the day of the event). Route length of approx. 10 miles; pace is moderate (10-12 mph)

Meet at the 63rd Street field house. Parking lot is large, well-lit, open, and well-used (even at night).

Contact person: Jane Healy (repto at aol dot com)
Day of event cell phone: 708-308-8662

Come ride on a nearby Rail-to-Trail conversion through the far South suburbs. The Old Plank Road was originally a Native American trail that was converted around 1852 into a 'plank road' (literally a road made of wooden planks), to allow early settlers to get their goods to market. By 1855, the plank road had been converted into a railroad. In 1911 an interurban trolley was built in parallel to the RR on the same right-of-way. After hard times for the railroads from the end of WWII through the early 70s, the Joliet Cutoff (as the Old Plank Road was known) was abandoned.

The ride will start at the parking lot of Target in Matteson (just S. of Lincoln Mall). Exit I-57 at Lincoln Highway (east). Travel about 1 mile to Cicero. Turn South and travel a few blocks to the Target. The OPRT is just N. of the parking lot. Look for cars/vans with bike racks to know where to park.