Chicago Critical Mass 062907

One of the best rides of my life?

Really, I went places in the City of Chicago, on a bike with roughly 800 of my closest friends, that I have never seen , much less traveled in a car or any other vehicle for that matter. But to be on a bike on a summer Friday night when the air temp was in the 60s- it couldn't have been more perfect.

Below is a picture of a mcdonald'$ on Cermak, under the American flag. I think the shot sums it all up- you have a ton of people on bikes, riding by a mcd'$ and a Coke sign above the tunnel. Riding up the Wild West Side, here is a shot that also captures the scenery and mood. Picture scenes such as this, replete with alternately Roger & The Gypsies and Curtis Mayfield blasting on the mobile bike soundsystems-loud. The residents, and the undercover police threw a lot of high signs and raise the roof gestures. They looked as if they were watching a procession of Martians. The shorty shaking it ten feet off the ground-safety be damned- was definitely feeling it.

I really have to give props to the mobile sound system DJ who was playing Chitown Homeboy #1, Mr. Mayfield. The scenery matched up with the anti-drug lyrical content perfectly. RIP Curtis.
This shot is just for looks, as I think it looks awesome. That tunnel on Damen on the South Side is like a block long, then there is a break and then it continues for another block. In a word, "Whoa!!!"

Critical Mass Chicago 04.27.07

OOO Wee, What do we have here? Looks like another installment of CCM Chicago. Below is an action shot, featuring the "art Bike" of the HiGuy on the left and various other riders. Note the vintage Raleigh a bit right of center.


Heading west along Wacker Drive with the river to the left, I was determined to follow the tunes on the trailer directly in front of me. A pretty impressive soundsystem, I may add, consisting of a car amp, and ipod and some vintage speaker cabinet that looked as if it could have been from an old jukebox. Loud and blaring JB (and possibly TooShort). Nice.

Here is a shot of a tall bike rider using a paddy wagon as an armrest. This shot helps to sum up the sights and sounds of this Mass. Pretty laid back, good turnout and from my perspective, few if any problems.

Critical Mass Chicago 3.30.07

What a perfect night it was for Critical Mass here in Chicago. There was quite the turnout. I would say that there were 4-500 people on the Mass.


Team Cratedigger rider looks on towards a large bevy of riders on Washington that is not visible in the shot.

Here is an action shot of a girl that was mad that she might be late, as she turned north on Michigan Ave off of Wacker Drive. If you look closely you can see her reaching for the horn button on her hooptie. To the right of me was a tourbus that was stopped on the bridge as a rider parked his bike in front of the bus and took videos of the driver and passenger reaction to his action. Entertainment at its' finest.

The ride also made its way down Illinois towards Navy Pier and then back up Grand.

Here is another challenged shot where I am shooting while riding, heading south past CroBar on Kingsbury. The stretch of the ride right befrore this, where we were riding west on North Ave, was replete with many a Beamer and irritated Benz driver. We laughed and wished everyone a happy Friday as we "beat" them in the "traffic race."

This was a great ride, and even though the weather looked threatening as I got misted while riding to the Metra prior to the ride, everything held out for a perfect night of bike riding in the city.