The first 5 runs of this season have been relatively uneventful. Let’s face it, wet and cold is not fun unless you are masochistic or in training. Our 3/21/13 ride brought Jen, Lt. Dan and Skater Boy Derek out of the warm winter closet and back out onto the Thursday night trail. We decided to check out Abicks Bar, a historic place been open for 104 years in SW Detroit. Going into that place is like going over to your Aunties living room. You will know who is in charge right away while you in turn can relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of another piece Detroit History. For tonight’s ride the weather would be no different than before and perhaps even worse. Some of us decided to show up anyways.

As I looked out my studio window it had been raining all day and the forecast indicated that it would not stop. I took a good 15 min. to change into my gear as my internal monolog switched gears along with each passing minute. First gear, “no one’s going to show up anyways, so why ride?”, second gear “you are going to be soaking wet and won’t dry off once you get there”, 3rd gear, “your cables are going to get grimy and need to be cleaned”, 4th gear, you did not pack your rain fenders and you brought shorts?” catch the drift? Soon it became clear, not from the top down, but rather from the ground up, defeat the conversation in your head and then you can be free!

7.2 miles through the rain and street wide puddles, smeared with the type large dirty streak up ones back that would make a Porn Star smile. While we are out getting down and dirty, lets fill up our shoes with similar water and enjoy the squoose with each peddle pressed. I loved it! I slowed down and breathed deeper than I have in a long while. Sort of found my center and let what I have been holding attached to wash down the drains, along with the rest of the dirty water. When I finally arrived at MCB smiling I walked in to find my main man Gary suited up in gear and ready to roll, what a site!

Been a long while since I sat down with Gary and had a chance to catch up. Seems he has been in training down at the Athletic Club all winter long and his quadricep tear drop looked like a nice sized orange pressed under his skin. Watch out Chris Frey this guy will be keeping right up with us on our trail exploration rides. The rain did stop, just long enough for Gary and me to catch up, and when Rain returned she decided to bring her friends Down and Pour along with her. I told Gary I really did not want to continue out with the ride and he agreed. I saddled up and hit the 7.2 back, changing as I walked in through the door, stopping only long enough, to pour the water out of my shoes, back out onto the front porch.

Bike Detroit! J. Meyers bike explorer.

I have been hung up on writing this blog first before I wrote about any of the other rides that have happened since then. Sorry for the delay and so here goes it:

The 49th annual Moose Jaw Snow Safari was looking sketchy on account of thin snow so Big Mike had the bright Idea that we venture out to Chicago to do an Epic ride on Saturday in place of the storied Moose Safari? Why not? It had been 7 years since I was out to ride in the windy city and in those 7 years a major transformation had occurred which firmly I was unaware.

In the summer of 2005 Jen took me out to Chicago to meet the family, we naturally brought our bikes. Jen was almost hit twice, cars and streets could care less if we were there let alone hit or otherwise maim anyone who got in their way-ed? Add to this we had a pedestrian almost take us both out on the famed river walk trail. After that weekend and with her being upset I thought why venture back to ride when we have so many open wonderful streets right here in Detroit? Needless to say I am so glad we did.

I posted a bit on face book back then but by viewing these pictures you can see some of the things we encountered on our journey,

The Jump Park was great except for the bent rear sprocket. Mikes flat came next and both of our Co2 infrastructures were caput. Then thanks! To the great guys at Iron Bikes getting us back out on the trail with the best city Bike Map we have ever seen. They pointed us in a new direction out to the Forest and newly opened rails to trails. What a vista without a single sky scraper to be seen! With a brief stop at the Pressure Billiard Café (NW corner of Clark and Highland) we continued on back into down with a magnificent stop at the Rosehill Cemetery.

Rosehill has the greatest single collection of obelisk/monuments in the entire world. By my estimation the second largest obelisk in the USA can be found here, (second only to the Washington Monument in D.C.). The Masonic symbolism is a symphony to thus trained ears. Next time you go to Chicago visit the old Rosehill open your mind and be amazed.

The way back into town was wonderful as bike lane after bike lane guided us back south into the city center. Cars stopped, people slowed down and let the Bike Detroiters flow on through like a stream, respecting the flow rather than interrupting it. We booked 43 miles and were later joined by an original musketeer named Drew who drove in from The Three Cities to have some Din-din and catch up with his old high school pals.

Bike Chicago! J. Meyers bike explorer.