Jeannette, W Chicago Ave & N Sangamon St, Chicago, IL

Jeannette rides a single speed Murray Townie

What are you wearing?  
Minnetonka moccasins from a the 80s that I got from an antique store in Milwaukee, WI.
Pants that I ripped apart into shorts. My mom's African brocade top from her designer friend Koro in Burkina Faso (West Africa). H&M sunglasses I got in Bordeaux France. I love it when every piece of my clothing carries a story. 

Tell me about your bike, and where you got it?
Sparkly green single speed Murray townie. I found next to a dumpster underneath the California blue line stop 5 years ago. The wheels & the seat were missing but I fell in love with the sparkly handlebars & pinup girl stickers so I took it home & slapped on some wheels & found a matching bike seat. I also converted the bike to a back pedal brake which I absolutely adore.

Where are you going?
David Barton Gym for my weekly training. Gotta get back into shape after a busy school year finishing my Industrial Design degree.

Why ride?
I never learned to drive and never really gotten in the mood to ever try to and the exercise I get from biking helps me wake up every morning instead of drinking coffee. Plus I love weaving through cars and traveling faster than the bus.

Favorite ride?
Anywhere where there's a bike lane. lol

How can Chicago improve bike infrastructure or be more bike friendly?
Chicago really needs to fix their pothole issue, for some odd reason the potholes are always in the bike lanes. They also need to have a separate bike lane apart from cars. The lanes are between traffic and parked cars and my biggest fear is getting doored into traffic. When people get out of their cars they never pay attention to the bike traffic. I recently watched the film Urbanized (by the same producers as Objectified and Helvetica) and the Mayor of Bogota, Colombia fixed that issue by creating bike lanes on the opposite side of the parked cars, away from the car traffic. If we could address this issue in our city, it would make biking a lot safer and we would see a lot less ghost bikes around the city.
It would also be really cool if there were bike racks inside the L trains like they do in Portland with their Max light rail system. I was fascinated when I saw that. http://washcycle.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/bike_rack_in_nj.jpg

Claire, N Hoyne Ave & W Pierce Ave, Chicago, IL

Hey Chicago, how about a little sunshine on a rainy day!

Claire ride a vintage Gitane mixte built up by a friend 

What are you wearing?  A thrifted men's button-down tied over a tank top, J. Crew pants, Repetto flats and my favorite vintage leather bag. your bike, 
Tell me about your bike, and where you got it? I ride a single speed with an old Gitane frame.  My friend Brent (who works at Johnny Sprockets) helped me acquire parts, built it up and gave it a custom John Deere blue and green paint job.  In my head, I call my bike "Goldfish."
Where are you going? An art opening in Wicker Park 
Why ride? It's so fun.
Favorite ride? Through A. Finkl and Sons late at night
While riding you …? Sing to myself and yell at jerks ;-)
How can Chicago improve bike infrastructure or make Chicago more bike friendly?  I applaud the new protected bike lanes, like the one on Jackson - add more of those!  They provide car door-fear-free portals of safety through the city.

Veronica, 1100 block of N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL

Veronica rides a single speed Cannondale Capo named Ninja that she I got at Kozy's Cycler

I am totally obsessed with Veronica's Loeffler Randall rain booties.

What are you wearing:
Loeffler Randall rain booties, the best shoes ever for biking in Chicago's gray months. Unlike a lot of boots, they're slim enough to fit easily into toe cages and they're made of rubber so street grime isn't an issue. I picked up these tights last time I was in NYC at Uniqlo. They're part of the brand's Heattech line and are super warm without being thick. I'm mad I only bought one pair. Uniqlo can't come to Chicago soon enough! In the winter when I'm not biking, I'm walking. I need a coat that I won't overheat or feel constricted in. This one is from Nau and it's the closest you'll find to a sleek version of the default puffy parka. It's micro down so there's no waddling around looking like Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. The dress was a gift (but it's from Anthropologie), and my helmet is a Bern. 

Make/model color of your bike, and where you got it?

A single speed Cannondale Capo that I got at Kozy Cyclery a few years ago. I call him Ninja. He's very light and fast, an ideal city bike. Unfortunately, he's not the ideal type of bike for this time of year, but we've had such an abnormally warm winter that I decided to just say screw it and ride unless there's snow on the ground. 

Where are you going?
I'm going to work in River North.

Why ride?
I ride because I'm impatient. Why wait at a bus stop for 20 minutes to go two miles when you can hop on your bike and be there in 10 minutes? It's efficient. I hate wasting time. And it's a great way to see the city. If you're not out walking, running or riding, you're missing out on discovering all the hidden secrets of the city. 

Favorite ride?I love the West Loop/Fulton Market area. It's quiet but distinctively urban and every time I ride through I discover a new interesting building or tucked away business I'd never noticed before. The downside is the streets are pretty chewed up. I got three flats in a month riding around back there. 

While riding you…?Make to-do lists in my head and enjoy the scenery. 

How can Chicago improve bike infrastructure or make Chicago more bike friendly?

I think Chicago is an extremely bike friendly city, but the roads themselves could do with more maintenance. No one likes riding on pothole and loose gravel covered streets. There should also be more bike racks and a better public bike share program. Anyone in any area of the city should be able to walk out of a train station and leave on a share bike. 

And other cool, funny tips, shout outs or stories?

Bike in heels often, wear a helmet always. People need to get over their "I'm-not-wearing-a-helmet" crap. This is the third largest city in the U.S., shut up and put it on. No one looks good in them, let's look bad in them together. 

**** Check out Veronica's super cool music blog creamteam.tv

Lorene, Wells St. at the Chicago River, Chicago, IL

Lorene rides a single speed maroon Panasonic

 
What are you wearing?  I got this polka dot pattern shirt dress from H&M

Tell me about your bike:   My bike is a single speed put together by an old friend of mine (actually an ex); he found the old maroon Panasonic frame at a thrift store

Where are you going?   I am heading to the UIC School of Architecture to meet some friends to go to an architecture lecture at the AIC

Why ride?? So many reasons...the sense of freedom, the money and time saved, the stress avoided from driving, the ability to see more of the city and feel a part of it in a completely different way, the exercise, and more time outside !!

Do you have a favorite ride? I love riding under the el tracks downtown when it's not too insane (or just down Franklin St. between Chicago Ave. and the merchandise mart).

While riding I...never listen to music, that just seems insanely dangerous to me. I like to try to people watch when I don't have to look for giant-sized potholes in the road.

Chicago could improve biking by fixing up some major potholes on the sides of roads. They seem to disregard those. It's funny to me how Halsted Ave is designated as a major biking street, but the potholes and overall paving of the street are ridiculous...especially between Chicago Ave and Lake St.

Katlin,1500 Block of Milwaukee Ave , Chicago, IL

Katlin rides a Blue Schwinn Le Tour Luxe single speed that she bought in Minneapolis four years ago.

Where are you going?
To run some shopping errands on Milwaukee, but I'm coming from lunch at Sultan's and watching a Settlers of Catan tournament

Favorite ride?
Running errands on a weekday when its sunny and I don't have to go to work! 

How can Chicago improve bike infrastructure or make Chicago more bike friendly?

It would be great if the city provided consistent opportunities for discussion between stakeholders representing all types of transportation in the city (cyclists, CTA drivers/conductors, taxi drivers, car owners, pedestrians, etc) to share knowledge and come together to develop solutions and educate others.

*** Thanks for the feedback Katlin.  I love your idea of a city forum to discuss transportation issues.  Check out the Active Transportation Alliance website.  They do great work advocating for cyclists, pedestrians, and public transportation.  With a new mayor entering office, its a great time to support organizations like Active Trans, that are pushing for safer and better streets and transit.

Deborah, W Huron St, Chicago, IL

Deborah rides a single speed black redline 9-2-5, with marginally nubby tires for the Winter.

I had to ask Deborah... What's in the suitcase?  She said "the suitcase thing is full of my film prints that I am shipping out to the Northwest Film Center in Portland.
I have a bunch of shows out in the NW in about a week, but leave early tomorrow for a festival in Rotterdam, so had to get them out today."

Cycling Tip from Deborah:  gaiters are great for slushy days if you don’t want to bother w/ full rain or snow pants

Diana, Huron St and Carpenter St, Chicago, IL

I stopped Diana on her way to a yoga class, and she was kind enough to let me take her picture.

Diana rides a Raleigh frame, single speed bike, built up from random parts, hand painted peruvian violet (by her) with a foam brush.

Diana Says: This bike is my love.   When I moved to Chicago, I had hybrid mountain bike that was about 6 inches too small for me.  I was a bike novice, but I knew I could bike faster than public transit (usually).   I didn't have a car so I trekked many miles on that old mountain bike.  I had no idea riding a bike could be so easy and fun until my friend's uncle built me this road bike.  

Biking winter was a challenge for me at first.  My first winter I had the mountain bike and no endurance.  My goal was a small 25% of the winter.  Last winter, with my new bike, and a lot more endurance, (and still a U-pass) my goal was 60%.  This winter my goal is 90%!   I love riding, but I don't ride when it's too dangerous.  My favorite thing is cruising past all the cars stuck in traffic!

**  Diana teaches yoga classes at Vessel Yoga, www.vesselyogachicago.com, and Corepower yoga in Bucktown www.corepoweryoga.com.  Check it out!

Kellie, Lakeview, Chicago, IL

Kelly rides an Origin 8 single speed for her casual rides around the city.

Cycling Tip from Kelly:  Braiding my hair when its fresh from the shower makes it fit nicely under my helmet. As the day passes, my hair dries and I have an awesome wave when i undo the braid. Come time to put the helmet on again, braid it up. It keeps it knot-free and provides body for when off the bike.