BEER, BIKES, AND BIG WHEELS

That's right, this past weekend was Chicago's first ever Urban Assault Bike Ride! I must say, having experienced it first hand, the even was an enormous success. Chicago was the last of eight cities to participate in the ride's 2008 season, drawing over 500 riders to an innovative scavenger hunt/ bike race through the city and a rockin' after party.

The Urban Assault ride was created in Austin, Texas by creative bike enthusiasts. The goal of the event is to show urbanites how easy and fun it is to use a bike for transportation. In each city the ride travels to, it works with a local non-profit bike advocacy group to encourage citizens to ride their bikes more often. The event consists of teams of two bikers racing around the city to nine different checkpoints, completing a set task, and trying to be the first to make it to the finish line. Competitors must use their mental wit and knowledge as well as pedal power; riders are given a list of checkpoints, but no set route is specified. It is up to each team to determine a race strategy, ride safely, and not get lost navigating busy city streets. The ride is open to anyone with a bike, helmet, partner, and desire to explore. A fun and adventurous mix of riders got on their bikes Sunday, with participants ranging from young to old, athletes to tourists, road racers to extravagantly costumed partiers; this event managed to unite a diverse group of people and proved to be a great time for all.

I volunteered to help run the event, and was stationed at one of nine checkpoints throughout the city. Our checkpoint witnessed many intense riders, colorful costumes, and even one dramatic fight between partners. One of the best aspects of this race was the way it involved the surrounding neighborhood. As teams raced through our checkpoint, a gathering of bystanders grew; pictures were taken, laughs were shared. Perhaps most importantly, everyone noticed how much fun competitors were having biking around the city. Passerby began asking what was going on, who were these crazy people?

Which is when the beneficiary of the race, West Town Bikes, began to get some well deserved exposure. West Town Bikes is a non profit bike advocacy group here in Chicago. Their team helps get children and adults on their bikes and comfortable riding in the city streets. They provide lessons in bike repair and maintenance as well as helping underprivileged children to get on bikes and ride. WTB is accommodating to anyone with a desire to bike, I encourage you to check out their website and programs at westtownbikes.org.

At the conclusion of the race, we all gathered to celebrate those who participated and enjoy some great burritos and brews together. There's not much better of a way to start your day than with beer, bikes, and big wheels. I will keep you all posted when the 2009 Urban Assault season begins!

Get on your Bike and Ride!

I for one am already incredibly excited for this weekend. Life doesn't get much better than a virtually perfect weather forecast and bike events galore! In honor of this excitement, I have decided to feature today a contraption that always boggles my mind. Often refered to as 'freakbikes', 'mutantbikes', or my personal choice of terminology, the 'frankinbike', enthusiasts have been taking old junkers and piecing them together in somewhat absurd ways for almost as long as bicycles themselves have been around.

My favorite frankinbike is known as the 'double-decker bike', also referred to as a 'tall bike'. Everytime I see one of these contraptions, I can't help but think, "wow, what kind of crazy adventurous fool first came up with this idea?"



As, you can see a double-decker is constructed from two old bikes, one artfully mounted atop another, usually by welding or brazing. This really is a combination of my two loves, biking and architecture. These bikes always amaze me, usually first for their somewhat outlandish and dangerous appearance, but also for their simple and elegant beauty and construction.

Although, the modern day finds these bikes coveted by hipsters wishing to stand out from the crowd, the design was actually created as a practical one. One of the first uses of the tall bike was as a late 1800s lamp lighting system! Workers would mount this contraption equipped with a torch for lighting gas lamps. The worker would then proceed from lamp to lamp, leaning against the lamp post to light the lamp, and then riding to the next. Upon completing the circuit of lamps, an assistant would help the rider dismount.

I can't explain to you how to ride one of these gems, for I myself would never risk my life atop such a contraption. I can say that modern double-decker riders do not travel with assistants, but rather serve as acrobats of sorts, leaping to and from their seats in the sky. If you attend any of the biking events this weekend, you are sure to see a few tall bikes out there; after all, they are hard to miss.

As a preview for the coming fun, Critical Mass takes place on Friday and will meet in Daley plaza around 6 PM, come one come all. CM is a free event open to anyone will wheels! Also this weekend, the Urban Assault bike ride comes to Chicago! This ride takes place Sunday morning, and riders must register as part of a two person team and pay an entry fee. However, you will be rewarded with tons of cool shwag, a wild and crazy race, and a free after party involving beer and burritos! All of this plus, plus proceeds benefiting local bikers, makes Sunday a great day to GET ON YOU BIKE AND RIDE!

Check back for my updates on these events, and more to come, and while your at it, click over to qbike.com for all of your biking needs. I have just signed on as a contributing writer for the site, and will be doling out advice for all you commuters out there!