DAY 28: Bike tour around Chicago

Today had to be the most gorgeous day ever for a bike ride!  70 and sunny!  It is that wonderful time of year after summer before it gets too chilly in the fall.  I don’t even want to think about the Chicago winter that awaits me.  So I woke up today and booked a tour with Bobby’s Bike Hike of Chicago.  Originally I was just going to rent a bike and ride around on my own, but then I came across this lakefront neighborhoods tour that went through the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Old Town and then along Lake Michigan.  I figured it wouldn’t hurt to learn a little more about the city.  After all that IS one of my goals here!

Looking sexy in my bike helmet in front of the amazing Chicago skyline!

Honestly, when I’ve traveled to other countries, I have always been annoyed with the bike tours.  I guess I wanted to figure out the places on my own and try to blend into the local life.  It is funny how I decided to do my first bike tour in the city I live in, with a bunch of tourists.  I had to do the tour alone (meaning without someone I knew), but that didn’t bother me.  I have been to the movies and dinner alone a million times and even traveled all over Europe on my own!  However it is nice to have a friend there with you to laugh at how stupid you look in the bike helmets.  I just had to feel and look stupid alone, but I think it is good for people to do things solo every once in awhile.  Besides that I was worried about the effect the bike seat would have on my tush during the 3 hour tour.  I had to order special padded pants for my spinning class because it was so uncomfortable.  Luckily my sensitive bum was cushioned by a smoooooshy seat on a super cool cruiser named Ziggy. 

The tour itself was amazing!  I learned so much about the city and Eddy my tour guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining.  Chicago is definitely feeling more and more like home to me.  One of my favorite parts of the tour was in Lincoln Park at one of the most famous Abraham Lincoln statues in the country.  They say if you rub his toe it brings you good luck!  I feel good luck coming my way!  Oh yeah, the old Playboy Mansion was pretty cool too!  Lord only knows what happened there.  

Along Lake Michigan

Abe wishing me luck!

The old Playboy Mansion