Rolling The Tollway

Sometimes, when a new highway is opened, there is a ribbon-cutting ceremony, politicians, speeches.

Sometimes, they open it up to 5,000 cyclists to ride on before the cars can use it.

Today I Rode The Tollway, an event organized by the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation and other regional bike clubs. Registration proceeds will go toward building bike trails.

It was a cold, cloudy day with a good amount of wind, but it was a great ride, and the return portion of the loop was away form the wind, making it very fast. It was a combination party and Outer Limits, biking along a new, empty highway. I was pretty warm in my cycling tights and performance shell (aka GAP windbreaker).

Because tomorrow is Veterans' Day, the Patriot Riding Guard stood along the first part of the route, holding American flags. It was really nice. Towns along the route had tents and a mini-fair-like atmosphere. There were tanks and Civil War reenactors. It was great.

Then I came home, took a hot bath, and a nap. Ahhhhh.