The pressures of our daily lives can make us feel we don’t have a moment to ourselves, let alone time for vacation. I’ve discovered that sometimes the best vacation is a microescape: a quick plunge into the great outdoors, which requires little preparation, or — better yet — is completely spontaneous. Such small adventures —lasting … Read more
When something sits in front of you every day, it can be easy to forget it’s there at all. On the Northwest Side of Chicago, we have the North Branch Trail, and I am often surprised by how few people have been on it, or ridden its entire length. Some don’t even know about it. … Read more
I’ve been fascinated by Wolf Lake since I was a teenager, but — incredibly — I never visited it until this year. The lake straddles the Illinois-Indiana border, and the tollroad to Indiana Dunes bisects it, offering tantalizing views of wildlife, nature and fishermen on the west side, and massive industry to the east. The … Read more
There’s always the North Branch Trail or the Lakefront, and sometimes the Des Plaines River Trail (when not flooded). But maybe you’ve ridden those, and you want something else. Here are some of our best suggestions for best long bike rides near Chicago, plus several loop trails of 10 miles or more located within a … Read more
Even if you are not terribly mechanically inclined, you can perform a basic bicycle safety check to identify any potential mechanical or safety issues. Here is a simple, step-by-step safety inspection procedure to help you assess the condition of your bike, and spot any problems before they can cause real harm. How to do a … Read more
You probably already know that if you wait until something is grinding, creaking, or coming loose, it’s time to head to the shop for some bike repairs. However, by being proactive with regular maintenance, you can forestall unexpected emergencies and potentially pricey component replacements. This post will help you determine the timeframe for different types … Read more
Bicycle assembly is a time-consuming and skill-intensive activity. Many bike manufacturers, especially those who sell their bikes directly to consumers via the Internet, maintain that their bicycles come pre-assembled, and that bike assembly is a simple as a few turns of a metric allen wrench. Unfortunately, in most cases these bikes come from an assembly … Read more
We spend an inordinate amount of time talking about putting air in bike tires. Why, how much, how often, and how to. We do this because, just when we think we have comprehensively covered this topic, we see people riding around on tires as soft as a stomach-sleeper’s pillow. Putting air in your bicycle tires … Read more
Most conversations about bicycle tune-up start with: “How much does it cost”? While this seems like a valid question, it’s actually completely meaningless until you’ve established what is included in the cost. And that’s difficult to do, because there’s no standardization whatsoever in bicycle tune-up offerings among different repair shops. This may be a good … Read more
There are some people who insist that bike maintenance is so easy, anyone with enough skill to assemble IKEA cabinets should have no trouble at all. Interestingly, the self-same person states elsewhere: “If I were smart I’d have given the wheel to a bike shop for servicing that very day so the bike would be … Read more
It should go without saying that a person claiming to be a professional bicycle mechanic should posses the necessary technical skills, experience and tools to do the job. However, what elevates truly outstanding bicycle repair shops above ones that simply get the job done, are a few qualities that have as much to do with … Read more