Friday's Tribune

Look for the front page (I don't know if that's THE front page or the front page of the Metro section) of the Chicago Tribune tomorrow (Friday May 23rd). There's going to be a great big feature of our bike trip (well, at least there'll be a mention of us). It's a good thing I just got my hair done. A photographer came out and took pictures of me riding to work (Job 1) this morning. It would have been super, but he came the second after my sister called telling me my grandmother passed away. So if I don't look as happy as I normally do biking around, you know why.

More news: Job 2 has nothing to do with bikes.
As you may know, I'm also putting together the second I-GO Audio Emissions CD. It's a CD of Chicago bands that will go in all the I-GO cars. Wilco and Neko Case have confirmed. Post a comment if you have a favorite song. The themes are "driving" and "Chicago." Do you know what this means? Wilco, Neko, I-GO!?!!? They rhyme. yes. I-GO's website

Job 3
Memorial Day Monday so no class. Tuesday starts final presentations. Ha! Have the students do all the work! I am a genius.

Back to talking about Job 1. Yes, I will still be at Bike the Drive on Sunday. Stop by the Membership Tent so I can persuade you to sign up for the Commuter Challenge. Did you know that over 200 organizations have signed up? It's true and you can too. www.biketraffic.org

UPDATE!
Here it is: Trib article

A Necessary Step

The first question everybody asks when we tell them we're taking this trip is "why?" The second is "just the two of you?" Sometimes the third is "can I come?" Sometimes the third is "how will you guys get home?"

The answer to that last one is a little bittersweet--as you probably know, Melissa won't be returning because she's moving to Boston to start her phd at MIT. This is awesome and thrilling, and it means that I'll be coming back to Chicago on my own.

Given AA's announcement yesterday that it's going to charge for every piece of checked luggage (gah), I started thinking a bit harder about how I'll get myself and my bike back when the trip ends. Shipping the bike is the most complicated part, but I found a useful overview of my options here: http://www.adventurecycling.org/features/shippingbikecases.cfm

I can take a train for just a little more than $100 and the trip takes about a day- so now I have my answer: Amtrak.

2008 Bicycle Commuter Challenge

Have you signed up for the Commuter Challenge yet? It's a contest where businesses compete to get the most employees biking to work during Bike to Work Week June 7th-13th. You compete in your Category (school, non-profit, etc.) and Division (# of employees). It's lots of fun. I know that for a fact because I'm organizing it. What are you waiting for? Go to the website and sign up your company! (brought to you by the letters C, B and F)