"A wonderful breakfast creates a sunrise effect on the human body!"
- Mehmet Murat ildan
Welcome to the April 2023 Issue of MILES PEDDLED (MP) which will tastefully be entitled the BIKING AND BREAKFAST (B&B) Edition. Playlist suggestion: HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS by Dean Martin.
As all of the well-fed Loyal Subscribers (LS) of MP will recall, in past editions management has outlined several bike routes on which a delicious meal or drink can be obtained. Please visit the digital version of MP at https://www.milespeddled.com. Playlist suggestion: BON APPÉTIT by Katy Perry featuring Migos.
Before we get to the subject matter at hand, an update regarding the EBIKE REBATE is in order. In addition, MP will be making some recommendations for affordable ebikes.
First the update. In the Wonderful Wet and Wild March 2023 Edition of MP, Management outlined the ebike rebate and incentive program that was instituted by the City of Denver. The program was so successful, 5,060 ebike vouchers having been redeemed as of March 23, 2023, that the program ran out of money. The City of Denver has decided to allocate additional funds for a second round of rebates which will commence on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Please notify your friends and family in Denver and Denver County of the ebike rebate program.
The State of Vermont has launched its own program soon to be followed by the State of Oregon. Even the Federal Government has gotten into the action. U.S. representative Jimmy Panetta has re-introduced the ELECTRIC BIKE INCENTIVE KICKSTART FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (E-BIKE) ACT. If it passes, Americans could receive a $1,500.00 tax credit toward the purchase of an ebike. As with all legislation, there are terms and conditions that apply to the tax credit.
Check out the article on electrek at https://electrek.co/2013/03/21/electric-bike-tax-credit-bill-reintroduced/, which provides a nice explanation of the legislation. Contact your House Representative and ask them to vote in favor of this legislation. This is an easy non-partisan piece of legislation.
Since Management is discussing ebike legislation, it would only be appropriate to make some recommendations for affordable lightweight ebikes that the LS of MP should consider. Please note that “affordable” and “lightweight” are both relative terms. In the ebike world any bike that is at or below $2,500.00 is considered affordable.
In the ebike world, any bike that is at or under 40 pounds is considered lightweight. Most ebikes weigh in the range of 50 to 65 pounds.
According to the MILES PEDDLED INSTITUTE (MPI) the LS should consider the following bikes:
1. Aventon Soltera:
· Price: Starting at $1,200.00.
· Class II
NOTE: A Class I is an ebike that is pedal assist only, no throttle, and has a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph. A Class II ebike has a maximum speed of 20 mph but also is throttle assisted. A Class III ebike is pedal assist only, generally no throttle, and a max assisted speed of 28 mph.
· Weight: 43 pounds.
· Unique Feature:
Pedal assist with throttle. One of the best displays on an ebike.
2. Tenways CGO Series:
· Price: Starting at $1,500.00 and ranging up to $2,000.00.
· Class I
· Weight: 38 pounds.
· Unique Feature:
Carbon belt in lieu of chain. Currently running a sale on the 800S and 600 Series.
3. Trek FX+2:
· Price: $2,500.00.
· Class I.
· Weight: 40 pounds.
· Unique Feature:
Comes fully loaded with lights, fenders, and rear rack.
4. Urtopia Carbon 1 / 1S:
· Price: Starting at $2,800.00.
· Class I and II.
· Weight: 33 pounds.
· Unique Feature:
Carbon belt in lieu of chain and an integrated display in handlebar.
Now on to the subject matter of this Month’s edition B & B. As always, Management will assume that its intelligent LS can use Google Maps or the more enhanced DMAPS to find the trail and the recommended restaurants. All of the listed trails run north to south and the restaurant recommendations will also be from the north to the south.
To the trails:
1. Chicago Lakefront Trail (LFT):
· Playlist:
CHICAGO by Graham Nash.
· Trail:
The LFT starts on the north at Kathy Osterman Beach and proceeds south for the next 18 miles to the South Shore Cultural Center.
· Restaurants:
The restaurants to visit along the trail, again from north to south, are Tweet (great gluten free selections); Nookies on Wells in Old Town; Lou Mitchell’s in the south Loop (self-proclaimed best coffee in Chicago); White Palace Grill off of Roosevelt Avenue (more on this Chicago Institution in the trivia section); and, Peaches in Bronzeville (as the name implies the restaurant specializes in all things peaches including their coffee).
2. North Branch Trail (NBT):
· Playlist:
OCTOPUS’ GARDEN by The Beatles.
· Trail:
On the north end the trail begins just outside of the Chicago Botanical Gardens and then runs south for 18 miles to the Forest Glen Woods.
· Restaurants:
You can have an enjoyable breakfast in the Botanical Gardens at one of their restaurants; or, if you want a more traditional Chicago-style Greek coffeehouse breakfast go to The Northfield Restaurant just off Willow Road.
3. Des Plaines River Trail (DRT):
· Playlist:
THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY by Genesis
· Trail:
MP is only recommending the Lake County North section of the DRT due to the fact that the southern Cook County section can be quite treacherous. On the north the trail begins just off of Route 173 and travels 30 miles south with good parking in the Marriott Lincolnshire.
· Restaurants:
Just off the trail on Route 176 is the Lamb’s Farms Magnolia Café and Bakery (most of the workers are residents at the Lamb’s Farm). Just outside of the Lincolnshire Marriott is a Walker Brothers Original Pancake House (nice outdoor eating).
4. Fox River Trail (FRT):
· Playlist:
THE FOX by Burl Ives (graduate of Eastern Illinois University - The Harvard of the Midwest).
· Trail:
On the north trail starts at the Wisconsin border and is known as the Prairie Trail and it continues south and somewhere between Crystal Lake and Algonquin it changes names to the Fox River Trail. It keeps going and ends in Oswego. From the Wisconsin border to Oswego is 65 miles.
· Restaurants:
There are lots of good restaurants along the way but Management is partial to Diamond Jim’s Gas Grill in Dundee (great outdoor area); Benedict’s Eggs and More in Dundee (very unique dishes); and, The Townhouse Café in St. Charles (a restaurant with a book store attached).
Time for the Trivia/Quiz section. As mentioned above, one of the recommended restaurants off of the Lakefront Trail is the White Palace Grill (WPG) located at 1159 South Canal Street in Chicago. WPG opened in 1939 and is one of the finest examples of an urban diner in Chicago. Breakfast is served 24 hours a day and you will see an assortment of Chicagoans from City workers, Police, business men and women and college students, all enjoying a great meal.
An interesting feature of WPG is the CHICAGO WALL OF FAME. This is a painting which includes many famous Chicagoans. Your mission is to identify as many of the individuals in the painting as you can. Good luck.
Since we discussing a Chicago institution, your trivia for this Month will be 10 questions about the City of Chicago with the answers in the Postscript section. Do you know Chicago?
1. Besides the Water Tower, how many public buildings still standing in Chicago pre-date the Great Chicago Fire?
2. In 1974 Lincoln Park Zoo purchased its first animal. What was it?
3. In 1967 what famous artist 50-foot steel sculpture was installed outside of the Civic Center Plaza?
4. The 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago debuted what attraction which was meant to rival the Eifel Tower from the preceding Paris Exposition?
5. The first night baseball game at the Old Comiskey Park was held in what year?
6. The first night baseball game at Wrigley Field was held in what year?
7. Where and in what year was the first All-Star Baseball game ever played?
8. In 1894 Edward Kemeys, a dentist turned sculpture, designed what guard to the entrance of the Chicago Art Institute?
9. What Chicago street is believed to be the world’s longest within a City’s limits?
10. The 4 stars on the Chicago flag represent – the Chicago Fire, The Columbian Exposition, and the Century of Progress. What does the 4th star represent?
Good luck with the trivia. Playlist suggestion: BORN IN CHICAGO by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
TEASE TIME: The May 2023 ed. of MP, will be addressing Long Distance Bike Treking Adventures. Playlist suggestion: AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.
Time to go, but: “ This is not a goodbye, my darling this is a thank you.” – Nicholas Sparks. Thank you for reading this edition of MILES PEDDLED and remember to always: R, R & R!
POSTSCRIPT
Answers to Trivia/Quiz Section:
1. BUILDINGS
4 including St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
2. ANIMAL
A bear cub purchased for $10.00.
3. SCULPTURE
Picasso.
4. COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION ATTRACTION
The FERRIS WHEEL invented by George Ferris debuted at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. It had 36 cars and held 60 riders in each car totaling 2,160 people at its capacity.
5. NIGHT GAME COMISKEY
1939.
6. NIGHT GAME WRIGLEY
1988.
7. FIRST ALL-STAR GAME
Comiskey Park 1933 to a capacity crowd of 47,595 fans. Featuring players Lou Gehrig, Gabby Hartnett, Jimmy Fox and Babe Ruth who hit the first home run.
8. ART INSTITUTE GUARDS
2 bronze lions.
9. WORLD’S LONGEST STREET
Western Avenue which is 23.5 miles that starts at the Evanston border on the north and extends through the south part of the City to the Kane County borders.
10. THE 4 STARS
The 4th star on the flag represents Fort Dearborn which was built in 1803 on the Chicago River.