World of Innovations

Hi Everybody.. As I told in my previous post, I am going to mention about my experience of getting a new (well a used) bike for me to roam around Chicago Suburb (Wheeling).

Two weeks back I decided to buy an used bike (ofcourse a bi-cycle) for not more than $100 worth. I didn't want to buy a costlier new bike because, it is just for fun I am going to use it and also after 2-3 months the climate is going to be getting very cool. Also, who knows. If my boss from India is calling me back, then I have sell the bike for a loss and return.

So I tried to find one through Craigslist. I found one bike near my area and before I could finalise that one it is sold out. Same happened with one more. Atlast I found a posting for the WorkingBikes. I called them and decided to go on a Saturday. It is in Chicago downtown. I have not gone to downtown more than twice in the last six months I am staying here. After great amount of research I found the easiest (and also the cheapest) possible public transportation to the workingbikes shop at the Western. I reached the place well before in advance and waited for the store to be open. It was not a store kind off thing but it was ok. I looked into the cycles they had and was checking the bikes one by one. You know, I have special requirements.. Since I am more than 6 ft tall. Atlast I decided on one for $60 and I was about to leave.

The returning was more interesting story. I took a ride back to the station and waited for the train. I carried the bike in the train with people being very courteous in helping me. I found onething very strange in this country. People give respect to you even when you are driving a bike. Ofcourse many respect everytime. But you feel more proud when you are driving the bike.

Coming back to my experience, After I got down from the CTA @ Jefferson Park station I was waiting for the bus which will drop me nearer to my home. The bus came and there I am standing in front of the bus holding the bike and doesn't know how to hang the bike in front of the bus. One elderly person came forward and showed me how to do that. If you are new person you will never know that. I thanked him for his help and went inside the bus. He sat beside me and telling me that he used to stay in the chicago downtown area where he used to use his bikes very frequently but after moving to the suburbs he is not using them much nowadays.

Being in the bliss of what is happening I found that I am almost alone in the bus and realized that the bus is not going to the place where I was planning to get down but returning halfway. Then I had to get down halfway and drove back to my home. It would have been nearly some 6-7 miles to my home. But I never felt the pain as I was enjoying my way back. It was really superb. With all those river trails and foot path, green grasses. It was really a worth of bike ride. Also that evening it was not so sunny and not so windy, it was pleasant experience.

I couldn't take any pictures as the Camera which I had ordered 4 weeks back @ Dell.com has not yet been delivered. So, the pictures of those pleasant ride are captured only in my mindspace and not in any cyberspace. But I will surely take one another trip there to capture those beatiful spots as I have got my camera now.

Look out for the next post on my trip to California and about the techcocktail event which happened in Chicago.