My job may force me to relocate to the chicago area next year. As we all know, weather there for half of the year prevents you from training outdoors and I assume cycling in the city is a bad idea and dangerous.
For those that are living, or from or have trained in Chicago, what suburbs would you recommend a single, young guy to live in to both meet young people as well as train for triathlons?
Thanks,
My job may force me to relocate to the chicago area next year. As we all know, weather there for half of the year prevents you from training outdoors and I assume cycling in the city is a bad idea and dangerous.
For those that are living, or from or have trained in Chicago, what suburbs would you recommend a single, young guy to live in to both meet young people as well as train for triathlons?
Thanks,
Not certain your two goals are compatible…
I’m up in the northern 'burbs, and IMO, it provides the best training options. Lots of good bike route options, ample opportunity for OWS (Grayslake, Lake Michigan among others), etc. A new training facility just opened in Libertyville that is excellent. In addition to 16 Computrainers and 4 treadmills, they are also building a 25m, 2 Lane pool on site. In addition, it will be a full retail shop. Set to open the new location w/ full retail in early September and pool by mid-October.
http://www.amphibianmultisport.com/
Robbie Ventura also has a big coaching / training service out in Highland Park, if you don’t want to come as far north as the Libertyville area. Can still access all the good bike routs, but the starts of your rides may be a bit more congested.
That said, the 'burbs tend to be dominated more by families than singles…Maybe some of the southern 'burbs provide more in the way of a nightlife / entertainment scene, dunno.
I was born and raised in the NW suburbs of Chicago. I currently live in Des Plaines.
For roads that I consider good to ride, you’re pretty much gonna be limited to suburbs further out than ohare. I do all of my road rides out in Barrington/Lake Zurich/Long Grove etc mainly because I work in LZ keep my bike in the office, and was born and raised in Barrington so I know the roads really well out there. There is a really good network of forest preserves though, though I typically ride roads some I’m not that well versed in them (IE which are paved, etc)
If you’re set on living in the burbs (which as a single, young guy I do) and are interested in a social life as well, I would concentrate on towns that the metra goes through (has a station). They just in general seem to have a better bar/social atmosphere, are often walkable towns, and commuter friendly. Which suburbs specifically I would recommend depends on a lot, but price point is a big one. Are you renting or buying? Also, hopefully someone who knows the southern and western suburbs better can chime in, as I really only know the north and northwest well enough
Since we’re throwin’ out shop names, I’ll toss in Running Away Multisport (Chicago, Deerfield) as my preferred go to. Super knowledgeable staff, group runs/rides, some swim stuff here and there, and they are the same group that does all the RAM Racing events. They have a Guru fitbike as well
Have you considering living directly in Chicago and not in the burbs? I lived in River North which is arguably the social hub of the city, but the training was also great as well. I did a good deal of riding on the trainer, but if you get up early enough, the 18 mile stretch of lakefront path is right at your doorstep. The path starts getting jammed around 10am so you need to plan accordingly. Running on the lake is awesome as well…lot’s of “scenery” both figuratively and literally.
I live in the South Loop (by soldier field)and training isn’t ideal but doable. And livin in the city is fun for young single people.
Swim: Chicago Masters Swim Club @ UIC, OWS @ Ohio St Beach.
Bike: weekdays on the trainer or very very early morning on the lake front path, Saturday group rides with XXX Racing start in the city and head north to the north shore, great workout. There are other decent group rides as well.
Run: lacks hills but the lake front path is awesome for run training, plenty of water fountains, bathrooms, etc, and the “scenery” is generally great in the summer.
I echo the sentiments that good training area and fun for young and single are kind of mutually exclusive in the greater Chicago area. I would think the closest thing you can get to that would be to head to Naperville. You’re close to lots of open roads a little bit to the west. Endure It! is a big tri specific shop out there, and there’s a decent bit of nightlife activity as far as the suburbs go. Thats probably closest to balancing what you’re looking for, but if I were you- young and single, I would definitely move to the city and would suggesst the Bucktown area as a great place to live (its a little more laid back and cheaper than some of the other previously mentioned areas). Sure cycling can be a little rough, but you have to still live a little and enjoy what Chicago has to offer.
The only thing you really can’t do 6 mos of the year—maybe October to June, I guess, is swim in the lake unless you’re nuts. People do swim in the lake year round. The rest of us shake our heads.
If you’re not made of sugar, the weather isn’t usually bad enough to require skipping a run too often. I bought a treadmill when I moved to Chicago thinking that I’d use it I sold it a couple years later after using it as a clothes rack. I live in Logan Square now, and sometimes the streets can be a challenge when full of snow, but if you find a place near the lakefront path, you’ll never have that problem.
I haven’t quite figured out biking, but I’m going to be picking up a cheap XC bike and try to hang onto my commute and some training rides. I use my indoor trainer often, even in summer when I want some bike training before work and don’t have enough time to get out of the neighborhood to the lake. This morning I did 30 before work with a friend and it was not a problem. YMMV
If you think training will be difficult in the city, I think socializing from the 'burbs is worse. The looks my single suburban buddies get from women when they tell them they live in Evanston is what you’d expect if they’d said they still live with their parents.
I would suggest living close to where you work. IMHO Helps decrease waste in your schedule.
I like folks at WellFit(Chicago), EndureIT(Naperville), Village CycleSport (Arlington Heights- computrainer group is very good) - there are masters swim groups there too.
Plenty of very good options in Chicago.
I also do all of my cycling in Lake Barrington to Hebron/Lake Geneva. There are great hills in Bull Valley - about 1 hr ride from Barrington; including “The Wall”.
Riding on the lakefront path is fine as long as you are off of it by 7am I would say. There are lots of dangerous commuters (and riders… ESPECIALLY triathletes on their aerobars weaving around people…) out by then, so I’d GTFO before they come around. Expect to see walkers/runners do random dangerous things pretty much every ride even if you go pretty early. Last time I was out there some runner saw his buddy running the other way on the path and he just went across the middle without looking behind him. Crazy stupid.
but 5am-7am is quite pleasant, for the most part.
I’m going to try the XXX racing training ride route early in the morning during the week. I’ll report back on how it is. Once you get far enough out on sheridan I think that ride will be pretty nice. and you can ride on sheridan forever pretty much.
Have you considering living directly in Chicago and not in the burbs? I lived in River North which is arguably the social hub of the city, but the training was also great as well. I did a good deal of riding on the trainer, but if you get up early enough, the 18 mile stretch of lakefront path is right at your doorstep. The path starts getting jammed around 10am so you need to plan accordingly. Running on the lake is awesome as well…lot’s of “scenery” both figuratively and literally.
Chicago checking in…
I live in Old Town and it’s fabulous for training! I can be at Ohio Street Beach in 5 minutes (on my commuter bike) and do an OWS very easily! Depending on where you work, it’s a super-bike friendly town for commuting (I work 11 miles away and generally roll the lakefront path unless it’s stupid-cold outside).
There are compu-trainer studios all over the place to train in the winter with other folks.
The path is actually pretty well maintained (except for a segment between Ohio Street Beach and Oak Street Beach). When riding south when it’s iced over, I usually roll through the Loop, then catch the path just south of Randolph down to Hyde Park.
I tend to do my long rides on the Lakefront path north to the top, then continue up Sheridan Road / Green Bay Road as far as I feel… Sometimes even into Wisconsin. It’s a great ride! There are also several clubs and shops that do group rides Saturday/Sunday mornings from the city if that’s your thing…
For a run…well, geez, you’re not going to do any better than the lakefront path.
Personally, I couldn’t imagine a more tri-friendly area to live than here. It’s why I chose this area to begin with and I stick by my guns! 
I live in Naperville and commute to the city for work. I am married w/ kids, so not as concerned w/ the social/nightlife aspect, but fwiw, as someone else suggested, Naperville is most likely one of the suburbs that will give you both training and social opportunities. I can be on open roads for long rides within a few miles of my house. I also have a great group of friends to ride with.
I would also say that you can run outside most of the year if you want to. I rode outside well into December last year and picked it up again in March. Its chilly, but doable.
If you’re working in the city and you feel like living there is an option - really consider that - there are so many opportunities between the lakefront and various gyms. You may feel like you want to drive to the suburbs periodically for longer rides, but if you can cut down your daily commute, its worth it.
Let us know if you have more questions if you find out you do have to relocate.
I lived in Chicago for years and won’t move back. Training there sucks. Winters are cold as hell. Roads are crap. Limited routes. Lots of trainer time no matter if you live in the city or in the burbs. Running isn’t bad but if you live in the city but your routes are pretty much limited to running to the path and then north or south on the path. There are no hills and it can get boring. If you get moved there for work I would recommend living downtown close to the lake. Old Town is best in my mind. The burbs suck for a single guy.
The burbs suck for a single guy.
Thing I’ve noticed about living in the burbs is it really helps if you have an existing network (friends & family). Starting from scratch is probably much more difficult to build up your friend base, but if we’re talking straight up gettin it in…I’m no ryan gossling but I do ok. As far as building actual friendships/relationships and a real network, being proactive is the way to go. You’re not gonna get anywhere waiting for people to come to you. There are plenty of group training session opportunities out in the burbs which is a good place to socialize outside the bar scene and meet like minded people. But like with anything, you get out what you put in. It’s a huge metropolitan area, people aren’t just gonna come up to you and start talking about random stuff (unless they’re a little off)…you gotta be the initiator.
No matter where you live, it’s a compromise.
The burbs suck for a single guy.
As far as building actual friendships/relationships and a real network, being proactive is the way to go. You’re not gonna get anywhere waiting for people to come to you.
I heard good advice from some locals to a woman who’d just moved into town—spend the summer months finding out what you like, then spend the winter working on it. If you are willing to proactively seek out things you -might- be interested in you’ll find people who don’t suck. With the exception of decent hills and year-round pleasant weather, Chicago’s a top-notch place, and there are good people doing what you want to do, and they’re nuts about it. The Saturday morning bike crowd at Perfect Blend in Highland Park affords evidence of my hypothesis.
I lived in Chicago for years and won’t move back. Training there sucks. Winters are cold as hell. Roads are crap. Limited routes. Lots of trainer time no matter if you live in the city or in the burbs. Running isn’t bad but if you live in the city but your routes are pretty much limited to running to the path and then north or south on the path. There are no hills and it can get boring. If you get moved there for work I would recommend living downtown close to the lake. Old Town is best in my mind. The burbs suck for a single guy.
+1 on all this. i moved up here last january in the same position as the OP. heard good things (?) about naperville, not too far from my work. so i lived for a year in lisle, between work and naperville. the tri scene is big in naperville, but it’s mostly married, type-a 40 somethings who love the computrainer at 5 am. oh and all the swimming/group rides are insanely early since everyone needs to get to little timmy’s soccer game and what not by 8 am every day.
so this january i moved to the city. the city is cool, but the cycling is absolutely awful. the lakefront is a cluster. if you average 15 mph in a tri you might find it ok but i can’t train out there at all unless the weather is pretty bad. running on the trail is nice but there are no other options. luckily where i work is very good for this at least. chicago masters is a great swim club and has workouts 6 days/week, and swimming in the lake is nice.
edit: oh and being single in the suburbs completely sucked. i only dated one girl and she lived at home. there are no young, single, attractive, successful females in the western suburbs.
I’m headed that way next week for the Chicago tri. Know of any good bike shops that won’t charge an arm and a leg to pack up my bike after the race?
Is that swim usually wetsuit legal?
I’m headed that way next week for the Chicago tri. Know of any good bike shops that won’t charge an arm and a leg to pack up my bike after the race?
Is that swim usually wetsuit legal?
It is Lake Michigan…it is ALWAYS wetsuit legal.
Good to know! If I freeze up pretty easily, will I need any additional equipment (caps, etc.)?
I’m headed that way next week for the Chicago tri. Know of any good bike shops that won’t charge an arm and a leg to pack up my bike after the race?
Is that swim usually wetsuit legal?
Check out Mox Multisport on Randolph. $50 for “Box a Bike” which includes the box and packing materials… They’ll then either give it back or ship it at the market rate…
Thanks!