Illinois
I've wanted to visit Chicago for as long as I can remember, something about this city has always called to me, and I’m very happy to have finally been able to stop in and check it out. Much like with the rest of the stops of the trip, I arrived and went straight to work. I had a few shops recommended to me, one was BFF Bikes, a woman-owned bike shop that was also hosting a group ride the same night I arrived. Chicago's Critical Mass was happening that night too, but I opted for this ride as I’m trying to build relationships with the stops I deal with. I’d much rather hang out with them and get a feel for their culture than go out for another massive party ride. BFF's ride was a Halloween-themed bar crawl, and it was a lot of fun and I am super happy to be included in their store.
The next day, I took an early morning trip to the suburbs. Mack's Bikes and Goods was hosting a Fall Fest bike swap meet. I saw a flyer for this several weeks ago but didn’t think I’d be in town in time for it. But as the trip evolves, so do my plans. I reached out and they were very welcoming about having me at their event, and I am pleased to announce that Mack's is now an official Pink Tag dealer.
The rest of my time in Chicago was pretty chill. There was a skate session on Sunday sponsored by Omnium, so I hung around there and kept it low-key for the rest of the day. I was really excited to be here in Chicago, but at the same time, I've reached the point in my trip where every city is starting to feel the same. I'm getting really tired and haven’t been searching for bike events like I was earlier on in the trip. I am also running very low on inventory and will be selling out soon. I have a small resupply being sent to DC, and once that’s gone, I’ll be heading home. Without the income from the bags, it will be hard to sustain the cost of the trip, and I also want to ensure that I have product for the shops I’m visiting. So far, I’ve added ten wholesale dealers in five different states, and I am super proud of that. So, I’m beginning to think that I’ll be heading home soon and will take off again sometime early next year. I really wanted to hit New Orleans and Atlanta, but I think those may need to wait for Part 2 of the tour.
