JayTen

Waterfall Glen is not conducive to a cookout -- at least as far as I have seen. Swallow Cliffs has good locations as there are a number of lots off of the main trail that runs through the area. The primary parking lot is probably not the best option, but just about any of the acillary lots will do the job. My schedule is out of control so I'm not going to suggest any dates; hopefully whatever date the group comes up with, I can make.

I like the idea of either Swallow Cliffs or Waterfall Glen as I can, selfishly, get some good bike riding in either before or after.

You suggested hiking or drinks; no reason those need to be mutually exclusive. Most forest preserves allow alcohol, so hike/bike followed by beer around a picnic table is an option.

If you throw fresh fruit in with the frozen banana, you can skip adding liquid; the juice from the fresh fruit is plenty. And TomM, if you are going to get a blender for this, go with a Ninja; you won't regret it.

I'm out of town until the 20th, but after that I will be up for something.

Another newbie here; I'm in Ravenswood. Also out on the running; two herniated discs in my neck so impact sports are out of the question. I tell my chiro that I always keep my wheels on the ground, so mountain biking counts as no impact. :-)

The other thing to keep in mind is that 8 hours is a good long time to do 50 miles. I'm not suggesting you do take that long, but if you need it, you've got it. Take it in stages with some rest every once in a while if you need to. If you're not in shape for it, it just becomes an exercise in managing pain, which is something to just get used to if you want to stay active; and if you can pull it off, you'll feel great about it. You'll be knocking out centuries in no time.

Renting a locker is what I do; makes things a lot easier. If your knees keep giving you issues, you should consider going to your local bike shop and paying for a fitting. So many things can contribute to knee pain that can be fixed with a good fitting. Proper saddle height, saddle position, and how your rest your foot on the pedal (particularly if you are clipped in) all can contribute.

As others have mentioned, it's a combination of things. The right shorts, saddle and positioning are key, but really, you just have to keep at it and the pain will subside after a while. One thing I didn't see mentioned is butt butter; slathering some of that right into the chamois, or directly onto the sensitive parts of you should help.

Keep at it; commuting to work via bike is a great way to keep in shape and clear your head after a long day. I live in Chicago and I commute a couple of times a week, year round, regardless of weather. I have a 30 mile commute and a need to dress pretty at work, so here are some options to consider. --Take the bus on Monday and bring in a change of clothes or two if you have a place to store them. That way if you get soaked with water or sweat you can change. --If you don't have a locker and you wear clothes that are presentable after being folded, pick up a waterproof backpack, or a regular backpack and a waterproof cover, and haul a change of clothes with you. (Rolling your clothes, rather than folding them, can help reduce wrinkles) --Get a light weight rain jacket and ride through the rain. The water won't hurt your bike and the "are you crazy" looks from your co-workers are a lot of fun. --Once you are comfortable with the 9 mile ride, find new routes to keep it interesting and extend your ride on days when you have more time.