excerpted from article

2nd: Chicago, Illinois

Population: 2,896,016

Why: Its stated goal is to be the most bike-friendly city in the U.S. and by 2015 it likely will be; Millennium Park Bike Station; 2004 BikeTown

Must-ride: Lakefront Bike Path
Cool event: Bike the Drive; www.bikethedrive.org
Hangout: The Handlebar; www.handlebarchicago.com
Local info: Chicago Cycling Club; www.chicagocyclingclub.org
Bike Shop: Village Cycle Center; www.villagecycle.com

With a city leadership dedicated to cycling (including Mayor Richard Daley Jr., roadie), a remarkable network of bike lanes and racks, and an ambitious plan called Bike 2015 to add even more, Chicago's love of biking will soon outshine its drawbacks-dense traffic, bitter winters and ho-hum rec riding near the city.