Foiled

• The weekday morning routine was in full swing: a bowl of grits, Morning Edition, and a pile of notes for K's frame schematic. As I was pondering a lower bottom bracket, something Steve Inskeep said piqued my interest: the President was boarding Air Force One en route to Chicago. Really? The presidential jet presumably lands near O'Hare, but it's my understanding that a helicopter will shuttle the entourage to a large parking lot near Solider Field (and within spitting distance of the path) where a motorcade awaits. What fun, I thought; maybe I'll take some photos and even get to ask Bush about his warming soles...

  But first R and I did a quick Metropolis loop; returning to Hyde Park, I grabbed my camera and joined up with the noon UCVC crew, headed back north. The weather being so forgiving, I counted 8 UCVC riders and another half dozen Hyde Parkers out enjoying themselves on this weekday morning. R's green custom TATI had its inaugural ride, and so far, so good. I eyed the leather handlebar tape with not a little envy on the windy ride home.

  I peeled off just south of the convention center, where a handful of squad cars and couple of Chicago's Finest were propped up against their Trek Police bikes. I saddled up.

  Are photos allowed? I enquired, nodding towards the five gigantic dual prop helicopters in the parking lot.

  One officer peered at me over his shades and shook his head. Park's closed.

  Park?I puzzled.

  The other officer, much taller and broader than the first, stepped towards me. No stopping. Go. Now.

  Not particularly interested in a broken arm or a lesson in waterboarding, I slunk off, returning south, taking my frustrations out by chasing some geese around the muddy glade behind the stadium. I was foiled in my attempt to talk shop with George, and didn't even get to take a souvenir shot of the copters. Instead, I bring you a gift from Hyde Parker A: he tells me that there's a satellite TATI in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. I'd very much like to visit.