The Chainlink

I rode Dearborn today...anyone else?

I just missed the press conference and just hung out at lunch to see how it would all work. It seemed easy enough, so I took Dearborn as my starting route home to Roscoe Village. Normally I hit Franklin to Orleans then north to Lincoln.

I have to say, it was pretty easy and relatively safe. The ambassadors were helpful with the the auto traffic. The walkers were easy enough to avoid. I had to chuckle at two riders riding side by side in the lane.

What I didn't see was any oncoming traffic; southbound riders. I am guessing that will come in time or at other times during the day.

Way to go Mayor RE! This is really making a statement.

Who else rode the new path?

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 18, 2013 at 1:32pm

I've spent plenty of time riding over bridges in all kinds of conditions on various bikes. The patterns I've observed are:

1. Riding in a straight line makes it much easier to maintain control on a grated bridge.

2. Wider tires are less squirrely than narrower tires on a grated bridge.

3. Larger diameter tires are less squirrely than smaller diameter tires on a grated bridge. (observed on my mountain bike w/26x1.75" tires vs. road bike w/27x1.25" tires vs. folding bike w/20x1.25" tires).

Your mileage may vary.

I hope that everyone gets home safe tonight.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on March 18, 2013 at 1:34pm

+3, with an added shout out for riding in a straight line.

Anne Alt said:

I've spent plenty of time riding over bridges in all kinds of conditions on various bikes. The patterns I've observed are:

1. Riding in a straight line makes it much easier to maintain control on a grated bridge.

2. Wider tires are less squirrely than narrower tires on a grated bridge.

3. Larger diameter tires are less squirrely than smaller diameter tires on a grated bridge. (observed on my mountain bike w/26x1.75" tires vs. road bike w/27x1.25" tires vs. folding bike w/20x1.25" tires).

Your mileage may vary.

I hope that everyone gets home safe tonight.

Permalink Reply by Derek on March 18, 2013 at 1:40pm

Just got out of the ER.  Also went down hard on Dearborn bridge trying to go around the trucks parked in the bike lane.  Lucky I got away with only a sprang wrist / fractured hand and few bruises.  Next time i'll take Clark or walk over the bridge.

Permalink Reply by Sue Clark on March 18, 2013 at 1:42pm
Sorry to hear of all the falls today. I hope none of the injuries are too severe.

I decided to take Clark this morning...and it sounds like that was the right decision.

On the way home I've been sticking on my side of the loop with Franklin/Orleans bridge, and that's a good one for northbound, esp. if you're already in the area.
Permalink Reply by David Barish on March 18, 2013 at 1:50pm

I hope all today's bruises heal quickly.

I am glad I did not ride.  I was considering it but bailed with the temps right near freezing. Colder or warmer would have been ok but right on the line creates a slushy and icy commute.

I thought as I walked to the train about what it was I was experiencing with precipitation that was somewhat crystallized and which made footing a game of chance. The words that came to me at the time were -

gelatinous mist

which hovers rather than falls

audible impact

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on March 18, 2013 at 1:52pm

+1 for the Orleans bridge.

Sue Clark said:

On the way home I've been sticking on my side of the loop with Franklin/Orleans bridge, and that's a good one for northbound, esp. if you're already in the area.
Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on March 18, 2013 at 1:58pm

+4 except when the grate is covered with ice.  Then, all bets are off. I don't care how straight the line or fat the tires. ;-)

Actually, in retrospect, my problem was that the streets were really okay on the ride in.  Had it been icy--even in spots--on the streets I might have thought about the bridge icing.  Unfortunately, I foolishly forgot that the air temp was around freezing and that the bridge would, therefore, be icy.
 
Kevin C 4.1 mi said:

+3, with an added shout out for riding in a straight line.

Anne Alt said:

I've spent plenty of time riding over bridges in all kinds of conditions on various bikes. The patterns I've observed are:

1. Riding in a straight line makes it much easier to maintain control on a grated bridge.

2. Wider tires are less squirrely than narrower tires on a grated bridge.

3. Larger diameter tires are less squirrely than smaller diameter tires on a grated bridge. (observed on my mountain bike w/26x1.75" tires vs. road bike w/27x1.25" tires vs. folding bike w/20x1.25" tires).

Your mileage may vary.

I hope that everyone gets home safe tonight.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 18, 2013 at 2:01pm

Bridges are especially tricky when the temp is right around freezing. Even when adjacent pavement is free of ice, the bridge deck may be icy because cold air is flowing both above and below it.

Lisa makes a good point. In icy conditions, all bets are off. 

Dave - I like your biku.  :)

Permalink Reply by spencewine on March 18, 2013 at 2:02pm

Dearborn bridge is seriously kicking ass and taking names today ( in a bad way).

My fiance poked and prodded my hand and told me I need to get it x-rayed. She gave me a wrist splint and I'm waiting to hear back for a referal for an orthopedic doc. My 4 fingers are okay (hence the typing), wrist appears to be okay which is usually where most breaks occur,  but my thumb and palm look like a carictures of themselves.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 18, 2013 at 2:21pm

Good luck with the x-ray. I'm glad your fiance encouraged you to get one. I hope it's not broken.

spencewine said:

Dearborn bridge is seriously kicking ass and taking names today ( in a bad way).

My fiance poked and prodded my hand and told me I need to get it x-rayed. She gave me a wrist splint and I'm waiting to hear back for a referal for an orthopedic doc. My 4 fingers are okay (hence the typing), wrist appears to be okay which is usually where most breaks occur,  but my thumb and palm look like a carictures of themselves.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on March 18, 2013 at 10:15pm

"Cagers" are familiar with this concept.

Anne Alt said:

Bridges are especially tricky when the temp is right around freezing. Even when adjacent pavement is free of ice, the bridge deck may be icy because cold air is flowing both above and below it.

Lisa makes a good point. In icy conditions, all bets are off. 

Dave - I like your biku.  :)

Permalink Reply by Michelle S on March 19, 2013 at 7:09am

The bridge is fine this morning, not icy. About three more plates to go until they hit the midpoint. Kinda windy and cold out, but not too bad.

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