AAaauuugggghhh! Winter!

I am all for a big winter but gosh-darned it, there's a new Marlin in my basement waiting for some 50-degree temps!  Hey, does anyone know what's going on with the IPP East-bound?  The last I took it, it dead-ended at the Hillside water tower.  But the other day I saw a sign for it east of there, at maybe 25th Street...how filled in is The Path in Cook County?

P.S. I am in the suburbs, so don't bug me about NOT biking now, 49F and lower is what cars are for!  I'll work off 'The Groocho' after 3/21, thank you.

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Permalink Reply by David Barish on March 4, 2014 at 10:25am

Lisa, last year on April 27 we rode in shorts. I think that was the first time you took out your Long Haul Trucker. What will it be this year on that date?  As the thread says,  Aauggh. Planting, Schmanting. I just want ride able roads. I am supposed to lead an EBC ride our season opener, on March 16. We will see. 

Permalink Reply by Gecko on March 4, 2014 at 10:30am

What's this magical "August" you speak of?  Is that a place where the snow actually melts from the ground?  It's been so long, I'm starting to forget what grass looks like.  All I've seen for 4 months is frozen tundra.

David Barish said:


So, what's the over under on what date we will see the last legitimate post this season on this thread? March, April. May....Au(freaking)gust???? 

Permalink Reply by Nançois on March 4, 2014 at 10:58am

That's what I thought too until I checked the Farmer's Almanac site. I would not mind changing my vote to May 15.

Thomas Bruzan said:

I've always thought May 15th was the safe date, but we still still got frosted tomato and cucumber plants one year.

Nançois 8.5 said:

According to the Farmer's Almanac, April 20 is the "last frost date" for gardeners in this zone. That date gets my vote.

This is without doubt the worst winter I've experienced in my 27 years of living in Chicago. On the plus side, it dawned on me over the weekend that I will probably never complain about winters here ever again--or at least for another 30 years!

David Barish said:

So, what's the over under on what date we will see the last legitimate post this season on this thread? March, April. May....Au(freaking)gust???? 

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on March 4, 2014 at 11:14am

Looked up the March 16 ride--maybe you can do it on the streets between Wilmette and Evanston! :-)  I don't think I would want to be trying any paths.  The LHT did not come until later--I did that 50 miles or so on my Linus.  Amazing what one can do when one puts one's mind to it.  This year I would be happy if we don't need layers at the end of April. 

David Barish said:

Lisa, last year on April 27 we rode in shorts. I think that was the first time you took out your Long Haul Trucker. What will it be this year on that date?  As the thread says,  Aauggh. Planting, Schmanting. I just want ride able roads. I am supposed to lead an EBC ride our season opener, on March 16. We will see. 

Permalink Reply by Lanterne Rouge on March 4, 2014 at 3:09pm

I was just thinking about that as I was driving home from work. I had a sudden realization that we've had a solid snow cover since December. F'or now, I've been google street viewing my commuting route with all of its lush, green goodness.

Nick G said:

What's this magical "August" you speak of?  Is that a place where the snow actually melts from the ground?  It's been so long, I'm starting to forget what grass looks like.  All I've seen for 4 months is frozen tundra.

David Barish said:


So, what's the over under on what date we will see the last legitimate post this season on this thread? March, April. May....Au(freaking)gust???? 

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 4, 2014 at 5:58pm

David Barish said:

So, what's the over under on what date we will see the last legitimate post this season on this thread? March, April. May....Au(freaking)gust???? 

The odds are May/June.

Now if you want a side bet to include when we can actually go swimming without it still feeling like the polar plunge I say August.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on March 5, 2014 at 3:49am
Permalink Reply by Julia 3.5/7.5 mi on March 5, 2014 at 4:14am

That was running through my head as I plodded through the slushy bike lanes on Clybourn this morning :)

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on March 5, 2014 at 5:21am

I should have bought a fat bike last year.

Permalink Reply by John Farris on March 5, 2014 at 11:49am

You People are all awesome.  Even you contrarians, and you know who you are...   I video-taped the Shamrock Shuffle one year on-bike and it was free-zing, so I always assume I'll have to wait past St. Pat's day to start expecting good bike weather.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on March 5, 2014 at 1:03pm

I know you must be good at your work.  You read the entire post and responded to it appropriately while the rest of us just jumped on the winter complaining band wagon! :-)

AM 9.5 said:

To answer the last part of the question in the post - at the Hillside H2O tower, the IPP is interrupted for about 1/2 mile or so.  Cross Butterfield at the end of the path (Forest Dr.), make the first left on to Warren, and follow Warren to Mannheim.  The IPP picks up right on the east side of Mannheim a tick north of Warren.  There's no light at Warren, so if traffic is heavy it is easiest to ride down to the light just south of Warren.

Now back to suppressing urge to kill because of this crap weather.

Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on March 5, 2014 at 4:02pm

Very inspiring. I had to break down and cry for a few minutes before I could go on. Grammy material for sure.

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

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