The Chainlink

Any Cyclists Fall into the Lake?

I was beaming with pride last night on my way home from work along the LSP ("look at me going faster than the Lakeshore traffic in the rain!") when I got hit by a cross wind that blew me about twelve feet off my course.  This was just south of Chicago Ave and north of Navy Pier where there is no ledge that would have kept me, my bike and my bulging ego from taking a cold dip.

 

Makes me wonder about the icy, windy winter and that stretch.

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Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on November 23, 2010 at 1:36pm
That strectch is not plowed in the winter because it ices up and maintenance vehicles slide into the water. "The bend" usually turns into a glacier.
Permalink Reply by Liz on November 23, 2010 at 1:36pm
when I lived along the lfp, when it was wet out with wind or icy I would regularly walk my bike through the "s" curve area as close to the wall as possible, never went in or saw anyone went in, but the possibility of going in was enough to scare me.
Permalink Reply by Glenn on November 23, 2010 at 3:59pm
I went in to the water back when i lived in Kenosha. Stupid ego didn't take into account that ice and an semi slick tires don't mix well. Throw in some day dreaming and you got yourself a spontaneous polar plunge. Thank gosh I lived close by
Permalink Reply by Kelly on November 23, 2010 at 5:42pm
The "S" curve is dangerous! I have slid there before and was lucky enough to SOMEHOW recover. I always walk close to the wall and take it really slow. The ice and snow there are difficult to see even in daylight. Run-off comes from the road too so its not just the lake side you have to watch out for. Taking it slow though has always gotten me through the stretch year round.
Permalink Reply by S on November 23, 2010 at 5:58pm

I've heard of at least one person that's fallen off but that was because someone was run off the lfp but by an oncoming cyclist. I'm not sure whether she got the bike back or not but the other guy paid for a replacement/repairs.

Permalink Reply by Ricardo Cervantes on November 23, 2010 at 6:15pm
On hot days I've often been tempted to ride right into the water...
Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on November 23, 2010 at 6:37pm
Its depends on where you are going, but going south on the LFP I get off at Oak St. Beach and take Wabash into the Loop (where I work). Going north, I take the LFP across the river, turn left where it intersects with Grand, take a super-sekrut shortcut from Grand to the inner Lakeshore Dr, then take that to the LFP at Oak St. Beach. Inner Lake Shore Drive ain't so bad, at least for that strech.
Permalink Reply by Liz on November 23, 2010 at 6:42pm
In the winter I would usually ride Stockton through Lincoln Park and then ride down Clark or State to Delaware to Wabash steet. I found Stockton to be less windy than riding right along the lake. If wind wasn't an issue then I would ride the path until Oak Street, take Michigan to Chestnut (only a few blocks) and then take Wabash the remainder of the way downtown (my office is on Wabash). I really wish that Fairbanks/Columbus where more bike friendly, I tried taking it several times and found that once it opens up into 4+ lanes, traffic was very fast and aggressive, giving little passing room to cyclists, despite having open lanes and it being easy to go around with plenty of room. It is also weird to get over to Fairbanks and there isn't a good route from the path.



Jennifer said:
Anyone know a decent alternate route? I vaguely recall reading something on a listserve somewhere about the Inner Drive? It may not actually be any safer, though.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on November 23, 2010 at 7:10pm
I doubt your bike would appreciate that. :)
Ricardo Cervantes said:
On hot days I've often been tempted to ride right into the water...
Permalink Reply by Mark on November 24, 2010 at 9:27am
Southbound, I exit the LFT at Oak and take the Inner Drive to the Ohio underpass and rejoin the LFT. I only do that southbound in the mornings. When it is dark in the afternoon, I don't feel safe going north on the Inner Drive with all of the oncoming headlights making me less visible. Instead, I take Columbus (Fairbanks) north to Chicago then a quick jog west on Chicago to Mies Vander Rohe, then north past the MCA to Walton, then west to Michigan and then head north to the Oak St. underpass.
Permalink Reply by kayaktjb on November 24, 2010 at 2:22pm
One winter, before the reconstruction of the lakefront break wall, I was bike commuting to Northwestern's downtown campus. The path from the north coming into Fullerton took a sharp right turn and was on the top step of the terrace down to the water.

I was traveling at a pretty good clip. I hit a sheet of ice at the head of the turn, wiped out, and slid down the iced-over terrace--bump, slide, bump, etc.. My bike and feet ended right at the water's edge. Very close call. I was a bit disheveled that day in class.

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