The Chainlink

My family says I am little hard headed...OK, very hard headed.  I am looking forward to my first Bike Winter this year, and am happy with my set up for rain, but what about this wind in the forecast for Wednesday afternoon and through Thursday?  Do you ride in it? 

Last week, when we had a bit of wind, I did have to watch that I wasn't blown sideways in to cars....I think it was Saturday that it almost happened.  That scares me.  Now the work out you get riding in to the wind is awesome and this old lady loves to play and let the wind bring her to a stop.  And with a tailwind I feel 12 years old! 

Any opinions?

 

Michelle

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Today was much more pleasant with regards to the wind and rain. And for those of us who braved the wind, rain and cold yesterday, it should be a piece of cake to do it today.
Riding NB on Sheridan last night was interesting... went down alleys when possible for wind shelter and less traffic to get blown into. Got caught in a good gust at Sherwin and was blown to a standstill... After i rounded the cemetary curve at the Evanston line i noticed the taste of sand... and i was covered in sand from the lake spray. It felt worse than hail. Fun ride.
Not sure why everyone freaks out about the wind, just bike a little bit smarter and be prepared for gusts. Watching out for cabs and buses are far more dangerous IMO. Now ice on the other hand, that shit is mad sketchy.
For true, the bus and the train are just turrible. I'd rather ride in the wind and rain anyday. 

chixieonfixie said:

This is a tough couple of days to commute coming up, but I find taking the train far more depressing so I will make my usual commute by bike.

 

I would advise reading the advisory before embarking, however...sounds like a lot of rain coming our way!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-high-wind-lak...

Last night on my way to work at 4pm it was slow and steady against the wind and rain heading north on Elston...basically right into the wind. On the way home at 9pm it was wet...but the with the wind at my back, I was all smiles (folks must have thought I was crazy).

It always helps to have some rain gear on...when I get soaked..it makes it much harder.

Then I worked this morning and was heading north again at 7am...started raining but the wind wasn't as bad...coming home at 3pm this afternoon was a breeze(no pun).

 

I'm fine tuning my winter gear and these last couple days has given me some good ideas at what I need to get.

1. some waterproof shoes, or something for my feet(chuck taylors only keep water off my toes)

2. water resistant gloves

3. different weather proof pants(leaking at the inner seam)

FYI that I just ran on the LFT along Lincoln Park, and I've never seen so much sand caking the trail before. Right near the North Avenue Beach pedestrian bridge, it's hard packed sand two inches deep covering the entire paved area, gradually lessening as you reach Fullerton. It's not going to be fun to bike on until they plow it. Great to run on, though!
I've got too much tied up into maintaining a daily routine, almost entirely rotating around dropping off my kid in the morning and picking him up from his after-school activities after I get out of work to not ride every day. I don't have to worry about variables like traffic or CTA delays and I can keep on schedule by keeping my cadance steady even if the weather makes my legs die for a few hours afterwards.

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