Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by E A on January 8, 2010 at 4:29am

did you just have the standard slicks on the hybrid (no knobbies)? I got 26x1.5 slicks on my mtb set-up right now but am debating putting the knobbies on.... not sure it's necessary since the snow in the city has stopped. Thoughts?

Julie Hochstadter said:

i just rode my hybrid....it was fun, but what a workout!

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Permalink Reply by Liz W. Durham on January 8, 2010 at 4:36am

I will clarify...my time on the sidewalk yesterday was walking with my bike. I agree, not so cool to ride on the sidewalk.

Today, looks like side streets will be clear enough and packed down enough from cars to make a ride a bit easier than yesterday. Main streets seemed fine even at 7 this morning.


ishnock aka the blue baron said:
bikes on the sidewalk?.... That's a sin

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Permalink Reply by dan brown on January 8, 2010 at 4:42am

awesome pic -
if that were my bike it would go directly into the shower upon entering the house !

then the next thing is all the clothes and gear. then hang it up to dry.

then have a drink

then shower myself

db

Not Nathan Fillion (aka Paul) said:

So...this is what my bike looks like after 20.6 miles today...I look slightly better....

I now have a better understanding of the term "Ridd'n Hard and Put Away Wet".

I have to wait for it to thaw to replace one broken spoke in the back that I know of so far. The sideways force on the tires in the snow ruts are hell on my back tire (that and I'm not a little guy either). Other than the spokes I didnt encounter any other problems mechanically except some delayed braking. I thought for sure I wouldnt be able to shift before long but It held up all day.
I expected at least one irate driver today but to my suprise I did not encounter any problems with the cars.

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Permalink Reply by Amber K on January 8, 2010 at 4:43am

Yeah, knobs with studs. The studs are great on ice, but they don't really do much but slow me down right now. I'm just riding the mtn bike right now cause I've got a little work to do on my commuter. But hey, I'm ready if this stuff freezes over!


H3N3 said:

Are you using "knobs" and "studs" interchangeably?
I'd think knobs would help on the current packed down stuff, but studs wouldn't unless it was a slick/frozen icy surface? David A. Pertuz said:

Just fine, slightly squirrelly. Using my MTB as my ice/heavy snow/crap weather bike (it's the one that got the studs this year) and I have to re-accustom myself to its handling - quicker front end than my usual bike and I have a hard time generally on the compacted stuff on my unplowed residential street, even with the knobs on the Nokians. Otherwise it's easy. I may try my normal bike tonight to see if the narrower tires push through the packed-down stuff any better.

David

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Permalink Reply by dan brown on January 8, 2010 at 4:45am

nice report iggi

one thing I hate about riding in fresh snow is the potholes are invisible. and they tend to reproduce when we get this weather. be careful out there folks.

dan

p.s. you coming to the Euchre/Poker night ? it's been switched to my place due to overwhelming popularity ;-)

iggi said:

yesterdays morning commute in the suburbs was fine on the virgin snow...cut right through the fluffy stuff. this morning though, the same sidewalks were the chunky stuff so i stuck to the road, and since the plows dont go to the edge, i took a lane. (cars have been surprisingly accommodating to my presence on the road.) All side streets both in the city and burbs remain white, though the city is a bit worse, and i did have to walk my bike to the arterial street in chicago.

the tail wind out was nice, but then once off the train, it was straight in my face. uphill, upwind, snow covered street...that'll get ya huffin and puffin.

im riding 29 front 26 rear, both slicks. i gave up on knobbies

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Permalink Reply by Viki on January 8, 2010 at 6:31am

The lakefront path has been plowed this morning. I also heard it was plowed yesterday morning, but by yesterday evening it had another 1" or so of accumulation. It looks like they only plow it in the mornings, but at least it seems to be every day.


Dottie said:

Anyone know whether the Lakefront Trail has been plowed? I wish there was a way to check this info consistently.

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Permalink Reply by Viki on January 8, 2010 at 6:37am

Yesterday morning I took Clark street down and stayed on the plowed middle of the street or in the car tire tracks on the edge of the street. I was only honked at once, and it wasn't too bad.

On the way home was a different story. I took the lakefront path until about Belmont, when I gave up and used side streets and some occasional sidewalk. I fell ~4 times on the lakefront path, since my recumbent bike is really unstable in the dry powdery stuff and it was hard to get traction if I slowed down or stopped. My wheels just spun and spun when I pedaled, as if I was in a regular car. :)

My bf on his upright trek bike had no problem in the lakefront trail snow and only fell once on the street on Broadway cuz of the slick surface. Luckily there was a cop driving slowly behind him who was keeping traffic from overtaking us, so he wasn't in much danger when he fell.

Yay for cops watching out for bicyclists!

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Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on January 8, 2010 at 6:42am

walkin'. More of a workout.

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Permalink Reply by E A on January 8, 2010 at 7:16am

I walked yesterday to a farther CTA stop... it's good to work and stretch those walkin' muscles too.

Matt M. said:

walkin'. More of a workout.

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Permalink Reply by Liz on January 8, 2010 at 7:45am

I took Sheridan/Cannon down to North Ave and then got on Clark for the rest of my ride into downtown today since I wasn't sure if the lakefront was plowed yet this morning (side streets still weren't so I figured they hadn't gotten to the bike path). The ride to North was great, but once on Clark the cars where not being accommodating at all. I had a lot of people passing within inches of me since I couldn't ride to the right of the road due to slush even when there was an open lane next to them. They all seemed to be moving quickly and shooting around me only to get stopped in 20 feet at the same light as me. I would then make eye contact and yell not to pass so close. I'm considering printing out some bright yellow 3ft passing fliers, lamenting them and pinning it to my pack and panniers to remind drivers to give bikers space when passing. The first part of my ride was quite pleasant, the park looked great covered in snow and the traffic on Cannon is so light that it was enjoyable.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on January 8, 2010 at 3:08pm

I asked Joe about the lakefront path conditions and received this response as of 4:00 PM 1/8/10:
"From Monroe Harbor through 59th street, the Path was not only plowed, but salted. It was basically clean (with some minor exceptions) from Monroe Harbor through 59th street. Absent something crazy, I can't imagine you'd have any problems through 71st street."

My guess is if they've plowed and salted south, then they've plowed and salted north.

Dottie said:

Anyone know whether the Lakefront Trail has been plowed? I wish there was a way to check this info consistently.

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Permalink Reply by jonathan on January 8, 2010 at 4:59pm

I rode to work yesterday and took the sidewalk and streets with pretty good control and enjoyed the lsack jawed expressions of co-workers. Last night I went for a joy ride on the lake the path was pretty good . I fishtailed some, but when I tried off roading my tires caked up and didn't want to budge or I slid when I tried deeper packed snow in back of Montrose Harbor drive so i walked it back to the path. Dam I thought the Schwalbe winter marathons would make me invincible!

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