High winds? Wind warning for Chicago area

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/10/wind-warning-for-chicago...

Just read this article on supposedly extremely high winds for tomorrow. I am still going to do my 8 miles commute to work, but curious if this type of thing stops any of you from cycling to work or just cycling in general?

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Permalink Reply by Joel on October 26, 2010 at 12:30pm

The racks at UIC are pretty sparse today, with plenty of tipped over bikes to boot. The ride in from Pilsen wasn't bad at all.

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Permalink Reply by Minh on October 26, 2010 at 1:52pm

it was kind of bad this morning but now it's great out.

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Permalink Reply by Tiberculosis on October 26, 2010 at 2:39pm

the Chicagoist's commentary on just that, slayed me today.

"The way they were forecasting the weather it was like a Ronnie James Dio song was made real. Dragons were half-expected."

H3N3 said:

Not that anyone shouldn't be prepared, but . . .
the forecasters have been over-predicting ever since the bad storms in June or July caught them off-guard.
Now everything more than a drizzle is being predicted as a "damaging storm."

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Permalink Reply by igz on October 26, 2010 at 4:48pm

Riders of the storm!

I admit that my bike and I got a lift to the train this morning while it was still pouring. But I rode once out in the burbs and riding both segments on the way home. The ride to the train whooped my @$$, but looking forward to tail winds later.

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Permalink Reply by igz on October 26, 2010 at 4:50pm

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on October 26, 2010 at 4:52pm

I have a barometer on my wall at work that I found in a resale shop for $7 (nice old ornate thing made in Chicago- also has temp and humidity on separate meters). I have a sticky with a happy face on the right and a sticky with a sad face on the left and use it to help educate patients with inflammatory problems of any sort as to how the air pressure affects them.
Anyways, I also noticed it was at the lowest point today I've ever seen it.

kayaktjb said:

This morning my wristwatch barometer hit its lowest reading ever in four years. I biked from Bucktown to Union Station about 6:30 a.m. and it was windy and spitting rain. Opted to take BNSF rather than UP West in order to cut my ride to work from 7 miles to 1 mile. Again, conditions were not bad. Contemplating riding back to Chicago this evening--about 30 miles--in Ogden Avenue corridor to take advantage of the tailwinds. Barometer is starting to climb and sun is shining periodically.

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on October 26, 2010 at 4:53pm

Rode to and from work. Short sleeves, no jacket . . . no issues.
I plan to try to ride to WTB and to the Riv later . . .

iggi said:

Riders of the storm!

I admit that my bike and I got a lift to the train this morning while it was still pouring. But I rode once out in the burbs and riding both segments on the way home. The ride to the train whooped my @$$, but looking forward to tail winds later.

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Permalink Reply by Reddog (Cliff) on October 26, 2010 at 6:51pm

I left for work this morning at 6:45 am. I take Division east from Kedzie out to Goose Island where I work. Not a long ride. It was warm and just drizzling when I was cutting through Humboldt Park, then soon it became quite windy and rainy. I wore a rain jacket but not rain pants. My legs got pretty soaked.
The wind was kinda behind me in the morning which helped. some gusts came at me sideways though, and I leaned into those.
Coming home from work I was riding straight into the wind. I never knew that you could do a track stand with a geared bike. It was a slow, but steady ride home.
All in all I was mentally prepared for much worse weather. so things weren't that bad after all.

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Permalink Reply by Michael A on October 26, 2010 at 7:18pm

I just arrived home from work (mc cormick place) I was very disappointed that the winds I fought so hard in my face were not at my back on the way home... the wind was almost straight on from the west blowing some pretty strong gusts. Going north on the lake front path with a strong gusty wind out of the west is interesting. Some of the gusts can change your line by 2-3 ft. Not so good when lake michigan is directly on your right..... Going west directly into the wind was even more of a challange... Home safe and feel kinda good I was able to battle through a day like today.

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Permalink Reply by JeffB on October 27, 2010 at 1:32pm

Yeah, I was disappointed by the ride home too. Monday night was much better. I was also kicking myself for not bringing my camera though. The sunset was one of the best I've seen in the city. Brilliant pinks lining the lower edges of some very dark and heavy clouds

Michael A said:

I just arrived home from work (mc cormick place) I was very disappointed that the winds I fought so hard in my face were not at my back on the way home... the wind was almost straight on from the west blowing some pretty strong gusts. Going north on the lake front path with a strong gusty wind out of the west is interesting. Some of the gusts can change your line by 2-3 ft. Not so good when lake michigan is directly on your right..... Going west directly into the wind was even more of a challange... Home safe and feel kinda good I was able to battle through a day like today.