I rode today. Did you?

Nice first ride in the COLD.

 

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Permalink Reply by Robert Underwood on February 27, 2014 at 5:01am

I wasn't that close. I just meant he gave me motivation to go faster than normal.  I stayed about five feet behind or more.  So, it wasn't really competition... but it could have been.  and it has in the past.  like when I pass you, then you pass me... then i kick your front wheel, then you tackle me under a bus... you know.

Permalink Reply by Simon Phearson on February 27, 2014 at 5:34am

I'm not a club rider, I've never drafted someone else, and I don't know the first thing about how properly to do it. So when people get up on my back wheel, it makes me extremely nervous - just don't. It's not okay if the guy thanks me (and it's always men), it's not okay if they offer to switch after drafting for a while - if they don't know me, they should ask permission first, and respect that maybe I don't know how safe my style of riding is for whoever's riding that close behind me. 

Whenever I'm being drafted, I slow down until they give up and go around. Drafting an inexperienced rider  without asking puts that rider at risk without their consent, so it's a total dick move, in my view. Drafters (that I don't know or acknowledge in advance) should do their own damn work - it won't kill them.

Adam Herstein said:

Drafting behing the guy in front of you helps in high winds. Still on the fence whether it's a dick move or not, though. As long as you don't ride too close.

Robert Underwood said:

The headwind was full of gusto this morning.  I had help dealing with it because there was a dude in front of me and I wanted to keep up with him so I pushed harder than normal.  I didn't pass him but I kept up.  thanks dude.  Funny how thin the line is between comradery and competition.  enjoy the cold while it lasts.  pretty soon we'll be sweating in 95 degrees of suffocating humidity.

Permalink Reply by Eli on February 27, 2014 at 5:40am

At what distance are you drafting? Or perhaps it would be better to ask, what distance is it polite to leave between you? I always wonder about this when I end up behind somebody slower than me (a very rare occurrence, to be sure) but can't pass for a while due to traffic/road conditions. I try to leave a couple bike-lengths but I don't know whether that's enough.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on February 27, 2014 at 5:57am

Ahhh, the unexpected advantage of being the slowest rider on the lakefront trail is that no one drafts behind me.

Permalink Reply by Simon Phearson on February 27, 2014 at 6:20am

I think that, if you can stop safely in the event that the rider ahead stops suddenly, you're good, even if you're close enough to get some kind of wind resistance advantage. 

I know what you mean - sometimes on the south LFP this winter, I find myself following people for a mile or two because there's no safe way to pass (plowed path isn't wide enough, can't see oncoming traffic, not sure if you're almost on top of an ice patch). I have to go way slower than I'm used to in order to maintain a respectful distance, so I'm often anxious that I'm irritating someone unintentionally.

Eli said:

At what distance are you drafting? Or perhaps it would be better to ask, what distance is it polite to leave between you? I always wonder about this when I end up behind somebody slower than me (a very rare occurrence, to be sure) but can't pass for a while due to traffic/road conditions. I try to leave a couple bike-lengths but I don't know whether that's enough.

Permalink Reply by EssFresh on February 27, 2014 at 12:49pm
Heads up, immediately West of Ashland on Augusta 90% of the lane is covered in ice. It appears a pipe busted, maybe? It will be hard to see at night.
Permalink Reply by BritBoy on February 28, 2014 at 3:57am

Cold and windy one this morning - only say one other cyclist and @ 30 runners/walkers on the LFP from Hollywood south to around Oak (didn't fancy seeing how clear/bad the path was around Oak Street Beach). Found ice on the OUTSIDE of my helmet around the air vents when I took it off!

Permalink Reply by Robert Underwood on February 28, 2014 at 4:06am

I thought I had a tailwind for a bit, but then it became more of a cross wind and little gusts of headwind.  not too cold.  cars were friendly. 

Permalink Reply by Nançois on February 28, 2014 at 4:23am

I biked in today, mostly because I don't want to miss another month of CCM tonight. I saw ZERO (0!) bikers on ChiLFT heading south (or for that matter, north), from Berwyn to Belmont, where I switched to the inner path because I just could not take any more of that head wind. Streets were a lot easier to navigate.

Permalink Reply by Simon Phearson on February 28, 2014 at 5:16am

I didn't see any other bikers on the LFP this morning, either, though the runner density had increased. A smooth, uneventful ride. Lots and lots of salt at some points.

I'm finding that I barely notice - or maybe it's remember - the cold any more. I just get up, and in my early-morning half-awareness, I move mechanically to put on my gear. And then, once the routine is underway, I automatically just go outside and dive in. It's a weird mental space - do I feel cold? I think that I do, at first. But I can hardly remember feeling the cold, reflecting back now. 

Permalink Reply by Robert Underwood on February 28, 2014 at 5:38am

Ditto.  I do notice when (rarely) forget to check the temp and dress a layer too few... but I think I'm so used to the usual first ten minutes of "cold" (the time it takes my body temp to reach cruising level) that I don't think of it as cold... more of a warm up.  either way I give it little thought.  and being in a hurry helps take my mind off other things and focuses it on pumping those pedals.
 
Simon Phearson said:

I'm finding that I barely notice - or maybe it's remember - the cold any more. I just get up, and in my early-morning half-awareness, I move mechanically to put on my gear. And then, once the routine is underway, I automatically just go outside and dive in. It's a weird mental space - do I feel cold? I think that I do, at first. But I can hardly remember feeling the cold, reflecting back now. 

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on February 28, 2014 at 7:09am

Must be nice. Meanwhile, I'm still freezing my ass off. :-)

Simon Phearson said:

I'm finding that I barely notice - or maybe it's remember - the cold any more. I just get up, and in my early-morning half-awareness, I move mechanically to put on my gear. And then, once the routine is underway, I automatically just go outside and dive in. It's a weird mental space - do I feel cold? I think that I do, at first. But I can hardly remember feeling the cold, reflecting back now. 

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