I rode today. Did you?

Nice first ride in the COLD.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Simon Phearson on April 15, 2014 at 3:59am

Thanks. Just a bit of soreness; glad more than anything else that I didn't break anything. Though I suppose I've biked through worse conditions in which to become seriously disabled on the trail.

You're right about that bit of the LFT. I'd taken the usual precautions - taking it slower and clicking out - but I think what caught me was that the ice had accumulated in the part of the trail that's usually pretty safe in icy conditions. My tires probably also had too much PSI, relative to my typical riding pressure over the winter. Still running the winter tires, though.

Anyway, it wasn't a bad morning to take a moment looking up at the sky, sprawled across the trail. Not too much traffic, and a pleasant morning's sunlight.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by grayn8 on April 15, 2014 at 4:11am

Okay this is getting weird. Is this ice/icy conditions just closer to the lake. I spoke with two coworkers who bike up on California and Sacramento. No icy ness. Is the ice line halsted or is it got more to do the time we are riding?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on April 15, 2014 at 4:41am

I got on the lakefront trail at around eight this morning, and around 8:30 I started seeing pickups spreading salt headed north. If they had started two hours earlier like they did all winter the ice wouldn't have been a problem. I had a couple of close calls, but kept upright all the way in.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ann Sch 9.3 on April 15, 2014 at 4:46am

A bit slick in places, but a nice slow ride from Bryn Mawr to Ohio. I saw one spreader going northbound (thanks for making the only two riders on the trail get off onto the worse ice on the side of the trail, buddy). That was probably 8:30. Didn't have time to take effect yet. I rode in more than one part with both feet hovering over the crunchy ice, thinking I was close.

Sorry to those of you who fell, Advil & Epsom Salts!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lizzy M. on April 15, 2014 at 5:03am

I walked the side streets in my neighborhood (the sidewalks were just as bad as the road, but no-one was going to run over me with their car on the sidewalk!), but had no trouble with the LFT from Belmont to Chicago. It was much warmer than I had expected--if only it would stay this way (cool and not crowded on the Lakefront) all year!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on April 15, 2014 at 6:19am

The Clark bike lane/area was filled with frozen slush that was very slippery and bumpy. I biked with a friend for a while who told me she had crashed on it, thankfully she is ok.

I took my time and took the lane. There were a lot shadow areas that weren't allowing the sun or cars to melt it.

Ethan Spotts, 9.5 miles, Active Trans

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on April 15, 2014 at 8:36am

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Apie (11) on April 15, 2014 at 10:01am

I wiped out on Kinzie between Orleans and Franklin. Damn it was icy, so I took the lane. Got caught on an ice lip and did the slow motion fall. Thanks to the cars behind me that didn't run me over.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JMinHP on April 16, 2014 at 1:49am

Absolutely not horrible out this morning. The temp was in the low 30s but I refuse to go back to long tights, so I rode in shorts with thick wool socks up to my knees. It felt great!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JC (8.5) on April 16, 2014 at 2:21am

Nice ride until my not normal but quicker route to Printers Row backfired after finding Harrison fully under construction at Halsted. I didn't realize construction had started already. Ended up winding my way to Roosevelt then back north - only consolation was a nice tailwind coming north again.