I rode today. Did you?

Nice first ride in the COLD.

 

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Permalink Reply by Melanie K on March 3, 2011 at 4:25am
I did ride today, although for some reason, it is getting tougher for me to fight through these ice cold headwinds lately, especially since I never seem to get a tailwind to compensate. I am definitely looking forward to spring. I think I can deal with a warm headwind for a change.
Permalink Reply by Davo on March 3, 2011 at 4:35am
The wind was pretty biting this morning.
Permalink Reply by Gin on March 3, 2011 at 7:24am

Winter biking friends,

 

I find March and April to be the cruelest months, partly b/c of the wind scouring the frozen lake and ground, partly b/c we are so ready for warmer weather, partly b/c the stronger sun is a tease, and partly b/c when it warms up enough at lunch, you misplace your gloves which you definitely need for the cold ride home later on.

All I can say is hang in there and keep dressing for comfort. I don't pack away my winter gear until June. There is a reason landlords need to keep the heat on until then also.  If you lower your expectations and consider these months to be just as wintry as the others, there is more room to enjoy the sun, look for the green shoots and savor those lunch breaks when you can take off your jacket. Just don't lose your gloves!

Permalink Reply by Sarah G on March 3, 2011 at 7:34am
Yes! This morning my daughter told me she wanted to take the car because the trailer was "too hot"!! I removed one of the fleece blankets and put it in the trailer's "trunk". That made it all better!

Gin said:

Winter biking friends,

 

I find March and April to be the cruelest months, partly b/c of the wind scouring the frozen lake and ground, partly b/c we are so ready for warmer weather, partly b/c the stronger sun is a tease, and partly b/c when it warms up enough at lunch, you misplace your gloves which you definitely need for the cold ride home later on.

All I can say is hang in there and keep dressing for comfort. I don't pack away my winter gear until June. There is a reason landlords need to keep the heat on until then also.  If you lower your expectations and consider these months to be just as wintry as the others, there is more room to enjoy the sun, look for the green shoots and savor those lunch breaks when you can take off your jacket. Just don't lose your gloves!

Permalink Reply by Amy Y on March 3, 2011 at 8:17am


Thanks Gin!! I totally got duped yesterday when heading out thinking it was great weather. And the ride back - wow that wind was bitter!! I finally gave up LFP and took surface streets, and only wish I done that sooner. And it's amazing how quickly the temperature drops once dusk nears.

 

Good point about gloves. I am definitely bringing my winter mittens as backup from now on. Of course I already lost my winter mittens and they're impossible to find in stores now because they think it's swimsuit season already, so I'm glad re-order them online!

 

amy


Gin said:

Winter biking friends,

 

I find March and April to be the cruelest months, partly b/c of the wind scouring the frozen lake and ground, partly b/c we are so ready for warmer weather, partly b/c the stronger sun is a tease, and partly b/c when it warms up enough at lunch, you misplace your gloves which you definitely need for the cold ride home later on.

All I can say is hang in there and keep dressing for comfort. I don't pack away my winter gear until June. There is a reason landlords need to keep the heat on until then also.  If you lower your expectations and consider these months to be just as wintry as the others, there is more room to enjoy the sun, look for the green shoots and savor those lunch breaks when you can take off your jacket. Just don't lose your gloves!

Permalink Reply by Holly on March 3, 2011 at 12:15pm
Thanks again, Amy Y. It was good to be out there again today and yeah--It appears I have at least one
"off day" per week at this point during the winter. Sometimes, two!

Amy Y said:

Hi Holly

You are definitely not the only person who has the off days! Today the ride back was pretty rough because I was going against the wind, but I didn't feel that I was suffering (well, I was because my fingers was getting frostbitten...but I'll try to bring extra thick mittens next time).

 

It all has to do with mindset. This is my first time back to bike commute this season. Earlier I just didn't want to do it. But the last few months of dealing with the CTA  - bus stopping at EVERY.SINGLE.BLOCK. - or hitting the brakes on the entire LSD from downtown to Belmont definitely helped to get me back in the saddle and happy about it even with the wind and the cold. 

Maybe you'll just going through the Chicago winter blues. Summer looks so close - yet so far. Do what feels right. When time comes, you'll be whistling on your bike to work :-)

 

Holly said:

Liz--thanks for that link and info. I'm usually one to get home and jump into a hot bath when I am freezing cold. *oops!*

Howard--just fabulous---yay for you!

Amy Y-- I know. I'm bicycling more than I ever have (particularly in the winter when I used to never bike anywhere.)  I feel okay about skipping it now and then, but I sometimes wonder what's the difference between being a big wuss and being someone who listens to her body? There are times when I can tell, and today, I knew I was not just being wussy. 

 

I will say, I had a hangovery feeling this morning which is the result of... having a slight hangover. That didn't help matters. And, remember--I am SO outside most of the day. Being outside is great. Most of the time I love it, but usually by this stage of winter, I wish I worked in a cubicle. Or Hawaii.

 

If it's any consolation--driving while listening to the radio was hardly worth it. It's pledge drive week! How did I forget that?

 

Happy riding, people. Spring is coming! The days feel quite a bit longer now, don't they?

Permalink Reply by Michael A on March 3, 2011 at 2:35pm

enough said about the wind today\

 

AM >http://connect.garmin.com/activity/71122550

 

PM >http://connect.garmin.com/activity/71122545

 

But I did see more bike traffic on the path today then the last 7 or 8 days combined

Permalink Reply by Duppie on March 3, 2011 at 3:13pm
You could lower the thermostat @ home more then a few degrees....

Michael A said:

enough said about the wind today\

 

AM >http://connect.garmin.com/activity/71122550

 

PM >http://connect.garmin.com/activity/71122545

 

But I did see more bike traffic on the path today then the last 7 or 8 days combined

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 3, 2011 at 3:48pm

I've seen some REALLY shiny bikes with the oh so courteous "on your left" And I'm like where've you been since November?


Michael A said:

enough said about the wind today\

 

AM >http://connect.garmin.com/activity/71122550

 

PM >http://connect.garmin.com/activity/71122545

 

But I did see more bike traffic on the path today then the last 7 or 8 days combined

Permalink Reply by Molly on March 3, 2011 at 4:07pm

I rode yesterday and took today off.  The bus was a packed sardine can.   Hey, have you ever wondered how many of us pass eachother every day on the LFP and don't even know it?

Permalink Reply by Zach Straw on March 3, 2011 at 7:29pm

I rode. Took the gloves off halfway through the ride. Springter yo.

 

And I do wonder about all the bikers I pass. Who are you people!! ;)

Permalink Reply by Liz on March 4, 2011 at 3:59am

I should have stopped and taken my sweater off under my jacket.  I had such good stoplight timing though, and didn't think it was worth it.  My base shirt was soaked in sweat and so I'm wearing a hoodie while my shirt dries. 

 

I also followed a random dude turning off Milwaukee before Grand, didnt mean to be stalkerish just curious if he had found a better route than I had.  Turned out well and he was ultimately goign a different direction so I found my own way.  It was nice to explore a little and find streets I didn't know about.

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