The Chainlink

I rode today. Did you?

Nice first ride in the COLD.

 

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Permalink Reply by Liz on February 1, 2012 at 1:42pm

I got out the door early today, the traffic is so much better if I leave before 7:45 than if I leave after that. Managed not to get too warm today either, figured out the layering for 40 degrees, now I just have to figure out some other temps. 

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on February 1, 2012 at 3:33pm

I'm tempted to make a chart sometimes, as getting it wrong can be pretty annoying. I wonder if there is a simpler way. Perhaps

Dress as if you were just going to sit outside in the park and it was 20 degrees warmer. 

2. Yes - during the morning rush leaving even a few minutes earlier seems to make a huge difference. My current gig is pretty much 9-5 with little flexibility about it - I can come in early, which I do, and that helps, but I still need to stay until 5, which is the worst possible time to be on a bike downtown.


Liz said:

I got out the door early today, the traffic is so much better if I leave before 7:45 than if I leave after that. Managed not to get too warm today either, figured out the layering for 40 degrees, now I just have to figure out some other temps. 

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on February 1, 2012 at 3:52pm

Tony, a chart is a good idea. Because I kill off more brain cells than I create, I keep an excel sheet. By every 5 degrees I detail what I put on my head, abdomen, legs, hands and feet. I cannot remember in April what I wore last November. Just build it up as you go along. It sits right next to my outdoor thermometer.

Tony Adams said:

I'm tempted to make a chart sometimes, as getting it wrong can be pretty annoying. I wonder if there is a simpler way. Perhaps

Dress as if you were just going to sit outside in the park and it was 20 degrees warmer. 

2. Yes - during the morning rush leaving even a few minutes earlier seems to make a huge difference. My current gig is pretty much 9-5 with little flexibility about it - I can come in early, which I do, and that helps, but I still need to stay until 5, which is the worst possible time to be on a bike downtown.


Liz said:

I got out the door early today, the traffic is so much better if I leave before 7:45 than if I leave after that. Managed not to get too warm today either, figured out the layering for 40 degrees, now I just have to figure out some other temps. 

Permalink Reply by Fran Kondorf on February 1, 2012 at 4:42pm

 Yep, each weekday so far.

Some highlights;

 Monday-Discovered a flat tire just as I was leaving, (old patch leaking), fixed it and then experienced the rare tail wind on the way home. Woo-hoo!

 Tuesday- Hot tip for all you West Logan/Avondale folks; Pulaski north of Milwaukee is stellar. Despite the lack of official bike lane and the xpway entrance/exit, the pavement's in mostly great shape and it's wide as hell.

 Today- Actually met a few respectful motorists out there. Keeps my hopes up.

 And I got by wearing a fleece vest and jean jacket. Can this really be February?!

Hey, Gene- great pics! Thanks for sharing.

Permalink Reply by Holly on February 1, 2012 at 7:22pm

I was underdressed. That required high speed manuevering through shitty traffic and all those "I'm just gonna cross the street wherever I want" people who buy their booze at any given liquor store on Milwaukee north of Diversey.  Did I mention school buses? I'm convinced that anyone who drives a school bus must be baked based on the terrible driving. 

Fortunately, when I got going, I got really warm fairly quickly. Then I had to walk some dogs. Then, I was cold again.  The theme of my bike winter experience when I'm not dressed properly is:  feel cold, ride to get warm, walk dogs. Lather, rinse, repeat. This is something I can usually power through because I have to, but being tired made it excruciating today. Did I mention I'm kind of crabby? 

Permalink Reply by Gerry G on February 1, 2012 at 8:56pm

Gene, it looks like a ginger haired monster, yikes!  The angles and curves in the harbor bridge shot are terrific.  Likewise with Grant.

Glad you guys are successfully navigating around the door prizes!  

The meeting at Sulzer looked very well attended.  I was able to bounce in for few minutes at the tail end of the P.M. commute.   Met John Greenfield, Serge Lubomudrov and Gin Kilgore.  It's great to read your work, see your photo's and then meet these nice people in person.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on February 2, 2012 at 11:28am

Permalink Reply by Liz on February 2, 2012 at 11:39am

Schools are the worst part of my morning commute, if I leave early I hit elementry school arrivals, if I leave late I hit HS arrivals.  

The bus drivers are weird, and the buses give off awful fumes. 

Have you tried carrying a wind shell layer with you to throw on while dog walking?  I usually keep a shell and an extra warm hat on hand for when I get off of my bike. 


Holly said:

I was underdressed. That required high speed manuevering through shitty traffic and all those "I'm just gonna cross the street wherever I want" people who buy their booze at any given liquor store on Milwaukee north of Diversey.  Did I mention school buses? I'm convinced that anyone who drives a school bus must be baked based on the terrible driving. 

Fortunately, when I got going, I got really warm fairly quickly. Then I had to walk some dogs. Then, I was cold again.  The theme of my bike winter experience when I'm not dressed properly is:  feel cold, ride to get warm, walk dogs. Lather, rinse, repeat. This is something I can usually power through because I have to, but being tired made it excruciating today. Did I mention I'm kind of crabby? 

Permalink Reply by Holly on February 2, 2012 at 11:48am

I was wearing jeans, wool socks (regrettably quite thin), a wool sweater, a cashmere sweater and a windproof jacket and a light cap from Erin. Gloves were too light weight. My problem was the head/feet/hands thing which was exacerbated by it being damp-ish after dark. That's the trouble. The sun goes down and I'm screwed if I'm not dressed right. 



Liz said:

Schools are the worst part of my morning commute, if I leave early I hit elementry school arrivals, if I leave late I hit HS arrivals.  

The bus drivers are weird, and the buses give off awful fumes. 

Have you tried carrying a wind shell layer with you to throw on while dog walking?  I usually keep a shell and an extra warm hat on hand for when I get off of my bike. 


Holly said:

I was underdressed. That required high speed manuevering through shitty traffic and all those "I'm just gonna cross the street wherever I want" people who buy their booze at any given liquor store on Milwaukee north of Diversey.  Did I mention school buses? I'm convinced that anyone who drives a school bus must be baked based on the terrible driving. 

Fortunately, when I got going, I got really warm fairly quickly. Then I had to walk some dogs. Then, I was cold again.  The theme of my bike winter experience when I'm not dressed properly is:  feel cold, ride to get warm, walk dogs. Lather, rinse, repeat. This is something I can usually power through because I have to, but being tired made it excruciating today. Did I mention I'm kind of crabby? 

Permalink Reply by Craig S. on February 2, 2012 at 4:27pm

I rode a loop on the LFP.

BEST

WINTER

EVER

Permalink Reply by Gerry G on February 2, 2012 at 8:17pm

Yo, to and fro.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on February 3, 2012 at 1:10am

From Kaufman's Bagels to Cermak Produce in one day.  Does that Kinko's still say Kinko's on it?

I was researching it tonight and supposedly the name has been changed to "FedEx Ship and Print Center."

http://www.yelp.com/biz/fedex-office-print-and-ship-center-chicago-22

Steve Istvan Horvath said:

Yes it was a very nice evening to ride due to the abnormal weather and nice warm temps!  After I took the South Shore Line to Hammond this morning, I came home I took another long "L" ride to Dempster and Crawford in Skokie. After I came home, I rode my bicycle from Ashland and Roosevelt to Kinko's at Canal and Roosevelt. From there I rode to Cermak and Paulina where I did my monthy shopping for groceries.

During the short time I spent in Evanston today, I noticed that there are posted Signs that instruct Bicyclists TO NOT RIDE ON THE SIDEWALKS! I had never seen or noticed these Traffic Sings before (a month ago or so), and I now wonder if the City of Chicago cannot afford to put up similar Traffic Signs in our City as well?  Steve H.   
   

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