The Chainlink

Night Riding in the Slop

I'm curious if anyone was out last night after 10 pm on their bike. I am moderately nervous (okay, very nervous) about riding at night because I feel like I'm more likely to slip once the slop freezes or it's covered. (Black ice!)

 

I have to be somewhere at 7:30 tonight and probably won't leave until 11:00ish. I do want to ride, but I wonder if that intuitive feeling I have that says, "This will be dangerous" is something I should heed. Keep in mind, I'll be riding alone. I'd be a bit more comfortable riding w/someone. There might be somebody at the dinner soiree who'd throw my bike in the trunk and drive me home, but I can't be sure of that.

 

Your thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Amber K on February 5, 2011 at 11:26am
I was out till 2 or 3am.  No problems.  You just have to look ahead and be careful. 
Permalink Reply by Amber K on February 5, 2011 at 11:27am
...and take your time.
Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on February 5, 2011 at 11:28am

I was riding at midnight last night, when it was 17°F, and I encountered no ice. There was still slop, but I avoided it by riding in the middle of the nearest open lane (with the snow covering parking lanes and bike lanes, the nearest open lane could mean the left-turn lane!).

 

It's now 20°F. I doubt the ground got cold enough to let the slop freeze. You can always take the bus!

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on February 5, 2011 at 11:41am

Road salt will keep the streets that are salted ice free to, about, 0 degrees.

 

Take it slow, look and think ahead and you'll be fine.

Permalink Reply by Holly on February 5, 2011 at 3:50pm

Thanks so much! I'm going to do it and take it easy. I will use the bus if need be.

 

I am moderately cold just thinking about this. Riding in winter sunshine is so great. I need to find out what's great about riding at night during the winter...haven't ridden enough at night to know that yet.

 

Appreciate your input very much.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on February 5, 2011 at 4:48pm

Post-apocalyptically light traffic.

Dug's right. There's so much salt in the street snow right now that slippage is a non-issue. 

Holly said:

 I need to find out what's great about riding at night during the winter...haven't ridden enough at night to know that yet.

Permalink Reply by Gin on February 5, 2011 at 4:58pm

This is nothing compared to Thundersnow :) Great recent blog post, BTW.

 

I was out last night. In conditions like this, i always stick to the main streets, which felt generally safe iin terms of icyness, though there were some lead footed drivers and not as much room for passing. Maybe they had pent up energy from not being able to drive for a day or two??  The heavy traffic seems to keep the ice from forming. Also, it's not so cold today, though i reckon that will change tonight. Just don't lean into turns. It sounds like you know about your third brake--keep that handy. You can always walk your bike part way.

 

Got lights? can drivers see you from all angles? 

Do you mind having to portage your bike over any snow berms near your destination?

 

IMO, it should be fine, but you gotta do what feels comfortable to you. Either way--have fun!

 

And what's great about biking at night? You do not have to wait for an off peak bus or a cab, or deal with your car.  Also, you do not have to be walking alone at night.  When I was more of a walker and transit rider, I often felt more vulnerable late at night "Hey baby--can I come home with you????" On my bike, I feel much safer from jerks on the street. Before they can finish their question i am long gone.

 

A cool bike ride is also a great way to clear your head after a night out.

 

Permalink Reply by Holly on February 5, 2011 at 5:17pm

I have only one side street to portage through tonight.  I think I am going to be fine as long as there's not any construction on California north of Milwaukee, or Montrose east of California. That is the worst. I had to walk 2 blocks yesterday because the street was so f-ed up from the construction trucks. It's difficult to ride on that street even without snow. Of course, I was there when school let out and all the cars behind me were crabby or in a hurry.

 

My last carring was Monday night for a load of pre-apocalypse groceries after going to a dinner party. My car has been parked since. I dug my car out on Wednesday evening. I'm not comfortable putting trash in my spot to "save" it. It feels awfully un-neighborly and rude. I know I'm coming back late tonight and won't be able to park when I get home. The train and bus each would require a transfer which I can't stand because somehow, I'm always waiting...waiting....waiting.

 

Gee...wouldn't any sane person choose biking?

 

My car misses me. I don't care about her feelings at all.

I'm lit and my jacket is bright yellow. I also probably don't look particularly attractive in my winter gear so I can't even imagine getting cat calls or what have you. I agree, though. Avoiding jerks on the street is a great motivator for riding.

 

 

Permalink Reply by A.K.A Paul on February 5, 2011 at 7:44pm

I usually will test the pavement when I need to brake by applying my rear brake first and then my front brake if I dont fishtail. 

Permalink Reply by tmacz on February 5, 2011 at 8:52pm
The salt the trucks throw down prevent ice from the main streets, stick to them as much as you can.
Permalink Reply by Holly on February 6, 2011 at 2:44am

Home safely a couple of hours ago...just got in from walking the dogs. Thank you for the comments and support. 

 

I'm so happy that I chose not to drive. The other guests at the dinner party seemed to think I'm super human and all of the women at the party had 8,306 reasons why riding a bike in winter is not something they could (or would) do.  Mind you, I really don't care if they do or don't. When they expressed concerns about cycling in this weather, I would simply state facts:

  • Well...it's not that hard if you have the right gear.
  • You definitely need lights and a helmet.
  • Just go slow and don't worry about taking a lane. Just look behind you and move your ass over when you have the opportunity. I doubt that cars are going to hit you from behind.
  • If you're careful when you're turning, you'll be fine. Just be patient and go slow if you need to go slow. If you slip, it's pretty easy to put your foot down when you're at the ready.
  • Oh, no. You won't be cold at all. In fact, you'll be warm if you have on the right clothes.
  • Yeah, it's messy. Dress accordingly and get some fenders. Pack something cute to throw on over a pair of tights and take off your grubby bicycling gear when you get to your destination if you don't like wearing those clothes.
  • Carry a phone and bus / cab fare in case you have a problem on the road.
  • Have a buddy you can call if you find yourself in an emergency situation.
  • Put your lawyer's phone number in your phone--just in case.
  • It's totally NOT slippery when it's not freezing cold. Just go slowly and watch the road.
  • You'd be surprised by how much easier it is to ride your bike than deal with cars. Most of the time, I'm moving at the same pace as the cars are. Tonight, I passed the same car several times on the road.
  • Finally:  Me: I guess that I'm just not willing to let my fears control me. I love riding my bike and if you already like riding your bike, you'll probably like doing it in the winter, too.  It's up to you. You can do it. Really! You'd be surprised.  Them: Well, you're obviously really into it and you're a lot more experienced than I am. Me: No...actually, this is the first winter I've ever ridden my bike. (Silence.)

Stymied, I stopped trying to challenge their thoughts about winter biking and realized that I couldn't somehow convince them that it's not so bad and it's actually really fun.  I started to realize that not only were they terribly misguided, their fears were born out of convenience and habit.  (I cannot imagine how a car is in any way more convenient than a bicycle unless you're riding with another person in their car or you've decided to ride around on a unicycle in zero degree weather wearing shorts.)

 

It became difficult to hold my tongue when one woman mentioned driving 1 mile from her house to pick up something and it took her ONE HOUR to get to and from her destination. I casually reminded her that it took me 30 minutes to ride from Logan Square to Lincoln Park and park my bike. I don't know how far that is, but I'm going to guess it's more than 1 mile.

 

***fortunately--this whole interchange I've described above lasted less than 12 minutes****

...Ching, ching, cocktails, snacks, dinner, other friendly, fun conversations...

 

My only gripe--I overdressed! Once I arrived, I threw my bike into a snow bank and locked Chet to a sign post on my friend's street. I got inside, removed several layers and emerged from the bathroom in a cute skirt I'd packed in my pannier. I had on tights under my woolies that matched the skirt perfectly. The hostess said, "Wow! You look great. That's amazing how you transformed from what you were wearing to that in just a few minutes." It's kinda cool that a clown yellow biking jacket, an ugly fleece hat, a grubby gator, a helmet, boots and rain pants make you look so non-chic, but the transformation into something dinner party-ish is so utterly do-able.


P.S. this rant/happy diatribe is lady-centric because none of the married men at the dinner party cared at all. Two of the guys know me and expected me to be on my bike. The other two guys probably had zero interest in bicycles, but I have to say...I was totally confused (and a bit challenged) by the ladies responses. Either they're competitive or they just don't know how to respond to a woman who just does what pleases her.  They couldn't seem to help but tell me why they, themselves, aren't doing what I'm doing. (Um. Hi. I just met you. I don't care.) Perhaps in some way, I am projecting because for years, I used to ask bicyclists who rode in the winter what that was like and how they coped with the conditions and the winter weather. I didn't think they were crazy, but instead, I wished I somehow had that "in me." Maybe a lot of people feel that way but are afraid to just try it. I don't know. (???) I just know that my own curiosity was borne out of a desire to be more like other people I knew who rode their bikes when it was cold and didn't give a crap about how supposedly uncomfortable it might be.  (That is you guys, obviously! Thanks for encouraging me!)

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